Roman Catholics celebrate Tuesday, Aug.1, the feast day of Saint Alphonsus (San Alfonso) Maria de Liguori, a Doctor of the Church and founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori (Catholic Online)
Commemorative masses will be offered at the St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish in Magallanes Village, Makati City. Military Ordinariate of the Philippines Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio will preside over the concelebrated fiesta mass at 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, Aug. 2, a concelebrated mass will be offered at 6 p.m. to mark the parish foundation day.
Novena masses were held from July 23 to 31.
This year marks St. Aphonsus’ 184th year as a saint and his 152nd year as a Doctor of the Church.
Venerated as the patron saint of confessors and moralists, St. Alphonsus remains as one of the most popular Italian saints to this day.
Considered as the most widely read Catholic author, the revered saint wrote several books, sermons, and religious texts to help encourage and promote devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Born on September 27, 1696, he was ordained priest in 1726 and was appointed bishop of St. Agatha in 1756. He founded the Redemptorists in 1732.
St. Alphonsus died in 1787 and was canonized on May 26, 1839. Because of his immense contribution to the Catholic Church, he was declared a Doctor of the Universal Church.