Top 8 Catholic Quotes on Love
Love is fundamental to the Catholic faith. It was because of His love for us that God the Father sent Jesus into the world. Love is the reason you can forgive those who wronged you and help those who are helpless. And it’s because of love that you share your faith as a Catholic to spread the good news to a world in desperate need of it.
The Catholic faith is full of excellent quotes about love that can encourage you in your relationships with God, your friends, family and the world. Catholic quotes on love can brighten someone’s day. But more than that, these quotes can encourage and uplift you as you spread your faith. Here are some of the best Catholic quotes on love for you to hold close to your heart.
4 Catholic Saint Quotes on Love
Catholic saints throughout the ages have shared wonderful insight on the nature of love and what it means to share love with the world around us. Here are four Catholic saint quotes on love that you should know.
1. St. Teresa of Calcutta
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
Known around the world as Mother Teresa, St. Teresa of Calcutta was born on August 26, 1910, as Gonxha Agnes. She became a missionary at age 18 and went on to become one of the most famous Catholic missionaries of all time.
This quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta reminds us to always share the love we have within us. Whenever we interact with anyone, we should make sure they leave happier. This is how you make a difference in the world. St. Teresa of Calcutta lived out this truth, spreading love and making people happy everywhere her missionary work took her.
2. St. Augustine
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”
St. Augustine, born in the year 354, is one of the most influential Christian philosophers to have ever lived. He carried much authority on theological matters during his life, and his writings live on as anchors for people’s understanding of the Catholic faith.
This quote from St. Augustine becomes more beautiful and inspiring the more you think about it. It reminds us that God’s love is perfect, unchanging and unique. He loves us with a personal, individual love. It makes sense that St. Augustine would craft this quote, as much of his life was spent one-on-one with God, diving into the theological truths of what it means to be loved by Him.
3. St. Thomas Aquinas
“To love God is something greater than to know Him.”
St. Thomas Aquinas lived in the 13th century, which was a critical time in Catholic history. During this period, a philosophical and theological discussion arose that contemplated the relationship between faith and reason. It was through St. Thomas Aquinas’s work that Catholics gained new insight into God’s revelation to them, and through that, their relationship to Him.
This quote reveals that loving God reveals greater truths about Him than simply filling one’s head with godly knowledge. Knowledge is a good thing, but loving God is how Catholics truly begin to understand God’s work in their lives. St. Thomas displayed the truth of this quote by loving God first, which revealed amazing truths about how we can have a relationship with Him.
4. St. Ignatius of Loyola
“Love is shown more in deeds than in words.”
Born in 1491, St. Ignatius of Loyola spent his early years seeking pleasure and reveling in violence. But after suffering a battle injury in his 30s, he began reading about the life of Jesus Christ. He was soon converted and became a new man in both word and deed.
St. Ignatius of Loyola knew that anyone can say a pleasant word. But it’s a person’s deeds that truly show their love, and this is evident in St. Ignatius of Loyola’s stark transformation. As Catholics, we also must remember to do more than just speak about love. We must show it with our loving deeds to all around us.
4 Catholic Bible Quotes About Love
The Bible is the foundational source of the Catholic faith. In it, you can find many verses on love to encourage and uplift. Here are four of the most noteworthy.
1. 1 John 4:8
“Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8.
The apostle John walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry, giving him the incredible opportunity to hear Jesus speak and see Him interact with people. During that time, John saw Jesus display the love of God.
To know God is to be full of pure love. This verse makes it clear that God is love, and to lack love is to lack knowledge of God and who He is. To truly know God, you must first learn to love.
2. John 15:12
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” John 15:12.
Jesus is speaking in this verse, and He makes His command clear as day. As Catholics who follow the teachings of Christ, we must love each other as Christ has loved us. Catholics know that Christ submitted to the will of God the Father and gave up His life for us on the cross. It’s because of Jesus’ selfless sacrifice that we can have a relationship with God and experience eternal life with Him.
As you live your life, remember Jesus’ love and let that shape your thoughts and actions toward the people around you.
3. Hebrews 13:5
“Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never forsake you or abandon you.’” Hebrews 13:5.
The commercialized world makes it easy for us to love money first and foremost. But this verse reminds us to be free from loving money and instead practice contentedness in what we already have.
As Catholics, we can be successful in this endeavor because of Jesus’ promise. He says that He will never leave us high and dry. And when Jesus makes a promise, He means it. We must love God and the people around us. Let God’s love guide your actions instead of money, and Jesus will handle the rest.
4. 1 Corinthians 13:4
“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated…” 1 Corinthians 13:4.
In this verse, Paul lays out five essential characteristics of love that every Catholic should display. The world twists love to suit its own definitions. Ungodly love manipulates and seeks its own pleasure and goals.
True love — God’s love — is different. The love that Paul describes in this verse shows patience and kindness. It lacks jealousy and pompousness. It doesn’t inflate itself for personal reasons. Instead, we must display a love that puts others first. This is true love.
Spread Love to Those in Need With Catholic World Mission
These quotes clarify what it means to love as Catholics in the world. They encourage us to love with a pure and open heart. And they inspire us to make the world a better place.
Spread love throughout the world by helping people and communities in need through Catholic World Mission. We invite you to donate to our cause today. And if you or a loved one needs prayer, send us your prayer intentions. Prayer is part of our mission, and we would love to lift your request to God on your behalf.