Saint Alphonsus Liguori was a man of many accomplishments. Ordained to the priesthood at the age of thirty, he was a tireless preacher of the Word
of God and a popular writer on theological and spiritual topics. Amid difficult circumstances, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, popularly
known as the Redemptorists. At the age of sixty-six, and suffering from crippling arthritis, he accepted the pope's appointment as bishop of a busy diocese.

Considering all the different kinds of ministry that Alphonsus is known for, it may seem rash to try to pinpoint his greatest achievement. Yet I believe his greatest accomplishment was his ability to preach the gospel and to explain Catholic spirituality in words and images that ordinary people could readily understand. Alphonsus was very practical in his preaching and spiritual direction and, in the truest sense of the phrase, can be called "a pastor of souls."

One of the main emphases in the spiritual direction of Saint Alphonsus might be labeled "growth through virtue."Christians are called to imitate the life and virtues of Jesus Christ, to "put on" Christ in their ways of thinking and acting. In accord with Catholic tradition, Alphonsus saw the three theological (God-directed) virtues of faith, hope, and
charity as pure gifts of grace: gifts of God given to us with sanctifying grace so that we can live and act on the super-natural level. He considered the moral virtues, many
and varied as they are, as gifts that enable us to shape our conscious behavior according to the law of God as revealed to us by Jesus.

 In characteristic fashion, Alphonsus proposed a practical plan that could help the ordinary person grow in this imitation of Christ. He recommended the practice of
the "virtue of the month," that is, highlighting a different key Christian virtue each month and giving special attention to that virtue in one's reading, reflection, prayer, and daily living.

This article presents an overview of the "virtue of the month" according to the pattern proposed by Saint Alphonsus. Those who follow this practical plan of spirituality will discover that it allows the individual a great deal of freedom in applying the "virtue of the month" to the specific circumstances of one's life. The important point, frequently emphasized by Alphonsus, is that the Christian virtues are not theoretical constructs to be admired but practical gifts to be used in living the Christian life.

Faith is God's first gift to us. Faith has many facets and d definitions, but it is, above all, our response to the revelation of God. God has revealed himself  to us in
many ways, but the fullness of his revelation is in Jesus Christ (see Heb 1:1-3). Everything about Jesus reveals God to us: his words and works, his signs and miracles, his death and glorious Resurrection.

During January you might try the following suggestions: first, set aside time for enlarging your knowledge of God's revelation. "This could include a planned reading of the
Scriptures or a study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Next, open yourself in prayer to the Holy Spirit. Alphonsus says: "Let us never cease asking with the apostles, 'Lord, increase our faith.—  Finally, examine how you are living by faith. In the words of Alphonsus, "It is not enough only to believe all that our holy faith teaches us; we must also direct our lives in accordance with our faith."

Hope is centered on God. Through this virtue, we confidently expect the fullness of glory, our eternal destiny, the face-to-face vision of God. For the early Christians, the
anchor was the favorite symbol of hope (see Heb 6:18-19) because it symbolized strength and stability. It reminds us that the stability of our hope comes not from ourselves but rather from our gracious God and our risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

Saint Alphonsus was convinced that we do not sufficiently realize that God has made great promises to us and that we can be sure God will be faithful to those promises.

 During February you could feature the act of hope in your prayers, saying often during the day: "My God, I place my hope in you." You could also frequently make a conscious effort to let go of fears and worries that beset you and place your trust in God, whose love and care rule your life.

The centerpiece of the spirituality of Saint Alphonsus is the "love of God." Reflecting the teaching of the New Testament, Saint Alphonsus identifies two aspects of this virtue called the love of God: God's great love for us and our love for God in return. God's love, manifested especially in the gift of his Son Jesus, is freely and generously lavished upon each of us. The central message of Saint Alphonsus is, Remember how much God loves you!

This priceless gift of God's love for us deserves a response of love on our part. But how can we respond to God's love? There are countless ways, but Saint Alphonsus recommends the way of Jesus himself: "I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me" (Jn 6:38). For us, too, doing the will of our heavenly Father is our way of showing our love for God. This response to God's love must enter the nitty-gritty circumstances of our daily lives.

During March, constantly ask your-self: What is the will of God for me today?

The teaching of Jesus about the great law of love includes not only love for God but also, in an essential way, love for neighbor. (See Mt 22:34-40 and Lk 10:25-28.)
Alphonsus emphasized the reason for this gospel insistence on loving one's neighbor: "Why, there-fore, must we love our neighbor? Because he or she is loved by God! We must love all whom God loves!"

On the practical level, Alphonsus provides two positive and two negative considerations for practicing this virtue. On the positive side, he first encourages the spirit of peace. Though the followers of Jesus Christ, he noted, are from different nations and climes and are of unlike temperament and character, they can live peacefully together, V"f
or love would induce them to practice mutual forbearance." Second, Alphonsus stresses almsgiving. This refers to the religious duty to help the poor and needy—not only out of our abundance but even, if necessary, out of what we consider essential for ourselves.

