The History of Heresies and Their Refutation by St Alphonsus M. Liguori. Unedited Reprint of 1857 edition. Some references in Latin, the rest of the book is in English. In the First part, St Alphonsus M Liguori goes over the History of Heresies. A supplementary chapter was added by the translator of the Heresies of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. In the Second Part, the Refutation of Heresies, the Holy Author comprises, in a small space, a vast amount of Theological information; in fact, there is no Heresy which cannot be refuted from it. 648 pages.
CONTENTS Preface 5 Life Of Saint Alphonsus Liguori 12 SERMON THE FIRST 55 The Lord appears angry, not that He means to punish us, but in order that we may cleanse ourselves of our sins, and thus enable Him to pardon us SERMON THE SECOND 64 Sinners will not profit by the divine threats, until the chastisement has come upon them SERMON THE THIRD 74 God is merciful for a season, and then chastises SERMON THE FOURTH 85 Upon the four principal Gates of Hell SERMON THE FIFTH 98 External Devotions are of little use if we do not cleanse our souls from sin SERMON THE SIXTH 107 God chastises us in this life for our good, not for our destruction SERMON THE SEVENTH 115 God chastises us in this life, only that He may show us mercy in the next SERMON THE EIGHTH 128 Prayers appease God, and avert from us the chastisement we deserve, provided we purpose to amend SERMON THE NINTH 136 Most Holy Mary is the Mediatrix of Sinners SERMON THE TENTH 145 For the Feast of St. Joseph SERMON THE ELEVENTH 157 For the Feast of the Annunciation SERMON THE TWELFTH 167 Upon the Sorrows of Mary FAMILIAR DISCOURSE AT THE RECEPTION OF A NUN 176 DISCOURSE TO THE BRETHREN OF A CONFRATERNITY 184 DISCOURSE TO PIOUS MAIDENS 189
Here we have another great work by a Doctor of the Church, none other than St Alphonsus M. Liguori himself. This work will lay a greater understanding of the Psalms & Canticles which will hopefully in turn lead to greater spiritual benefit to those who use this work. Written in Latin and English, side by side. Unedited. 548 pages.
It will be seen that the following Manual of Devotion consists of a series of chapters or instructions upon important points of Christian teaching, which are called "Considerations."These Considerations are written for the purpose of pricking or of wounding the conscience, it may be in many points, that so it may be thoroughly aroused and awakened; of exciting, that is, compunction of the soul, real remorse of conscience for past as well as for present coldness and dryness. It must be a very hard heart, indeed, which is not moved by these "Considerations"so touchingly simple are they, so plain, and so wholly true. They deal with such doctrines and facts as have an universal application, which admit of no dispute, and which are always confirmed by some passage from Holy Scripture. It must be allowed, on all hands, that it is necessary for the soul to be aroused to feel its own needs, to regard its own wounds, that so it may be directed to a source where these needs can be supplied, and these wounds be healed. One great aim of this Treatise, is to arouse, as well as to direct the mind, to lead it to consider its own wants, and to seek by prayer to have those wants supplied. The book is essentially a guide to prayer. It represents, from its beginning to its end, the continual outpouring of heart before God; an outpouring that is of times expressed in the very same words which imply, at the same time, a new phase of thought. Regarded as a Manual of Mental Prayer, each of these "Considerations" has a technical and special signification. They treat of life and death, of the value of time, of the mercy of God, of the habit of sin, of the general and particular judgments, of the love of God, of the Holy Communion, and of kindred subjects equally important. The "Consideration,"as here used, implies far more than a mere inquiry. Its equivalents, the Italian Consideration, and the Latin Consideration, do not fully express its particular meaning in this Treatise, where it stands for a reflectional meditation. It calls into play the exercise of the memory, which puts together all the circumstances of the subject under notice; it excites the imagination, which represents, as in a picture, all such circumstances, bringing them vividly before the mind's eye; and, lastly, it urges the will so to fix and detain these things in the soul, that, by its own effort, it may unite itself with the will of God, so that God's will and the will of man may become one.
