A. Principal Testimonies and Judgments of the Holy See concerning the Moral Doctrine of St. Alphonsus

1. Letter of November 2, 1753, to St. Alphonsus. - "We have received the first volume of your Moral Theology, dedicated to Us, and We give thanks to you for the honor shown to Us by this dedication, and also for Our Encyclical Letters opportunely inserted in the aforesaid Work. We make certain to you that We shall read your Work, when leisure shall be given to Us for this; for We cherish the due esteem of your merit, diligence, and fair judgment."

2. Another Letter, dated July 15, 1755. - "We have received your letters dated the eighth of June, together with the second volume of your Moral, and with several other books, which, although they are of lesser bulk, nevertheless will be of the greatest utility for the salvation of souls. For this gift We give thanks, especially because you have dedicated your moral Work to Us; when We had run through this cursorily, We judged it to be most choice and certainly about to be most approved and most useful to the whole society of men. We shall turn it over calmly, and We trust that the things to be read will be worthy of the things read."

3. How highly Benedict XIV valued the merit, diligence, and fairness of Alphonsus in deciding controversies is clear from the things which the most learned Pontiff hands down in the golden Work On Diocesan Synod.¹ - It is also established from the fact related by Father Tannoja² in these words: "So great was the esteem which the same Pontiff Benedict XIV had conceived concerning his wisdom, that when he was asked by the learned Neapolitan missionary and distinguished servant of God, Don Joseph Jorio, to state his opinion concerning the cursing of the dead, he abstained from opening it by himself, and answered: 'You have your Liguori; consult him.'"

1. Letters in the form of a Brief, August 4, 1767, to St. Alphonsus.³ - "We have most gladly received your book against the errors which at the present time have infected almost all Europe; both because it is yours, whose genius and doctrine and zeal for God, greatly burning, We know well from several other writings of yours....

Moreover, Venerable Brother, We greatly love you, because, by no means content to profit your one Church, whatever time remains to you from your episcopal charge, you do not suffer it to perish, but spend it all in labors of this kind, whose utility is not circumscribed by the boundaries of your Diocese, but is extended to the universal Church. We pray God that He give you firm health, and add life and strength, by which you may be able happily to complete several other things which perhaps you have begun...."

2. From the Acts of Beatification.⁴ - "Having returned to Rome" (Alphonsus), "he was embraced most lovingly by the Supreme Pontiff and was deemed worthy of a conversation of three hours. When, among the most grave affairs of the Church concerning which he himself was being consulted by the Pontiff, he had related that the Book which he had recently published on the utility of frequent Communion had been attacked, the Pontiff burned with zeal; and, showing that most holy practice to be very useful for souls, and confirming it by his own experience, he ordered him to refute the adversary; as indeed he did shortly at Rome, and offered the published response to the Pontiff himself."

3. Brilliant testimonies of the Supreme Pontiffs Clement XIV and Pius VI are extant; nevertheless, since these regard certain dogmatic works of the Holy Doctor, we abstain from reviewing them. - Let it suffice here to allege what the praised Father Tannoja⁵ reports concerning Pius VI: "When the Advocate Vincent Picerni had dedicated to him, in the year 1798, the Defense of the System of Alphonsus, he testified in the answering Brief given to the same Picerni that he had greatly rejoiced over it."

These things having been premised, let us proceed to setting forth the weightier judgments.

1. Decree on the Revision and Approbation of the Works of Venerable Alphonsus.⁶ - "... A full relation having been made both of the aforesaid printed Works and of all the other manuscripts, ... NOTHING worthy of censure was found in them.... These things having been related to Our Most Holy Lord, His Holiness benignly assented. May 18, 1803."

