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

Letter written on the 15th day of July, 1755, to St. Alphonsus. "We have received your letters, together with the second volume of your Moral Theology, and with several other books, which, although they are of smaller bulk, will nevertheless be of the greatest usefulness for the salvation of souls. For this gift We give thanks, especially because you have dedicated to Us your moral work; when We had cursorily turned it over, We judged that it was most excellent and would certainly be most approved and most useful for the whole society of men."

Letters in the form of a Brief, given on the 4th day of August, 1767, to St. Alphonsus. "We have received most gladly your book against the errors which at the present time have infected almost all Europe; both because it is yours, whose talent and doctrine, and zeal of God greatly burning, We know well from several other writings of yours... Moreover, Venerable Brother, We love you exceedingly, because, by no means content to profit your own Church alone, whatever time remains to you from your episcopal administration, this you do not allow to perish, but spend it all in labors of this kind, whose usefulness is not circumscribed by the limits of your diocese, but is extended to the universal Church."

1. Decree concerning the review and approbation of the works of Venerable Alphonsus. "... After a full report had been made, both of the aforesaid printed works and of all the other manuscripts..., NOTHING was found in them WORTHY OF CENSURE... These things having been reported to Our Most Holy Lord, His Holiness graciously assented. On the 18th day of May, 1803."

2. Decree concerning the doubt whether one may safely proceed to Beatification. "The almighty Word of God, who calls the stars, that they may shine in the firmament of the Church militant, called His venerable servant Alphonsus, that he might shine with the light of apostolic virtues. He responded to the divine voice, and he shone with the light of virtues worthy of an apostle. He responded to the divine voice, and he emitted virtues worthy of an apostle as a brightness..., since both by voice and by writing, in the midst of the night of the age, he showed the way to those wandering, by which, rescued from the power of darkness, they might pass into the light and kingdom of God... But pastors of souls, and preachers of the divine word, and pious and learned men also, will certainly understand how much ornament and protection has been established for them in imitating Alphonsus Maria. Since, therefore, Our Most Holy Lord Pius VII, Pope... declared... that the virtues of this most brilliant star of the Church militant are to be held heroic... he rightly pronounced: That one may safely proceed.... And he ordered this decree to be published..., on the 12th day before the Kalends of January, 1815."

3. It is also certain that Pius VII recommended to the bishops of the Papal States that the moral theology of Blessed Alphonsus be taught in their seminaries. Coppola, Mor. sistem. del B. Alfonso, p. 144.

Letters to the printer Hyacinth Marietti, given on the 19th day of February, 1825. "That the flood of evil books may do less harm, by which... all regions overflow, no small thing is done by the number of writers outstanding in piety and doctrine, whom God, for the protection of religion and morals... never ceases to oppose to the boldness of the depraved. Among these, since especially the most holy and likewise most learned man, Blessed Alphonsus de Ligorio, is numbered by the best right..., (whose writings) are most firm defenses against every depravity: surely you have merited very well of religion, and... of the whole society of men, you who have placed your work and industry in collecting and publishing the works of a writer of this kind...."

Decree concerning the doubt whether the miracles are established, issued on the 3rd day of December, 1829. "God gave to Blessed Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio the knowledge of the saints, and honored him in labors, who even to extreme old age... strove... by most salutary books composed with labor, to kindle the minds of the faithful to contempt of the deceitful age and to love of eternal glory. The name of this Blessed man, both by reason of his illustrious deeds and by reason of his volumes filled with piety and doctrine, has been spread everywhere among the nations, and invoked in adversities."

1. Bull of Canonization, published on the 26th day of May, 1839. "Holiness and doctrine... ought to adorn every bishop.... To restore this eminent example of an excellent prelate, Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio seemed to have been given divinely to the Church in the preceding century; he, since... he was wonderfully strong especially in sacred doctrines, was called to the very difficult office of the episcopate.... Indeed he 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 exciting a 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 is especially worthy of note: that, although he wrote very copiously, nevertheless it has been ascertained, after a diligent examination had been instituted, that his works can be traversed by the faithful with an entirely unoffending foot."

2. Decree published on the 10th day of January, 1840. "Among the greatest lights and ornaments of the Catholic Church, St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio shines forth, who, distinguished in doctrine and holiness,... serving solely the glory of God and the spiritual salvation of men by very many most learned and most pious works,... now crowned, possesses the palm."