THIS volume contains the quintessence of the science of the saints. It gives a correct idea of the spirit, of the heart, and of the talent of Saint Alphonsus: one might say that in it his whole soul is poured out. The entire work is divided into three parts. In the first, we resume, under another form, the considerations on the eternal truths or the Last Things, treated at greater length in the preceding volume. The second part traces and paves the way that leads to divine love, or to sanctity and true happiness, and inspires us at the same time with the desire, the zeal, and the courage to undertake everything to reach this end. The third part transports us to the summit of the holy mountain, or Christian perfection, shows us in detail the mysteries of the interior life, and enables us to breathe its sweetest perfume. Some persons have objected that the writings of Saint Alphonsus contain many repetitions. This is true in regard to the ascetical works; but these repetitions are not useless. There is no question here of a study, a scientific work done for the sole purpose of exercising the mind. It is a food destined to give strength to the life of the soul. Each one takes for himself every day the amount that agrees with his spiritual temperament. But let us hear what the author himself says in regard to this matter: “I entreat my readers not to grow weary if in those prayers they always find petitions for the grace of perseverance and the grace of divine love. For us, these are the two graces most necessary for the attainment of eternal salvation.” He also says: “One should not find it tiresome that I repeat the texts that I have already cited several times. . . . The authors of pernicious books, who treat of obscene things, reproduce even to satiety their impure sallies in order to inflame their imprudent readers with the fire of concupiscence; and should it not be permitted to me to repeat sacred texts that are most suitable to inflame souls with divine love?” Ah, let us never grow tired of reading and meditating on what the holy bishop has had the patience to write so many times for our benefit.—ED. Includes 97 Meditations for all times of the year. 45 Pious Reflections on different points of Spirituality and Seven Treatises by a Doctor of the Church, St Alphonsus M Liguori, CSSR.
THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST I. The sacrifices of the Old Law were figures of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ 8 II. Fulfilment of the prophetic figures 11 SHORT EXPLANATION OF THE PRAYERS OF MASS 15 HEARING MASS 36 PIOUS EXERCISE to acquire the proper disposition for making a good Confession 39 ACTS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. I. Preparation for Communion 44 Acts before Communion 46 II. Thanksgiving after Communion 49 Acts after Communion 50 LOVING ASPIRATIONS to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Before Communion 56 After Communion 63 HYMNS Holy Communion. 72 To Jesus after Communion 73 VISITS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT AND TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. To MARY 75 INTRODUCTION 77 The Visit to the Most Holy Sacrament. 77 The Visit to the Blessed Virgin. 81 Spiritual Communion. 82 Manner of Making the Visits 84 VISITS for every day in the month 87 HYMNS Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament enclosed in the Tabernacle, 150 The visit to Jesus on the altar 151 MEDITATIONS FOR THE OCTAVE OF CORPUS CHRISTI. I. The love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament 153 II. Jesus remains on the altar, that every one may be able to find him 154 III. The great gift which Jesus has made us by giving himself to us in the Blessed Sacrament 156 IV. The great love which Jesus Christ has shown us in the Blessed Sacrament 157 V. The union of the Soul with Jesus in Holy Communion 158 VI. The desire which Jesus Christ has to unite himself to us in Holy Communion 160 VII. Holy Communion obtains for us perseverance in divine grace 162 VIII. Preparation for Communion and Thanksgiving after it. 163 NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART. Notice on the devotion to the adorable Heart of Jesus 165 MEDITATIONS. I. The amiable Heart of Jesus 169 II. The loving Heart of Jesus 171 III. The Heart of Jesus Christ panting to be loved 173 IV. The sorrowful Heart of Jesus 175 V. The compassionate Heart of Jesus 177 VI. The generous Heart of Jesus 179 VII. The grateful Heart of Jesus 180 VIII. The despised Heart of Jesus 182 IX. The faithful Heart of Jesus 184 AFFECTIONS of love towards the Heart of Jesus 186 HYMNS The loving Spouse 188 The loving Spouse in the Heart of Jesus 189 THE PRACTICE OF THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST. INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. 