CHAPTER III.ALPHONSUS FOLLOWS THE PROFESSION OF LAW—HIS FATHER’S PROJECT OF MARRYING HIM.

ALPHONSUS HAD NOT YET attained his twentieth year, when he saw himself surrounded by numerous clients, and seated before the tribunals, side by side with the most distinguished advocates. His father’s family, at that time, had many friends and relations among the principal senators. These men of quality, knowing the talents and good conduct of Alphonsus, and his desire of advancement, united all their endeavors to procure him distinguished clients, and he himself knew so well how to gain public esteem, that in a short time the most important causes were confided to him. The rules by which he regulated his conduct as a lawyer, cannot be too generally known; for if they were imitated, the whole face of society would be renovated. They were as follows:

1. Never to accept unjust causes, as being pernicious to conscience, and hurtful to honor.

2. Never to defend a cause by illicit and unjust means.

3. Never to burden clients with superfluous expenses.

4. To defend the causes of clients with the same care as one would his own.

5. To study carefully the details of a process, in order to draw arguments from them that may effectually help the defence.

6. To implore the assistance of God in order to succeed, because he is the protector of justice.

7. If the dilatoriness and negligence of a lawyer prove prejudicial to clients, he must reimburse the loss caused in this way, otherwise he sins against justice.

8. A lawyer must not undertake causes which surpass his talents or his strength, or for which he foresees that he will not have leisure to prepare his defence.

9. Justice and probity should be the characteristics of a lawyer, and he ought to preserve them as the apple of of his eye.

10. A lawyer, who loses a cause by negligence, contracts the obligation of making up all the losses of his clients.

11. In the defence of a cause it is necessary to be truthful, sincere, respectful, and reasonable.

12. The qualities requisite for a lawyer, are knowledge, diligence, truth, fidelity and justice.

Guided by such rules, it is not to be wondered at, that he gained an ascendancy over all hearts, and so enchanted his audience when he spoke, that not only the judges, but even his adversaries, often ranged themselves on his side. Such must ever be the ultimate effects of truth and honor.

If Alphonsus desired to strike out a brilliant path for himself as a lawyer, he was no less anxious to increase in virtue and render himself dear to God. Two years after receiving the gown, he advanced from the Congregation of young nobles to that of doctors, established in the same house of the Fathers of the Oratory. Besides frequenting the Congregation, he often visited F. Pagano, his spiritual director, whom he regarded as his guardian angel. To him he exposed all his doubts and fears, and he never deviated from his counsels; and thus, far from relaxing in his piety and devotion, he daily made more and more progress. He frequented the sacraments, he visited the sick in the hospitals, and loved prayer, to which he joined the mortification of his passions and his senses. He never went to the lawcourts, before he had heard Mass, and finished in the church his other devotional exercises.

While Alphonsus gave himself to piety with so much assiduity, his father was at the same time anxious to confirm him in these dispositions. He wished him annually to make with him the spiritual exercises in the house called Conocchia, kept for this purpose by the Jesuits, or in the house of the Missionaries of St. Vincent of Paul. Alphonsus afterwards spoke of these retreats, as having made a great impression upon him, and of his having drawn from them the most salutary fruits. One of the most precious of these was an especial love for the holy virtue of purity. During the whole period of his youth, no one ever remarked, in his conversations with young companions, a sign, or a word, that could indicate a shadow of impropriety. Every thing about him proclaimed his modesty, by which he edified all around him. He was so jealous for the conservation of this virtue, so dear to the Son of God, that, as his brother D. Gaëtan related, in order to prevent during his sleep even any involuntary movement contrary to it, he put his hands, when going to bed in the evening, into a kind of etui made of paste-board. Afterwards, he used to sleep, holding a cross of wood in his arms, which he did to the end of his days.

