In the teachings of the scripture we encounter a golden thread of theology that is often misunderstood. This thread, vibrant and essential, is love. Yet, in our modern world, where affections are often misplaced and priorities skewed, we find ourselves longing for a compass to guide our hearts. Enter the profound concept of “Ordo Amoris” – the order of love. This timeless principle, rooted in Christian philosophy, offers us a blueprint for aligning our affections with divine wisdom. As we embark on this exploration, let us open our hearts and minds to the transformative power of rightly ordered love.
Imago Dei: The Foundation of Love
To understand the Ordo Amoris, we must first recognize our place in creation. Genesis 1:27 tells us, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” This foundational truth – that we are made in the Imago Dei – sets the stage for our capacity to love.
Consider for a moment the implications of bearing God’s image. It’s not merely a lofty concept but a living reality that infuses every fiber of our being. Just as a mirror reflects light, we are designed to reflect God’s love. But how often do we pause to consider the awesome responsibility and privilege this entails?
The Imago Dei is not just a static attribute; it’s a dynamic calling. It beckons us to love as God loves – selflessly, unconditionally, and with perfect order. Yet, in our fallen state, we often find our loves disordered, our affections misplaced. We cling to created things while neglecting the Creator, falling into the trap that the Apostle Paul warned about in Romans 1:25, “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.”
This is where the Ordo Amoris becomes not just helpful, but essential. It calls us back to our true nature, realigning our loves with the divine order intended by our Creator.
Amor Dei: The Pinnacle of Love
At the apex of the Ordo Amoris stands Amor Dei – the love of God. Jesus, when questioned about the greatest commandment, responded with crystal clarity: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).
But what does it mean to love God with all our being? It’s more than a feeling, more than mere words. It’s a reorientation of our entire existence around the reality of God’s supremacy and goodness. Augustine of Hippo, that great theologian of love, understood this well. In his “Confessions,” he famously wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
Consider the profound implications of this statement. Our hearts, like compasses, are designed to point towards God. When they’re oriented correctly, every other love falls into its proper place. But when we invert this order, placing created things above the Creator, we invite chaos into our souls.
Think of your own life. What occupies the throne of your heart? Is it career success, relationships, material possessions, or personal achievements? While these aren’t inherently wrong, they become problematic when they usurp God’s rightful place. The Ordo Amoris challenges us to continually realign our hearts, ensuring that our love for God remains paramount.
Amor Proximi: The Horizontal Dimension of Love
Following closely on the heels of Amor Dei is Amor Proximi – love of neighbor. Jesus, in his divine wisdom, linked these two loves inextricably: “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:39-40).
The placement of this command is crucial. Our love for others flows from our love for God. It’s not an either/or proposition, but a both/and reality. When we truly love God, that love necessarily overflows to those around us.
But here’s where many of us stumble. We attempt to love our neighbor without first grounding ourselves in the love of God. It’s like trying to pour from an empty cup. The result is often burnout, resentment, or a love that’s more about self-gratification than genuine care for others.
The 16th-century reformer John Calvin understood this well. He wrote, “We should consider that the image of God, which we should revere in all, is most certainly in our neighbor.” When we see others through this lens – as bearers of God’s image – our love for them becomes an extension of our love for God.
Consider how this might transform your relationships. How would you treat the difficult coworker, the estranged family member, or the stranger on the street if you truly saw them as image-bearers of God? The Ordo Amoris challenges us to a radical reorientation of our interpersonal relationships, grounding them in our primary relationship with the Divine.
Amor Sui: The Proper Love of Self
In the hierarchy of love, Amor Sui – love of self – finds its proper place. It’s not absent from the order, but it’s subordinate to love of God and neighbor. Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself” presupposes a healthy self-love. But what does this look like within the Ordo Amoris?
First, it’s crucial to distinguish between proper self-love and narcissistic self-absorption. The former recognizes our value as beings created in God’s image and redeemed by Christ. The latter elevates self above all else, including God and others.