218 CHARITY IS PATIENT. He that loves Jesus Christ loves sufferings. (Patience) CHAPTER II. 226 CHARITY IS KIND. CHAPTER III. 232 CHARITY ENVIETH NOT. CHAPTER IV. 237 CHARITY DEALETH NOT PERVERSELY. CHAPTER V. 257 CHARITY IS NOT PUFFED UP. CHAPTER VI. 263 CHARITY IS NOT AMBITIOUS. CHAPTER VII. 267 CHARITY SEEKETH NOT HER OWN. CHAPTER VIII. 281 CHARITY IS NOT PROVOKED TO ANGER. CHAPTER IX. 287 CHARITY THINKETH NO EVIL, REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY, BUT REJOICING WITH THE TRUTH (CONFORMITY TO GOD'S WILL) CHAPTER X. 298 CHARITY BEARETH ALL THINGS. CHAPTER XI. 309 CHARITY BELIEVETH ALL THINGS. CHAPTER XII. 313 CHARITY HOPETH ALL THINGS. CHAPTER XIII. 321 He that loves Jesus Christ with a strong love does not cease to love him in the midst of all sorts of temptations and desolations ABSTRACT of the virtues treated of in this work, to be practised by him who loves Jesus Christ 338 NOVENA to the Holy Ghost 345 MEDITATIONS. I. Love is a fire that inflames the heart 345 II. Love is a light that enlightens the soul 347 III. Love is a fountain that satisfies 348 IV. Love is a dew that fertilizes 349 V. Love is a repose that refreshes 350 VI. Love is the virtue that gives strength 351 VII. Love causes God to dwell in our souls 352 VIII. Love is a bond that binds 354 IX. Love is a treasure containing every good 355 X. The means of loving God and of becoming a saint 356 Pious EXERCISE to obtain the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost 360 HYMN 37
Taking, then, for granted that prayer is necessary for the attainment of eternal life, we should consequently, also, take for granted that everyone has sufficient aid from God to enable him actually to pray, without need of any further special grace; and that by prayer he may obtain all other graces necessary to enable him to persevere in keeping the Commandments, and so gain eternal life; so that no one who is lost can ever excuse himself by saying that it was through want of the aid necessary for his salvation. For as God, in the natural order, has ordained that man should be born naked, and in want of several things necessary for life, but then has given him hands and intelligence to clothe himself and provide for his other needs; so, in the supernatural order, man is born unable to obtain salvation by his own strength; but God in His goodness grants to every one the grace of prayer, by which he is able to obtain all other graces which he needs in order to keep the Commandments and to be saved. But before I explain this point, I must prove two preliminary propositions. First, that God wills all men to be saved; and therefore that Jesus Christ has died for all. Secondly, that God, on His part, gives to all men the graces necessary for salvation; whereby every one may be saved if he corresponds to them. Chapter I 5 God Wishes All Men to be Saved and Therefore Christ Died to Save All Men Introduction 5 I. God Wishes All Men to be Saved 6 Decision of the Church 6 The Celebrated Text of St Paul 8 Other Texts of Scripture 12 General Consent of the Fathers 15 II. Jesus Christ Died to Save All Men 17 The Testimony of Holy Scripture 18 The Teaching of the Holy Fathers 19 III. Children Who Die Without Baptism 24 Chapter II 27 God Commonly Gives to All the Just the Grace Necessary for the Observance of the Commandments and to All Sinners the Grace Necessary for Conversion I. Proofs 27 Teaching of the Fathers of the Greek Church 28 Teaching of the Fathers of the Latin Church 29 Testimony of Holy Scripture 32 II. Obstinate or Hardened Sinners and the Abandonment of Them by God 35 Chapter III 46 Exposition and Confutation of Jansenius's System of "Delectation Relatively Victorious" I. The System of Jansenius 46 Refutation of the First Proposition 48 Refutation of the Third Proposition 55 II. The Doctrine of St Augustine on the "Victorious Delectation" and on the Free Will 58 III. Continuation of the Refutation of Jansenius and of his Adherents 65 Chapter IV 79 God Gives All Men the Grace to Pray If They Choose, as the "Sufficient Grace" Which is Common to All Men is by Itself Enough for Prayer I. The Principle Theologians Who Teach This Doctrine 79 II. Authority Upon Which This Doctrine is Based 88 Holy Scripture 88 The Council of Trent 89 The Holy Fathers 94 III. Reasons That Justify This Doctrine 101 Conclusion 110 Devout Practices 112 Prayer to Obtain Final Perseverance 113 Prayer to Jesus Christ to Obtain His Holy Love 114 Prayer to Obtain Confidence in the Merits of Jesus Christ and in the Intercession of Mary 116 Prayer to Obtain the Grace of Being Constant in Prayer 118 Prayer to be Said Every Day to Obtain the Graces Necessary for Salvation 120 Thoughts and Ejaculations 123 Hymn: Invocation of the Blessed Virgin in Time of Temptation 126
