Grace Thompson
Love is a complex emotion that means different things to different people. According to Catholic teachings, love is a virtue that stems from God and is expressed through self-donation and sacrifice. It is described as willing the good of the other and involves actively choosing to put another's needs before one's own. This definition encompasses various forms of love, including platonic, romantic, maternal, and brotherly love, all of which are unique to each individual. While the concept of love is multifaceted, it is often associated with joy, mercy, and devotion, and it plays a significant role in the Catholic understanding of God and the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sacrifice | Giving of oneself to the beloved |
| Mercy | Willing the good of another |
| Joy | Happiness |
| Charity | Love of God |
| Faith | Belief |
| Hope | Incentive |
| Agape | Love from God |
| Storge | Familial love |
| Philia | Love for friends |
| Eros | Passion |
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What You'll Learn
Love as a virtue
Love is a complex emotion that has been contemplated and debated by philosophers, theologians, and individuals throughout history. According to Catholic teachings, love is a virtue that encompasses sacrifice, mercy, and joy. It is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, with the belief that "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and that we are created in God's image, called to love as He loves. This divine love, or "agape," is an act of self-giving and willing the good of another.
In the Catholic tradition, love is often associated with charity, which is considered one of the theological virtues. St. Paul enumerates charity as the "greatest of these [virtues]" (1 Corinthians 13:13). Charity is defined as a "divinely infused habit, inclining the human will to cherish God for His own sake above all things and man for the sake of God." This definition highlights the selflessness and devotion inherent in the Catholic concept of love.
The Catholic understanding of love extends beyond emotional feelings or passions. Instead, it is an active choice and a deliberate act of the will. St. Thomas Aquinas defines love as "willing the good of the other," emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the needs and well-being of another person. This definition aligns with the idea of agapic love, which involves selflessly giving to another without expecting anything in return.
Love, as a virtue, also encompasses different types of relationships and affections. The ancient Greeks distinguished four types of love: storge, philia, eros, and agape. Storge refers to familial love, the bond between family members and those closest to us. Philia pertains to friendship, chosen due to mutual compatibility and shared values. Eros represents passion and desire, not only in a sexual sense but also aesthetically and spiritually, for what is perceived as beautiful and desirable.
Love, as a virtue, guides Catholics in their relationships and interactions. It is a driving force behind acts of charity, compassion, and self-sacrifice. By emulating God's love, individuals strive to bring goodness and fulfillment to those around them. This virtue is particularly significant in marriage, where a strong Christian bond is believed to be founded on various forms of love, including eros and agape.
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Agape, philia, eros, and storge
The Bible uses four separate terms for love: agape, philia, eros, and storge. These words are all derived from the Greek language, in which the New Testament was originally written.
Agape is considered the superior form of love and is used to describe the love that God has for humanity, as well as the love that husbands are commanded to have for their wives. It is a form of unconditional love that seeks the eternal well-being and interests of others, even at great personal cost. Agape is often described as charitable, sacrificial, and enduring.
Philia refers to friendship or brotherly love, characterised by mutual affection, trust, and camaraderie. This type of love exists between friends or companions who share common interests, experiences, and values. It is considered essential to well-being and is described as the love that most closely resembles Heaven.
Eros refers to romantic or passionate love, characterised by desire, attraction, and intimacy between partners. It is the thrill and excitement felt at the beginning of a new relationship. While eros is subject to constant flux and can fade over time, it is an important part of a marriage relationship and can be supported by the deeper, unchanging love of agape.
Storge refers to natural affection or familial love, such as the love between parents and children, siblings, and other family members. It is described as humble and familiar, often based on shared experiences and kinship bonds.
While these definitions provide a framework for understanding different types of love, they are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and different forms of love can overlap and coexist within relationships.
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Love as sacrifice
Love is a complex concept in Catholicism, encompassing various forms such as storge, philia, eros, and agape. Among these, agapic love, or sacrificial love, stands out as a pivotal aspect of Christian ethics. This type of love goes beyond mere kindness or passion and involves self-donation and sacrifice for the benefit of another.
