St. Bernard’s On Loving God is a short classic on how our love for God grows and matures. He explains that love passes through four stages, starting very self-centered but ending in complete union with God.
1st Degree: Loving God for What He Gives
At the beginning, we love God because of what He does for us—His help, blessings, and protection. This love comes from need.
👉 Analogy: Hungry Baby — Like a hungry baby in a high chair, loving its parents mainly because they bring food.
2nd Degree: Loving God for Who He Is—But Still With Self in Mind
As we grow, we start to see how good and faithful God really is. We love Him for His qualities but still seek personal gain.
👉 Analogy: Eager Student — Like an eager student admiring a wise teacher—grateful for the wisdom, but still focused on how it helps them.
3rd Degree: Loving God Simply for God
Here, love becomes purer. We love God not for what He gives us, but for who He is—good, beautiful, and true.
👉 Analogy: Best Friends — Like best friends hanging out, enjoying each other’s presence, not because of what they get, but simply because they delight in one another.
4th Degree: Loving Everything Only for God’s Sake
At the summit, we are so united with God that we begin to see ourselves, others, and all things only through His love. Love is no longer something we try to muster—it overflows naturally, shaping how we see and live.
👉 Analogy: Miraculous Wine — Like a drop of water poured into wine—the water doesn’t disappear but is completely taken up into the richness of the wine. In the same way, our whole life is infused with God’s love, so that His vision becomes ours.
Conclusion: A Journey of Transformation
St. Bernard shows that love starts with self-interest but, by grace, is transformed into a love that is selfless, joyful, and totally united with God.
On Loving God is still a powerful guide today, teaching us how to move from loving God for His gifts to loving Him simply because He is God.
Prodigal Catholic 
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