C.S. Lewis, in his book “The Four Loves,” offers insight into this balance: “He who loves God will love himself and others in the right way, because he loves God, and because he cannot help reflecting the character of God.” In other words, proper self-love is a natural outgrowth of loving God rightly.
This understanding transforms how we view self-care, personal growth, and even our failures. When we love ourselves as beings loved by God, we’re freed from both self-loathing and self-aggrandizement. We can pursue personal development not out of insecurity or pride, but as an act of stewardship of the gifts God has given us.
Reflect on your own self-perception. Is it aligned with how God sees you? The Ordo Amoris invites us to a balanced self-love that finds its source and limit in our love for God.
Amor Mundi: The Proper Place of Worldly Affections
As we descend further in the Ordo Amoris, we encounter Amor Mundi – love of the world. This doesn’t refer to the worldliness that Scripture warns against (1 John 2:15-17), but rather a proper appreciation for God’s creation and the good gifts He provides.
The challenge here is maintaining the right perspective. The created world, in all its beauty and complexity, is meant to point us towards the Creator, not become an end in itself. As the Psalmist declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).
St. Francis of Assisi exemplified this balanced love of creation. His famous “Canticle of the Sun” praises God through the elements of nature, recognizing them as reflections of divine glory rather than objects of worship. This approach allows us to fully enjoy the world around us without falling into idolatry.
Consider how this might change your relationship with material possessions, natural beauty, or even human achievements. When viewed through the lens of the Ordo Amoris, these things become occasions for gratitude and worship rather than sources of ultimate fulfillment or security.
Contemptus Mundi: The Necessary Counterbalance
In apparent tension with Amor Mundi stands Contemptus Mundi – contempt for the world. This isn’t a call to asceticism or a rejection of God’s good creation. Rather, it’s a recognition of the fallen nature of our world and a refusal to let it captivate our hearts above God.
The Apostle John exhorts us, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15). This seemingly harsh statement makes sense within the Ordo Amoris. It’s not a blanket condemnation of the world, but a warning against disordered love.
Thomas à Kempis, in his classic work “The Imitation of Christ,” captures this balance: “Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.” This perspective allows us to engage with the world without being enslaved by it.
Reflect on areas in your life where worldly attachments might be hindering your love for God. The Ordo Amoris challenges us to hold loosely to temporal things, always ready to relinquish them in pursuit of the eternal.
Caritas: The Overarching Principle
Weaving through every level of the Ordo Amoris is the principle of Caritas – charity or selfless love. This is not mere sentiment or fleeting emotion, but a steady commitment to will the good of the other.
The Apostle Paul’s famous discourse on love in 1 Corinthians 13 describes the qualities of this caritas: patience, kindness, humility, selflessness. It’s a love that “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:7).
Thomas Aquinas, building on Augustine’s work, placed caritas at the center of Christian virtue. He saw it as the form of all virtues, the principle that gives life and direction to every good action.
Consider how this understanding of love might transform your interactions. How would your relationships change if every action was motivated by a genuine desire for the other’s good? The Ordo Amoris calls us to this radical, self-giving love at every level of our affections.
Fides et Ratio: Faith and Reason in Ordering Love
As we seek to implement the Ordo Amoris in our lives, we must engage both faith and reason – Fides et Ratio. This is not a purely emotional endeavor, nor is it a cold, calculated process. It requires the engagement of our whole being – heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The Prophet Isaiah reminds us, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18). God invites us into a reasoned faith, one that engages our intellect as well as our emotions. The Ordo Amoris is a rational framework, yet it requires faith to fully embrace and implement.
Consider the interplay of faith and reason in your own spiritual journey. How might a more intentional engagement of both faculties deepen your understanding and practice of ordered love?
