On Loving God

by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

15 chapters1h 29mEnglish1123

About this book

On Loving God is one of the best-known and most influential works of Medieval Christian mysticism. Written at the request of one of the cardinals of Rome, it describes the four “levels” of love for God, and puts Christian devotion in the context of God’s love for mankind. Summary by Kirsten Ferreri.

Chapters (15)

1Why we should love God, and the measure of that love

294

2On 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

518

3What greater incentives Christians have, more than the heathen, to love God

438

4Of those who find comfort in there collection of God, or are fittest for His love

456

5Of the Christian's debt of love, how great it is

329

6A brief summary

149

7Of love toward God not without reward: and how the hunger of man's heart cannot be satisfied with earthly things

724

8Of the first degree of love: wherein man loves God for self's sake

326

9Of the second and third degrees of love

208

10Of the fourth degree of love: wherein man does not even love self save for God's sake

372

11Of the attainment of this perfection of love only at the resurrection

516

12Of love: out of a letter to the Carthusians

311

13Of the law of self-will and desire, of slaves and hirelings

198

14Of the law of the love of sons

219

15Of the four degrees of love, and of the blessed state of the heavenly fatherland

327

On Loving God

About this book

Chapters (15)

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