Introduction to Moral Theology

St. Alphonsus, Theol. mor., ed. G., preface to the edition; Vind. Alph. (ed. 2), Preliminary Dissertation and Appendix, 2; Zacharia, Historical, Didactic, Apologetic Dissertation (ed. Theol. mor. S. Alph., III to VII); Muller, Theol. mor. (ed. 9), Introduction; Bouquillon, Introd. ad Theol. fund.; Mausbach, die kath. Moral; Christent. u. Weltmoral.

1. Moral theology is a part of sacred doctrine. Sacred doctrine, according to the opinion of St. Thomas (P. I, q. 1, a. 7), treats all things under the aspect of God, either because they are God Himself, or because they have an order to God. Hence it is called theology, from the two Greek words Theos and logos, which have the same sound as discourse concerning God. It embraces all things which religion (in its broader acceptance) teaches concerning God and concerning divine things, proposing both what things are to be believed and what things are to be done. Dogmatic theology discusses the things to be believed, but moral theology the things to be done.

This latter part is what we here undertake to treat, with St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligorio, Doctor, especially as leader and master, whose "moral theology is most celebrated everywhere on earth, and plainly furnishes a safe norm which directors of conscience may follow."¹ But before we enter upon the work undertaken, we judge that some things must be premised, both concerning the nature, excellence, and necessity of moral theology itself, and concerning its method, history, sources, and partition.