Caritas

Caritas

Charitable, Benevolent Love

Standard Definition:

Caritas is selfless, benevolent love—the kind that gives without expecting anything in return. It is a love that manifests in kindness, generosity, and goodwill toward others.

Poetic Meaning:

A love that flows like rivers, reaching all without distinction. It is the light in the darkest places, the warmth in the cold, the hand that lifts another without asking why.

Storytelling Etymology:

Rooted in Latin carus (dear, precious), caritas came to embody divine love in Christian theology, representing the highest form of compassion and selflessness. To love with caritas is to love without boundaries.

Cultural Context & Symbolism:

Caritas became central to Christian teachings, often translated as "charity" in religious texts. It signifies love that is not driven by passion or desire but by the deep, unwavering kindness of the soul.

Poem:

To give, to hold, to heal, to mend,

A love that asks not where nor when.

A candle’s glow, so bright, so wide,

A heart that opens, none denied.

Reflection:

Caritas reminds us that love is not always romantic—it is found in service, in kindness, in the simple act of caring for another. It is the love that makes the world softer.