2. Decree on the Doubt whether it is established concerning the Virtues in heroic degree.⁷ - "... The great opinion concerning the chaste and holy morals of Venerable Alphonsus, which took hold among all persons whatsoever, ... was always more and more increased.... It shone forth ... in the ministry of the word of God among the rude and abandoned people, while he imbued them with the precepts of the divine law; in the chair of morals, among the moderators of consciences, while he poured forth an abundance of doctrine; ... in the pastoral office among the flock committed to him, while by vigilant guardianship he nourished it with salutary pastures.... But with how excellent a right men made so much of him, the present judgment of the Apostolic See manifests. For an inquiry having been instituted concerning his particular actions, ... and a discussion having been made concerning any exceptions whatsoever, even the smallest, which could have been opposed to the more perfect exercise of the Christian virtues, and again renewed, ... all the difficulties seemed so to vanish that nothing further could be opposed as still needing to be weighed.... But this Decree" (His Holiness) "ordered to be published and to be referred into the acts of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, on the Nones of May, 1807."

3. Decree on the Doubt whether one can safely proceed to Beatification.⁸ - "The omnipotent word of God, who calls the stars that they may shine in the firmament of the militant Church, called His Venerable servant Alphonsus that he might gleam with the light of apostolic virtues. He answered that divine voice, and sent forth, as a radiance, virtues worthy of an Apostle, ... when, both by voice and by writing, in the middle night of the age, he showed to those wandering the way by which, rescued from the power of darkness, they could pass into God's light and kingdom.... But surely the Pastors of souls also, and preachers of the divine word, and pious and learned men also, will understand how much ornament and protection has been established for them in imitating Alphonsus Maria. Since, therefore, Our Most Holy Lord Pius

Pope VII ... has declared that the virtues of this most luminous star of the militant Church are to be held heroic, ... he rightly pronounced: That one can proceed safely.... And he ordered this Decree to be published among the people ..., December 21, 1815."

4. Brief of Beatification, of September 6, 1816.⁹ - "For stirring up emulation of the better charisms, the Lord always renews in the Church the greatest examples of virtues. But now, besides so many others who in our memory have been seen to flourish with a manifold array of virtues, it is established that the Venerable servant of God Alphonsus shone in a wonderful way.... Like an arrow in the hand of the mighty, he rushed upon vices.... Hence it is indeed wonderful how many hatreds he extinguished, how many straying persons he led back to the right path, and even to Christian perfection, by word, example, and multiple Writings...."

5. It is also certainly established that Pius VII advised the Bishops of the Pontifical Dominion that the moral Theology of Blessed Alphonsus be handed down in their Seminaries.¹⁰

1. Letters to the Typographer Hyacinth Marietti, dated February 19, 1825.¹¹ - "That the filth of evil books, with which, by a calamity of our age never enough to be deplored, all regions overflow, may do less harm, no slight part is played by the number of Writers outstanding in piety and doctrine, whom God, for the guardianship of Religion and morals, by the counsel of His merciful Providence, never fails to oppose to the audacity of the lost. Among these, since especially the most holy and likewise most learned man, Blessed Alphonsus de Liguori, is numbered by the best right, ... (whose writings) are most firm protections against every depravity: you have indeed deserved very well of Religion, and, if it knows its advantages, of the universal society of men, who have placed your work and industry in gathering and publishing the Works of a Writer of this kind...."

2. Don Gaume testifies that at the same time similar Letters in the form of a Brief were given by Leo XII to the Bishop of Marseille.¹²

1. Letter given (when he was still Major Penitentiary) to the Bishop of Marseille.¹³ - "There is indeed reason why I vehemently congratulate Your Lordship concerning the most pious counsel by which you strive to foster among your flock veneration toward Blessed Alphonsus; whom we behold not only as having brought, by the splendor of virtues, an illustrious honor to the Episcopal Order in our age, but also as having shone forth by sound doctrine and according to God, so many volumes on this matter having been published, in which we are admonished by venerable judgment that there is nothing worthy of censure. This now remains, that these your wishes for the good of the sheep, from the protection of Blessed Alphonsus himself, be heaped up with the desired outcome."

