St Alphonsus and St Teresa

Today’s saint, the Italian St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), has had a huge influence in the Church as a spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian – and as the founder of the Redemptorist Order to boot.  But it is not widely known that he was one of the great devotees of Teresa of Avila.  For Alphonsus, Teresa was his advocate with Our Lady and his ‘special protectress’ – even his ‘second Mama’ alongside the Virgin.  In 1858 an Act of Consecration to Teresa was found among his papers.  Astonishingly, Alphonsus not only headed his letters – as was common at the time – with the initials J, M, and J (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph) but he also added a T for Teresa.  Our foundress has been finding her way into so many hearts down the centuries, she is undoubtedly one of the most beloved saints of the last five hundred years.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Sue B, Theresa K, Fr Jon

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS - housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – seriously ill

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)