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Alphonsus Liguori

frequented the theatre out of spiritual coldness, but preserved from sin

Alphonsus had never ceased to distinguish himself in the practice of virtue ; nevertheless, he confessed in his old age, that, at this period of his life, his piety became cold, and that he was in danger of losing his soul and his God. His father obliged him to accompany him into society ; he frequented the theatres; and often, although always out of obedience, he took part in a private play. Added to these, though innocent, yet dissipating, amusements, were the applauses he received on all sides, the proposals of marriage, the compliments which were showered upon him by ladies and their relations: in short, every thing flattered his passions, his heart was tainted, and he lost his first fervor. In this state of spiritual coldness, the slightest cause was sufficient to make him omit some one of his pious practices: he has said himself, that if he had remained much, longer in this dangerous position, he could not have avoided soon falling into some great sin. But the watchful eye of Providence failed not to send him timely aid, and, with a peculiar and paternal care, made him enter into himself.

Alphonsus was on terms of the most intimate friendship with D. F. Cape-Celalro, Duke of Casabona, a young man of his own age. The young nobleman, alarmed at seeing his friend beginning to be negligent in the service of God, and wishing to rekindle his own fervor, proposed that he should join him in making a retreat during Lent, in the house of the Missionaries of St. Vincent of Paul. Alphonsus, with his friend and some others, went there on the twenty-sixth of March, 1722. He was among those who profited most. Grace knocked at the door of his heart, making him feel how he had fallen from his first fervor: he saw, that, in following the world, he was pasturing on vanity, and that he was loving God but in an imperfect manner. The Divine Light penetrated his soul at a propitious moment. He deplored his tepidity, and made a solemn promise to God to quit that mode of life, which he had so inconsiderately engaged in, and over which he lamented and wept. He always acknowledged, that this retreat had been for him one of the greatest blessings he had ever received from the Divine Majesty, and often said, that, under God, he owed it to his friend Cape-Celatro, that he had not been the slave of the world and a prey to his own passions.

From the manner in which he sometimes spoke of this period of his life, we might be led, at the first glance, to imagine he had lost his innocence; but it was not so. The Saints always speak in exaggerated terms of their faults ; and besides, we have the testimony of many who directed his conscience, that he had never committed a mortal sin. On one occasion, speaking of himself, he said; " I have frequented the theatres ; but thanks be to God, I never committed even a venial sin there, for I went to hear the music, which absorbed all my attention, and hindered me from thinking of any other thing." Even at this time, every one regarded him as a young man of pure and irreproachable nanners ; and one of his intimate friends, on being asked, whether he had ever perceived any lightness in his conduct, replied, bowing his head respectfully : " No, he was always a most virtuous young man : I should blaspheme, if I said otherwise."

harpsichord

His father, who was exceedingly fond of music, wished him also to excel in that art, and gave orders that he should apply himself three hours daily to the study of it with a master. Thus before Alphonsus had attained his twelfth year, he touched the harpsichord with great skill. In his later years he regretted the time he had spent in acquiring this accomplishment. " Fool that I ihave been," said he one day, looking at the harpsichord, to have lost so much time on that; but it was right to obey my father, he would have it so." He excelled so much both in music and poetry, that even in his old age he wrote and composed wonderfully well. This his talent is apparent in the numerous hymns he composed, among which are many that force us to recognise in them the hand of a master.

Being asked one day, by a priest, to play the harpsichord, he replied: " What will be said, if I pass my time at an idle instrument, in place of employing it in thinking of my diocese. My duty, arid that of every bishop, is to give audience to all, to pray, to study, and never to play the harpsichord."

http://archive.org/stream/thelifeofstalpho00tannuoft/thelifeofstalpho00tannuoft_djvu.txt

Before he became a bishop, he used often play on the harpsichord or piano at the community recreation, especially when the young students were present, to amuse them and teach them to sing his hymns ; and of these in struments he was a perfect master ; but while he governed St. Agatha he entirely denied himself that innocent pleasure.

But the accomplishment in which his father was most desirous Alphonsus should excel, was music. For three hours a day, the boy was obliged to practise under the eye of an able master, and the count was so passionately fond of music, that he generally assisted at the lesson himself; if business required his presence else where, he would lock the door on teacher and pupil that it might not be abridged. The result of this severe discipline of the extraordinary musical talent of the youth was, that he touched the harpsichord with the hand of a proficient before he had attained his twelfth year. He was equally successful in Latin and Italian poetry ; and was accustomed even in old age to compose the beautiful hymns by which he sought to reanimate the devotion of the people, and set them to music.

In mature age, he often bewailed as lost the time he had devoted in youth to the study of music. " Fool that I was," he one day exclaimed, looking at his harpsichord, " to have wasted so much time on that ! but my father would have me perfect myself in music, and I was obliged to obey him." His poetical genius would probably have taken a higher flight, had not his aim been rather to foster popular piety than to gratify the cultivated tastes of the few ; yet many of his canticles are of rare and touching beauty, and give incontestable evidence of a high order of talent.

One day a priest asked him to play the harpsichord, an instrument on which he greatly excelled. " What ! " he exclaimed, " ought it be said of a bishop that he passes his time playing on an idle instrument instead of thinking of his diocese ? It is my duty, and the duty of every bishop, to give audience to all, to pray, to study, but not to play the harpsichord."

http://archive.org/stream/thelifeofstalpho00carruoft/thelifeofstalpho00carruoft_djvu.txt