How Love is Beautifully Defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in 4 Quotes

Can the Church shed light on the age-old question, “What is Love?”

Yes, yes it can!

The Catechism of the Catholic Church references the subject of love more than once.

Below are four helpful quotes directly from the Catechism. Feel free to share these graphics with others as we prepare to celebrate the feast of St. Valentine–a day focused on LOVE!

“‘God is love’ and love is his first gift, containing all others. ‘God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.’”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 733)

“’To love is to will the good of another.’ All other affections have their source in this first movement of the human heart toward the good. Only the good can be loved. Passions ‘are evil if love is evil and good if it is good.’”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1766)

“Love is itself the fulfillment of all our works. There is the goal; that is why we run: we run toward it, and once we reach it, in it we shall find rest.”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1829)

“Prayer, formed by the liturgical life, draws everything into the love by which we are loved in Christ and which enables us to respond to Him by loving as He has loved us. Love is the source of prayer; whoever draws from it reaches the summit of prayer.”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2658)

Pope St. John Paul II promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s text in 1992. The book itself summarizes the main beliefs of the Catholic Church.

The full text is easily accessible online!