POPE LEO RECOMMENDS THE MORAL TEACHINGS/THEOLOGY OF THE GREAT PRE-VATICAN II MORALIST AND SAINT

 

It is significant for a new way of promoting the theology of continuity of Vatican II with the Church prior to this pastoral ecumenical council that Pope Leo asks moral theologians to refer to St. Alphonsus Ligurian as their guide.

He navigated a path away from a rigid, Jansenistic approach to morality, not a problem today but in his day it was and what is the actual problem today, moral laxness. Just think of Tom Fox at the NCR and what he wants and Fr. James Martin and his post-Catholic morality, winks and nods. 

Pope Leo is a genius:

This is an AI breakdown:

moral teachings st alphonsus liguori

The moral teachings of St. Alphonsus Liguori

St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) is known as the founder of the Redemptorists and a Doctor of the Church, particularly renowned for his contributions to moral theology. His teachings are characterized by a balanced approach that emphasized both love and freedom as central to the Christian life, in contrast to the rigid legalism and laxism prevalent in his time. He offered a vision of holiness that was accessible to all, not just those in religious life. 

Here's a breakdown of his key moral teachings:

1. Primacy of love and freedom

• St. Alphonsus believed that love, not fear, should be the primary motivator for Christians.
• He emphasized that God's plan is rooted in love and freedom, not primarily in law and punishment.
• His moral theology encouraged individuals to respond to God's love and freedom with a creative and faithful love for God and neighbor. 

2. Importance of conscience

• St. Alphonsus championed the primacy of conscience against legalistic moralism.
• He stressed the importance of forming a mature and upright conscience by seeking to understand what promotes or hinders genuine love.
• He maintained that in cases of doubt regarding the existence or application of a law, freedom should be favored, provided that such an action aligns with the individual's commitment to loving God and neighbor. 

3. Equiprobabilism

• St. Alphonsus is known for his system of moral reasoning called Equiprobabilism.
• This approach is designed to guide the conscience in cases where there is doubt about whether one is obligated by a particular law.
• Equiprobabilism states that if there are equally probable opinions for and against the existence of a law, it is permissible to act on the less safe opinion, thereby upholding personal liberty. 

4. Holiness in everyday life

• St. Alphonsus promoted the idea that all individuals, regardless of their state in life (married, single, business people, religious), are called to holiness.
• He encouraged integrating love of God and neighbor into daily life as a means to achieve holiness.
• He demonstrated this through his work as a missionary among the poor and neglected, showing that holiness could be found in practical service and compassion. 

5. Practicality and compassion

• St. Alphonsus's moral teachings were characterized by practicality and compassion, recognizing the struggles of ordinary people striving for a moral life.
• He sought to remove unnecessary obstacles on the path to holiness and to offer positive encouragement.
• He emphasized the significance of prayer and devotion to Mary as means to grow in the love of Christ. 

6. Specific teachings

• Usury: St. Alphonsus challenged the traditional condemnation of all lending with interest, arguing that moderate interest was permissible under certain circumstances, based on the practice of good Christians in his time and the universal call to holiness.
• Marital Chastity: St. Alphonsus argued against the rigorous view that marital relations were only permissible for procreation. He asserted that the conjugal act, expressing love and faithfulness, is inherently good and doesn't require a direct intention for procreation to be justified, according to a Redemptorists.uk article.
• Justice and Honesty for Lawyers: He wrote a "Decalogue of the Lawyer", which emphasized the importance of accepting only just cases, avoiding excessive fees, and upholding justice and honesty in legal practice. 

In conclusion, St. Alphonsus Liguori's moral teachings offered a merciful, compassionate, and practical approach to Christian morality, emphasizing the centrality of love and freedom, the importance of conscience, and the universal call to holiness for all people.