August 1:  Saint Alphonsus Mary de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor
Founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
Solemnity

Alphonsus Mary de Liguori was born at Marianella, a sector of Naples, on September 27, 1696.  Firstborn of an aristocratic neapolitan family he completed his literary and scientific studies at home.  He studied law and achieved his doctorate in civil and ecclesiastical law at the age of 16.  At the age of 20 he was already known as a brilliant lawyer in the Neapolitan courts.

The turning point in his life came in 1723 with the loss of an important case. This led him to leave the Tribunal and become a priest. He was ordained on December 21, 1726.  He immediately began an intense apostolate in the poor sectors of Naples with the urchins and hobos, giving himself specially to the catechesis and moral formation of the most simple people, by way of the Evening Chapels. As a member of the Apostolic missions he also dedicated himself to the preaching of missions in the surrounding areas of the kingdom of Naples.

At a point where his health was seriously endangered by his apostolic labours, he went off for a rest to Santa Maria dei Monti in the plateau above Amalfi.  There he came in contact with the poor peasants and shepherds who were totally deprived of spiritual care.  This experience gave birth, in the heart of Alphonsus, to the desire to found an Institute for the evangelization of the poor, scattered in the countryside and rural villages. The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer was born at Scala on November 9, 1732.  Alphonsus , along with his first companions, went from village to village, giving all of his human and spiritual gifts for the conversion of sinners.  Preaching and prayer formed the heart of his missionary activity. Where he could not reach people with the spoken word, he sought to do so through his writings.  His 111 works went through many editions.  The most important are: his Theologia moralia, The Great Means of Salvation, The Eternal Maxims, The Glories of Mary, and The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ.

In 1762 he was named bishop of Santa Agata dei Goti.  As bishop, Alphonsus also gave all his missionary fervour.  He especially worked for the formation of the clergy. In 1775 he left his diocese and withdrew to Pagani, where he died on August 1, 1787 at the age of 91.  He was canonized b Gregory XVI on May 26, 1839. On March 23, 1871 Pious IX declared him a Doctor of the Church and on April 26, 1950, Pious XII proclaimed him Patron of confessors and moral theologians.

Entrance Antiphon .         The spirit of God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted.                  ( Is 61:1)

The Gloria is sung.

OPENING PRAYER

Father,

you constantly build up your Church

by the lives of your saints.

Give us the grace to follow St. Alphonsus

in his loving concern for the salvation of people,

and so come to share his reward in heaven.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING                             Is 61:1-3

God has anointed me and sent me to preach the good news to the poor.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and release to the prisoners;

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

to provide for those who mourn in Zion - 

to give them a garland instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM         (Ps 89: 1-4.20-21.24.26)

R.  Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

I will sing for ever of you love, O Lord;

through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.

Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,

that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.     R.

With my chosen one I have made a covenant;

I have sworn to David my servant:

I will establish your dynasty for ever

and set up your throne through all ages.    R.

I have found David my servant

and with my holy oil I anointed him.

My hand shall always be with him

and my am shall make him strong.    R.

My truth and my love shall be with him;

by my name his might shall be exalted.

He will say to me: You are my father,

my God, the rock who saves me.       R.

SECOND READING                                                             (2 Tim 2:1-7)

Share in  suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus

You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus;

and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. 

Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs;

 the soldier's aim is to please the enlisting officer.

And in the case of an athlete,

no one is crowned without competing according to the rules.

It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops.

Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

The Word of the Lord.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION                                                            (Jn 15:16)

R.  Allelulia, allelulia     

I chose you, says the Lord,

to go and bear fruit that will last..

R.  Allelulia, Allelulia

GOSPEL                                                                                (Mt 9:35-10:1)

The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few

A reading of the holy gospel according to Matthew.

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest."  Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.

The gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

God, our Father,

you gave to St Alphonsus Mary de Liguori

the grace to celebrate these mysteries,

and through them to offer himself to you as a holy victim

in union with the priesthood of Christ.

Graciously consume our hearts

in the fire of your Holy Spirit.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

PREFACE

Priest: The Lord be with you.

People:        And also with you.

Priest: Lift up your hearts.

People:        We lift them up to the Lord

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

People:        It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Father, all powerful and ever-living God,

we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks

through Jesus Christ Our Lord. 

As you instruct us

through the teachings of our holy Father, Alphonsus Mary,

and by the example of his life,

so you strengthen us through his intercession

with your many graces.

We rejoice on this festive day

and offer you a sacrifice of praise

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him the Angels praise your majesty,

the Domination adore you,

and the Powers tremble before you.

The Heavens and the Virtues of heaven,

and the blessed Seraphim acclaim you with sweet accord.

We pray you to let our voices be joined with theirs,

as we sing in humble praise:

Communion Antiphon   We proclaim Christ crucified, 

Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.                                                                                        (1Cor 1:23-24)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

O God,

you made St. Alphonsus

a faithful minister and apostle  of this holy Eucharist.

May all who believe in you receive it often

and give you never-ending praise.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.