The Four Loves: 1. Charity

OK then! Let's start simple and get complicated!

Charity (caritas in Latin, agape in Greek) is the highest, purest, simplest and oldest form of love. It is older than the human race. It is as old as the Universe itself. It is also, arguably, the reason why the Universe was created in the first place. It has nothing to do with emotion - or, to be more accurate, it can exist without emotion. Is a product of pure reason and pure will. It is the love that the Angels have for each other, for their Creator, and for us human beings. It is the love that the Creator Himself has for all created things. And it is the highest duty that we human beings can ever possibly have.

To be honest, the classic text on charity is still St. Paul's, so having made my preliminary remarks I think I'll leave the rest of this post to him.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

[I Corintians 13]

The other virtues will one day pass away. So will the other sorts of love. But the pure love of the mind, the love of reason and will, will endure forever.