On the negative side, he strongly cautions against rash judgment. "If you desire to practice the beautiful virtue of charity, strive to reject every rash judgment, every distrust and unfounded suspicion of your neighbor." In addition, he warns against uncharitable speech, for there are many people "who cannot move their tongues with-out wounding
someone." True Christians will avoid calumny and detraction and will always try to say only what is good about their neighbor.

During April, focus on how much God loves you. In addition, become conscious of your comments about others.

 
Jesus identified with the poor. (See Mt 25:35-40.) Alphonsus insisted that we can begin to understand gospel poverty only when we begin to experience "the gracious
act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9).


Alphonsus' writings and preaching reveal his conviction that gospel poverty (what he calls "poverty of spirit and a spirit of poverty " ) demands detachment of the heart from material possessions and worldly power. He encourages us to gain perspective by meditating on death as "the day of loss," when riches and possessions will be no more. He used to encourage young Redemptorists to "clean out their closets " at the time of retreat so they would not clutter up their lives with extra things. Perhaps we can all learn a lesson from this!

This month, why not go through your "riches " and choose one treasure to give away. If you find this too difficult, perhaps you can find a way to use that treasure to help another or to bring joy to someone.

This virtue is concerned not only with self-mastery but also with love and holiness. "This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality, that each of
you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God " (I Thes 4:3-5). Alphonsus saw
the practice of chastity as another way of striving to do God' s will in our lives. He believed that the most subtle dangers regarding chastity were occasions of sin. In his moral theology, Alphonsus refers to occasions of sin that are voluntary (of one' s own choosing and therefore avoidable) and proximate (those that frequently lead a person to sin). He teaches that even sincere Christians fall into sins against chastity because they voluntarily place themselves into proximate occasions of sin. Likewise, avoiding such occasions is one of the most effective ways of growing in chastity.

This month, take time to reflect on the occasions of sin in your life. Pray for the courage to make changes in your life so you can avoid these occasions of sin.

Obedience is the moral virtue that inclines Christians to submit to the law of God in all its manifestations. God alone is the ultimate source of all law. Obedience is a
positive response not only to civil and ecclesiastical decrees but to the authority of God himself? Alphonsus points out that our obedience to human authority can be less than complete (if that authority opposes the authority of God), but our obedience to God must be complete and absolute. Adults—who often think of obedience as primarily a child 's virtue— should carefully reflect on the specific ways in which this virtue can be manifested in the many components of their lives: family, job, neighborhood, nation.

Alphonsus believed that many difficulties of obedience are rooted in false pride. Ask yourself if this is true in your life.

 Christian tradition teaches that one of the most important elements of humility is the ability to accept that we are creatures of God, that God is the source of our talents
and gifts. Humility does not demand that we deny our gifts and talents but rather that we acknowledge from where they come. Alphonsus says, "He who loves
God is not deceived by his own qualities because he knows that whatever he possesses is a gift of God, that without God he possesses only nothingness."

During August you might examine your life in light of these questions: Do I really acknowledge my true relationship with God as Creator and Giver of all gifts? Does this have a real impact on my behavior and on my relationship with others?

Mortification refers to the Christian ideal of dying to self through deliberate restraint of our unruly passions and appetites. It refers to our struggle against evil
inclinations.

Alphonsus distinguishes between external mortification for example, fasting, controlling one's tongue and internal mortification  " the discipline of the heart," overcoming aversions, resentments, dangerous attachments. While both kinds of mortification are important, Alphonsus views the internal as both more demanding and more fruitful for spiritual growth.

During September you might reflect on the resentments or dangerous attachments in your life and pray for the grace to overcome them.

Recollection is not a specific virtue like humility but rather a stimulus to the practice of all the virtues. Its full title is "recollection of the presence of God." Saint Alphonsus
offers this insight: "The more we walk in the presence of God, the better we recognize his beautiful qualities and strengthen his love in our hearts."

October's virtue is a challenge to seek ways of developing this awareness of God's presence in many different ways, to make it part of the rhythm of daily life. Thus, you might make a list of times in a typical day when a few moments of recollection would

Prayer is the heart of the practical plan of spirituality presented by Saint Alphonsus. As the heart pumps life-giving blood to all parts of the body, so prayer enlivens
the whole Christian life. Without it, spiritual growth is impossible.

Of the many aspects of prayer developed in the writings of Saint Alphonsus, two stand out and are appropriate suggestions for practice this month. First, be especially aware of God' s presence in the Eucharist and try to make the sacrament the center of your life. Second, set aside at least fifteen minutes each day for meditation, opening your mind and heart to God.

The cross is a symbolic term for human suffering. Experience had taught Alphonsus that all people suffer in some way; the question is not whether we will suffer, but how. We can respond to the how of suffering by developing a love of the cross—having the spirit of Christ, bearing the cross with gentleness, with cheerfulness, with love.

As you face the challenge of examining your personal sufferings in light of the sufferings of Christ, pray for the courage to accept these sufferings. It is a great challenge indeed!