GOD’S LOVE: ON DEUS CARITAS EST BY POPE BENEDICT XVI
Unconditionally
Photo by Jonathan Dick, OSFS on Unsplash
Unconditionally
The Lord said, “I wish that you would believe,
I love you beyond human measure –
“But you still think that I stop loving you
When your sin causes Me displeasure.”
My love is not a merely human love
With its fickle partiality –
“My love depends not on what you do;
It depends on My fidelity.”
“There are times when I find delight in you,
And sometimes you bring me great sadness –
“But I couldn’t possibly love you more,
And I will never love you any less.”
Read stanza 1: Here, the Lord is telling me that I don’t trust His love to be constant, and that I believe I have to earn His love. Reflect and write about what this means to you.
Read stanza 2: Here, the Lord is very clear that His love for me is not conditional, not based upon my actions – or even my remorse. Ponder this deeply and write about it.
Read stanza 3: Imagine you are hearing these words directly from the Lord. Reflect and write about what this final revelation means to you.
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About the Author
Loreen Marie Derry is a Roman Catholic who worshiped in Charismatic Roman Catholic communities as a teen and in college. She earned a Bachelor's degree double major in Theology and Psychology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and Master's in Clinical Psychology from Slippery Rock University. For a time, she lived a life of wandering in faith, and then she and her husband found spiritual renewal in a Charismatic Protestant church that was very Spirit-filled and focused on the Word of God. In 2018, Loreen and her husband found a home at Ascension Catholic Community in Melbourne, FL. In 2020, Loreen walked beside her husband as a sponsor in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Being so inspired by this process and returning to the Church of her youth, she has continued reading theology and inspirational writings. As a result of this journey of faith, Loreen now writes devotionals, articles about faith, and poetry reflections. The focus of her works are spiritual reading for for new and renewed Catholic followers of Jesus Christ.