2. Decree on the Doubt whether it is established concerning Miracles, December 3, 1829.¹⁴ - "To Blessed Alphonsus Maria de Liguori God gave the knowledge of the Saints, and honored him in labors; he who ... unto extreme old age ... studied ... by most salutary Books, elaborated by him, to enkindle the minds of the faithful toward contempt of the deceitful age and toward the love of eternal glory.... The Name of this Blessed Man, both by his brilliant deeds and by his volumes filled with piety and doctrine, has been diffused everywhere among the nations, and has been invoked in adversities...."

3. Decree on the Doubt whether one can safely proceed to Canonization, May 16, 1830.¹⁵ - "Among the Workers whom the heavenly Householder at no time ceased to send for cultivating His vineyard, Blessed Alphonsus labored very much for instructing the people by word and by writing...."

1. Bull of Canonization, of May 26, 1839.¹⁶ - "Holiness and Doctrine, according to the sentence of the Apostle of the nations, ought to adorn every Bishop.... But for renewing this eminent example of an excellent Bishop, Alphonsus Maria Liguori seemed to have been given divinely to the Church in the preceding age; he who, since ... he was wonderfully powerful especially in sacred doctrines, was called to the very greatly impeded office of the Episcopate....

This however is altogether wonderful: that, although in the function of the apostolic office he was detained by perpetual occupations, and weakened and tormented his members by every harshness of sufferings, nevertheless he could busy himself with such eagerness in studies of sacred things, and spend so much time, that by learned and equally laborious Works published into the light, he wonderfully helped the Christian commonwealth. Indeed, that he might devote himself and all the accounts of his life to divine worship, he emitted a most arduous vow, and of a kind almost new, that he would spend not even the smallest bit of time idly, but in perpetual action. He indeed wrote very many books, whether for defending the doctrine of morals, or for the full instruction of the sacred Order, or for confirming the truth of the Catholic Religion, or for asserting the rights of this Holy Apostolic See, or for stirring up the sense of piety in the souls of Christians. Moreover, in these one may admire an unusual force, abundance, and variety of doctrine, singular documents of ecclesiastical solicitude, and an exquisite zeal for Religion. But this above all is worthy of note: that, although he wrote most copiously, nevertheless after diligent examination had been instituted, it was found that his Works can be run through by the faithful WITH AN ENTIRELY UNOFFENDING FOOT."

2. Decree of January 10, 1840.¹⁷ - "Among the greatest lights and ornaments of the Catholic Church, St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori shines forth; he who, distinguished by doctrine and holiness, and inflamed with the highest charity, serving only the glory of God and the spiritual salvation of men by wonderful examples of all virtues and by very many most learned and most pious Works, after a life most holily spent, now crowned, possesses the palm, and triumphs with God in heaven."

3. Response of the Sacred Penitentiary, of July 5, 1831.¹⁸

Consultation. - "Most Eminent one. Louis Francis Augustus, Cardinal de Rohan-Chabot, Archbishop of Besancon, strives to foster wisdom and unity of doctrine among all those of his diocese who have care of souls. Since certain of them attack the Moral Theology of Blessed Alphonsus Maria de Liguori as too lax, dangerous to salvation, and contrary to sound morals, he asks the oracle of the Sacred Penitentiary, and proposes to it the following doubts of one professor of Theology to be solved:

"1°. Whether a professor of sacred Theology can safely follow and profess the opinions which Blessed Alphonsus de Liguori professes in his Moral Theology?

"2°. Whether a Confessor is to be disturbed who follows all the opinions of Blessed Alphonsus de Liguori in the practice of the sacred tribunal of Penance, for this reason alone, that by the Holy Apostolic See 'nothing worthy of censure was found in the Works'? - The Confessor of whom there is question in the doubt does not read the Works of the Blessed Doctor except to know his doctrine accurately, not weighing the moments or reasons upon which the various opinions rest; but he thinks that he acts safely, by that very fact that he can prudently judge that doctrine which contains 'nothing worthy of censure' to be sound, safe, and in no way contrary to evangelical holiness."

