Deus caritas credibilis est. Teologicznofundamentalne rozumienie agape

Abstract

The paper seeks to show such understanding of Christian agape which contains a motivating aspect. The basis for our considerations here was the first encyclical of Benedict XVI Deus caritas est. The paper has been written in three stages. First, the contemporary conceptions of love have been presented, i.e. sensual-affective, organic, marital, erotic, family, social, cosmic, and religious love, together with their brief characterisation. In the course of our consideration here it has been stated that love must be placed in personal beings. Further, on the basis of agapetological literature, the author presents his own understanding of agape as the person’s gift of himself for Divine and human persons because of Christ and in Christ. This approach to Christian agape points at Jesus Christ as the Pattern of this love. Moreover, this love has an essentially salvific dimension, whereby it transcends the humanistic and ethical understanding of the ideal of love. Eventually, there is a verification of thus understood agape with regard to the Divine Persons and human persons. It has been stated that marital, erotic, family, social, and religious love is transformed in Christ and converted into a love that bears Christina, supernatural, and transcendent characteristic. This kind of love becomes a sign and symbol of reliable love. The motivating valour of agape is inherent in the transformation of a purely human and natural love into the love that is ready to highest sacrifices.