Sacrificial love, as the name suggests, involves making sacrifices for others. It is rooted in the belief that true love requires us to be willing to give something up or perform an action for the sake of another person. This notion of sacrifice is not about demands, duties, or expectations; instead, it is about freely choosing to put others before ourselves. Sacrificial love is exemplified in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, where he willingly suffered for the salvation of humanity.
In our daily lives, sacrificial love can manifest in various ways. It might mean sacrificing our time to help a friend in need, giving up something we want for the sake of another, or even just being present and accepting people as they are, without trying to change them. This type of love can be challenging, as it often requires us to step outside our comfort zones and make difficult choices.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes the importance of sacrificial love, stating that it is a virtue that inclines us to love God above all else and our neighbors as ourselves. This love is not merely an emotion but a deliberate choice, an act of the will. It is through sacrificial love that we can emulate Christ's example and bring divine love into our world.
Sacrificial love is a powerful testament to the strength of one's devotion and compassion. It is a choice to put others first, to endure suffering for the sake of another, and to find joy in giving without expecting anything in return. This form of love is a cornerstone of Catholic teachings, challenging believers to lead lives characterized by selflessness, mercy, and generosity.
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Love as a commandment
Love is a commandment, and according to St. Paul, it is the greatest of the theological virtues. In the Gospel, Saint John says, "let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God." This means that God is love, and as we are created in His image, we are called to love as He does.
The Catholic Church defines love as a theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His sake and our neighbours as ourselves for the love of God. This is referred to as charity, which is defined as a divinely infused habit that inclines the human will to cherish God above all and others for God's sake. Charity is not just an emotion or feeling but is the very nature of God Himself.
Love is a commandment, and it is a choice we make. We are responsible for our love or lack of it because it comes from our free will and deliberate choice. We are commanded to love, and this means willing the good of another. This is what God does; He loves each of us individually and collectively, and He desires what is good for us.
The different types of love, such as philia, eros, and agape, are important distinctions, especially in the context of marriage. Eros is passion, which can be of a sexual, aesthetic, or spiritual nature. Philia pertains to friendship, chosen because of mutual compatibility and shared values. Agape, the highest form of love, is a generous self-donation without concern for reward, and it is manifested when one person has much to give to another in need.
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Love as willing the good of another
Love is a complex emotion that has been contemplated and debated by theologians, philosophers, and individuals throughout history. According to Catholic teachings, love is a virtue that originates from God and is manifested in various forms. One fundamental aspect of love in the Catholic perspective is the concept of "willing the good of another," which is attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas.
This concept of love goes beyond mere feelings or emotions; it is an act of the will. It entails actively desiring and working towards the benefit and well-being of another person. This definition of love as "willing the good of another" stands in contrast to the modern tendency to view love primarily as a feeling or emotion. By emphasizing the active choice to promote another's good, this definition provides a more objective, enduring, and committed understanding of love.
In the Catholic tradition, the love of God and the love of one's neighbour are intimately connected. Loving God means loving what God loves, which is the good of one's neighbour. This idea is reflected in the biblical commandment to "love thy neighbour as thyself" (Rom. 13:9-10). Thus, loving one's neighbour becomes a way to love and honour God.
Marriage is often cited as an example of this type of love. In the Catholic understanding, marriage involves not only performing loving actions but also a total self-gift, a willingness to give oneself fully to another. This mutual self-donation reflects the love of God, who gives Himself completely to humanity.
However, it is important to note that the concept of "willing the good of another" does not diminish the importance of emotions in love. While love is indeed a choice and an act of the will, it also has a passive aspect where individuals are ""carried away" by their emotions and desire for the object of their love. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of love integrates both the active and passive dimensions, recognizing that love involves both conscious decisions and uncontrollable emotions.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church defines love as a theological virtue, or charity, that places God above all else and one's neighbour as oneself for the love of God.
The Greeks distinguished four types of love: storge, philia, eros, and agape. Storge refers to familial love, philia to friendship, eros to passion, and agape to divine love.
Catholics show love by desiring what is good for others and being concerned about their needs. This can be seen in Jesus' actions of feeding the hungry and sacrificing himself for humanity.
God's love is unconditional and self-giving. He loves each person individually and collectively, and this is the love that Catholics strive to emulate.
