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In Volume 1, Opere Ascetiche di S. Alfonso M. de Liguori, Roma,
1933, "Uniformity with God's Will" is included as one of three
works under the heading, "Lesser Works on Divine Love." There is
no preface in the Italian original. However, it has been thought
well to provide one here.Prof. Candido M. Romano1 says this
brochure was written probably in 1755, as appears from a letter by
the Saint, under date of Nov. 2, 1755, to Sister Giannastasio, at
Cava. Romano goes on to say:
"This (i.e. God's will) was for Alphonsus a theme of predilection,
a theme dearest to his heart. Just as St. Ignatius stressed 'the
greater glory of God,' St. Alphonsus in all his works, gave
prominence to 'the greater good pleasure of God.' Most likely the
occasion that brought forth this treatise was the death, in 1753,
of Father Paul Cafaro, C.SS.R., St. Alphonsus' confessor and
director. The death of this worthy priest deeply affected the
Saint and he expressed his sentiments in a poem on God's will. The
wide acclaim it received may have suggested to him the thought
that a tract on the same subject would be helpful to the souls of
others. If this be true, his surmise proved correct, for the
appearance of his subsequent pamphlet was greeted with instant
favor."
Cardinal Villecourt, in his Life of St. Alphonsus, quotes long
passages from this pamphlet and ends by saying: "Our Saint
frequently read it himself and when his sight had failed he
arranged to have it read to him by others."
This brochure bears the stamp of Alphonsian simplicity of style
and solidity of doctrine. Moreover the instances he cites from the
lives of the saints have a gentle graciousness and contain a
fragrance that is redolent of the Fioretti of St. Francis of
Assisi.
Through God's grace and our Lady's prayers may a diligent reading
of the book bring us far along the way of perfection by the
cultivation of uniformity with God's holy will!
THOMAS W. TOBIN, C.SS.R.
Oct. 16, 1952.
Feast of St. Gerard Majella, C.SS.R.
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