Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor Ecclesiae Universalis in Theologia Moralis ad Impletionem Legis

The Scripture Readings of the Memorial Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori (August 1): Romans 8:1-4 and Matthew 5:13-19 address Christ’s role in the fulfillment of the Law.

The Law was given to us by God through Moses as a moral compass. However, as Paul explains in the below words, our tendency to be more carnal than spiritual puts us at greater risk of violating the Law. In such a condition, the Law would not be fulfilled. In order to overcome this problem, the Father sent the Son, incarnated in the human flesh, as the Christ to us, so that it is possible for the Law to be fulfilled in us while we are in the flesh – if we live a life according to the Holy Spirit, rather than our carnal desires.

For what the law, weakened by the flesh, was powerless to do, this God has done: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for the sake of sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous decree of the law might be fulfilled in us, who live not according to the flesh but according to the spirit (Romans 8:4-5).

So, Jesus declares:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-19).

Yes, Jesus, who is the incarnated Son of God, is the one to fulfill the Law, which has not been consummated due to our sins, as we observe it fully. And this will make us worthy to be greatest in his Kingdom. This way, we can be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-15).

So, what does this have to do with St. Alphonsus Ligouri?

An 18^th century Bishop of Bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti, Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), is “patron of all confessors and moral theologians” as Pope Pius XII puts it.  Alphonsus Liguori is a doctor of the Church for his contribution in moral theology, as St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) is recognized as a doctor of the Church for his contribution in dogmatic theology. One of his major theological works is “Theologia Moralis”, which comes with 9 volumes.

Humility and Christ-centered life are in the undercurrent of Alphonsus’ moral theology.

Therefore, in order for the Law to be fulfilled in us so that we serve Christ as the salt of the earth and the light of the world, for which he was sent by the Father, we must first and foremost be humble and keep Christ at the center of our life. And this is also a life, filled with the Holy Spirit, to reflect Alphonsus’ pastoral zeal and his moral theology.

St. Alphonsus Liguori is also the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris; CSsR ; the Redemptorists), reaching out to the poor and the marginalized with Christ’s words and light. And this is Alphonsus’ way to let the Law be fulfilled in us through Christ, as well.