Love

Love
20X24

Love is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. St. Basil tells us that “If we turn away from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of slaves. If we pursue the enticement of wages, . . . we resemble mercenaries. Finally if we obey for the sake of the good itself and out of love for him who commands . . . we are in the position of children.” Thus, love is the virtue that allows us to have a constant sense of the presence of God. Thus, the unitive way is a prelude to heaven.