Imitatio Christi: The Perfect Example
As we strive to align our loves according to the divine order, we find our perfect example in Christ – the Imitatio Christi. Jesus, in his earthly life, demonstrated the Ordo Amoris in its fullness.
His love for the Father was paramount, as evidenced by his constant communion in prayer and his ultimate submission in Gethsemane: “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). His love for humanity flowed from this primary love, leading him to heal the sick, comfort the afflicted, and ultimately lay down his life for us.
Paul exhorts us to this imitation in Ephesians 5:1-2: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Reflect on Christ’s example. How might a deeper contemplation of his life reshape your own loves and priorities?
Cor ad Cor Loquitur: Heart Speaks to Heart
As we conclude our exploration of the Ordo Amoris, let us remember that this is not merely an intellectual exercise. It’s a heart-to-heart conversation – Cor ad Cor Loquitur – between us and our Creator.
God speaks to our hearts through His Word, through creation, and through the gentle promptings of His Spirit. Are we listening? Are we allowing His love to reorder our affections, to align our hearts with His?
The prophet Jeremiah reminds us of God’s promise: “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart” (Jeremiah 24:7). This is the ultimate goal of the Ordo Amoris – a full-hearted return to our loving Creator.
As you reflect on these truths, consider the state of your own heart. Where do your strongest affections lie? What changes might be necessary to align your loves with the divine order?
The journey of ordering our loves is lifelong, fraught with challenges and setbacks. Yet it’s a journey worth undertaking, for in aligning our hearts with God’s design, we find true fulfillment, purpose, and joy.
May the words of the Psalmist be our prayer as we seek to embrace the Ordo Amoris in our lives: “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Psalm 86:11).
Let us move forward with courage and humility, ever seeking to love as we were created to love – in perfect harmony with the divine order. For in this alignment, we find not constraint, but true freedom; not limitation, but the fullest expression of our humanity.
May our hearts beat in rhythm with the divine heartbeat, our loves ordered according to His wisdom, as we journey deeper into the mystery and beauty of Ordo Amoris.
Why I wrote about Ordo Amoris.
Yesterday I saw that my fellow Middletowner and now Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance, had encouraged people to google Ordo Amoris. I thought that our friends along our mission path should know about this corner of theological thought.
Love your neighbor as you would yourself,, you feed yourself you give drink to yourself when your thirsty you put clothes on so you won’t get cold,, so love your neighbor in need as you would yourself when you can so Vance’s idea of having a loving order Is ridiculous. His ideas of family then friends then neighbor the foreigners is outlandish Paul didn’t write about levels of love in Corinthians, it’s easier to love who you can see but there is husband and wife love ,love for your kids love for your parents then grandparents but this doesn’t make their love less just in a different type John was the one Jesus loved do you think He loved Peter less .
Thank you for sharing your perspective. I appreciate your emphasis on loving one’s neighbor, which is indeed a crucial Christian teaching. However, I’d like to gently encourage you to revisit the article, as it seems there may have been some misunderstanding about its core message.
The concept of “Ordo Amoris” or the order of love presented in the article isn’t about loving some people less than others. Rather, it’s about understanding how different types of love fit into a broader spiritual context. The article actually aligns with many of the points you’ve made about loving others as ourselves.
For instance, the article discusses “Amor Proximi” or love of neighbor, emphasizing its importance right after love for God. It states: “When we truly love God, that love necessarily overflows to those around us.” This echoes your point about loving our neighbors as ourselves.
The article doesn’t suggest loving family more than strangers or foreigners less. Instead, it presents a framework for understanding how all these loves relate to our love for God and how they can be properly ordered in our lives.
The mention of Paul’s writings in Corinthians is actually in agreement with your point. The article cites 1 Corinthians 13 to describe the qualities of selfless love or “caritas”.
Perhaps a second look at the article might help clarify these points. The goal isn’t to create a hierarchy where some are loved less, but to understand how different types of love can coexist harmoniously in a life centered on love for God.
Blessings.