3. Response of the Sacred Penitentiary, given on the 5th day of July, 1831.

Consultation. "Most Eminent Sir. Louis Francis Augustus, Cardinal de Rohan-Chabot, Archbishop of Besancon, strives to foster the wisdom and unity of doctrine among all those of his diocese who have the care of souls; since some of these are attacking the Moral Theology of Blessed Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio as too lax, dangerous to salvation, and contrary to sound morals, he seeks 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 Ligorio professes in his moral theology?

"2. Whether a confessor is to be disturbed who follows all the opinions of Blessed Alphonsus de Ligorio in the practice of the sacred tribunal of Penance, for this sole reason, that by the Holy Apostolic See 'nothing worthy of censure has been found in his works'?

"The confessor concerning whom there is doubt does not read the works of the Blessed Doctor except in order to know his doctrine accurately, not weighing the arguments or reasons on which the various opinions rest; but he thinks that he acts safely, from the very fact that he can prudently judge that a doctrine which contains 'nothing worthy of censure' is sound, safe, and in no way contrary to evangelical holiness."

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

"To the first question: AFFIRMATIVELY, without however judging that those are to be reprehended who follow opinions handed down by other approved authors.

"To the second question: NEGATIVELY, having regard to the mind of the Holy See concerning the approbation of the writings of the servants of God for the effect of Canonization.

"Given at Rome, in the Sacred Penitentiary, on the 5th day of July, 1851.

"A. F. De Retz, Regent of the Sacred Penitentiary. F. Tricca, Secretary of the Sacred Penitentiary."¹

1. Letters given on the 7th day of April, 1847, to D. Scavini. "We congratulate you exceedingly, because in composing these Theological Institutions you have had nothing more ancient than to propagate more and more the salutary doctrines of that most holy and most learned man Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio, and to imbue with them especially the minds of ecclesiastical youth...." (Theol. mor., at the beginning).

2. Response of the Sacred Penitentiary, issued on the 19th day of December, 1855.

Petition. "Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord. The undersigned suppliant, on account of his own devotion and reverence toward St. Alphonsus de Ligorio, greatly desires to hold, hand down, and defend in all things the doctrine of the same so great a saint, and to make this known openly in the diocesan calendar soon to be published (as also pleases his much-praised bishop, who is very favorable toward St. Alphonsus), by adhering to and observing the decision issued on this matter under the date of the 5th day of July, 1831, by this Sacred Penitentiary. But as regards this he is held back by some religious scruple, because, when long ago he obtained academic degrees, he took an oath, as below, that he would retain the doctrine of the same university (which follows Probabiliorism and the opinions of the Probabiliorists). Since these things are so, and since moreover the very distinguished Scavini, who took the same oath, in his moral theology dedicated to Our Most Holy Lord Pope Pius IX, had the same St. Alphonsus especially as guide; hence, for the quiet of his conscience, he most humbly has recourse to Your Eminence, and earnestly begs:

"1. That he may be taught whether the aforesaid oath prevents him from following and publicly handing down in all things the doctrine of St. Alphonsus de Ligorio, as is explained above? Or 2, that he may be dispensed from observing the same oath...."

Response. "The Sacred Penitentiary, having maturely weighed the things set forth, judged that to the beloved in Christ, the petitioner, answer should be made to the proposed doubts, as it answers: To the first, Negatively. To the second, provided for in the first.

"Given at Rome, in the Sacred Penitentiary, on the 19th day of December, 1855." Cf. Scavini, vol. 3, n. 492.

3. Decree Urbis et Orbis, published on the 23rd day of March, 1871, concerning the concession of the title Doctor. "Among those who have done and taught... St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio is deservedly to be numbered.... But what he fulfilled by holy action, he also taught by words and writings. For he dispelled and removed, by learned works, and especially by treatises of moral theology, the darkness of errors widely diffused by unbelievers and Jansenists; he furthermore made clear obscure things and declared doubtful things, since amid the entangled opinions of theologians, whether laxer or stricter, HE LAID DOWN A SAFE WAY, through which the directors of the souls of the Christian faithful could walk with unoffending foot...."

