St. Alphonsus Liguori
Antique Holy Card - Anonymous Artist
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696 -1787) has influenced most Catholics today, even if they don't know it. One of the most widely read Catholic authors of all time, his book Moral Theology helped steer the church away for the heresy of Jansenism with its legalisms, and instead took the Church towards the gospel ideals of genteleness and kindness. He also helped remove pompous oratory from the pulpit, replacing it with simplicity and directness.
For his contribution to the Faith, he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1871, one of only a few dozen of the faithful ever so named. His booklet, "The Way of the Cross," has guided many of us even to this day as we pray the Stations of the Cross. Founded the Redemptorists. Canonized 1839. Patron saint of vocations, theologians, and confessors. Feast Day: August 1. (source: www.franciscanmedia.org)
Of the tens or hundreds of thousands of holy cards made, very few are as beautiful and intricate as this one. The colors and composition are rich and delicious, and it is so expressive! The wizened, slightly stooped Alphonsus looks at us with kind and insightful eyes, while his writings bask in the light of Jesus in the Eucharist. This card was published around the turn of the last century by The Societe of St Augustin, who also published Catholic books in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Paris and Bruges, Belgium.
** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is a white border of about 0.5" inch for 5x7", 1.3" for 8.5x11", or 1.6" for 11x14" pictures. All Approx! Fine art printers do this because the images are almost never the same rectangular ratio of the standard paper sizes. It also gives the prints a finished look, and lets them look good in a frame without a matt.
- Acid-free paper
- Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
- Cardboard backer
- Above story of the art
- Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.
Thanks for your interest!
Sue & John
"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." ~ St. Pope John Paul II
Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text and image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson - Classic Catholic.