--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God is not solitude, but perfect…" description: "\"God is not solitude, but perfect communion. For this reason the human person, the image of God, realizes himself or herself in love, which is a sincere..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/pope-benedict-xvi-414_benedict-xvi_god-is-not-solitude-but-perfect-communio_1193010.jpg" --- # God is not solitude, but perfect communion. For this… ![“God is not solitude, but perfect communion. For this reason the human person, the image of God, realizes himself or herself in love, which is a sincere gift of self. BENEDICT XVI, ANGELUS, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Sunday, 22 May 2005” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/pope-benedict-xvi-414_benedict-xvi_god-is-not-solitude-but-perfect-communio_1193010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/pope-benedict-xvi-414_benedict-xvi_god-is-not-solitude-but-perfect-communio_1193010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/pope-benedict-xvi-414_benedict-xvi_god-is-not-solitude-but-perfect-communio_1193010.jpg) > “God is not solitude, but perfect communion. For this reason the human person, the image of God, realizes himself or herself in love, which is a sincere gift of self. BENEDICT XVI, ANGELUS, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Sunday, 22 May 2005” [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True communion arises from love, reflecting the divine image within each person. **In simple terms:** Love reveals divine nature. Key Takeaway Cultivate sincere, self‑giving love. Themes theity theology human dignity Mood contemplative spiritual Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - marriage - friendship - faith communities Key Concepts divine image self‑gift community Questions to Reflect On - What does genuine communion look like in daily life? - How does love express the divine image? A Different Perspective Love can be misinterpreted as self‑sacrifice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benedict xvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benedict-xvi/) [Communion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communion/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Holy trinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-trinity/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Trinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trinity/) ## Related quotes > [God is not solitude, but perfect communion. For this reason the human person, the image of God, realizes himself or herself in love, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/god-is-not-solitude-but-perfect-communion-for-this-reason-the-human/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The "name" of the Most Holy Trinity is in a certain way impressed upon everything that exists, because everything that exists, down to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-name-of-the-most-holy-trinity-is-in-a-certain-way-impressed-upon/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [I always have a funny story at communion time that underscores that no one is perfect, and that communion is not for perfect people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/i-always-have-a-funny-story-at-communion-time-that-underscores-that/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [The Christian who walks with the Lord and keeps constant communion with Him will see many reason for rejoicing and thanksgiving all day long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-christian-who-walks-with-the-lord-and-keeps-constant-communion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The voice of the Spirit is as gentle as a zephyr, so gentle that unless you are living in perfect communion with God, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-voice-of-the-spirit-is-as-gentle-as-a-zephyr-so-gentle-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“The three-volume work on Jesus Christ, on its own, makes this pontificate unique. With it, Benedict XVI created a handbook for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-three-volume-work-on-jesus-christ-on-its-own-makes-this/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [I always use my 'Holy Trinity' which is salt, olive oil and bacon. My motto is, 'bacon always makes it better.' I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-burrell/i-always-use-my-holy-trinity-which-is-salt-olive-oil-and-bacon-my/) [Anne Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-burrell/) > [Freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of identity. This is my Holy Trinity, each one an intrinsic aspect of my god: Freedom, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-condell/freedom-of-thought-freedom-of-speech-freedom-of-identity-this-is-my/) [Pat Condell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-condell/) > [There is a Holy Trinity, and there is likewise a Trinity of Evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-pink-2/there-is-a-holy-trinity-and-there-is-likewise-a-trinity-of-evil/) A W Pink > [“The Theology of The Holy Trinity has been well established for 1700 years. In my opinion, it is hyper-evident by the New Testament manuscripts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-theology-of-the-holy-trinity-has-been-well-established-for-1700/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/go-therefore-and-make-disciples-of-all-the-nations/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-three-ways-by-the-commandments/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The pure Deity is in all places and all corners, and present every where all over: the birth of the holy Trinity in one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/the-pure-deity-is-in-all-places-and-all-corners-and-present-every/) [Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/) > [Let us in the name of the Holy Trinity go on sending all the slaves that can be sold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/let-us-in-the-name-of-the-holy-trinity-go-on-sending-all-the-slaves/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I accept the Organic Trinity of Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal with as much authority as I accept the Holy Trinity. Both are sacred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-accept-the-organic-trinity-of-mineral-vegetable-and-animal-with-as/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) ## More by Pope Benedict XVI > [The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-fact-that-the-lord-can-work-and-act-even-with-insufficient-means/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Continue