Feast of St. Alphonsus Ligouri

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The pastor told us at Mass that St Alphonsus had 3 words of advice for us:

“Pray, pray, pray!”

He then challenged us to call, text or email someone and tell them what St Alphonsus said. So I post it here.

St Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us.
 
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August 1 is also the Feast of the Procession of the Holy Cross, St. Eleazar, St. Solomonia and her sons, the Seven Holy Maccabees:

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I heard on the radio this was a mandatory memorial.

What does that mean?
 
The celebrations for Catholic holy days are ranked in this descending order:

Solemnity
Feast
Memorial
Optional Memorial

There are certain rules for each of these categories as to whether the celebration is mandatory, or only mandatory when it falls on a weekday (not Sunday), or optional, and whether you can have a vigil Mass for the day, etc.

A “Memorial”, which is where St. Alphonsus’ feast day is ranked (not “Optional Memorial” but “Memorial”) is for a saint that is not important enough for a feast, but more important than the saints celebrated by optional memorials (which the priest is free to just skip and say the regular Mass for the day instead).

In practice it means that as long as St. Alphonsus’ day falls on a weekday (not Sunday), then the daily Mass for that day is probably going to be said in his honor.
 
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In the Byzantine Tradition, we celebrate a feast on the day appointed even if it falls on Sunday.

A few years ago, when the Feast of the Annunciation fell on Good Friday, the Archeparchy of Philadelphia issued a booklet for the day, and we commemorated both feasts. The same principle applies even if it falls on Pascha/Easter. Reason: The Son of God couldn’t be crucified and rise from the dead unless He had a human nature - which He assumed in the immaculate and all-chaste womb of the Ever-Virgin.

Today is the fountainhead of our salvation, and the revelation of the eternal mystery: the Son of God becomes the Virgin’s Son, and Gabriel announces this grace. Wherefore let us exclaim with him to her: Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee.

Troparion, Feast of the Annunciation
 
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A Doctor of the Church who was able to reach those in remote areas. His teaching was simple enough that all could understand. We are celebrating his Feast Day at all of our Masses this weekend.
 
He also wrote the Italian Christmas favourite “Tu scende dalle stelle.”
 
Hi. Where did you learn so much about Catholicism? Different websites? Books? Part of my plan on strengthening myself was to learn more about the faith. Information such as you posted are things I’d like to know but couldn’t google because of lack of foreknowledge that different types of memorials even existed.(Even though I see it on my calendar, I just never “paid mind”)
Anyway, I hope this made sense, I’ve noticed in other threads you are very familiar with different aspects of the faith which I’m sure took alit of time and love.
I have the love to learn more and even if I don’t have a lot of time in one day, if there is a good resource to learn more about these aspects of our faith I will do it little by little.
I’d love to learn more from fundamental to advanced even if it takes me a while, it’s enriching and I think it makes me stronger.
As a side note I was supposed to work on finishing getting my degree but the thought of spending my time learning about civil wars and chemistry literally hurts my soul and feels like torture. I’d rather spend time learning about the Church but it won’t get me that degree that will help me get summers off. For now, I read the daily readings and quotes on the saints (especially St Thérèse) to fill my spiritual life and dealing with practical matters in life but to learn about the Church would be so nice too.
Thank you.
(I’m sorry to the OP if this is off topic, I only ask that no one report until she sees it if possible :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:💕:pray:t2: thank you God bless you all)
 
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That’s a beautiful story about virtue and faith.
2 Maccabees speaks of this martyrdom, 4 Maccabeees also in a much more philosophical and detailed way.
 
MarthaSo said:
Hi. Where did you learn so much about Catholicism? Different websites? Books?
Click to expand...
First of all I’m a cradle Catholic and my mother and many of her family predated Vatican II. They knew quite a lot about Catholicism and they also had old books on it around the house from time to time.

Second, there are a lot of web pages summarizing stuff like the difference between solemnities, feasts, memorials, etc. I read the daily saint collect off CatholicCulture.org because you get an indulgence for saying the collect for a saint on their day. CatholicCulture will have the day listed as “solemnity” “feast” etc. or note that St. So-and-so’s day is a feast in Country X but not in the USA, etc. I got interested awhile back and read up on the differences.

CatholicCulture is a great website IMHO if you skip the “Featured Content” and Commentary" sections. I’m certainly not interested in 30 people’s opinions about some hot button issue. I can read that right here. The “Liturgical Year” and “Resources” sections are great though. I keep meaning to send them a donation, and I probably will soon, but the commentary really puts me off, not because I disagree with it (I don’t even read it and there’s probably stuff I agree with and stuff I don’t agree with) but because I see it as needless noise when I’m trying to find the liturgical page for the day.
 
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I guess my reply will be not so off topic, because it is precisely due to saint Alphonsus, one of my most beloved saints, that my faith grew more, and I learned more - I recommend his works. Very easy to understand, and really inspiring.
Books, websites, documents, films, EWTN, local Catholic Networks (in my case different country and language too), Catholic Answers podcasts, but I’d ask God in a prayer, what He wants you to know and guide you. Not only there’s a lot to choose from (which is why I love to read doctors of the Church and Church FAthers), there are also false teachers out there… And - after all, the most important book to read, EVER, is the Bible. I know you know, theoretically everyone knows, and yet sometimes one gets lost by reading volumes of theology or documents and then analyses of those documents, instead of just listening to Jesus, following Him, imitating Him, and loving Him.
 
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I love him! I have come across more of his quotes on Instagram of all places and when I took time to read them I was so drawn to his wisdom. I look forward to reading more from him!
 
Then perhaps you’d like that link:

archive.org

The complete ascetical works of St. Alphonsus : Liguori, Alfonso Maria de', Saint, 1696-1787 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

vol. 2
archive.org

I bought books in fact, I was so impressed and so drawn to what and how he was saying things.
And that’s a great place for choosing the reading material, I think: Free Traditional Catholic Books - Catholic Tradition - Traditional Catholic Reading | Traditional Catholic And saint Alphonsus is of course there too.
 
This is such great information, thank you so much for sharing with me. I’m saving these on my phone and laptop!

edit- oh it’s his 500 page book! What a blessing thank you! I really wish I had a week in the mountains just for reading.
 
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You’re welcome. The second link contains many links to books by saints, Deserts Fathers and Catholic scholars. I found it very helpful in my learning journey. Lives of saints are there too, and that’s also inspiring and informative.
I wish you a great reading experience, and most of all, great spiritual fruits!
 
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Thank you, I’m a cradle Catholic by the way and I feel saddened and all the years it took to learn about my faith and appreciate. Welp, all in God’s perfect timing!
 
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4 Maccabees? I don’t think that’s part of canonical Scripture.
 
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