A Summary of the Encyclical Letter of Pope Benedict XVI on Christian Love

1. ON CHRISTIAN LOVE
ENCYCLICAL LETTER - DEUS CARITAS EST
(God is Love)
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF - BENEDICT XVI

2. index of the letter Deus Charitas Est
Introduction
1 - the unity of love in creation - and in the history of salvation
the language problem
eros and agape – difference and unity
the novelty of biblical faith
Jesus the love of god incarnate
love of God and love of neighbor
2 - the exercise of love by the church as a community of love
the charity of the church as a manifestation of trinitarian love
charity as a task of the church
corrections to others
The intimate nature of the Church is expressed in a triple task:
The Church is family of God in the world
justice and charity
the multiple structures of charitable service in the current social context
the specific profile of the charitable activity of the church
those responsible for the charitable action of the church
conclusion

3. "God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God
and God in him" (1 Jn 4:16). DCE 1 - “We have known the
love that God has for us and we have believed in it ».

4. “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God is only one.
You will love the Lord with all your heart, with
all your soul, with all your strength” (6, 4-5).

5. "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (19, 18; cf. Mk 12, 29-31)

6. THE UNITY OF LOVE IN CREATION
AND IN THE HISTORY OF SALVATION

7. "Omnia
vincit
amor",
says Virgil
in the
Bucolics
DCE 4

8. Eros needs discipline and purification to give man,
not the pleasure of an instant, but a way of making him
taste in a certain way the highest of his existence,
that happiness to which our whole being tends.

9. 1 - between love and the divine there is a certain relationship:
love promises infinity, eternity, a greater reality and
is completely different from our daily existence.
2 - but, at the same time, it is clear that the way to achieve this goal
does not consist simply in letting yourself be dominated by instinct.

10. It is the man, the person, who loves as a unitary
creature, of which the body and the soul are part

11. The Christian faith, on the contrary, has always considered man as
one, in body and soul, in which spirit and matter interpenetrate each
other, both acquiring, precisely in this way, a new nobility DCE 5

12. the word "dodim", a plural that expresses love that is still
insecure, in a stage of indeterminate search. This word is later
replaced by the term "ahabá", which the Greek translation of the
Old Testament calls, with a phonetically similar word, "agapé",

13. The development of love towards its highest levels, and its most
intimate purity, entails that it now aspires to the definitive (love),
and this in a double sense: insofar as it implies exclusivity
—only this person—, and in the sense of "forever"

14. to become such a source of love, he himself has
to drink always anew from the first and original
source that is Jesus Christ, from whose pierced
heart flows the love of God (cf. Jn 19:34).

15. In the narrative of Jacob's ladder, the Fathers have seen symbolized in various
ways this inseparable relationship between ascent and descent, between the
eros that seeks God and the agapé that transmits the gift received.

16. Saint Gregory mentions Saint Paul, who was caught up to
the third heaven, to the greatest mysteries of God and,
precisely for this reason, by descending, he is capable of
doing everything for everyone (cf. 2 Cor 12, 2-4; 1 Co 9, 22)

17. the example of Moses, who enters and leaves the
tabernacle, in dialogue with God, in order to be able in this
way, starting from Him, to be at the disposal of his people

18. in the end,
the "love” is
a single reality
although with
different dimensions;
Biblical faith does not
build a world that is
parallel or opposed
to the original human
phenomenon of love,
but assumes to the whole
man, intervening in his
search for love,
to purify it, opening
new dimensions at the
same time - DCE 8

19. the Shema: "Listen, Israel: the Lord our God is only one" (Dt 6:4).
There is only one God, who is the Creator of heaven and earth
and therefore he is also the God of all men DCE 9

20. The one God Israel believes in, loves personally.
His love, moreover, is a love of predilection: among all
peoples, He chooses Israel and loves it, although with the
aim of saving all humanity in this very way DCE 9

21. God's love story with Israel consists, basically,
in the fact that He gives them the Torah, that is,
He opens Israel's eyes to the true nature of man
and shows them the path of true humanism.

