Ninth Sunday after Pentecost–G (II) – St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor

After a brief but successful career as a lawyer, Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787), a member of a noble Neapolitan family, laid his sword on Our Lady’s altar at the age of 27, and soon afterward was ordained to the priesthood. As a priest he devoted himself to the most neglected souls, founding for their care the missionary Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer — the Redemptorists. Later, and much against his will, he was made a bishop. He died at the age of 91, after having suffered persecutions and long illness for Christ’s sake.