Gospel in Art: Feast of Saint Alphonsus Mary de' Liguori, Bishop, Doctor

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, by Henry Schile @ Library of Congress catalog, Washington

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 1 August 2026
Matthew 5:13-19

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

'You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

'Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

'Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.'

Reflection on the lithograph

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), the great Italian bishop, theologian, and founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, better known as the Redemptorists. Born into a noble family near Naples, Alphonsus was a child prodigy who earned doctorates in both civil and canon law by the age of sixteen! Quite astonishing. He quickly established himself as one of Naples' most brilliant young lawyers. However, after unexpectedly losing an important legal case, he experienced a profound spiritual awakening. Realising that earthly success could never satisfy the deepest longings of the heart, he abandoned his legal career altogether. Kneeling before a crucifix, he is said to have declared, "World, I have known you long enough; now I leave you." It marked the beginning of an entirely new life.

Ordained a priest in 1726, Alphonsus soon became renowned for his compassionate pastoral care, his eloquent preaching, and his tireless concern for those living on the margins of society. Rather than remaining in the comfortable churches of Naples, he travelled to remote villages where people rarely encountered a priest. In 1732 he founded the Redemptorists, whose mission was to preach the Gospel especially to the rural poor and those who had been neglected by the Church. His approach to moral theology was equally pastoral. At a time when some moralists made the Christian life seem almost impossible through excessive severity, while others treated sin too lightly, Alphonsus charted a wise middle course. He taught that truth and mercy belong together, always encouraging confessors to guide souls firmly but with genuine compassion.

Saint Alphonsus' literary legacy is immense. His masterpiece, Theologia Moralis, became one of the most influential works of Catholic moral theology, stressing the importance of a well-formed conscience guided by charity rather than fear. He also wrote extensively on prayer, the Eucharist, and devotion to Our Lady, and many of his spiritual books continue to nourish readers today. Beyond theology, he possessed remarkable artistic gifts! He composed hymns, the most famous being Tu scendi dalle stelle (You Come Down from the Stars), written in 1732 and still one of Italy's best-loved Christmas carols. Canonised in 1839, he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1871 in recognition of the enduring wisdom of his teaching. We celebrate his feast today, 1 August, the anniversary of his death.

Our engraving was created by Henry Schile, a German immigrant who established himself in New York's Lower Manhattan during the 1870s. A prolific publisher of colourful lithographs, Schile became especially well known for his charming depictions of ice skaters enjoying winter afternoons in Central Park, along with genre scenes and episodes from American history. His religious prints are comparatively rare. Here he presents Saint Alphonsus at the moment of his heavenly glory. Angels gently lift the aged bishop towards heaven, having already removed the outward signs of his earthly office: the episcopal mitre and crozier, carried away by cherubs. The image beautifully reminds us that, in eternity, titles and honours fall away. What remains is the holiness of a life spent serving Christ and his people.

LINKS

Christian Art: www.christian.art
Today's image: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-13-19-2026-2/