8/1 Feast Day of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church, Memorial

Our whole perfection consists in loving our most amiable God; and all the perfection of the love of God consists in uniting our will with His most Holy Will. The greatest glory we can give to God is to fulfill His Blessed Will in all things.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori

The following excerpt is from the book “Father Annibale Maria di Francia His Life and Works” by Rogationist Father Rev. Francis Vitale.

A little friend of Fr. Annibale’s prided himself on owning a medal of St. Alphonsus M. Liguori. After seeing it, Fr. Annibale could not help longing to have it. Thus he proposed an exchange: the medal of St. Alphonsus M. Liguori for many of his own. Eager to have many medals, his friend handed the prize over to Father, who in turn, gave his friend a rosary and some booklets besides the promised medals. His friend, who did not understand this type of trade, was amazed. The padre said, “I was beside myself with the joy of the medal.” Throughout his life, he wore that medal…(years later, in 1900), …the padre along with his priests Fr. Bonarrigo and Fr. Ctanese as well as about ten youths went to the archbishop asking his blessing. The shepherd blessed them tenderly, wishing the developing congregation great productivity and putting them under the protection of St. Alphonsus M. Liguori, to whom he was very devout.