But desire must also be cultivated; the beautiful does not…
““But desire must also be cultivated; the beautiful does not always immediately commend itself to every taste; Christ's beauty, like that of Isaiah's suffering servant, is not expressed in vacuous comeliness or shadowless glamor, but calls for a love that is charitable, that is not dismayed by distance or mystery, and that can repent of its failure to see; this is to acquire what Augustine calls a taste for the beauty of God (Soliloquia 1.3-14). Once this taste is learned, divine beauty, as Gregory of Nyssa says, inflames desire, drawing one on into an endless epektasis, a stretching out toward an ever greater embrace of divine glory. And,””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Cultivating a deep love for divine beauty requires moving beyond superficial appeal, embracing a charitable love that persists despite distance or mystery, and constantly seeking greater divine glory.
In simple terms: Love divine beauty beyond surface; seek deeper, lasting devotion.
Key Takeaway
Pursue deeper love for divine beauty.
Themes
spirituality
beauty
devotion
theology
Mood
reverent
contemplative
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Personal prayer
- art appreciation
- theological study
- spiritual mentorship
Key Concepts
Divine love
epektasis
theological aesthetics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one balance yearning for divine beauty with everyday responsibilities?
- What practices help sustain charitable love amid mystery?
A Different Perspective
Such pursuit may lead to endless longing without practical grounding.