The appearance in English of this major work in moral theology will be regarded as an important publishing event by every student and teacher in the field. Brilliantly conceived and executed, The Law of Christ is a genuine milestone in the renewal of moral theology taking place in our day. Bernard Häring's book has already been translated into several European languages and acclaimed every- where as the archetype of a much desired new-style approach to the subject: a moral theology in the fullest sense, seeking its inspiration in the biblical, patristic, and liturgical sources of Christian moral doctrine at every stage.
The theme of Volume I of The Law of Christ is that the moral life of the Christian properly consists, not simply in the fulfilment of a series of impersonal principles, but in an affirmative response to the call of Christ, an imitation of Him from within as a member of His Body, animated by His Spirit. In this light, Christian moral theology is seen as concerned with the exercise of that divine charity which leads us to do gladly what God wants us to do. Moral theology is not a negative catalogue of sins, but a positive articulation of that good Christian life: "Love is the fulfilling of the law." This doctrine is unfolded against a rich theological and scriptural background, and specific applications are made to the moral problems of our own age.
The complete English version of Bernard Häring's magnificent work will encompass three volumes. While Volume I is necessarily concerned with background and general principles, Volumes II and III take up the problems of special moral theology: the nature and consequences of charity to God as exercised in the virtues of faith, hope, charity, and religion, and prescribed in the first three commandments; the nature and consequences of fraternal charity as itemized in the last seven commandments. The Law of Christ will be of inestimable value to teachers, seminarians, confessors and can give a new vision of the Christian moral life to educated lay readers.