The Holy Eucharist

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, the Prince of Moral Theologians, was one of the greatest preachers in Church history. A religious founder, consummate theologian, and holy man of God, St. Alphonsus never failed to utter a stirring word that drew out a lively penitence and redoubled dedication to the work of God from his audience. Here, in The Holy Eucharist, is his extensive work on the Sacrifice that brings about Salvation.

As a devoted preacher and teacher, Liguori sought to bring others to devotion and sanctity in the most Blessed Sacrament. He founded many centers for people to grow in their faith through preaching and the Sacraments, and as a bishop, he even suspended priests who celebrated the Mass in an undignified manner.

In The Holy Eucharist, St. Alphonsus gives the reader not only a profound, biblical, and theological discourse, but also meditations to be used for deeper devotion and love for Christ present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. He spends considerable time on what exactly it means for the Christian to love Christ. Relating the Faith to the virtues, he shows in a masterful way the lex credendi, lex orandi of the Church. As if speaking to the modern reader, Liguori tackles issues related to the Eucharistic Devotion such as lukewarmness, pride and humility, charity in all things, and charity in suffering.

Included in this masterwork are also novenas to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and meditations on the octave of Corpus Christi. In our devotion, we must follow the sage advice from Liguori, ＂We must therefore be of good courage, make strong resolutions, and begin. Prayer can do everything. What we cannot do by our own strength, we shall do easily with the help of God, who has promised to give us whatever we ask of him: You shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto
you.＂ This book will no doubt enkindle in you the fire of the Holy Spirit to begin anew with Christ every day!

St. Alphonsus Liguori, CSsR (27 September 1696 - 1 August 1787), sometimes called Alphonsus Maria de Liguori or Saint Alphonsus Liguori, was an Italian Catholic bishop, spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists, in November 1732. In 1762 he was appointed Bishop of Sant’Agata dei Goti. A prolific writer, he published nine editions of his Moral Theology in his lifetime, in addition to other devotional and ascetic works and letters. Among his best known works are The Glories of Mary and The Way of the Cross, the latter still used in parishes during Lenten devotions. He was canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871. One of the most widely read Catholic authors, he is the patron saint of confessors.