In the General Introduction to the volume ‘Alphonsus de Liguori-Selected Writings’, in the Classics of Western Spirituality (Paulist Press, 1999), Fr. Frederick Jones, (author of ‘Alphonsus de Liguori, The Saint of Bourbon Naples 1696-1787) writes:
‘There is wide agreement in regard to the main outlines of a synthesis of Alphonsus’ spiritual doctrine. He began with the insistence that holiness and the highest degree of holiness are within the grasp of every human being: ‘God wishes that all should become saints, the priest as priest, those who are married in their married state, those engaged in commerce in the exercise of their business, soldiers as soldiers and so on for everyone else.’ Sanctity is not incompatible with any state of life. Alphonsus preached this doctrine along the streets of Naples, in the country villages, in the piazze of innumerable centres of population. (Note: ‘The Universal Call to Holiness’ is found in Vatican 11 ‘Lumen Gentium Chapter 2. Ed)
