Problematyka nadziei w wybranych podręcznikach teologii moralnej
The Concept of Hope in Selected Textbooks of Moral Theology

Summary/Abstract: This article addresses the evolving understanding of hope - one of the theological virtues - in moral theology textbooks. It begins with works that served this purpose even before moral theology emerged as a distinct discipline and moves through textbooks dating from the 17th century, through the 20th century, up to the present day. The starting point is the Jubilee Year 2025, celebrated under the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope,” which offers an opportunity for deeper reflection on this concept. The research question focuses on how hope has been and is currently presented in moral theology textbooks and what stages and directions of this reflection can be identified. The method applied involves a comparative analysis of selected classical and contemporary textbooks, as well as earlier theological-moral works. The criterion guiding the analysis is a substantive approach that considers how hope is understood (as a virtue, commandment, or spiritual disposition) and what its place in the exposition of moral theology and moral life is. The sources include representative textbooks and works by authors such as St. Augustine, Peter Lombard, St. Thomas Aquinas, Juan Azor, St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Johann Michael Sailer, Johann Baptista von Hirscher, and Fritz Tillmann, as well as writings from the immediate pre- and post-conciliar period up to the present day. The article demonstrates that although the concept of hope has undergone significant development, it remains a key category for understanding Christian morality, and contemporary interpretations represent both a continuation and a re-interpretation of the theological tradition.

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