Love, Klarissa

It’s better to give than to receive

Excerpt from Men, Women, and the Mystery of Sex: Practical Insights from John Paull II’s Love and Responsibility by Edward Sri

The Italians have a beautiful expression for love: ti voglio bene. Though commonly translated as “I love you,” ti voglio bene more literally means “I wish you good” or “I want what is good for you.”

This phrase reminds us that love is not primarily about what good feelings may be stirring within. Even less is it about what I can get out of a relationship for myself. The fullness of love is looking outward toward my beloved and seeking what is best for that person, not just what is good for me. This, in fact, is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines love: “To love is to will the good of another.”

Just purchased: At the Heart of the Gospel: Reclaiming the Body for the New Evangelization by Christopher West