The Ripple Effect of Ordo Amoris
- Abby Thomas
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
I was wrapping up prayer time and concluded with, “Lord, what is it that YOU want me to blog about this week?” I then pulled out my phone to begin writing these words to you. But almost immediately, my 14-month-old, who was content and playing on the other side of the room, placed a book in my lap. I tried to brush it off by allowing her to sit on my lap and look at the pictures while I attempted to write, but she made it clear I was to read to her and write later. I couldn't help but chuckle because I was forced to put into action ordo amoris, a Latin phrase meaning “order of love.”
Ordo amoris is the hierarchy established by God that shows whom and what we should love first. This idea was first introduced by theologian St. Augustine and later expanded upon by St. Thomas Aquinas and other theologians. St. Augustine said, “Living a just and holy life requires one to be capable of an objective and impartial evaluation of things: to love things, that is to say, in the right order (ordo amoris).” Basically, ordo amoris is directing our love to God first, followed by those closest to us, such as family, then community, and lastly the wider world.
I want to clarify there is much more theology behind this concept that wont be covered in this post. I am adopting the the essence of ordo amoris and applying it to my life with a personal spin.
I like to think of ordo amoris as the ripple effect after a stone has been thrown into water. When our love is rightly ordered, our capacity to love expands as each ripple gets bigger.
God is the still water. Our love is the stone. The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-38). Without connecting with God and loving Him above all else, we are unable to send a ripple of love across the water. This ripple is the cascade of living in a loving union with God. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
The next closest and most intimate ripple would be the love of a spouse, followed by the ripple of love for children, who are the fruit of marriage. Next would be the ripple of love/management for the home. And finally the ripple for love of others through ministry.
St. Augustine said, "Peace is the tranquility of order." Personally speaking, when my priorities are in alignment, I am filled with peace and fulfillment. Things seems to go much smoother when I prioritize discernment in prayer and strong communication with my husband before agreeing to sing for an event or intentionally spending time with my children before tackling a house project.
Unfortunately, there are times when things become disordered because I prioritize or love something in the wrong order, even if it is good. For example, I have skipped morning prayer to power clean the kitchen before a guest arrives or allowed the stress from external ministry to impact how present I am with my husband or children. This disruption almost always leaves me feeling restless or anxious.
The Lord gives us unique gifts and skills in order for us to love here on earth. Our love leads others to know His love. Again, God is the water and love is the stone. When we put ordo amoris into action, our vocation and evangelical mission work simultaneously, causing a ripple effect of God's love throughout the whole world.
Until next time, your sister in Christ,
Abby