4. Apostolic Letters in the form of a Brief, promulgated on the 7th day of July, 1871, concerning the confirmation of the title Doctor. "Christ the Lord, who promised that He would never be wanting to His Church... raises up men distinguished in piety and doctrine, who... may send forth as rains the utterances of His wisdom. For neither did it happen without the most provident counsel of Almighty God, that when the doctrine of the Jansenists turned upon itself the eyes of innovators, and by the appearance of error allured many and drove them astray, then especially Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio should stand forth..., who... should open his mouth in the midst of the Church; and by learned and laborious writings should take care that that plague raised up from the lower regions be torn out by the roots and exterminated from the field of the Lord. Nor indeed did Alphonsus claim these parts alone for himself; but... he wrote very many books, filled with sacred learning and piety, whether, amid the entangled opinions of theologians, both laxer and stricter, for fortifying a safe way through which the directors of the souls of the Christian faithful could walk with unoffending foot.... Since these things are so..., by Our Apostolic Authority, by the tenor of the present letters, We confirm the title of Doctor in honor of St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio..., or, insofar as there is need, We anew bestow and impart it to him; so indeed that in the universal Catholic Church he may always be held as Doctor.... Furthermore, We will and decree that the books, commentaries, opuscula, and finally all the works of this Doctor, as of the other Doctors of the Church, may be cited, brought forward, and, when the matter shall require, used not only privately but publicly in gymnasia, academies, schools, colleges, lectures, disputations, interpretations, sermons, addresses, and all other ecclesiastical studies and Christian exhortations...."

1. Letters to Fathers Leopold Dujardin and Julius Jacques, C.Ss.R., given on the 28th day of August, 1879. "Although the writings of the Holy Doctor Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio, Beloved Son, have already pervaded the whole world, not without the very ample advantage of the Christian cause, nevertheless it must be desired that they be made still more and more common and be brought to the hands of all. For he most skillfully adapted Catholic truths to the capacity of all; he provided for the moral rule of all; he wonderfully excited the piety of all; and 'in the midst of the night of the age he showed the way to those wandering,' by which, rescued from the power of darkness, they might pass into the light and kingdom of God." And indeed by the firmest arguments he fortified divine revelation against the Deists; he vigorously defended the truth of our faith; he most efficaciously asserted the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God; he most powerfully defended the primacy and infallible magisterium of the Roman Pontiff; he learnedly and piously illustrated the counsels of divine Providence in procuring the salvation of men through Jesus Christ; he explained the psalms and canticles with commentaries most apt for fostering the piety of clerics; he showed the glory of the Church in the triumphs of the martyrs; with the history of heresies and a dogmatic work published, he sharply struck at all heresies, but especially overthrew the Jansenist and Febronian errors then especially increasing, and grave with that crop of monstrous opinions by which now the foundations of religious and civil society are shaken, and which he even then attacked with such perspicacity that very many of the propositions condemned after a century in the Syllabus are seen to have been expressly refuted by his writings; indeed "it can most truly be proclaimed that there is no error of our times which, at least in very great part, has not been refuted by Alphonsus." And, to say nothing of his MORAL THEOLOGY, most celebrated everywhere on earth and plainly furnishing a safe norm which directors of conscience may follow, he fostered, nourished, and advanced charity grown cold by frequent and learned ascetical writings, as though by little fires placed beneath; and especially charity toward Our Lord Jesus Christ and His most sweet Mother, by whose love, with the wonderful profit of the faithful, he kindled even hardened hearts. And in all these things "that is especially worthy of note, that although he wrote very copiously, nevertheless, after a diligent examination had been instituted, it has been ascertained that his works can be traversed by the faithful with an entirely unoffending foot...."

2. Encyclical of the 8th day of December, 1902, to the bishops of Italy. The same Pontiff calls St. Alphonsus "the especially distinguished and gentle one of moralists" (A. S. S., 35, p. 261).

1. Letter to Father John Herrmann, C.Ss.R., of the 25th day of July, 1904. There St. Alphonsus is called "so holy and so preeminent a doctor, a writer of most abundant discipline, a most safe source of opinions" (Tract. de Gratia, beginning).

2. Letters to Father Leonard Gaude, of the 12th day of June, 1905. "Such is the esteem and praise of the Holy Doctor Alphonsus de Ligorio in the Church of God, that even that alone would suffice as the reason why We most gladly permit a new edition of the Alphonsian moral theology to be dedicated to Our Name.... All thanks must be had for you, who have shown more openly the mind of the Holy Doctor, whom all can safely follow in moral doctrines, and have determined his opinions more securely than ever before" (Op. moral. S. Alph., vol. I, p. XI).