Caritas – The charitable and effortless love

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“And now these three remains: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Caritas is a Latin word which denotes Christian love for humankind, unlike the Greek word agape, which means just Christian love, as distinct from erotic love or simple affection. On the other hand, the direct translation of the word caritas is charity. 

Pope Benedict XVI says “charity (caritas) is love received and love given.. it is grace.” The source of this love is God, who Himself is Love (1 John 4:8). Caritas is transferred freely from God by Jesus Christ and poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit so that we may love each other as human beings as God has loved us.

Hence the apostle John is pleading with us “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”- 1 John 4:7

As objects of Gods’ love, men and women become subjects of charity, they are called to make themselves instruments of caritas. Everyone has a right to practice caritas, whether believer or non-believer, strong or weak, righteous or sinner.

This charitable love is given to humankind unconditionally and effortless to those who accept it and God desire that we share this love with other human beings. He is longing to see us love each other not because there are benefits involved, terms or conditions, but because we are.

The encouraging thing about this love is that it is effortless, when you open your heart enough and receive from the source, until you are filled, permeated and saturated with it, sharing with others becomes easy and fulfilling.

The authenticity of caritas is revealed in human relations and it cannot be measured by the volume or quantity of materialistic items. The believer then responds to the love received directly and indirectly from God and passed on in the living relationship with Christ.

In John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the way, the reality and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”  In Jesus Christ, we meet the mystery of love in person and He enables us to love one another as God has loved us.

“When we meet with our Lord and Master and Judge at the end of our days, He will not ask us about the fruits of our labours, our religious affiliations or moral conduct, but about our humanity and our own incarnation throughout history.” – Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga (President of Caritas International)

When the bible tells us we are the salt of the earth, this means God entrust us with the responsibility of adding flavour and meaning to other peoples lives by sharing love with them.

When the bible tells us we are the light of the world, God challenges us to share our love as light to those who are living in darkness, to give them hope, a sense of belonging and happiness.

Faith in God keeps us strong, humble and rooted in His presence. Grace enable us to dream and visualize the possibilities of a better world. His love alone gives us hope for a better future and to persevere soberly day by day despite leaving in a world which is by nature, is imperfect.


In closing, I would like to join apostle Paul in prayer and say “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Cor 13:13). AMEN!

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