to witness to the Gospel every day and commit yourselves generously in the next missionary initiatives in the Diocese of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/continue-to-witness-to-the-gospel-every-day-and-commit-yourselves/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus’ example of fidelity to prayer challenges us to examine the time and effort we devote to our own prayer. While prayer is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-example-of-fidelity-to-prayer-challenges-us-to-examine-the-time/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If we look to the saints, this great luminous wake with which God has passed through history, we truly see that here is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-we-look-to-the-saints-this-great-luminous-wake-with-which-god-has/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Joseph Ratzinger never developed his own theological system. As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Joy is the true gift of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joy-is-the-true-gift-of-christmas/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [God loves us despite our shortcomings and sins, and his love gives meaning to our lives and to the life of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/god-loves-us-despite-our-shortcomings-and-sins-and-his-love-gives/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [It's a great responsibility before God, the judge who guides us, who draws us to truth and good, and in this sense the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-s-a-great-responsibility-before-god-the-judge-who-guides-us-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Discovering the beauty and joy of faith is a path that every new generation must take on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/discovering-the-beauty-and-joy-of-faith-is-a-path-that-every-new/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) [Explore all 575 Pope Benedict XVI quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More Benedict xvi quotes > [Benedict XVI kept saying that homosexuals are deviant. They're not deviant. They're deviant only if you say that anyone who is different from me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/benedict-xvi-kept-saying-that-homosexuals-are-deviant-they-re-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The one and only time I met Pope Benedict XVI was when he was Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-novak/the-one-and-only-time-i-met-pope-benedict-xvi-was-when-he-was-joseph/) [David Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-novak/) > [Please receive in the name of the Spanish government and the people of Spain our warmest congratulations for your election as Supreme Pontiff of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/please-receive-in-the-name-of-the-spanish-government-and-the-people/) [Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/) > [I think with great affection and deep gratitude of my venerable predecessor, Benedict XVI, who during these years of his pontificate has enriched and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-think-with-great-affection-and-deep-gratitude-of-my-venerable/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“The diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-currie/the-diligent-reading-of-sacred-scripture-accompanied-by-prayer-brings/) David B Currie > [“In his encyclical Deus caritas est, Benedict XVI correctly recalls that “Christian charitable activity must be independent of parties and ideologies. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sarah/in-his-encyclical-deus-caritas-est-benedict-xvi-correctly-recalls/) [Robert Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sarah/) > [ “He \[Pope Benedict XVI\] spoke of the distilled message of John Paul's reign: "Be not afraid” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/he-pope-benedict-xvi-spoke-of-the-distilled-message-of-john-paul-s/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [ Perhaps the dumbest of these story lines is that \[Pope\] Francis has re-opened conversation and debate in a Church that had been closed and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weigel/perhaps-the-dumbest-of-these-story-lines-is-that-pope-francis-has-re/) [George Weigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weigel/) > [“us to take our place within the crowd, to hear Jesus preach and see him perform mighty deeds, when we open up the Gospels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-ruszala-2/us-to-take-our-place-within-the-crowd-to-hear-jesus-preach-and-see/) Michael J Ruszala > [“185. Benedict XVI, in his homily during the Mass on the Feast of Corpus Domini, June 7, 2012, stated: To be all together in prolonged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sarah/185-benedict-xvi-in-his-homily-during-the-mass-on-the-feast-of-corpus/) [Robert Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sarah/) > [“The three-volume work on Jesus Christ, on its own, makes this pontificate unique. With it, Benedict XVI created a handbook for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-three-volume-work-on-jesus-christ-on-its-own-makes-this/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Benedict XVI leaves no room for uncertainty or minimization. At this present time in which she feels humiliation, the Church learns from the Pope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelo-bagnasco/benedict-xvi-leaves-no-room-for-uncertainty-or-minimization-at-this/) Angelo Bagnasco > [“T. S. Eliot’s words ring true: “They constantly try to escape / From the darkness outside and within / By dreaming of systems so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-carron/t-s-eliot-s-words-ring-true-they-constantly-try-to-escape-from-the/) Julian Carron > [Pope Benedict XVI assumes leadership at a critical time in which the world's collective wisdom and leadership including that of the religious community is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/pope-benedict-xvi-assumes-leadership-at-a-critical-time-in-which-the/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) [Browse all 15 Benedict xvi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benedict-xvi/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God is not solitude, but perfect communion. For this reason the human person, the image of God, realizes himself or herself in love, which is a sincere gift of self. 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