God Is Love (Deus Caritas Est) (Benedict XVI) (Paperback)

~ Pope Benedict XVI (Author) "2. God's love for us is fundamental for our lives, and it raises important questions about who God is and who we are..." (more)
Key Phrases: Jesus Christ, Old Testament, Saint Paul (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Most Catholics who read 'God Is Love' will find the text challenging, provocative and insightful, offering reflections on topics they might not expect to find in an encyclical, the highest form of papal teaching." (John Thavis CNS )

Product Description

In today's high-tech, fast-paced world, love is often portrayed as being separate from Church teaching. With his first encyclical, Pope Benedict XVI hopes to overturn that perception and describe the essential place of love in the life of the Church. The Holy Father explains the various dimensions of love, highlighting the distinctions between "eros" and "agape," Jesus as the incarnate love of God, and the scriptural law of love. In part two, he links the Church's charitable work with the love of God as Trinity, noting that the Church must express love through acts of justice and charity. This encyclical is an ideal reflection for religious and civic leaders, those preparing for marriage, and those engaged in justice and charitable work.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: USCCB Publisher (February 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574557580
• ISBN-13: 978-1574557589
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #332,325 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Letter of Love from the Pope, March 3, 2006

By	M. Schleimer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

On the feast of St. Paul (1/25/2006), the first encyclical of Pope Benedict was published, "Deus Caritas Est" or "God is Love." Writing clearly and simply as always, the Pope discusses one of the most complicated subjects on earth: Love. In Part I, he traces the origin of love in salvation history and philosophy. He explains that physical love must be transformed into spiritual love and only then are we united to God. He states that "love is possible, and we are ab le to practise it, because we are created in the image of God." Benedict XVI shows in Part 2 that love cannot remain merely individual but must be extended to helping others through works of charity. All levels in the Church must exercise charitable service with not only professionalism, but "heartfelt concern." "Only if I serve my neighbour can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much he loves me." With this letter, the Pope lays the foundation for his papacy as a gentle pastor and a humble teacher. explaining that we must live the greatest of all commandments: "Love of God and love of neighbour [which] are inseparable."

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incarnational salvation, March 16, 2006

By	Mark Schmittle (El Monte, CA.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In this encyclical, Pope Benedict alludes to the prevalence in our world of the abuse, even hatred shown to the body which results from the dichotomy established between the body and spirit by modern culture and philosophical systems. He also mentions the hatred expressed by certain religious groups as being a result of a failure to realize the relationship established between God and man in Jesus and the expression of this relationship in physical terms. He shows that as embodied spirits we cannot have a mere spiritual love of God and neighbor, but it must become enfleshed through our physical care for Christ present in our neighbor. On the other hand, any concept of love that reduces it to physical sexual expression devoids the human person of its image of God in which it was created - the image of God manifested perfectly in Jesus and that gave its life completely in the flesh.
Pope Benedict relates well the relationship between manifestation of Christian love and the Eucharist. Since we are all united in the one bread in Christ, then each individual is in a sense owed the same love as we owe to Christ. In effect, we cannot love God without a true kinosis or outpouring of ourselves for our neighbor manifested in a concrete form. In this way the dichotomy between eros and agape that is an effect of the worlds worship of the flesh is eliminated and true incarnational salvation is brought about.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Flowing must-read, March 27, 2006

By	D. C. Owens (NJ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's one thing to be an analytic, or an intellectual, or a learned thelogian. It is quite another to also be a gifted communicator of great ideas. Pope Benedict is both. What an unpacking of the experience of Love. In Part I, he is firm yet hopeful, profound yet readable, divinely wise yet thoroughly human in this exposition.

In what amounts to a two-for-one, Part II is a brilliant exposition of true acts of charity and the proper, complementary, yet distinctive roles of the Church and the State.

This is a true catholic (universal) letter of Love.