The saint himself tells us that his book is suitable not only to nuns, but also to all members of the religious state, in that which refers to the observance of the vows, regular discipline, and the perfection of their state. As for the practice of Christian virtues, the work will be found highly useful even for seculars. We add that this volume should with greater reason be serviceable to ecclesiastics, especially to those that are charged with the difficult task of directing souls in the spiritual life; they may draw therefrom lights that may not perhaps be found as clear and as sure elsewhere. CONTENTS THE APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION 6 NOTICE 7 THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE 10 CHAPTER I. - THE MERIT OF VIRGINS WHO HAVE CONSECRATED THEMSELVES TO GOD 11 1. They become like the Angels, and are the Spouses of Jesus Christ 11 2. How much more Happy are Virgins than Married Women even in this Life 13 3. Excellence of Virginity 16 CHAPTER II. THE ADVANTAGES OF THE RELIGIOUS STATE 26 CHAPTER III THE RELIGIOUS SHOULD BELONG ENTIRELY TO GOD 41 CHAPTER IV. THE DESIRE OF PERFECTION 55 CHAPTER V. THE DANGER TO WHICH AN IMPERFECT RELIGIOUS, WHO IS BUT LITTLE AFRAID OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF HER IMPERFECTIONS, EXPOSES HER SALVATION 68 CHAPTER VI. CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT 78 CHAPTER VII. INTERIOR MORTIFICATION, OR ABNEGATION OF SELF-LOVE OBEDIENCE 89 I. Necessity of combating Self-love. Practical Rules 89 II. Detachment from Self-will 98 III The Merit of Obedience 105 IV The Obedience Due to the Superiors 110 V. The Obedience due to the Rule 118 FIRST EXCUSE 119 SECOND EXCUSE 121 THIRD EXCUSE 122 FOURTH EXCUSE 124 VI. The Four Degrees of Perfect Obedience 131 THE FIRST DEGREE 131 THE SECOND DEGREE 133 THE THIRD DEGREE 134 THE FOURTH DEGREE 136 CHAPTER VIII. EXTERIOR MORTIFICATION 142 I. Its Necessity and Advantages 142 II. The Mortification of the Eyes, and Modesty in General 150 1. MORTIFICATION OF THE EYES 150 2. MODESTY IN GENERAL 155 III. The Mortification of the Appetite 159 IV. The Mortification of the Sense of Hearing, of Smell, and of Touch 169 CHAPTER IX. RELIGIOUS POVERTY 173 I The Vow of Poverty, the Perfection of Poverty, and Community Life 173 II. The Degrees and the Practice of Perfect Poverty 182 FIRST DEGREE 182 SECOND DEGREE 183 THIRD DEGREE 188 FOURTH DEGREE 190 CHAPTER X. DETACHMENT FROM RELATIVES AND OTHER PERSONS 193 I. Detachment from Relatives 193 II. Detachment from Seculars, and even from the Sisters. 200 CHAPTER XI HOLY HUMILITY 208 The Advantages of Humility 208 II. The Humility of the Intellect or of the Judgment 214 III. Humility of the Heart or of the Will 221 IV. Continuation of the Same Subject, and especially Patience, in bearing Contempt 229 CHAPTER XII FRATERNAL CHARITY 240 The Necessity of this Virtue, and its Practice in our Thoughts and Sentiments 240 PRACTICE OF CHARITY IN OUR THOUGHTS AND SENTIMENTS 243 II. The Charity to be Practised in Words 246 III. The Charity to be Practised in Works, and towards Whom it is to be Practised 254 CHAPTER XIII. PATIENCE 263 Patience in General 263 II. Patience in Sickness, Poverty, Contempt, Persecutions, and Spiritual Desolation 273 I. PATIENCE IN SICKNESS 273 2. PATIENCE IN POVERTY 276 3. PATIENCE IN CONTEMPT AND PERSECUTIONS 278 4. PATIENCE IN SPIRITUAL DESOLATION 279 5. A FEW PRACTICAL COUNSELS 281 III. Patience in Temptations 283 CHAPTER XIV. RESIGNATION TO THE WILL OF GOD 292 I. The Merit of Resignation to the Divine Will 292 II. In what Things we Ought, in a Special Manner, to Resign Ourselves 298 CHAPTER XV. MENTAL PRAYER 306 CHAPTER XVI. SILENCE, SOLITUDE, AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD 324
WE have gathered in this volume all that has reference to the holy ministry of preaching, its importance, the good that it accomplishes, and the manner of exercising it, so that the greatest amount of fruit may be derived from it. In regard to the ministry of preaching, we must distinguish its three parts, namely: The first has for its object PREACHING IN GENERAL, its necessity from a point of view of divine Providence, and the manner in which one should preach in order to make preaching successful under all circumstances; the second regards the MISSIONS, their various exercises, and the means that one should employ to make them a success; the third is INSTRUCTION, or the Large Catechism, which one should use while giving it, and the best method that should be followed in order to interest, to enlighten, and to move others, either during the mission or at any other time. “My dearest Brothers in Jesus Christ: The principal thing that I recommend to you is the love of Jesus Christ. Very much are we bound to love him. For this end he has chosen us from all eternity, and called us into his Congregation, there to love him, and to make others also love him. What greater honor, what greater mark of love, could Jesus Christ have shown us? He has snatched us from the midst of the world, in order to draw us to his love, and that, during the pilgrimage of this life, by which we must pass into eternity, we might think of nothing but of pleasing him, and of bringing those crowds of people to love him who every year, by means of our ministry, abandon sin, and return to the grace of God. It is generally the case that when we begin a mission the greater number of the people of the place are at enmity with God, and deprived of his love; but five or six days have scarcely elapsed when, behold, numbers, as if roused from a deep sleep, begin to listen to the exhortations, the instructions, and the sermons; and when they see that God offers them his mercy, they begin to weep over their sins, and conceive the desire of being reconciled with him; the way of pardon is opened before them, and seeing it, they begin to abhor that manner of life which they had previously loved; a new light begins to shine upon them, and a peace hitherto unknown touches their hearts. Then they think of going to confession, to remove from their souls those vices which kept them separated from God; and whereas before a Mass of a quarter of an hour appeared to them too long, five decades of the Rosary too tedious, and a sermon of half an hour unendurable, they now gladly hear a second and a third Mass, and they are sorry when the sermon, which has lasted an hour and a half, or perhaps two hours, is over. And of whom does the Lord make use, if not of us, to work so wondrous changes, and to bring the people to delight in those very things that before they despised? When the mission is over, we leave in the place two or three thousand persons who love Almighty God, who before were living at enmity with him, and who were not even thinking of recovering his grace.” And while, on the one hand, the holy Founder of an Order which is altogether apostolic has accomplished and is still accomplishing so much good by his word; on the other hand, by his admirable writings, which have raised him to the rank of Doctor of the universal Church, he does not cease to preach, every day, with the greatest fruit, to a countless number of souls in all parts of the world. ED.
The History of Heresies and Their Refutation by St Alphonsus M. Liguori. Unedited Reprint of 1857 edition. Some references in Latin, the rest of the book is in English. In the First part, St Alphonsus M Liguori goes over the History of Heresies. A supplementary chapter was added by the translator of the Heresies of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. In the Second Part, the Refutation of Heresies, the Holy Author comprises, in a small space, a vast amount of Theological information; in fact, there is no Heresy which cannot be refuted from it. 648 pages.
It will be seen that the following Manual of Devotion consists of a series of chapters or instructions upon important points of Christian teaching, which are called "Considerations."These Considerations are written for the purpose of pricking or of wounding the conscience, it may be in many points, that so it may be thoroughly aroused and awakened; of exciting, that is, compunction of the soul, real remorse of conscience for past as well as for present coldness and dryness. It must be a very hard heart, indeed, which is not moved by these "Considerations"so touchingly simple are they, so plain, and so wholly true. They deal with such doctrines and facts as have an universal application, which admit of no dispute, and which are always confirmed by some passage from Holy Scripture. It must be allowed, on all hands, that it is necessary for the soul to be aroused to feel its own needs, to regard its own wounds, that so it may be directed to a source where these needs can be supplied, and these wounds be healed. One great aim of this Treatise, is to arouse, as well as to direct the mind, to lead it to consider its own wants, and to seek by prayer to have those wants supplied. The book is essentially a guide to prayer. It represents, from its beginning to its end, the continual outpouring of heart before God; an outpouring that is of times expressed in the very same words which imply, at the same time, a new phase of thought. Regarded as a Manual of Mental Prayer, each of these "Considerations" has a technical and special signification. They treat of life and death, of the value of time, of the mercy of God, of the habit of sin, of the general and particular judgments, of the love of God, of the Holy Communion, and of kindred subjects equally important. The "Consideration,"as here used, implies far more than a mere inquiry. Its equivalents, the Italian Consideration, and the Latin Consideration, do not fully express its particular meaning in this Treatise, where it stands for a reflectional meditation. It calls into play the exercise of the memory, which puts together all the circumstances of the subject under notice; it excites the imagination, which represents, as in a picture, all such circumstances, bringing them vividly before the mind's eye; and, lastly, it urges the will so to fix and detain these things in the soul, that, by its own effort, it may unite itself with the will of God, so that God's will and the will of man may become one.
THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST I. The sacrifices of the Old Law were figures of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ 4 II. Fulfilment of the prophetic figures 8 SHORT EXPLANATION OF THE PRAYERS OF MASS 13 HEARING MASS 39 PIOUS EXERCISE to acquire the proper disposition for making a good Confession 42 ACTS FOR HOLY COMMUNION. I. Preparation for Communion 48 Acts before Communion 51 II. Thanksgiving after Communion 55 Acts after Communion 56 LOVING ASPIRATIONS to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Before Communion 64 After Communion 73 HYMNS Holy Communion. 84 To Jesus after Communion 85
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