Today is the Feast of the great Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, the Patron of Moral Theologians. It was over nine years ago now that I recorded each of the Sunday sermons of Saint Alphonsus for the "Save Thy Souls" section of Traditional Catholic Sermons.org. It was a very sobering experience as I recognized that Saint Alphonsus was speaking directly to me, condemning my sins and my tepidity.
Ouch.
He certainly gave me what for, and I am grateful that he did so.
This particular reflection was enlarged last year to include three complete sermons composed by Saint Alphonsus de Ligouori. Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists), was particularly emphatic in teaching us that we must avoid sins of human respect. That is, we can show no partiality or favoritism to those in power if they are doing things that put the temporal or, more important, the eternal welfare into jeopardy.
This applies to the likes of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who blasphemes God on a regular basis and considers it his duty in the name of "mercy" to enable hardened, unrepentant sinners in their lives that are leading to them eternal perdition, and to most of his "bishops," men who believe that the sheep are their enemies and that they can stonewall and intimidate the sheep into remaining silent about real and documented abuses of power and real and documented violations of the integrity of the Holy Faith:
"And when there is question of the divine honour, we should not be frightened by the dignity of the man who offends God; let us say to him openly: This is sinful; it cannot be done. Let us imitate the Baptist, who reproved King Herod for living his brother's wife and said to him: 'It is not lawful for thee to have her'--Matt., xiv. 4. Men indeed shall regard us as fools, and turn us into derision; but, on the day of judgment they shall acknowledge that they have been foolish, and we have shall have the glory of being numbered among the saints. They shall say: 'These are they whom we had some time in derision. . . . . We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour. Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints'--Wis., v. 3, 4, 5. (Sixth Sunday After Easter: On Human Respect.)
The next original article is being written. As I am undergoing twice weekly chiropractic treatment for the subluxation of a bulging lumbar disc that was aggravated by the fall I took two weeks ago now, articles will be completed as it is possible for me to do so. However, I do not anticipate going anywhere today, which means that I will able to complete what must be a relatively brief article for posting by tomorrow morning.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, pray for us.
Pope Saint Stephen I, pray for us