22. Man, living in fidelity to the only God, experiences
himself as someone who is loved by God and
discovers joy in truth and justice DCE 9

23. «How am I going to leave you, Ephraim, how can I give you up, Israel?... My heart
turns, my entrails are moved. I will not give in to my fierce anger, I will not destroy
Ephraim again; for I am God and not man, holy in your midst" (Hos 11, 8-9)

24. God's passionate love for
his people, for man, is at the
same time a love that forgives.
A love so great that it
sets God against himself,
his love against his justice.
The Christian already sees
taking shape in this, veiledly,
the mystery of the Cross:
God loves man so much
as to, become a man himself,
he accompanies him even in
death and thus reconciles
justice and love
DCE 10

25. It is not good for man to
be alone - Adam, to whom
God wants to give help.
None of the other creatures
can be that help that man
needs -: when Adam sees Eve
he exclaims – "This really is
bone of my bones and flesh
of my flesh!" (Gen 2, 23)

26. Eros guides man
towards marriage,
a bond marked by
its unique and
definitive character;
Thus, and only thus,
is his intimate
destiny fulfilled.
Monogamous marriage
corresponds to the
image of the
monotheistic God.

27. Marriage based on an exclusive and definitive love becomes the icon of God's
relationship with his people and, vice versa, God's way of loving becomes the
measure of human love. This close relationship between eros and marriage
that presentsThe Bible has virtually no parallel in literature outside of it. - DCE 11

28. Looking at the pierced side
of Christ, of which John
speaks (cf. 19, 37),
helps to understand what
has been the starting point
of this encyclical Letter:
"God is love" (1 Jn 4, 8). .
It is there, on the cross,
where this truth can
be contemplated.
And from there it must now
be defined what it is love.
And, from this look,
the Christian finds the
orientation of his life
and his love. DCE 12

29. Jesus has perpetuated
this act of surrender
through the institution
of the Eucharist during
the Last Supper.
He anticipates
his death and
resurrection, giving
himself to his disciples
inbread and wine, his
body and his blood
as new manna
(cf. Jn 6, 31-33)

30. the ancient world had dreamed that, deep down, the true food of man
- that for which man lives - was the Logos, eternal wisdom,
now this Logos has become true food for us, like love - DCE 13

31. «The bread is one, and so we, although we are many, form a single
body, because we all eat the same bread», says Saint Paul (1 Cor 10, 17) DCE 14

32. Faith, Worship and Ethos interpenetrate each
other as a single reality, which is configured
in the encounter with the agapé of God

33. In the "worship" itself, in Eucharistic communion, being
loved and loving others are included at the same time.

34. "Every time you did it with one of these my humble brothers, you did it
with me" (Mt 25, 40). Love of God and love of neighbor merge with each
other: in the humblest we find Jesus himself and in Jesus we find God.

35. God loved us first, says the aforementioned Letter of John (cf. 4:10), and this
love of God has appeared among us, has become visible, for "God sent his
only Son into the world that we might live through Him"(1 Jn 4, 9). DCE 17

36. Feelings come and go. They may be a wonderful initial
spark, but they are not the entirety of love.

37. The encounter with the visible manifestations
of God's love can arouse in us the feeling of joy,
which is born from the experience of being loved.

38. This encounter also implies our will and our understanding.
The recognition of the living God is a path towards love,
and the yes of our will to his encompasses understanding,
will and feeling in the unique act of love.

39. Love is never "finished" and completed; it transforms in the course of life,
matures and, precisely because of this, remains true to itself

40. The love story between God and man consists precisely in the fact that
this communion of will grows in the communion of thought and
feeling, so that our will and God's will coincide more and more:

41. I learn to look at this other person not only with my eyes and feelings, but from the
perspective of Jesus Christ. - Seeing him with the eyes of Christ, I can give the other much
more than necessary external things: I can offer him the gaze of love that he needs - DCE 18

42. Only my availability to help my neighbor, to show him love,
also makes me sensitive to God. Only service to others opens
my eyes to what God does for me and how much he loves me.

