Augustine Quote by Alphonsus Liguori
“St. Augustine and St. Thomas define mortal sin to be a turning away from God: that is, the turning of one's back upon God, leaving the Creator for the sake of the creature. What punishment would that subject deserve who, while his king was giving him a command, contemptuously turned his back upon him to go and transgress his orders? This is what the sinner does; and this is punished in hell with the pain of loss, that is, the loss of God, a punishment richly deserved by him who in this life turns his back upon his sovereign good.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Moral Theology by Alphonsus Liguori, 18th century
Mortal sin is defined as deliberately turning away from God, analogous to disobeying a sovereign ruler, resulting in eternal loss.
In simple terms: Turning away from God is a grave sin that leads to loss of divine communion.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the seriousness of rejecting ultimate good.
Themes
sin
spirituality
authority
eternal consequences
Mood
solemn
reflective
Type
theological
didactic
When to use this quote
- confession
- spiritual direction
- ethical decision making
- leadership challenges
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
free will
theodicy
moral responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile personal autonomy with divine authority?
- What does “turning away” look like in modern life?
A Different Perspective
The concept assumes a literal interpretation of divine punishment, which may not align with all theological views.
![“Before the coming of Jesus Christ, men fled away from God and, being attached to the earth, refused to unite themselves to their Creator. But the loving God has drawn them to Himself by the bonds of love, as He promised by the prophet Osee [Hosea]: "I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with…” quote by Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b20/alphonsus-liguori-3787_adam_before-the-coming-of-jesus-christ-men-fl_281227.jpg)
![“Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul [of Tarsus], Teresa of Avila, Joseph Ratzinger, and Edith Stein-in all their intellectual rigor-as allies in the the struggle against this dismissive atheism.” quote by Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86d/robert-barron-13186_allies_again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheis_35728.jpg)
