Today, the feast of St. Alphonsus Marie Liguori (1696-1787), we appeal to the mediation of someone who knew how to say "Yes" to the Lord and who took very seriously the words of the Gospel: "You are the salt of the Earth" (Mt 5:13).

Alphonsus, intelligent and studious, belonged to a distinguished family. A lawyer at the age of 19 and a fair-minded man who never loses a case! One day he discovered that he had upheld - without realizing it - a cause that was not fair, and that led him to radically reconsider his life. After a retreat he received the Confirmation. These two events revitalized his fervor. The following year, on two occasions, he heard an interior voice saying: “Leave the world and give thyself to me”. Very soon God confirmed him what was His will.

He went to the Church of our Lady of Mercy to ask to be admitted into the Oratory. That led him to consecrate himself to Our Lady by being in his apostolate a true reflection of his love to the Blessed Virgin. In the words of the Pope Francis: 'Mary is the Mother of 'Yes'. Yes to God’s dream, yes to God’s care, yes to God’s will. It was a yes that, as we know, was not easy to live. That is why we love her so much and find in her a true Mother, one who helps us to keep faith and hope alive in the midst of complicated situations”.

To discover - as St. Alphonsus Mari Liguori did - the authentic "Glories of Mary", is to discover the meaning of following Jesus Christ in fullness, of knowing Him and loving Him, to bring others the joy of the Gospel. Today’s saint generously loved God, the Virgin Mary our Mother and all the people: a good example for us! In our daily prayer we could ask the Lord what He wants from us, and be attentive - as St. Alphonsus Marie was - to respond to his call. Let us be generous! and answer as our Mother in Heaven did: "May it be done to me according to your Word" (Lk 1: 38).