Liguori, ST ALFONSO MARIA DE, founder of the order of Liguorians or Redemptorists, was born of a noble family at Naples, 27th September 1696, and embraced the profession of the law, which, however, he suddenly relinquished to devote himself entirely to a religious life. He received priest's orders in 1725, and in 1732, with twelve companions, founded the association now called by his name. In 1762 he was appointed Bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti, in the kingdom of Naples, and his life as a bishop was a model of the pastoral character; but shrinking from the responsibilities of such an office he resigned his see in 1775, after which date he returned to his order and continued to live in the same simple austerity as had characterised his early life. He died at Nocera dei Pagani, August 1, 1787, and was canonised in 1839. Liguori is one of the most voluminous and most popular of Catholic theological writers. His works embrace almost every department of theological learning—divinity, casuistry, exegesis, history, canon law, hagiography, asceticism, and even poetry. His correspondence also is voluminous, but is almost entirely on spiritual subjects. The principles of casuistry explained by Liguori have been received with much favour in the modern Roman schools; and in that church his moral theology, which is a modification of the so-called 'probabilistic system' of the age immediately before his own, is largely used in the direction of consciences (see CASUISTRY). Liguori's Theologia Moralis (8 vols.) has been reprinted numerous times, as also most of his ascetic works. The most complete edition of his works (in Italian and Latin) is that of Monza (70 vols.). They have been translated entire into French and German, and in great part into English, Spanish, Polish, &c.
The LIGURIANS, called also REDEMPTORISTS, are a congregation of missionary priests founded by Liguori in 1732, and approved by Pope Benedict XIV. in 1759. Their object is the religious instruction of the people and the reform of public morality by periodically visiting, preaching, and hearing confessions, with the consent and under the direction of the parish clergy. Their instructions are ordered to be of the plainest and most simple character, and their ministrations are entirely without pomp or ceremonial. The congregation was founded originally in Naples, but it afterwards extended to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. In France, England, Ireland, and America, though houses of the congregation have been founded, their place is in great measure occupied by the more active congregation of the Lazarist or Vincentian Fathers (see VINCENT DE PAUL).
See Faber, Life of St Alphonso de Liguori (4 vols. 1849); Meyrick, Moral and Devotional Theology (1857); and a short Life published by Simpkin in 1880.