The Love That Satisfies: Reflections on Eros and Agape

by Christopher West

The celebrated author of Theology of the Body Explained and Theology of the Body for Beginners offers compelling insights into Pope Benedict XVI s profound teaching on human and divine love. The Love That Satisfies is for all whether married, single, or religious who are seeking the face of true love in a wounded world. Are we to agree with the Beatles that All You Need is Love or with the J. Geils Band that Love Stinks ? That would depend, of course, on what we mean by that slippery four-letter word L-O-V-E. In The Love That Satisfies, Christopher West turns to the wisdom of both Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II in order to shed some light on sexual love (eros) and its relationship with divine love (agape). Why is the love between man and woman so attractive and elusive, demanding and rewarding, restrictive and liberating, painful and ecstatic, messy and beautiful, maddening and fulfilling? Our world is saturated with sex but remains starved for love. Why? Perhaps as Waylon Jennings put it, we re Lookin' for love in all the wrong places, lookin' for love in too many faces. Where, then, is the right place and whose, then, is the right face in which to look for love? By reflecting on key passages from Pope Benedict s grand encyclical Deus Caritas Est, this book explores these and many other questions with the goal of pointing all who read it towards the love that satisfies. Those who give Pope Benedict s teaching the attention it deserves will discover that the Catholic Church has a vision of sexual love far more glorious than anything Sigmund Freud, Hugh Hefner, Britney Spears, or Howard Stern could dream of or imagine. You doubt? This book will make you a believer.

Genres: Catholic, Spirituality, Christian, Religion, Nonfiction

167 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2007

About the author

Christopher West is a research fellow and faculty member of the Theology of the Body Institute. He is also one of the most sought after speakers in the Church today, having delivered more than 1000 public lectures on 4 continents, in more than a dozen countries, and in over 200 American cities. His books – Good News About Sex & Marriage, Theology of the Body Explained, and Theology of the Body for Beginners – have become Catholic best sellers.

Christopher has also lectured on a number of prestigious faculties, offering graduate and undergraduate courses at St John Vianney Seminary in Denver, the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne, Australia, and Creighton University’s Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha. Hundreds of thousands have heard him on national radio programs and even more have seen him defending the faith on programs such as Scarborough Country, Fox and Friends, and At Large with Geraldo Rivera. Of all his titles, Christopher is most proud to call himself a devoted husband and father. He and his wife Wendy have five children and live in Lancaster County, PA.

Reviews

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a long read for what's basically a summary of an encyclical; however, West sheds some much-needed light on the Church's most essential teachings regarding chastity and marital love. Specifically, the discussion surrounding the marriage of eros and agape to achieve divine love is unlike any I've encountered before, and serves to correct any faulty mindset that love should be purely divine (some who have faith believe that the body is bad or sinful).

Would recommend to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of authentic love. 3/5 stars -- loses points for some repetitive notes, as well as dense theological discussions that left me a little glassy-eyed.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good so far. Connects human love to divine love... very accessible.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated—PG-13 (my personal opinion based on content)

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful commentary into Benedict's encyclical on love. Lots of good gems of wisdom here. Also, Christopher West, so of course it's worth reading!

[Lindsay Wilcox · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you don't know anything about the TOB (or at least Christopher West-style TOB), this might be a good intro. It'd be especially nice for people who are turned away by the word "theology". I don't fall into any of those categories, though, so I didn't get as much from it. I had also planned to read a different book entirely and had to settle for this.

Read my full review at Austin CNM.

[Riko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revolutionary!