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[ Father Majorano is a native of Morcone, Italy. He was
professed as a Redemptorist on June 29, 1961 and ordained to the priesthood on
July 16, 1969. He earned his License in Theology at the Pontifical Faculty of
St. Aloysius in Napes in 1969 and his Doctorate in Moral Theology at the
Alphonsian Academy in 1977. He has been professor of moral theology at the
Redemptorist Studentate in Colle Sant’Alfonso, Italy and a member of the
Academy faculty since 1977. In June, 2001, Father Majorano was
President of the Alphonsian Academy from 2001 - 2007. - Fr. John Vargas, C.Ss.R.]
My association with the Alphonsian Academy began during the summer months of 1969 soon after my ordination to the priesthood. It was then that my superiors from the Redemptorist Province of Naples informed me that I had been invited to come to Rome to pursue doctoral studies in Moral Theology and then remain as part of the faculty of the Academy. The idea for this invitation originated with Father Dominico Capone, who, having been nominated President of the Academy that same year, quickly began recruiting future faculty members.
Moral Theology was not among my favorite subjects during my seminary theological studies. I was much more attracted to the study of ecclesiology and above all I was attracted to pastoral ministry since I had joined the Redemptorists precisely because of the Congregation’s option for the work of evangelization. It was very significant that my generation lived at the end of the 1960's, a time when tradition and legalism were being strongly challenged.
My years as a student at the Academy influenced me greatly: by the lessons which I attended, theologically profound yet always close to the problems of everyday life; by the family-like atmosphere of dialogue and comparison which the professors made possible; by the active participation which marked student life here at the academy. A singular important facet for me was my close collaboration with Father Bernard Häring and Father Domenico Capone. It is these two men who have primarily influenced the vision of Moral Theology which today I attempt to pass on to my students.
I began teaching at the Academy in 1977. My area of concentration was fundamental moral theology: The relationship between Moral Theology and Spirituality, the pneumatological dimension of human life, conscience and its formation are some of the areas of study I specialized in. Since then my interest in the Moral Theology of St. Alphonsus Liguori has greatly increased. This interest reached a level that I decided to offer a number of courses centered on this theme. I am very pleased that these courses have found an acceptance among the students far surpassing anything I ever expected.
I am more convinced than ever of the need to continually develop and update the fundamental intuitions of Saint Alphonsus and locate them within the context which Vatican II has outlined so that we might realize a moral theology which is:
rooted in concrete daily life which spans ‘the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties’ of people today and especially the poor and all who suffer.
articulated around every person’s desire for their own fulfillment in the light of the horizons which the Paschal Event has opened for all people; that it clearly be Theology, and therefore nurtured by Holy Scripture and rooted in the mystery of Christ.
ready to confront promptly and lovingly the problems which our fast moving society presents, always seeking to provide meaningful and helpful responses.
pastoral in regards to conscience, making concrete that ecclesial service that ‘seeks its own strength - its own hidden foundation - not so much in doctrinal statements and pastoral appeals to vigilance, as much as in ‘keeping one’s gaze fixed on the Lord Jesus’ knowing that ‘only in Him will the true and definitive answers to our moral dilemmas be found’.
All of this, however, in an atmosphere of simplicity and dialogue, so as to allow the students to feel truly welcomed and valued and thus, become motivated to continue their pursuit of moral theology.