What's God's greatest virtue?

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Would you say that when it comes to love, some are better at it than others? A saint, for example, would most definitely surpass my ability to love.
yes I think some are better than other in this way. I definitely need to work on loving God and people more. But I’m not sure how… maybe it starts in the little things, right where we are. Also, we need to ask God to help us be more loving, and to fill us with His love, like through prayer and through the Eucharist. We can also imitate Mary because she is the one person who’s always loved God perfectly. 🙂
 
😉 yup…

I think so 🙂

also I thought of this verse:

“blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”

In fact…if we just live out the beatitudes, that will greatly help us live out God’s will for our lives

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Yup! 👍
 
yes I think some are better than other in this way. I definitely need to work on loving God and people more. But I’m not sure how… maybe it starts in the little things, right where we are. Also, we need to ask God to help us be more loving, and to fill us with His love, like through prayer and through the Eucharist. We can also imitate Mary because she is the one person who’s always loved God perfectly. 🙂
Yes, me too! You, like me, are sometimes unsure of the best way to love. So you, like me, ask God to show you. True?
 
Looks like my midnight oil is nearly spent. I KNEW I should have filled that lamp before I got out of bed!

😃

Good talking with you, Monica. Hope you decide to continue our conversation.

🙂
 
Yes, me too! You, like me, are sometimes unsure of the best way to love. So you, like me, ask God to show you. True?
At least, that’s what I do. How 'bout you?
hehe 🙂 yes, I do that too… also I try to think of what Mary would do in the situation… cause she loves God so much. Sometimes I look at the Gospels and see how Christ treated people, and that shows me more of what love is.
Looks like my midnight oil is nearly spent. I KNEW I should have filled that lamp before I got out of bed!

😃

Good talking with you, Monica. Hope you decide to continue our conversation.

🙂
😃 Good talking to you too!

God bless 🙂
 
hehe 🙂 yes, I do that too… also I try to think of what Mary would do in the situation… cause she loves God so much. Sometimes I look at the Gospels and see how Christ treated people, and that shows me more of what love is.

😃 Good talking to you too!

God bless 🙂
Good talking with you, Monica! And may God grant you long life and prosper you.

🙂

If you return, I have a follow-up question. (I know, “What? Another one!”)

In thinking this through (which is what I do) I wonder if there are three ways you and I require God’s assistance with love. We might ask God to:

  1. *]Foster a desire in us to love
    *]Strengthen our ability to love
    *]Improve our understanding of how best to love

    Do you think my thinking on this is correct?
 
It seems to me that everyone here is singing the praises of Love. And I suppose some of you might even say that all virtues are merely aspects of THE virtue we love and call Love. Perhaps, then, the Beatles were not far from the truth in singing her praises and telling us that she is all we need?

http://sunilpramanik.com/cv/files/all-you-need-is-love.jpg
 
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Anyone?
 
Yes, I believe I understand, James. Would you say that all human thoughts, words and deeds are examples and expressions of the emoter of love or the emoter of hate? Or is there, perhaps, a third emoter that is neither?

For example, if someone asks what my emoter is for my wife, I might answer “Love.” If someone asks what my emoter is for brussels sprouts, I might answer “Hate.” But if someone asks what my emoter is for the latest news story about Tiger Woods’ sorted affairs, I would most equivocally answer, “Neither.”
The “emoter” behind it all is one of harmonic support - love of life. The harmony of the effort to answer to its needs derives both good and bad. From there, you choose when to “pull or push” - “like or dislike”.

Eventually you discover the trick of supporting what it is that you like rather than just liking and wanting it. that is when you catch onto the concept of “love”. Usually long before that, you have caught onto the idea of “push really hard” against the things that you dislike and thus have learned the trick of hate.

Love requires a higher development of intelligence and awareness. Yet it is really only the same logical support that has always existed. The conscious mind has to figure out reality from the middle.
 
The “emoter” behind it all is one of harmonic support - love of life. The harmony of the effort to answer to its needs derives both good and bad. From there, you choose when to “pull or push” - “like or dislike”.

Eventually you discover the trick of supporting what it is that you like rather than just liking and wanting it. that is when you catch onto the concept of “love”. Usually long before that, you have caught onto the idea of “push really hard” against the things that you dislike and thus have learned the trick of hate.

Love requires a higher development of intelligence and awareness. Yet it is really only the same logical support that has always existed. The conscious mind has to figure out reality from the middle.
I think I understand what you are saying; at least, I’m pretty sure I apprehend your meaning. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems to me that your meaning is this:

**love = desire to have something for oneself

hate = desire to not have something for oneself**

If this is your meaning, then it seems to me that

**love = selfishness

and

hate = selfishness**

and, of course

selfishness = selfishness

so

love = hate

But how can this be true? If it were, then to hate something would be no different than to love it!

:eek:

I can only conclude that either (1) I completely misunderstand you, or (2) you are mistaken about the true nature of each emoter–and love is not self-seeking, or hate is not self-seeking, or neither are selfish. Please help me out, here, James.

🙂
 
Good talking with you, Monica! And may God grant you long life and prosper you.

🙂

If you return, I have a follow-up question. (I know, “What? Another one!”)

In thinking this through (which is what I do) I wonder if there are three ways you and I require God’s assistance with love. We might ask God to:

  1. *]Foster a desire in us to love
    *]Strengthen our ability to love
    *]Improve our understanding of how best to love

    Do you think my thinking on this is correct?

  1. Hi! 🙂 I agree with you, and I don’t see anything wrong with doing this! 🙂 we need God’s help to even want to love Him… and others… and we need His help to love in a greater way

    God bless you!
 
Hi! 🙂 I agree with you, and I don’t see anything wrong with doing this! 🙂 we need God’s help to even want to love Him… and others… and we need His help to love in a greater way

God bless you!
Yes.

🙂

So we both are not always sure how to love. We both ask for God to show us how to love. And we both readily admit we need Him to improve our understanding of how to love. I think there is good reason to follow Saint James’ advice, then, don’t you?

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

(James 1:5)
 
Your question keeps mutating.

Why are you asking which virtue is greatest?
Because I want to know the truth, and the One who is the Truth, so that I might better try to be true to Him by imitating Him.

🙂

But I’m not asking questions for the sake of questioning; I’m asking questions for the sake of finding answers. Which virtue do you believe is the most important, 1holy?
 
Because I want to know the truth, and the One who is the Truth, so that I might better try to be true to Him by imitating Him.

🙂

But I’m not asking questions for the sake of questioning; I’m asking questions for the sake of finding answers. Which virtue do you believe is the most important, 1holy?
I’ve already answered - all of them are the most important.

It’s like you’re asking a question equivalent to “Which is more important inhaling or exhaling?”
 
I’ve already answered - all of them are the most important.

It’s like you’re asking a question equivalent to “Which is more important inhaling or exhaling?”
I suppose a drowning man, or a man hanging on a cross, would say that there is no doubt that inhaling is more important. In fact, exhaling is impossible without first inhaling. Which is one reason I ask.

🙂

If you care to help me think this through, do you think that all other virtues are impossible without love? Or do you think that there is another virtue that, without it, love itself would be impossible?
 
Spokrates, you have turned your question into an infinate loop. Always refusing to accept an answer for the value and truth it offers, but instead to again question the response in a manner that brings you back to your original position.
This forum has become a mirror for you to continuously admire your own thoughts in print.

Last one out, turn off the ligth.
 
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