About this ebook
The book is addressed to all Christians, but especially to religious women who have consecrated their lives to God. The book aims to inspire them to love God with a pure heart, to avoid all occasions of sin, to resist temptations, to practice mortification and prayer, and to imitate the purity of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. The book is a classic of Catholic spirituality and a valuable guide for anyone who wants to grow in holiness and purity of heart.
About the author
St. Alphonsus Liguori was a Catholic bishop, theologian, writer, and founder of the Redemptorists, a religious order dedicated to preaching the Gospel to the poor and the most abandoned. He was a brilliant student and became a lawyer at the age of 16. However, he felt dissatisfied with his worldly career and decided to follow his calling to the priesthood. He was ordained and devoted himself to pastoral ministry, especially among the rural poor. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists, with the aim of reviving the faith and morals of the people through missions, retreats, and publications. He was appointed bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti and served there for many years, when he resigned due to ill health. He suffered from various ailments, such as asthma, rheumatism, and kidney stones, and spent his last years showing tremedous patience.
St. Alphonsus Liguori was a prolific writer and a master of moral theology. He wrote more than 100 books and pamphlets on various topics, such as spirituality, devotion, prayer, asceticism, liturgy, scripture, and canon law. His most famous works include The Glories of Mary, The Way of the Cross, The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ, and Moral Theology. He was also a composer, musician, poet, and artist. He wrote many hymns and songs for his missions and retreats, such as Tu scendi dalle stelle (You come down from the stars), which is still sung during Christmas in Italy. He also painted several pictures of Mary and Jesus, which are preserved in his shrines.
St. Alphonsus Liguori was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX. He is recognized as one of the greatest moral theologians of all time and as a model of holiness and pastoral zeal. He is the patron saint of moralists, confessors, theologians, vocations, arthritis sufferers, and lawyers.