Decision. - "The Sacred Penitentiary, the things set forth having been weighed, judged that answer should be made to the Most Reverend Father in Christ, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Archbishop of Besancon:

"To the 1st question: IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, without however judging from this that those are to be reprehended who follow opinions handed down by other approved authors.

"To the 2nd question: IN THE NEGATIVE, account being taken of the mind of the Holy See concerning the approbation of the Writings of Servants of God for the effect of Canonization.

"Given at Rome, in the Sacred Penitentiary, July 5, 1831.

"A. F. De Retz, Regent of the S. P.

"F. Tricca, Secretary of the S. P."¹⁹

4. Another Response of the Sacred Penitentiary, of June 8, 1842.²⁰

Consultation. - "Most Blessed Father. The Bishop of Le Mans ... most humbly represents: Nearly all younger spouses do not wish to have a more numerous offspring, and yet they are morally unable to abstain from the conjugal act.... The aforesaid Bishop of Le Mans, foreseeing that immense evils will arise from this, and disturbed with anxiety, solicitously asks Your Beatitude: ... 2°. If the act is to be held as morally evil, whether spouses not accusing themselves of it can be considered as constituted in that good faith which excuses them from grave fault? 3°. Whether the manner of acting of Confessors is to be approved who, lest they offend married persons, do not interrogate them concerning the mode by which they use the rights of matrimony?"

Response. - "The Sacred Penitentiary, the proposed questions having been maturely weighed.... To 2 and 3 it answers: that the aforesaid Confessor should recall to mind that saying: holy things are to be treated holily; and should also weigh the words of St. Alphonsus de Liguori, a learned man and most expert in these matters, who in the Practice of Confessors, 1. 4, n. 41, says: 'Moreover, concerning the sins of spouses with respect to the conjugal debt, ordinarily speaking, the Confessor is not bound, nor is it fitting, to interrogate, except wives, whether they have rendered it, in the more modest manner in which he can.... Concerning other things let him be silent, unless he has been asked.' And let him not omit to consult other approved authors."

1. Letters to Father Hugues, C.SS.R., dated November 25, 1846.²¹ - "If ever at another time, now certainly it must be cared for with every zeal and industry that by salutary writings vices be routed, and virtue, religion, and piety be stirred up and fostered in the souls of all.... Therefore We greatly commend the pious labor undertaken by you, and We add courage to you, that with ever greater eagerness you spend your work in promulgating more and more from day to day the most salutary writings of St. Alphonsus, whose reading can greatly profit not only the Christian people, but also ecclesiastical men, especially those devoted to the care and rule of souls. For indeed the books of that most holy and most learned Man ... abundantly supply all the best admonitions, counsels, and precepts, which are especially conducive to guarding and procuring the salvation of souls...."

2. Letters of April 7, 1847, to Don Scavini.²² - "We vehemently congratulate you, because in composing these Theological Institutions you held nothing more ancient than to propagate more and more the salutary doctrines of the most holy and most learned Man Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, and to imbue especially the souls of ecclesiastical youth with them. Therefore We greatly commend the counsel undertaken by you...."

3. Letters to the Typographer Marietti, June 12, 1847.²³ - "In so great a number of depraved books which daily come forth into the light in this age, you certainly seem to Us worthy of the greatest praise, beloved Son, by whose work and expense a Typography has been open there for several years, which publishes books, or again commits them to the press, most useful and opportune especially for defending Religion and for fostering piety. But in publishing these, you rightly judged that St. Alphonsus de Liguori should go before the others; to him indeed, as there was wonderful gentleness toward neighbors, so there was never-weary zeal for the salvation of souls. We indeed praise that you have now begun to publish a new edition of the Works of the same holy Bishop...."