A life so exemplary could not fail to produce the most abundant fruits; and although all the good resulting from it in the edification of others, will only be known in heaven, yet it has pleased Providence, that one instance should be upon record—the conversion of a slave in his father’s house. D. Joseph, as commander of the galleys, had several slaves in his service; one of them was selected to wait upon Alphonsus. He soon after manifested an inclination to become a Christian, and when asked what had made him think of such a thing, he replied: “The example of my young master has made a great impression on me; for it is impossible that that religion can be false, which makes him lead a life so pure and holy.” F. Mastrilla, of the Congregation of St. Jerome, undertook to instruct him; but soon after, he became sick and was sent to the hospital. One evening he expressed a great desire to see F. Mastrilla immediately. Upon his arrival, he requested to be baptized, saying: “I have seen our Lady, St. Joseph, and St. Joachim, and they have told me I must be baptized now, because they wish to have me in Paradise.” The priest replied that his illness was not dangerous, and besides, that he was not sufficiently instructed. “Let your reverence interrogate me,” replied the slave, “for I am prepared to answer all your questions.” In fact, he replied with the utmost precision and accuracy to every question. He was baptized, and then told to repose a little after the fatigue. “This is not a time to rest,” he said, “for I must go immediately to Paradise.” In about half an hour this poor slave, his countenance radiant with joy, surrendered his pure soul into the hands of his Creator.

Alphonsus was now approaching his twentieth year, and, seeing the progress he daily made in the career of the law, every one prognosticated, that with such distinguished talents, and such powerful family interests, he would soon attain the highest dignity in the magistracy. These rare prerogatives, enhanced by all the qualities that could be wished for in a young nobleman, and joined to irreproachable conduct, made the first families in Naples anxious for him to form a matrimonial alliance with their daughters. Among all the parties who presented themselves, the choice of D. Joseph fell upon D. Theresa, a rich heiress, who was also nearly allied to the family, the only daughter of D. Francis de Liguori, Prince of Presiccio: he expected thereby to acquire for Alphonsus a considerable fortune. The prince regarded it as an honor for his daughter to become the wife of such a young man, and the affair was considered as arranged. As for Alphonsus, he took no part in the matter, and showed not the least intention of marrying. While this affair was in progress, the mother of the princess, contrary to all expectation, became pregnant, and this incident changed immediately the designs of D. Joseph, who no longer found in the marriage the advantages he had originally contemplated for his house. His ardor cooled, and when she was brought to bed of a son, he withdrew himself entirely. At the end of a few months, the infant died, and the father of Alphonsus began again to frequent the house, and to speak of his original proposals. Although they felt themselves aggrieved, the prince and princess were willing to renew the negotiations; but Theresa would not listen to these new proposals. “When my brother was alive,” said she, “I was not considered a suitable match for Alphonsus de Liguori; but now he is dead, they think it advisable—it is my fortune they seek, and not myself. I know enough of the world; and now I wish to have nothing more to do with it. I desire to take Jesus Christ for my spouse.” She entered into the convent of the Nuns of the Holy Sacrament, or of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, and took the veil on the eighth of March, 1719. This rupture between Alphonsus and Theresa was an arrangement of Providence, to withdraw both of them from the dangers of the world. Theresa, from the moment she entered the convent, gave herself entirely to Jesus Christ, and spared no sacrifice in order to please Him. Her life was short, but full of merits, and she died in the odor of sanctity, the 30th of October, 1724. Soon after her death, Alphonsus, at the request of the Superior of the convent, wrote the edifying life of her, who had been intended for his wife.

A circumstance occurred about this time which shows the perfect submission of Alphonsus to his father. One evening there was at the house a party of ladies and gentlemen, and it happened that one of the domestics showed stupidity in attending to the guests. D. Joseph scolded the servant, and reproached him with his inattention: it was an involuntary fault, yet he did not cease to express his displeasure with him as he went and came. Alphonsus was sorry for the man, and said to his father: “What a noise you make about it, my father: when once you begin, you can never end.” This speech displeased D. Joseph, who so far forgot himself, as to give his son a blow in the face. Alphonsus was confused, but...