09-30-2023, 08:20 AM
DEDICATION
To the illustrious Lord Haimeric, Cardinal Deacon of the Roman Church, and Chancellor: Bernard, called Abbot of Clairvaux, wisheth long life in the Lord and death in the Lord.
Hitherto you have been wont to seek prayers from me, not the solving of problems; although I count myself sufficient for neither. My profession shows that, if not my conversation; and to speak truth, I lack the diligence and the ability that are most essential. Yet I am glad that you turn again for spiritual counsel, instead of busying yourself about carnal matters: I only wish you had gone to some one better equipped than I am. Still, learned and simple give the same excuse and one can hardly tell whether it comes from modesty or from ignorance, unless obedience to the task assigned shall reveal. So, take from my poverty what I can give you, lest I should seem to play the philosopher, by reason of my silence. Only, I do not promise to answer other questions you may raise. This one, as to loving God, I will deal with as He shall teach me; for it is sweetest, it can be handled most safely, and it will be most profitable. Keep the others for wiser men.
CHAPTER INDEX
Chapter I. Why we should love God and the measure of that love
Chapter II. On loving God. How much God deserves love from man in recognition of His gifts, both material and spiritual: and how these gifts should be cherished without neglect of the Giver
Chapter III. What greater incentives Christians have, more than the heathen, to love God
Chapter IV. Of those who find comfort in their collection of God, or are fittest for His love
Chapter V. Of the Christian's debt of love, how great it is
Chapter VI. A brief summary
Chapter VII. Of love toward God not without reward: and how the hunger of man's heart cannot be satisfied with earthly things
Chapter VIII. Of the first degree of love: wherein man loves God for self's sake
Chapter IX. Of the second and third degrees of love
Chapter X. Of the fourth degree of love: wherein man does not even love self save for God's sake
Chapter XI. Of the attainment of this perfection of love only at the resurrection
Chapter XII. Of love: out of a letter to the Carthusians
Chapter XIII. Of the law of self-will and desire, of slaves and hirelings
Chapter XIV. Of the law of the love of sons
Chapter XV. Of the four degrees of love, and of the blessed state of the heavenly fatherland
Index of Scripture References
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre