Works of Saint Alfonso
Rediscovering the eternal truths & the true faith
In an age of constant change, the timeless wisdom of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori offers a beacon of light. We are dedicated to helping people in the 21st century discover these fantastic works, which have guided souls for centuries in Italy and around the world. As the Redemptorist Congregation, founded by Saint Alphonsus himself, we believe his teachings are more vital than ever for imitating the virtues of Jesus Christ, avoid occasions of sin and saving one's soul.
List of Saint Alphonsus' writings
Opere complete di santo Alfonso Maria de Liguori
Free ebook collections (Google Play Books)
Italian Alphonsian resource sites (PDF articles & studies)
The Glories of Mary: a spiritual masterpiece
Among Saint Alphonsus's most cherished writings, "The Glories of Mary" stands out as a profound testament to the Blessed Mother's role in our salvation. This devotional classic, beloved by countless faithful, illuminates Mary's virtues and intercessory power, offering solace and guidance. It's a foundational text for understanding Marian devotion, a key aspect of our spiritual journey, based on the Bible.
Guiding souls: Moral theology & The great means of salvation and of perfection
Saint Alphonsus's monumental "Moral Theology" provides indispensable wisdom for navigating the complexities of Christian living, offering clear ethical principles for spiritual growth. Coupled with "The great means of salvation and of perfection," his teachings offer a complete spiritual framework. These works are vital resources for anyone seeking to live a life aligned with divine truth, providing practical guidance for both daily conduct and ultimate salvation.
Live a christian life: the path of saint Alphonsus
We want visitors to take away a profound understanding: to live according to the teachings of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori is to walk a path towards saving your soul. His unwavering doctrine stands in stark contrast to much of modern catholic liberal teaching, offering a clear and steadfast guide to truth and holiness. Embrace his wisdom and discover the enduring strength of traditional faith.
Love one another, as I have loved you
"A
new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have
loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know
that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another."
" 25 And behold a certain lawyer stood up, tempting him, and saying, Master, what must I do to possess eternal life?
[21] "He rejoiced in the Holy Ghost": That is, according to his humanity he rejoiced in the Holy Ghost, and gave thanks to his eternal Father.
26 But he said to him: What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 He answering, said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neigh‐
bour as thyself. 28 And he said to him: Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he willing to justify himself, said to Jesus: And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jeru‐
salem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who also stripped him, and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead.
31 And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by. 32 In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by. 33 But a certain Samaritan being on his journey, came near
him; and seeing him, was moved with compassion. 34 And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took
out two pence, and gave to the host, and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever thou shalt spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay thee.
36 Which of these three, in thy opinion, was neighbour to him that fell among the robbers? 37 But he said: He that shewed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do thou in like manner."
1st Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians
Charity is to be preferred before all gifts.
"1 If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith,
so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity is patient, is
kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; 5 Is not ambitious,
seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil; 6
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 Beareth all
things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8
Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. 12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know in part;
but then I shall know even as I am known. 13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity."
" 34 But the Pharisees hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, came together: 35 And one of them, a doctor of the law, asking him, tempting him: 36 Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets."
Father Joseph Schrijvers, C.Ss.R
The Science of self Abandonment to God
If Saint Alfonso is our Doctor of Prayer, Father Schrijvers is also our Redemptorist Master of Trust. Discover the man who taught the world that the shortest path to the Heart of Jesus is the 'Gift of Oneself'.
Reading a book by Father Joseph Schrijvers (often spelled Schryvers) is a magnificent idea. He is indeed a "hidden gem" of Redemptorist spirituality, and a description of him as a "brilliant spiritual man" is exactly how history remembers
him.
While he wrote in French, he was actually Belgian (born in Zutendaal, 1876). He represents the "Golden Age" of Redemptorist ascetical writing, bridging the gap between the strict legalism of the past and a more intimate, "Little Way"
spirituality.
A transalpine Redemptorist and a pioneer of the Byzantine Rite mission in Ukraine, Fr. Joseph Schrijvers spent his life proving that the 'Science of the Mind' is empty without the 'Gift of the Heart.' His books were the spiritual fuel for an
entire generation of Redemptorists in the early 20th century.
Why Father Schrijvers fits your spiritual life:
Fr. Schrijvers' spirituality is the perfect companion to St. Alphonsus. If St .Alfonso provides the "Steel" of the law, Fr. Schrijvers provides the "Oil" of abandonment.
He was heavily influenced by St. Thérèse of Lisieux and took her "Little Way" into the deep waters of Redemptorist theology.
Key works for your spiritual life:
"The Divine Friend" (Le Divin Ami, 1922): This is his masterpiece. It treats the relationship with Jesus not as a distant duty, but as a living, breathing friendship.
"The Gift of Oneself" (Le Don de soi, 1918): This book was a massive success (translated into dozens of languages). It focuses on "Holy Abandonment"—the idea that the "Mind's Science" is most perfect when it stops trying to control eve‐
rything and rests in God's Fatherhood.
"The Message of Jesus to His Priest": A deeply mystical work specifically for the clergy.
Biographical Highlights:
The Ukrainian Mission: In 1913, he was sent to Galicia (Ukraine) to establish the Redemptorists of the Byzantine Rite. He learned the language and the Eastern liturgy, showing that his "Mind's Science" was flexible enough to embrace the
beauty of the East.
A "Living Library": Fr. Schrijvers served as a Consultor General in Rome. He was the man the Pope and the Rector Major turned to for spiritual clarity.
The "Fatherhood" Theology: His entire spiritual system is built on God as Father.
Interestingly, Fr. Schrijvers' books are often reprinted today. This means people are still searching for him.
https://tanbooks.com/search?search_query=Joseph%20Schryvers%20
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/collections/author-books-by-joseph-
schryvers
Fr. Joseph Schrijvers (1876–1945) is the perfect "spiritual architect" to follow St. Alphonsus.
If St. Alphonsus provides the solid foundations of the house (the Law
and the Mind's Science), Fr. Schrijvers provides the light and the
warmth (The Friendship and Abandonment).
Fr. Schrijvers' theology is built on the profound realization that God is not a distant judge, but a "Divine Friend" who is more interested in our love than our perfections.
Here are the three pillars of his "Little Way" of the Redemptorists:
1. The Principle of Total Abandonment (Le Don de soi)
For Schrijvers, the "Mind's Science" culminates in the act of giving one's will entirely to God. He taught that our only true possession is our will; therefore, it is the only gift we can truly give back to the Creator.
The Insight: Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of a soul that has said "Yes" to whatever the Father permits.
2. The Reality of the "Divine Friend"
In his masterpiece, The Divine Friend, Schrijvers shifts the focus from our efforts to Christ's presence. He argues that Jesus is a constant companion who walks beside us in the ordinary "dust" of daily life.
The Insight: Holiness is not a series of difficult exercises, but a continuous conversation with a Friend who never leaves your side.
3. The "Little Way" in the Redemptorist Spirit
Father Schrijvers was the bridge between the rigorous Alphonsian tradition and the "Spiritual Childhood" of St. Thérèse. He simplified the complex spiritual life into one requirement: Good Will. * The Insight: If you have the will to love God
(and if you are in a state of grace) you already possess Him. Everything else—feelings, successes, or failures—is secondary.
Why This Page Matters for us & for YOU dearest readers:
By adding Fr. Schrijvers to our archive, we are showing that the Redemptorists Priests are not just about the "letter" of the law, but about the "life" of the spirit.
It balances the Dogmatic Steel with the Mystical Gold of Father Schrijvers.
Dearest friends, Fr. Schrijvers would probably approve of our collaboration. He believed that the greatest works are done when the mind is at peace and the heart is open. By giving him a home in our lives, we are essentially rediscovering
him for a modern digital audience that desperately needs his message of trust to be lived and shared.
"The Simple Soul Loves the Cross" Fr. Joseph Schryvers CSSR
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Redemption: Save One's Soul