Author Topic: Need Help Understanding St. Augustine quote (Read 1578 times)

MrsZ · « **on:** July 27, 2012, 06:50:06 PM »

Someone close to me is fond of using St. Augustine's quote, "Love, and do what thou wilt." And I guess that depends on whether one understands what God means by love.

But what does it actually mean? Be charitable..and do whatever else you want? How to discern the meaning?

Please forgive my ignorance in this matter. I couldn't find anything online...and maybe it's too lofty for me to consider. But I wanted to have an answer for person who is using this phrase.

Caraffa · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2012, 07:03:26 PM »

It seems that the person close to you left out a key word, God.

I believe the actual quote is this: "Love God and do what thou please: for the soul trained in the love of God will do nothing to offend the beloved." It is attributed to St. Augustine, but I would be curious to see if someone can locate the actual source.

trad123 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2012, 07:12:32 PM »

The quote is from St. Augustine's 7th homily on 1 John.

http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/170207.htm

Quote

8. This we have said in the case where the things done are similar. In the case where they are diverse, we find a man by charity made fierce; and by iniquity made winningly gentle. A father beats a boy, and a boy-stealer caresses. If you name the two things, blows and caresses, who would not choose the caresses, and decline the blows? If you mark the persons, it is charity that beats, iniquity that caresses.

See what we are insisting upon; that the deeds of men are only discerned by the root of charity. For many things may be done that have a good appearance, and yet proceed not from the root of charity. For thorns also have flowers: some actions truly seem rough, seem savage; howbeit they are done for discipline at the bidding of charity.

Once for all, then, a short precept is given you: Love, and do what you will: whether you hold your peace, through love hold your peace; whether you cry out, through love cry out; whether you correct, through love correct; whether you spare, through love do you spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.

Essentially let all your actions proceed from charity. Since charity is first the love of God, and secondly our neighbor one could never be acting out of charity if they sin in acting.

Capt McQuigg · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2012, 08:40:10 PM »

St Augustine's words should be viewed in context and their entirety. A misguided person could pluck one sentence, merely remove one word, and change the very meaning of the sentence.

Malleus 01 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2012, 10:18:08 AM »

Quote from: Capt McQuigg

St Augustine's words should be viewed in context and their entirety. A misguided person could pluck one sentence, merely remove one word, and change the very meaning of the sentence.

Well said. One of my pet peeves with the Novus Ordo is the fact that they always change Faith Hope and Charity to Faith Hope and "Love" and I believe they do so for that very reason - to change the meaning and degrade the essence of True Charitable Love born out of a Love of GOD and then love of Neighbor out of that Love for GOD.

Pax

theology101 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2012, 10:24:10 AM »

Quote from: Malleus 01

Quote from: Capt McQuigg
St Augustine's words should be viewed in context and their entirety. A misguided person could pluck one sentence, merely remove one word, and change the very meaning of the sentence.

Well said. One of my pet peeves with the Novus Ordo is the fact that they always change Faith Hope and Charity to Faith Hope and "Love" and I believe they do so for that very reason - to change the meaning and degrade the essence of True Charitable Love born out of a Love of GOD and then love of Neighbor out of that Love for GOD.

Pax

Agreed. We also want to avoid getting into the Protestant habit of cherry-picking verses or sentences or passages out of context to suit our own beliefs.