On Loving God

by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

You want me to tell you why God is to be loved and how much.
I answer, the reason for loving God is God Himself;
and the measure of love due to Him is immeasurable love. . . .

Contents

Chapter I. Why we should love God
Chapter II. How much God deserves love from man
Chapter III. What greater incentives Christians have to love God
Chapter IV. Of those who find comfort in the recollection of God
Chapter V. Of the Christian's debt of love
Chapter VI. A brief summary
Chapter VII. Of love toward God not without reward
Chapter VIII. Of the first degree of love
Chapter IX. Of the second and third degrees of love
Chapter X. Of the fourth degree of love
Chapter XI. Of the attainment of this perfection of love only at the resurrection
Chapter XII. Of love: out of a letter to the Carthusians
Chapter XIII. Of the law of self-will and desire, of slaves and hirelings
Chapter XIV. Of the law of the love of sons
Chapter XV. Of the four degrees of love