43. Love grows through love. Love is "divine" because it comes from God
and unites us to God and, through this unifying process, transforms
us into an We, which overcomes our divisions and makes us one,
until in the end God is "everything to everyone." (cf. 1 Cor 15, 28)

44. LIST OF PRESENTATIONS IN ENGLISH
Revised 1-11-2022
Advent and Christmas – time of hope and peace
All Souls Day
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – In the Light of the Word
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – The Experiences and Challenges of Families
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 - Looking to Jesus, the Vocation of the Family
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - Love in Marriage
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Love made Fruitfuol
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Some Pastoral Perspectives
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Towards a better education of children
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Accompanying, discerning and integrating
weaknwss
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – The Spirituality of Marriage and the Family
Beloved Amazon 1ª – A Social Dream
Beloved Amazon 2 - A Cultural Dream
Beloved Amazon 3 – An Ecological Dream
Beloved Amazon 4 - An Ecclesiastical Dream
Carnival
Conscience
Christ is Alive
Deus Caritas est 1,2– Benedict XVI
Fatima, History of the Apparitiions
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – Church and Family today
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - God’s plan for the family
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – family as a Community
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – serving life and education
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – mission of the family in society
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - Family in the Church
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Football in Spain
Freedom
Grace and Justification
Haurietis aquas – devotion to the Sacred Heart by Pius XII
Holidays and Holy Days
Holy Spirit
Holy Week – drawings for children
Holy Week – glmjpses of the last hours of JC
Human Community
Inauguration of President Donald Trump
Juno explores Jupiter
Kingdom of Christ
Saint Leo the Great
Saint Luke, evangelist
Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland
Saint Maria Goretti
Saint Mary Magdalen
Saint Mark, evangelist
Saint Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Saint Martin de Porres
Saint Martin of Tours
Sain Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta
Saints Nazario and Celso
Saint John Chrysostom
Saint Jean Baptiste MarieaVianney, Curé of Ars
Saint John N. Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia
Saint John of the Cross
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcuta
Saint Patrick and Ireland
Saing Peter Claver
Saint Robert Bellarmine
Saint Therese of Lisieux
Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Saint Stephen, proto-martyr
Saint Thomas Becket
Saints Zachary and Elizabeth, parents of John Baptist
Signs of hope
Sunday – day of the Lord
Thanksgiving – History and Customs
The Body, the cult – (Eucharist)
The Chursh, Mother and Teacher
Valentine
Vocation to Beatitude
Virgin of Guadalupe – Apparitions
Virgin of the Pillar and Hispaniic feast day
Virgin of Sheshan, China
Vocation – mconnor@legionaries.org
WMoFamilies Rome 2022 – festval of families
Way of the Cross – drawings for children
For commentaries – email –
mflynn@legionaries.org
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Laudato si 1 – care for the common home
Laudato si 2 – Gospel of creation
Laudato si 3 – Human roots of the ecological crisis
Laudato si 4 – integral ecology
Laudato si 5 – lines of approach and action
Laudato si 6 – Education y Ecological Spirituality
Life in Christ
Love and Marriage 12,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Lumen Fidei – ch 1,2,3,4
Mary – Doctrine and dogmas
Mary in the bible
Martyrs of Korea
Martyrs of North America and Canada
Medjugore Santuario Mariano
Merit and Holiness
Misericordiae Vultus in English
Moral Law
Morality of Human Acts
Passions
Pope Francis in Bahrain
Pope Francis in Thailand
Pope Francis in Japan
Pope Francis in Sweden
Pope Francis in Hungary, Slovaquia
Pope Francis in America
Pope Francis in the WYD in Poland 2016
Passions
Querida Amazonia
Resurrection of Jesus Christ –according to the
Gospels
Russian Revolution and Communismo 1,2,3
Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr
Saint Albert the Great
Saint Andrew, Apostle
Saint Anthony of Padua
Saint Bruno, fuunder of the Carthusians
Saaint Columbanus 1,2
Saint Charles Borromeo
Saint Cecilia
Saint Faustina Kowalska and thee divine mercy
Saint Francis de Sales
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis Xaviour
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Saint James, apostle
Saint John, apsotle and evangelist
Saint John N. Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia
Saint John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla
Saint Joseph

