Love's Sacred Order: The Four Loves Revisited

by Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis

When seeking to understand Christian love with some precision, we inevitably come to speak about order in loving. The title of this book, Love's Sacred Order, is intended to address the problem of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898707919
• ISBN13: 9780898707915
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Ignatius Press
• Length: 164 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.8" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

A very different kind of book on Love

This is a very different kind of book on love. I cannot "do it justice" but I will attempt to convey something of its content. First of all, the author is a college Prof and some of his references are from his acedemic world- a world apart from my humble place. At first I thought he was going to be over my head; I have not read ALL of the classic works he references. However, pressing on, joy awaited me as I turned the page! My favorite discovery was toward the end of the book (don't cheat and go there first! He works at laying the foundation of this truth in the chapters prior, and the richness of this Gospel should not be cheated). Here Prof Merikakis deftly describes the conversation between the Risen Christ and Peter on the shore of Galilee: "Peter, do you love Me?" The Professor gives a subtle, profound, grace-filled recounting of the original lanuage used & interpretation of that conversation. How much Jesus "comes down to our level" in order to lift us up, step by step, to Himself! This passage alone is worth the price of the book. I could say so much more. Read C.S. Lewis' The Four Loves first, then read this one. Your heart will grow!

Finally understanding Love

The word "love" is thrown around very casually these days, so it is refreshing to have reflections on the meaning of the different kinds of love. The author reflects on the traditional four types of loves: familial love (storge), love of friendship (philia), erotic love (eros), and God-like love (agape). All have a place in the spiritual life, for all are part of God, who is love (agape). The book is extremely well written! The meditations have left me thinking and praying for quite some time. I've gone back through the chapter on philia several times, which prompted me to call my closest friends and share with them some thoughts in gratitude of their friendship. The sextion on eros is helping me understand what it really is. In this day and age, eros is equated frequently with lust and sexual pleasure. The author speaks of eros more in terms of passion, of God's love burning for us. In understanding agape, I am begining to see God as such a generous and beneficial lover, who would allow Himself to undergo death for us. He gave Himself entirely for us in Jesus Christ. Oh how He must love us! This book helps one to understand the contemplative tradition, such as the writings of Saint John of the Cross. It also helps us to pray the Song of Songs, so that we may give ourselves entirely to the One who continually gives Himself to us. He cannot do otherwise, for God is Love. Lord, purify our wounded loves!