A diary date 14th September 2025...

If you are in the area, Clapham SW4, come along, the more the merrier!

Leo XIV urges Moral Theologians keep St Alphonsus as model...

The telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, to participants at the 17th International Congress of Moral Theology, held in Bogota, Colombia, from August 20 to August 21, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV asks moral theologians to follow the example of St. Alphonsus Liguori and other saints as they reflect on the “challenges, changes, and conflicts” of the modern world in the light of divine revelation.

In his message to the 17th International Congress of Moral Theology, Pope Leo XIV encourages participants to approach modern moral issues “following the wise and always timely example of the Saints, such as Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.”

Known as the Doctor of Moral Theology, Saint Alphonsus

“was able to find a balanced synthesis of the laws of God and the dynamics of man’s conscience and freedom, at the same time assuming a charitable, understanding, and patient attitude towards his brethren, thus becoming a visible sign of God’s infinite mercy,” the Pope said.

The message to the Congress was conveyed in a telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. The Holy Father expressed his hopes that the event “might provide a favourable opportunity to reflect on the challenges, changes, and current conflicts in the light of divine revelation, which finds its fulness in Jesus Christ.”

The Pope’s message concluded with the invocation of “the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom,” along with the Pope’s Apostolic Blessing for participants and their loved ones.

(vaticannews.va)

SCALA NEWS CSsR

“St. Alphonsus M. de Liguori. A Missionary of Hope”...

 

The book by Bishop Antonio De Luca CSsR and Enzo Rispi was presented in Marina di Camerota (SA).

In the splendid setting of the Cilento Riviera of Marina di Camerota, between the blue of the sea and the rugged mountains, in the monumental neoclassical church (1874), seat of the parish dedicated to St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the recently published volume on the holy founder of the Redemptorists, by Antonio De Luca and Enzo Rispi,  S. Alphonsus M. de Liguori. A missionary of hope  (Edizione Diocesi Teggiano Policastro, Teggiano (SA) 2025, pp. 93), was presented on Monday 11 August.

The patron and impeccable organizer of the event was Don Gianni Citro, the parish priest of Marina di Camerota and Lentiscosa, already known for his many cultural initiatives and a passionate admirer of the Saint. For the presentation, he chose to highlight a unique work of art, placing it at the center of the stage, which dictated the theme of the event. We are talking about a previously unseen canvas of Saint Alphonsus, from the Campania region, recently acquired and placed in the church’s presbytery, already rich in valuable works of art. The portrait of the Saint, painted, as an inscription on the back attests, just nine years after his death (in 1796), offers us one of the first portraits of the then  Servant of God , executed by the ingenious brush of some expert, anonymous local portraitist, who probably—we do not rule out the possibility—knew him personally. The Saint’s face, slightly reclining on his right shoulder, is characterized by a lively and penetrating gaze, in his calm serenity, a charming and witty smile, as he embraces a crucifix with his left hand and places his right hand over his heart, as if to indicate his great human and spiritual sensitivity. Taking part in the event and admiring the work brought Saint Alphonsus closer to those present, reconnecting, symbolically and visually, that uninterrupted empathy between him and the people.

Read more: “St. Alphonsus M. de Liguori. A Missionary of Hope”...

St Alphonsus for our Times - some reading...

Do you want to get to know our dear Saint and Doctor Alphonsus better?

Do you want to know him more as

an apostle of the love of God,

or as an Artist or Musician,

or as a friend to the poor,

or a Doctor of Prayer,

or Patron of Moral Theologians,

or as a prolific thinker or writer,

or as a Confessor,

or as a Bishop,

or as the most zealous doctor?

If yes read these great articles writen by our confreres from around the world!

Forward by Fr Edward Joseph CSsR - Provincial of Bangalore

One - Apostle of the Love of God - Fr Michael Brehl CSsR (Rome, Italy)

Two - Artist & Musician for the Good News - Fr Kevin O'Neil CSsR (Baltimore, USA)

Three - Friend of the Poor - Fr Larry Kaufmann CSsR (Cape Town, South Africa)

Four - Doctor of Prayer - Fr Dennis J Billy CSsR (Baltimore, USA)

Five - Patron of Moral Theologians - Fr Joaquim Parron CSsR (Campo Grande, Brasil)

Six - Prolific Writer and Thinker - Fr Sean Wales CSsR (Cpe Town, South Africa)

Seven - Patron of Confessors - Fr Raphael Gallagher CSsR (Dublin, Ireland)

Eight - Bishop for the Most Abandoned - Archbishop Gerrard Pettipas CSsR

(Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan, Canada)

Nine - Most Zealous Doctor - Fr Juventius Andrade CSsR )Bangalore, India)

Thanks most sincere for Redemptorist Media Centre India