The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee celebrated the feast day of St. Alphonsus Liguori, reminding parishioners of his contributions to moral theology.

“Today is the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, a Doctor of the Church widely known for his contributions to moral theology and for his remarkable kindness,” the diocese posted on Facebook. “He was very intelligent, even as a young boy, excelling in many areas.” 

St. Alphonsus Liguori was born in Italy in 1696, Britannica said.

By the time he was 16, he was a lawyer, and in eight years of practice, his only loss came in his last case, the diocese said, adding that he resigned from the law because he blamed his handling of the evidence for losing that case.

He entered the seminary and six years later he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, or the Redemptorists. Pope Clement XIII appointed him to serve as Bishop of Sant’ Agata del Goti in 1762. St. Alphonsus wrote extensively, focusing on moral theology, devotional writings and dogmatic writings. He died at the age of 90 in 1787 and was canonized in 1839. Pope Pius IX declared Alphonsus a Doctor of the Church in 1871, and in 1950, Pope Pius XII named him the patron saint of moralists and confessors. 

The Redemptorists were a group of priests and religious brothers dedicated to imitating Christ, primarily by serving in missions in rural areas, according to Franciscan Media. Alphonsus is the patron saint of theologians and vocations. 

He published “Moral Theology” in 1748 and later became a bishop. The diocese said, “St. Alphonsus Liguori, please pray for us!" 

Doctor of the Church is an official title that a pope can bestow upon a person who has made lasting contributions to the Church, the Crossroads Initiative reports, and only 37 people have ever been granted this title in the history of the Church. The three requirements to becoming a Doctor of the Church are: “holiness that is truly outstanding, even among saints,” “depth of doctrinal insight,” and “an extensive body of writings which the church can recommend as an expression of the authentic and life-giving Catholic tradition.”