Roman Catholic Lens Commentary: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (The Love Chapter)

## Roman Catholic Lens Reading of 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (The Love Chapter)

### Tradition-Specific Interpretation

We read 1 Corinthians 13 as the quintessential description of Christian love, which the Church Fathers and the Magisterium have consistently taught as the highest virtue. This passage is understood as a depiction of the love that flows from God's own Trinitarian life, which we are called to participate in through grace. It is a love that finds its ultimate expression in the sacrificial love of Christ on the Cross, which is made present in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity are highlighted here, with charity being the greatest because it endures forever, even beyond faith and hope.

### Key Language Decisions