Today we celebrate St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), one of the Doctors of the Catholic Church — a gifted writer, pastor, bishop, and founder of a religious congregation who left a career in law to follow the voice of God. While recognized by the Church for his works and teachings on moral theology, my encounters with him stemmed from works such as Glories of Mary and The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ, as well as excerpts on mental prayer.
The Glories of Mary is an incredible collection of Marian writings from various saints throughout the ages alongside his own comments and reflections, brilliantly organized around the Salve Regina, her Feast Days, and her Seven Sorrows. Additionally, a Prayer is offered at the end of each chapter — something more to meditate on in light of the aforeread.
The below spoke to me as no other explanation was plausible from which I began this venture which ultimately reconciled and saved me:
“Mary anticipates those who have recourse to her my making them find her before they seek her.”
Indeed. Amen.
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