The love of souls. Reflections and affections on the Passion of Jesus

“The Love of Souls” is a classic of spirituality, in which Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori sought to systematically collect “the passages from Sacred Scripture concerning the love that Jesus Christ showed us in his death,” as he himself explains. For the saint, the passion of Jesus is the strongest incentive that should move and inspire us to love our Savior, because everything he suffered, he suffered for each of us. In describing the circumstances of the Passion, Saint Alphonsus emphasizes the subtleties of Jesus’ love, and what moves him most are the sufferings of spirit and heart caused by Judas’s betrayal, Peter’s denial, the disciples’ abandonment, and the ingratitude and indifference of many... Revisiting and meditating on the passion of Jesus under the guidance of Saint Alphonsus is very useful for Christians today: indeed, it is more urgent than ever to rediscover the meaning of one’s life in self-giving to the point of sacrifice, in loving and suffering for others. This precious work will help anyone who reads it attentively and lovingly along the path to holiness.