The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-07-27


the Feast of St. Alpkonsus, or any day within
the octave, provided their prayers be offered
up for unity amongst Christian princes, the
extirpation of heresy and the exalation of
their Mother, the Church. This indulgence
may be gained every year and applied for the
relief of the souls of the Church Suffering.
The churches of the Redemptorist Fathers
in the city, are st. Alshonsus (English), Con-
stance street, between 81 Andrew ana jose
phine streets, St. Mary's Germany, Josephine
street near Constance, and Notre Dame de
Bon Secour (French), Jackson street near Con-
stance.
st. Alphonsus was born In Maripella, in the
vicinity of Naples, on the 9th of September
1896, the Feast of SITS. Cosmos and Damian,
and baptized two days after on the Feast of
st. Michael the Archangel, in the church Of
st. Mary of Virgins. Soon after his birth, st.
Francis Jerome, of the Society of Jesus, said of
AlpHonsns, "This little child will live to q
greatage, even until ninety years; he will be
bishop, and will perform great things for Je-
sus Christ" Alphonsus' parents were Of noble
rank and led most exemplary lives.
Contrary to the custoMof the people of their
high station in lie, AlRAopsss essRtig edneA.
tion was watched over byS his mother, who
daily instructed her children in the kno Wedge
of their religion. For this early solicitude on
the part of his mother Alphonsus ever after
acknowledged his indebtedness. So great was
Alphonsus' virtue, that almost from his infan-
cy he gave ed'fication both by word and ex-
ample. Devotion. to the Blessed Sacrament
and the Blessed Virgin seemed to have been
inherent in him. Alphonsus applied himself
to his studies with remarkable assiduity and
the progress he made therein was truly mar
velous. Scarcely had he entered upon his
sixteenth year, when he received the degree
of doctor of civil and canon law. Having en-
tered upon the practice of the law, he soon
after abandoned it with view of consecratiDg
himself to the service of God. With this view
Alphonsus set about obtaining the consumma-
ton of this holy end, and on December 81,
1925, he was ordained priest. Soon after his
ordina alton, he was selected te conduct re-
| treat for the clergy of Naples which he did
with incredible success. Constant demand was
made for his services, and his labors in the con-
| fessional were no less laborious than those in
| the pulpit.
Alphonsus founded at Scala, on November
9th, 1872, the Congregation of thu most Holy
Redeemer. He, with the other members of his
congregation, now commenced life OF the
greatest austerity. Alphonsus carried his aus
| terities to such an extreme, to go beyond
the practice of the other members of the or
der. He spent hours in alteration before the
Blessed Sacrament. On Thursdays he preach
ed on the Holy Eucharist, and on Saturdays h'
spoke on the glories of Mary.
The fruits produced by bis preachings soor
attracted universal attention, and pressing in
vitations poured in upon him from all places
The sick and imprisoned received marks O
his tender and paternal affection, and his Low,
for the poor was great that he became pro
fuse in his charity to them.
Such was his reputation for sanctity ant
erudition, that he was cbosen-outside of :
large number of distinguished candidates-t'
fill the episcopal see of Agatha of the Goths
Notwithstanding the multiplicity of his dutie
at all times, he still found time to employ hi
pen, and had published more than seventy vol
umes in octave form.
He died on the LIST of August, 1857, beinl
almost ninety -one years of age, and was can
onized on the Goth of May 1899, and on Jun
9th; 1871, declared Doctor of the Universe