Bernard of Clairvaux affirmed long ago, there are four degrees of love.
First, we learn to love ourselves for our own sake.
Second, we learn to love God for our own sake.
Third, we gradually learn to love God for God’s sake.
Fourth, we learn to love ourselves for God’s sake.
True love is loving God above all else, for God’s sake alone.
True love is loving others for God’s sake.
True love is also loving yourself for God’s sake.
In this virtue of love, God is loved for God’s sake alone, above all other creatures and things on earth.
The heart of love is being loved by God and learning to love ourselves for God’s sake. This love is discovered in the naked movement of your soul toward God.
REFLECTION QUESTION: What is your understanding of love?
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