THE IMAGE OF GOD IN THE MORAL OF SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI

Abstract

This paper deals with the image of God in Saint Alphonsus Liguori. Within the propositional studies of this Doctor of the Church, there is a historical-ideological contrast with another important theologian of his time: Jansenius. Here, it is proposed that St. Alphonsus’ theology recovers the most important biblical aspect of the Gospels, God’s love for mankind, in counterpoint to the theological ideology predominant in academic discussion and in the practice of men in the 18^th century, the rigorist Jansenism that imposed on men a life full of precepts and the fear of God above God’s love for man. Recovering this aspect, St. Alphonsus revalued the core of the Gospel of Jesus and proposed a morality of salvation and redemption of man, not of punishment and fear.