The Power of One Act of Love

What is the greatest single act a human can perform? Saints and theologians tell us that an act of love of God is the greatest and most perfect action anyone could ever aspire to, either in heaven or on earth. A single act of agape love immediately restores or deepens the soul’s mysterious union with God (see John 14:23). Even someone who is in mortal sin can return to a state of grace and baptismal innocence by a single sincere act of love of God. (By church law, however, Catholics must later confess any mortal sin to a priest before receiving Communion, even though grace is restored immediately.) A single act of love of God can dissolve venial sin and imperfections on the soul, can lessen accumulated purgatorial suffering and restore lost merits. It has an intercessory power to elicit God’s grace for the conversion of sinners, sometimes by a deathbed repentance; it can help the souls in purgatory; it can bring divine comfort to the afflicted and can draw down from heaven special graces for the clergy, to fill them with strength, light, and zeal.

St. John of the Cross tells us that the smallest act of perfect love of God is more effective and meritorious than all other conceivable good works put together. Some theologians regard these perfect acts of love as very difficult to perform: they require total detachment from sin and habits of sin, along with sincere desire for union with God as the most desirable of goals. But even if our love falls short, one relatively feeble act of love – a simple, heartfelt prayer such as, “My God, you are good. I truly love you!” - can still release enormous power and gain fathomless graces.

Such acts of love of God can be made silently or aloud wherever we may be – in a crowd, alone in bed, while waiting for a stoplight or an elevator or a waitress, or during a TV commercial. Some people may find it easier to express their love while gazing on a devotional picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or on a colorful sunset. Others may be stirred to acts of love while holding a child or fondling a pet – or even while luxuriating in a warm shower, with loving thankfulness to a God who provides such amenities. Whatever the setting, God is ever present, listening and waiting with breathless yearning for a tiny burst of love from a precious soul that acknowledges him for his fathomless goodness.

Love is a virtue technically called charity. And a virtue is technically a spiritual habit. Now, any habit can be strengthened by frequent and more intense repetition. As St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us, “One learns to walk by walking; one learns to talk by talking; one learns to love by loving.” Through constant practice, our habit of love will become more and more deeply rooted and we will be able to answer Jesus’ query, “Do you love me?” with a volley of acts of agape love. Thus we will follow Paul’s prayerful exhortation: “May your love abound more and more” (Phil 1:9).

Paul was someone who had insight into the God-designed reward awaiting those who have mastered the art of loving God. But how can anyone describe the indescribable? Paul simply rephrased the words of Isaiah 64:4: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9).

This excerpt is from the book The Art of Loving God by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications, 1995. This and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.