Our Patron Saints

The main patrons of A Simple House are St. Francis of Assisi and St. Alphonsus Liguori. A Simple House is dedicated to observing Franciscan poverty with an Alphonsian love for the poorest of the poor. As new houses were opened, additional patron saints were assigned to each house.

Sts. Francis and Alphonsus

St. Francis (1182-1226) 

St. Francis was born in 1182 to a middle class merchant family. His upbringing was full of leisure, and he notoriously over-indulged. Pursuing glory and adventure, he became a knight. In a trip to court, Francis was granted a vision which showed armor marked with the cross, and a voice said, “These are for you and your soldiers.” Francis became excited that God was promising him great military success. God corrected Francis’s interpretation with another illness, a repeat of the vision, and marching orders to return home. 

Following this wake-up call, St. Francis fell deeply in love with God. His love for God expressed itself as a deep longing for poverty and he began to associate with the most outcast of his age, the lepers. Everyone thought he had gone mad. His former friends threw mud and rocks at him, and his father beat, bound, and imprisoned him. In a public display, Francis stripped naked on the steps of the Cathedral, and handed his father the clothes.

​Thus, Francis declared himself entirely for God. St. Francis was very suspicious of book learning as a road to holiness, and he held strongly to the conviction that radical poverty was a school of sanctity and grace. He is an example to all who wish to dedicate themselves completely to charity and preaching the Gospel while trusting in providence for all necessities. 

Suggested Readings:  ​
St. Bonaventure. The Life of St. Francis of Assisi, Tan Books and Publishers, Inc.: Rockford, IL 1988. Brown, Raphael.
​The Little Flowers of Saint Francis, Image Books: New York, NY 1458.

St. Alphonsus (1696-1787) ​

St. Alphonsus was born near Naples, Italy in 1696. He was raised with high expectations in a noble family, and began a successful career in law. However, his worldly surroundings made it more and more difficult for him to grow in a proper relationship with the Lord. Under these conditions, Alphonsus grew restless and started to be troubled by the constant nag and uncertainty of vocation. After losing his first case, Alphonsus retired from law at the old age of 26.

While visiting the Hospital for Incurables in August of 1723, he heard an interior voice which said: “Leave the world and give thyself to Me.” Alphonsus then made a solemn promise to follow the Lord in religious life. At the age of 30, Alphonsus was ordained a priest. During his early years as a priest, he did considerable missionary work and affected many people. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (The Redemptorists) in 1732. He did not begin writing books until he was 50 years old. Since then, he has become the most published author in the world (excluding sacred works). Most of St. Alphonsus’s writings are very practical and aimed at inspiring devotion to our Lord in all people.

In 1762, the Pope compelled Alphonsus to become Bishop of St. Agatha near Naples. During his time as bishop, St. Alphonsus reinvigorated the diocese and sold the church’s possessions to feed the poor during a famine. ​The end of St. Alphonsus’ life was marked by intense physical and mental suffering. His infirmity allowed his fellow Redemtorists to take advantage of him. They were reprimanded by the Pope, and all the Redemptorists living in the Kingdom of Naples were dismissed from the order, including their founder. During this time, Alphonsus suffered great temptations to every sin. Some have said that his soul entered a dark night. He died outside the order at the age of 90 never ceasing to praise and raise prayers to God.

 Suggested Readings:  ​
Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Alphonsus Ligouri
St. Alphonsus Ligouri, The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ. Liguori Publications: Liguori, Missouri 1997.