4. Response of the Sacred Penitentiary, of December 19, 1855.

Petition. - "Most Eminent and Reverend Lord. The undersigned suppliant, named by his Bishop to the office of Prefect of public moral Conferences, because of his own devotion and reverence toward St. Alphonsus de Liguori, greatly desires to hold, hand down, and defend in all things the doctrine of this so great Saint, and to make this public in the Diocesan Calendar soon to be published (as also is pleasing to his much-praised Bishop, very favorable toward St. Alphonsus); adhering to and observing the Decision published on this matter by this Sacred Penitentiary under date July 5, 1831. But as to this he is held back by some religious scruple,

because, when he long ago obtained academic Degrees, he furnished the Oath as below, that he would retain the doctrine of the same University (which follows Probabiliorism and the opinions of Probabiliorists). - Since these things are so, and since moreover the very renowned Scavini, who emitted the same oath, in his Moral Theology dedicated to Our Most Holy Lord Pope Pius IX, had the same St. Alphonsus especially as Leader; hence, for the quiet of his conscience, he most humbly has recourse to Your Eminence and urgently supplicates:

"1. That he be taught whether it is an obstacle to the aforesaid oath to follow the doctrine of St. Alphonsus de Liguori in all things and to hand it down publicly, as is set forth above? Or 2. that he be dispensed from observing the same oath...."

Response. - "The Sacred Penitentiary, the things set forth having been maturely weighed, judged that answer should be made to the beloved orator in Christ to the proposed doubts, as it answers: To the first, In the negative. - To the second, Provided for in the first.

"Given at Rome, in the S. Penitentiary, December 19, 1855."

5. Response of the Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition, July 18, 1860.

Petition. - "Most Blessed Father. Bishop N. in France ... humbly asks ... 2° Whether those impeded from going to Rome in person are bound to go at least by letter or procurator, in order to obtain absolution from cases reserved to the Apostolic See? ..."

Response. - "Thursday, July 18, 1860. In the general Congregation of the Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition held, ... the Eminent and Reverend Lords ordered it to be rescripted: ... To the second Doubt. Let him consult approved Authors, among whom St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori...."

6. Another Response of the Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition, of July 18, 1860.²⁴

Petition. - "Most Blessed Father. The present Bishop N. in France ... asks ... 2° Whether" (the Bishop) "at least has the aforesaid faculty" (namely, outside Italy, whether by himself or by a delegate, of absolving from an occult excommunication which a Confessor contracted by absolving, outside the article of death, an accomplice in a shameful crime) "in the case in which, because of imminent danger of scandal or of another grave evil, recourse to the Holy See cannot be made at an opportune time? - 3° Whether, in the same circumstances, he has the faculty of absolving a priest who would not be of his diocese? - 4° Whether, in absolving from the aforesaid excommunication because of an urgent cause, he ought to impose upon the penitent the burden of recurring, the impediment ceasing, to the Holy See, under penalty of reincidence? - 5° Whether he can delegate the aforesaid faculty for a fixed time, or for a fixed number of cases, or only for the case set forth? ..."

Response. - "Thursday, July 18, 1860.... To the II, III, IV and V Doubt. Let him consult the Decretals of Clement III ... and approved Authors, among whom St. Alphonsus de Liguori, book 7, chapter 1, doubt 5, On Censures, nn. 84 to 92...."

7. Response of the S. C. of the Council, of August 29, 1860.²⁵

Petition. - "Most Blessed Father. Henry ... most humbly asks: 1° Whether a priest who has received a stipend richer than usual can, in favor of a pious work, hand over to another priest only the ordinary stipend, retaining entirely the part which surpassed the ordinary tax? - 2° Whether the same priest can substitute another priest for himself, under this law, that he remit some part of the ordinary or extraordinary stipend in favor of a determinate pious work? - 3° And insofar as in the negative in each case, whether a priest so acting is held to restitution? - 4° Whether a priest asking from another a condonation of this kind ought first to hand over to him the whole stipend? - 5° And insofar as in the affirmative, whether acting otherwise he is held to restitution?"

Response. - "August 29, 1860. Let him consult Theologians, especially St. Alphonsus de Liguori, tract XIII, On the Sacrament of the Eucharist, chapter VII" (or book 6, tract 3, chapter 3, n. 321 and following), "and Benedict XIV ... in like sentences he agrees...."

