BIG C CATHOLICS

The practice of recommending to God the souls in Purgatory, that He may mitigate the great pains which they suffer, and that He may soon bring them to His glory, is most pleasing to the Lord and most profitable to us. For these blessed souls are His eternal spouses, and most grateful are they to those who obtain their deliverance from prison, or even a mitigation of their torments. When, therefore, they arrive in Heaven, they will be sure to remember all who have prayed for them. — St. Alphonsus Liguori  ____________________________________ Prayer to Release Souls from Purgatory Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great, that the following prayer would release 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners which would alleviate the indebtedness accrued to them: Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Pu

Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends. Speak to Him often of your business, your plans, your troubles, your fears — of everything that concerns you. Converse with Him confidently and frankly; for God is not wont to speak to a soul that does not speak to Him. — St. Alphonsus Liguori ________________________________________ Prayer for St. Alphonsus Liguori's Intercession Almighty God our Father, who constantly raises up in your Church new examples of virtue, grant that we may follow so closely in the footsteps of the Bishop Saint Alphonsus in his zeal for souls, and by his intercession, as to attain the same rewards that are now his in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who reigns with you and with the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Memorial - August 1st Alphonsus Liguori earned a doctorate in both civil and canon law by the age of sixteen. This future Doctor of the Church was not, however, destined to remain in the secular legal profession. After the humiliating loss of a court case in his mid-twenties, he gave up law and dedicated his life to serving God and His Church. Alphonsus was born in Naples, Italy, in 1696 to a noble and pious family. Against the wishes of his father, who had encouraged his legal career, Alphonsus was ordained a priest in 1726 and soon became known as a particularly articulate preacher. His gentleness, especially in the confessional, was controversial in the eyes of some. At this time, the Catholic Church was struggling with the heresy of Jansenism. This teaching, which was actually a form of Calvinism, was strongly condemned by the Pope in 1713, but vestiges of its austerity and scrupulosity were still being felt in the actions of various religious orders and also confessors.

Detail , The Madonna of the Roses, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1903. September 12th is the Feast of The Most Holy Name of Mary The Holy Name of Mary — The Power of Her Name By St. Alphonsus Liguori "Richard of St. Laurence states 'there is not such powerful help in any name, nor is there any other name given to men, after that of Jesus, from which so much salvation is poured forth upon men as from the name of Mary.' He continues, 'that the devout invocation of this sweet and holy name leads to the acquisition of superabundant graces in this life, and a very high degree of glory in the next.' After the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness. Hence Richard of St. Laurence encourages sinners to have recourse to this great name, 'because it alone will suffice to cure them of all their evils;'

Pietà , Pietro Perugino, c. 1490. The month of September is dedicated to commemorating the Seven Sorrows of Mary. This devotion originated in the 12th century. Thanks to the influence of Saint Anselm and Saint Bernard, it spread from monastic circles to the universal Church. Jesus is called the the King of martyrs, because He suffered more than all other martyrs. Mary is the Queen of martyrs, by virtue of suffering the most cruel martyrdom after that of her Son. According to St. Bernard, "Mary was a martyr, not by the sword of the executioner, but by bitter sorrow of heart." The Seven Sorrows of Mary 1. The Prophecy of Simeon ( Luke 2:25-35 ) 2. The Flight into Egypt ( Matthew 2:13-15 ) 3. The Loss of Jesus in the Temple ( Luke 2:41-50 ) 4. The Meeting of Mary and Jesus on the Way to Calvary ( John 19:17 ) 5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus  ( John 19:25-30 ) 6. The Piercing of Jesus' Side, and His Descent from the Cross ( John 19:31-37 ) 7. The Burial

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists, brought the Gospel to the destitute. As a priest, he worked himself to the point of exhaustion caring for the poor. Witnessing to the Good News in both words and deeds wherever his journey took him was the hallmark of his calling. Below are twenty-five quotations from this beloved saint, bishop and Doctor of the Church: Your God is ever beside you. Indeed, He is even within you. *** The more a person loves God, the more reason he has to hope in Him. This hope produces in the Saints an unutterable peace, which they preserve even in adversity, because as they love God, and know how beautiful He is to those who love Him, they place all their confidence and find all their repose in Him alone. ***  If you pray, you are positive of saving your soul. If you do not pray, you are just as positive of losing your soul. ***  Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence an

August 1st is the Memorial of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. He was born in 1696 near Naples, Italy, the son of a captain in the Royal Navy and a devoted mother from a noble family. His parents provided him with an exceptional education in philosophy, literature, and the arts. He was 16 when he was awarded doctorates of civil and canon law. When he was 18, like many nobles, he joined the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy with whom he cared for the sick at the hospital for "incurables," washing afflicted bodies, feeding the helpless, changing bedclothes and devoting himself to works of mercy. Following his father's will he became a lawyer and before he was 20, he was regarded as one of the most gifted lawyers working in the kingdom of Naples. Christ's claim on Alphonsus' heart was absolute. Alphonsus left the law to enter the priesthood, much to the disappointment of his father. He was ordained in 1726. His charity and apostolic spirit led him to found the Co

  Death does not herald the end of personal existence but rather a new triumphal beginning. Although we are faced with the certainty of death, we are at the same time consoled by the promise of a glorious bodily immortality. What Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body, did for Himself He will also do for His members. The same divine power is always operative within Him. As we continue to pray especially for the souls of the faithful departed in November, I present to you this reflection by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (pictured). Praying for the Poor Souls in Purgatory The practice of recommending to God the souls in Purgatory, that He might mitigate the great pains which they suffer, and that He may soon bring them to His glory, is most pleasing to the Lord and most profitable to us. For these blessed souls are His eternal spouses, and most grateful are they to those who obtain their deliverance from prison, or even a mitigation of their torments. When, therefore, they arrive

Thought of the Day If we have any natural defect, either in mind or body, let us not grieve and feel sorry for ourselves. Who can tell whether, if we had been given a larger share of ability or stronger health, or greater wealth, we would have possessed them to the destruction of our soul! -- St. Alphonsus Liguori