Whoever wants to become a Christian must first become a…
““Whoever wants to become a Christian must first become a poet. That's what it is! You must suffer. You must love and suffer--suffer for the one you love. Love makes effort for the loved one. She runs all through the night; she stays awake; she stains her feet with blood in order to meet her beloved. She makes sacrifices and disregards all impediments, threats, and difficulties for the sake of the loved one. Love towards Christ is something even higher, infinitely higher. And when we say 'love', we don't mean the virtues that we will acquire, but the heart that is pervaded by love towards Christ and others. We need to turn everything in this direction. Do we see a mother with her child in her arms and bending to give the child a kiss, her heart overflowing with emotion? Do we notice how her face lights up as she holds her little angel? These things do not escape a person with love of God. He sees them and is impressed by them and he says, 'If only I had those emotions towards my God, towards my Holy Lady and our saints!' Look, that's how we must love Christ our God. You desire it, you want it, and with the grace of God you acquire it.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
True love for Christ requires self‑sacrifice, deep emotion, and a heart transformed by divine love, mirroring a mother’s love for her child.
In simple terms: Loving Christ means giving everything, feeling deeply, and seeking divine grace.
Key Takeaway
Embrace self‑sacrificial love for God.
Themes
faith
love
self‑sacrifice
spirituality
Mood
reverent
hopeful
Type
inspirational
theological
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- caring for others
- sacrificial acts
- spiritual reflection
Key Concepts
theology
devotion
emotional intimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you cultivate a mother‑like love for Christ?
- What sacrifices are you willing to make for divine love?
A Different Perspective
Human weakness can limit the depth of such love without divine assistance.