The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ (A Liguori Classic) [Paperback]

Alphonsus Liguori (Author), Peter Heinegg (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 1999

This inspiring book, reissued in a new translation for the modern reader, is considered to be Saint Alphonsus Liguori's best devotional work. Divided into seventeen small chapters, each preceded by prayers and intercessions, it offers practical prescriptions for living a holy life.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

About the Author

Saint Alphonsus Liguori (b. 27 Sept. 1696, d. 1 Oct. 1787) is best known for his Moral Theology writings. Alphonsus founded the Redemptorist Congregation. He made great pastoral reforms in the pulpit and confessional, replacing the pompous oratory of the time with simplicity. For nearly ninety years he had been a model of holiness, prayer, and mortification. Alphonsus fought against Jansenism, which later became condemned as heretical. He spent twenty-six years on the road preaching in the Kingdom of Naples. Saint Alphonsus was made bishop of Palermo at age 66. His life was filled with illness, eight times, he was administered the sacrament of dying. He was declared "Venerable", 4 May, 1796; was beatified in 1816, and canonized in 1839. In 1871, was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Liguori Publications; 1st edition (September 23, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764800310
• ISBN-13: 978-0764800313
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest exposition of St. Paul's chapter of Love 1Cor13, May 30, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (wake forest, nc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ (A Liguori Classic) (Paperback)

This book is the greatest of the "unknown" Christian classics ever penned. A detailed exposition of the true meaning of chapter 13 of Paul's 1st letter to the Corithian church word by word. What does it mean when we read love is: Patient, Kind, Not Jealous, Not Perverse, Not Boastful, Not Arrogant, Not Irritable, Not Resentful, Bears All Things, Believe All Things, Hopes All Things, Endures All Things. This book makes a Southern Baptist want to be a Catholic if he could love God with all his heart, mind, and soul the way St. Alphonsus has. This book was so great my wife made me get her a copy for her own. If you're serious about loving God with all your heart, mind and soul you gotta get your hands on this book as it can be a roadmap for the journey from your head to your heart.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Christianity, October 15, 2005

By 

Paul Yong (Vancouver, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ (A Liguori Classic) (Paperback)

'The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ' is a masterpiece. St. Alphonsus shows not only why we should love Jesus - but *how* we can love Jesus more. Chapter One is one of the most exquisite summaries of the Gospel that I have ever encountered.

I encourage everyone -- Christian or non-Christian, Protestant or Catholic/Orthodox -- to read this book. It is neither vain philosophy or a superficial 'how to' guide -- it reads like a man so profoundly in love with God that he could not stop the words from pouring out. Although he had a doctorate and is considered one of the greatest moral theologians, he devoted his life to working with the poor and preaching the simple Gospel message of salvation through forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

In this book, St. Alphonsus weaves Sacred Scripture and writings of other Christian writers from St. Augustine to St. Francis de Sales. Many of the quotes are unforgettable. Some examples -- Giorgio Tiepolo: 'Anyone who does not fall in love with God by looking at Jesus dead upon the cross will never fall in love'; and Blessed John of Avila writes of Jesus: 'Great thief of hearts, the strength of Your love has broken even our hard hearts...Let the whole world know that my heart is stricken. Sweetest love, what have you done?...Your love invites me to love You and to never forget You.'

Amen!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How Much Jesus Love Us and How We can Love Him, January 21, 2005

By 

Glutton for books (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ (A Liguori Classic) (Paperback)

Alphonsus Liguori is one of the "doctors" of the Church. He lived during the late 1700s, and his work was written to inspire everyone one; not just one group, such as only the laity or a group of nuns, or a house of monks. The work is not preachy in tone, but written in a gentle explanatory style. He synthesizes knowlege from a variety of Christian sources.

This book is absolutely beautiful; phyisically with the font and cover, and content-wise, with the meaning of the text. The size makes it easily portable.

It is a wonderful tool for meditation. Each chapter contains brief paragraphs that contain exclamations of how much God loves us as demonstrated through Jesus' life, based on actions written in the Bible and their interpretations from writings of the early Christians. Paragraphs within each chapter also instruct us how we can adopt practices of various virtue in order to model our life in a way that pleases Jesus, to correspond with how much Jesus loves us. How to love with patience or how to love without pride...the chpaters correlate with the passage in 1 Corinthinians Chapter 13 about it means to love.

The different nature of the paragraphs work in tandemn to make you feel loved, and then to advise you how to implement this love in your life. It is a great feel-good book. Reading it makes one feel more valued by Jesus, and in turn, more eager to demonstrate to Jesus how appreciative one is of such value.

A great book to read any time, particularly if the phyiscal creatures in your life have you feeling a bit blue and unappreciated. But especially helpful to prepare for Lenten sacrifices or to cultivate an atitude of welcome for any holiday period.