8. Response of the Sacred Penitentiary, of December 18, 1860.²⁶

Petition. - "18. In what way ought Parish Priests to conduct themselves in the celebration of the marriages of those who notoriously have fallen into ecclesiastical censures?"

Response. - "Let the Parish Priest consult the Ordinary, who, account being taken of things and circumstances, and all things having been weighed which are handed down by approved authors, and especially by St. Alphonsus (book 6, tract 1, chapter 2, n. 54), should declare those things which he will have judged to be more expedient in the Lord...."

9. Decree Urbis et Orbis of March 23, 1871, concerning the Concession of the Title of Doctor.

"Among those who did and taught, and whom Our Lord Jesus Christ called to be great in the kingdom of Heaven, St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori is deservedly to be numbered.... But what he completed by holy operation, he also taught by words and writings. For he himself, by learned Works, and especially by the treatments of Moral Theology, drove off and removed the darkness of errors widely diffused by Unbelievers and Jansenists. Moreover, he elucidated obscure things, and declared doubtful things, since among the entangled opinions of Theologians, whether laxer or more rigid, he laid down a safe way by which the Moderators of the souls of Christ's faithful could walk with unoffending foot...."

10. Apostolic Letters in the form of a Brief, of July 7, 1871, concerning the Confirmation of the Title of Doctor.

"He wrote very many Books, filled with sacred erudition and piety, whether, among the entangled opinions of Theologians, both laxer and more rigid, for fortifying a safe way by which the Moderators of the souls of Christ's faithful could walk with unoffending foot; or for forming and instructing the Clergy; ... This moreover can most truly be proclaimed: that there is no error even of our own times which, at least in greatest part, has not been refuted by Alphonsus. What of the fact that those things which have been sanctioned by Us, both concerning the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Mother of God, and concerning the Infallibility of the Roman Pontiff teaching from the chair, are found in the Works of Alphonsus both set forth most brightly and demonstrated by most valid arguments?

"Since these things are so, ... by Our Apostolic Authority, by the tenor of the present letters, We confirm, or, insofar as there is need, again attribute and impart to Him, the title of DOCTOR in honor of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori; in such a way indeed that in the Universal Catholic Church he is always to be held as Doctor.... Moreover, We will and decree that the Books, Commentaries, little Works, and finally all the Works of this Doctor, like those of the other Doctors of the Church, may be cited, brought forward, and, when the matter demands it, used not only privately, but publicly in Gymnasia, Academies, Schools, Colleges, Lectures, Disputations, Interpretations, Addresses, Sermons, and all other Ecclesiastical studies and Christian exercises...."

1. Letter to L. J. Dujardin and J. Jacques, C.SS.R., translators of the works of St. Alphonsus into the French language, August 28, 1879.

"... To say nothing of the Moral Theology most celebrated everywhere on earth and offering a safe norm which moderators of conscience may follow, ... We even congratulate you also on your undertaking for this reason: that since the Holy Author often glories in his writings that he followed the doctrine of the Angel of the Schools, from the homage of this more recent Doctor of the Church toward him there accrues new praise and glory to the doctrine of St. Thomas, which commends more gravely also that restoration of Christian philosophy which We most zealously urged, by Our recent encyclical letters, to be measured according to the mind of the Angelic Doctor." Acta, t. XII, p. 273.

2. Letters to the renowned Ernst Muller, author of Moral Theology, March 13, 1880.

"... We have gladly recognized ... that you have furnished what you signify in the letters: that after the holy Fathers of the Church you followed as chief leaders the two most outstanding Doctors, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Alphonsus de Liguori.... For besides distinguished expertise and prudence in moral matters, each vindicates this to himself, that the doctrines which they approve, holding a middle way between extremes, are equally distant from relaxed indulgence, which loosens the reins for sinners, and from importunate rigor, which converts the sweet yoke of Christ into an intolerable burden."