St. Augustine wrote that, “God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us.”
St. Augustine’s words are both simple and profound. God’s love is desirous of each one of us completely.
This is a beautiful thought by itself, but it becomes even more astounding when we consider the radical nature of God’s love.
His profound and total love is best captured in the Greek word agape. Agape is a completely selfless love for another in which one seeks nothing back in return—a total gift of self.
In Greek, there are several words for love: phillia, eros, storge, and agape. Each of these words emphasizes a different type of love: phillia is brotherly or friendly love; eros, romantic love; storge, a family-oriented love; and agape—the highest type of love—a total, selfless, and unconditional love.
Each of these words for love can be found in the New Testament. However, whenever the New Testament authors speak of God’s love, they specifically use agape.
This agape love is the love that unites the Trinity, it is the love by which God spoke Creation into existence, and it is the love that God has for you, a love that overcomes any fault or failing.
As we begin the month of February, we begin to see symbols of love all around us—but the love our culture promotes is often far from agape love. Especially during this time, it is important to meditate on the truth of God’s love. Father Jacques Philippe’s book, The Way of Trust and Love, is a transformative meditation on the love of God through an examination of the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. Whether for St. Valentine’s Day, as a Lenten practice, or as a personal devotion, this book is a beautiful reminder of the complete love God has for you. Order your copy today from The Catholic Company!
