"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."

St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next."

St Alphonsus de Liguori

* * *

"To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself. "

Thomas á Kempis

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St Alphonsus de Liguori  (1696 - 1787)

 

PRAYER
The great means of obtaining Salvation and all the graces which we desire of God

by St Alphonsus de Liguori

PART 2 
WHICH PROVES THAT THE GRACE OF PRAYER IS GIVEN TO ALL AND WHICH TREATS OF THE ORDINARY MODE IN WHICH THIS GRACE OPERATES

 
Introduction
 
Ch1. God wishes all men to be saved, and therefore Christ died to save all men.
1. God wishes all men to be saved
    »

Decision of the Church

    » The celebrated text of St Paul
    » Other texts of Scripture
    » General consent of the Fathers
2. Jesus Christ died to save all men
    » The testimony of holy Scripture
    » The teaching of the holy Fathers
3. Children who die without Baptism
   
Ch2. God commonly gives to all the Just the grace necessary for the observance of the Commandments and to all sinners the grace necessary for conversion
1. Proofs
    » Teaching of the Fathers of the Greek Church
    » Teaching of the Fathers of the Latin Church
    » Testimony of Holy Scripture
2. Obstinate or Hardened Sinners and the Abandonment of Them by God
       
Ch3. Exposition and confutation of Jansenius' system of 'delectation relatively victorious'
1. The system of Jansenius
    » Refutation of the first proposition
    » Refutation of the third proposition
2. The doctrine of St Augustine on the "Victorious Delectation" and on the Free Will
3. Continuation of the refutation of Jansenius and of his adherents
       
Ch4. God gives all men the grace to pray if they choose, as the "sufficient grace" which is common to all men is by itself enough for prayer
1. The principle theologians who teach this doctrine
2. The authority upon which this doctrine is based
    » Holy Scripture
    » The Council of Trent
    » The Holy Fathers
    » Reasons that justify this doctrine
    » Conclusion