45. LISTA DE PRESENTACIONES EN ESPAÑOL
Revisado 1-11-2022
Abuelos
Adviento y Navidad, tiempo de esperanza
Amor y Matrimonio 1 - 9
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – A la luz de la Palabre
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – Realidad y Desafíos de las Familias
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 La mirada puesta en Jesús: Vocación de la
Familia
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - El Amor en el Matrimonio
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Amor que se vuelve fecundo
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Algunas Perspectivas Pastorales
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Fortalecer la educacion de los hijos
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Acompañar, discernir e integrar la fragilidad
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – Espiritualidad Matrimonial y Familiar
Carnaval
Conciencia
Cristo Vive
Deus Caritas est 1,2– Benedicto XVI
Dia de todos los difuntos
Domingo – día del Señor
El camino de la cruz de JC en dibujos para niños
El Cuerpo, el culto – (eucarisía)
Encuentro Mundial de Familias Roma 2022 – festival de las familias
Espíritu Santo
Fatima – Historia de las apariciones
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – iglesia y familia hoy
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - el plan de Dios para la familia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – familia como comunidad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – servicio a la vida y educación
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – misión de la familia en la sociedad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - participación de la familia en la
iglesia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Fátima – Historia de las Apariciones de la Virgen
Feria de Sevilla
Haurietis aquas – el culto al Sagrado Corazón
Hermandades y cofradías
Hispanidad
La Iglesia, Madre y Maestra
La Comunidad Humana
La Vida en Cristo
San José, obrero, marido, padre
San Juan, apostol y evangelista
San Juan Ma Vianney, Curé de’Ars
San Juan Crisostom
San Juan de la Cruz
San Juan N. Neumann, obispo de Philadelphia
San Juan Pablo II, Karol Wojtyla
San Leon Magno
San Lucas, evangelista
San Mateo, Apóstol y Evangelista
San Martin de Porres
San Martin de Tours
San Mateo, Apostol y Evangelista
San Maximiliano Kolbe
Santa Teresa de Calcuta
Santos Marta, Maria, y Lazaro
Santos Simon y Judaa Tadeo, aposttoles
San Nazario e Celso
San Padre Pio de Pietralcina
San Patricio e Irlanda
San Pedro Claver
San Roberto Belarmino
Santiago Apóstol
San Tomás Becket
Santos Zacarias e Isabel, padres de Juan Bautista
Semana santa – Vistas de las últimas horas de JC
Vacaciones Cristianas
Valentín
Vida en Cristo
Virgen de Guadalupe, Mexico
Virgen de Pilar – fiesta de la hispanidad
Virgen de Sheshan, China
Virtud
Vocación a la bienaventuranza
Vocación – www.vocación.org
Vocación a evangelizar
Para comentarios – email –
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Donations to - BANCO - 03069 INTESA SANPAOLO
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Laudato si 1 – cuidado del hogar común
Laudato si 2 – evangelio de creación
Laudato si 3 – La raíz de la crisis ecológica
Laudato si 4 – ecología integral
Laudato si 5 – líneas de acción
Laudato si 6 – Educación y Espiritualidad Ecológica
Ley Moral
Libertad
Lumen Fidei – cap 1,2,3,4
María y la Biblia
Martires de Corea
Martires de Nor America y Canada
Medjugore peregrinación
Misericordiae Vultus en Español
Moralidad de actos humanos
Pasiones
Papa Francisco en Baréin
Papa Francisco en Bulgaria
Papa Francisco en Rumania
Papa Francisco en Marruecos
Papa Francisco en México
Papa Francisco – Jornada Mundial Juventud 2016
Papa Francisco – visita a Chile
Papa Francisco – visita a Perú
Papa Francisco en Colombia 1 + 2
Papa Francisco en Cuba
Papa Francisco en Fátima
Papa Francisco en la JMJ 2016 – Polonia
Papa Francisco en Hugaría e Eslovaquia
Queridas Amazoznia 1,2,3,4
El Reino de Cristo
Resurrección de Jesucristo – según los Evangelios
Revolución Rusa y Comunismo 1, 2, 3
Santa Agata, virgen y martir
San Alberto Magno
San Andrés, Apostol
San Antonio de Padua
San Bruno, fundador del Cartujo
San Carlos Borromeo
San Columbanus 1,2
San Esteban, proto-martir
San Francisco de Asis 1,2,3,4
San Francisco de Sales
San Francisco Javier
Santa Faustina Kowalska, y la divina misericordia
Santa Cecilia
Saint Margaret,Queen of Scotland
Santa Maria Goretti
Santa María Magdalena
Santa Teresa de Lisieux
San Marco, evangelista
San Ignacio de Loyola