The Passion and the Death of Jesus Christ

The Ascetical Works #V

by Alfonso María de Liguori

— A Classic — Includes Active Table of Contents — Includes Religious Illustrations

The lover of souls, our most loving Redeemer, declared that he had no other motive in coming down upon earth to become man than to enkindle in the hearts of men the fire of his holy I am come to cast fire on earth; and what will I but that it be kindled? And, oh, what beautiful flames of love has he not enkindled in so many souls, especially by the pains that he chose to suffer in his death, in order to prove to us the immeasurable love which he still bears to us!

Aeterna Press

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Catholic, Christianity, Spirituality

502 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1773

About the author

Saint Alfonso María de Liguori, CSsR (1696–1787), was an Italian Catholic bishop, spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian.

He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists). In 1762 he was appointed Bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti. A prolific writer, he published nine editions of his "Moral Theology" in his lifetime, in addition to other devotional and ascetic works and letters. Among his best known works are "The Glories of Mary" and "The Way of the Cross", the latter still used in parishes during Lenten devotions.

He was canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871. One of the most widely read Catholic authors, he is the patron saint of confessors.

Reviews

[Noah Calcagno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. I need to read more by him.

[Galicius · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Alphonsus practiced and recommended that we subject pride and passions in our nature by devotions, which he employed to Our Lord, the Holy Eucharist, and Immaculate Mother. He wrote these meditations for both sinners and saints and he recommends that we read the thoughts and prayers in these pages on the Passion of Christ slowly to absorb them into our hearts.

St. Alphonsus quotes Isaias (1. 2) “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have despised me.” We are the children. How can we have the heart to despise Him who showed us so much love? It is for this that He, a God, suffered for us on the cross. St. Paul saw the death of Jesus as a “stumbling-block” for the Jews because they expected a majestic coming to earth. The gentiles did not understand why a God should sacrifice Himself for the sake of His creatures. The sight of crucified Jesus should cause us to lose all desire for and forget all earthly goods.

St. Alphonsus includes prayers and aspirations in these meditations on Christ’s Passion:
“Pardon me, my Lord, first of all, this great sin, to have lived so many years without loving Thee.”

“Draw me: we will run after Thee for the odour of Thy ointments.” (Cant. 1. 3)
“I am resolved, my Jesus, to spend the remainder of my life in loving and pleasing Thee. What have not the saints done to please Thee? They have stripped themselves of their possessions; they have renounced the greatest dignities of the world; they have welcomes as treasures, contempt, torments, and deaths the most cruel that tyrants could invent.”

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of good meditations in here, but also some parts that felt redundant. Maybe it was the arrangement of the Kindle edition-the material wasn't often well organized, which seems like a modern editorial problem. I'll have to find a hard copy and try this again.

[Katlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is 4 stars due to the confusion of the Kindle format. Far be it from me to rate the works of a great saint. The writings themselves are beautiful and helped me to better contemplate the death of Christ.

[Andre Simoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maravilhoso livro de Santo Afonso de Ligorio, Doutor da Igreja. Um compêndio filosófico sobre a Paixão de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, profundo, denso e absolutamente belo e tocante.

[Felipe Queiroz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esse livro de Santo Afonso Maria de Ligório é uma leitura especial para a quaresma, pois nos faz refletir sobre a paixão de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, seu amor por nós e o valor de seu sacrifício para a nossa redenção.
Nesse livro você terá toda a emoção que a escrita de Santo Afonso é capaz de passar.

[Marlene ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simplesmente o essencial para vivenciar uma quaresma proveitosa, não posso recomendar estas meditações mais

[Amy Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I count this book as “read”, I don’t think I’ll ever be done reading it. It’s more of a reflective piece, rather than a book read start-to-finish. It’s one I’ll continue to pick up every once and a while and then put down.
This book is great for meditation!! Especially for beginners like me!
St Alphonsus Ligouri is a new fav for sure

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent meditations on the love of Christ for us, as evidenced by his death on the cross. This is one to read over and over.

[ShepherdsDelight · Rating 5 out of 5]

93/100 (= 5.5/6) ≈ 5 Stars

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Another incredible read from St. Alphonsus! This one's great for Lent! Guaranteed to increase devotion to the Passion!

[Klara Matić · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be read over and over. Maybe the most beautiful book on Jesus' passion ever.

[Luciana Sá · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente obra para todo Cristão que queira meditar sobre a Paixão de Cristo. Excelente para ler durante a Quaresma.

[Kezscribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Os judeus pedem milagres, os gregos reclamam a sabedoria; mas nós pregamos Cristo crucificado, escândalo para os judeus e loucura para os pagãos.”
— I Coríntios 1:22,23

[Katherine Thérèse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for Lent. Another one I try to read every year.