Saint Alfonso Maria de' Liguori

Born near Naples in 1696, Alphonsus Maria de' Liguori first built a successful career in law before leaving it behind for the priesthood. His gifts as a preacher and confessor, along with his concern for people often neglected by society, shaped the rest of his life.

In 1732 he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly called the Redemptorists. He wrote extensively on prayer, moral theology, and the spiritual life, and his works became widely read for their clear, pastoral tone rather than abstract argument.

Later in life he served as bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti and endured long years of illness. He died in 1787, was canonized in 1839, and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1871, remembered as a writer and teacher who tried to unite strong conviction with mercy.