Saint Who?
Saints Who Studied Law
It is surprising how many saints have studied or practiced law. While it’s clear that many occupations contribute to the common good of a society, there are special reasons to learn from lawyer-saints.
Around the world, saints who studied law have helped to elevate the cultures in which they lived. Every culture establishes laws, typically based on an understanding of what constitutes a good society. For example, in the Roman empire, slavery and the worship of pagan gods were considered essential. Over the centuries, laws governing that former empire became transformed by Christian principles. That dramatic change was brought about by the power of Jesus Christ and his Church, but it was also the work of individuals, many of them lawyers, who believed that human law should be guided by divine law. The Ten Commandments, after all, are fundamental laws governing human behavior with respect to both God and man.
One of the most famous Catholic saints who worked in the law was Alphonsus Liguori. Young Alphonsus decided to leave his successful legal career after he made a mistake in court. When he became a priest, his legal experience came in handy as he tried to help both clergy and laity not only to avoid making serious moral mistakes, but also to pursue the good revealed by God.
