dilection

Council of Trent, the heavenly commandment of love is expressed by the word dilection rather than by the word love; for although dilection is a kind of love, yet is it not a simple love, but a love of choice and election, which sense the word itself conveys, as the glorious S. Thomas notes: for this commandment enjoins us a love chosen out of thousands, the well-beloved object of this love being chosen out of thousands, according to that of the beloved Sulamitess in the Canticles.

Treatise on the Love of God 1567-1622 1884

If we love a friend without preferring him before others, the friendship is simple; if we prefer him, then this friendship will be called dilection, as if we said love of election, because we choose this from amongst many things we love, and prefer it.

Treatise on the Love of God 1567-1622 1884

But as love, or dilection, it adds this union of affection.

Nature and Grace: Selections from the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas 1954

Now since good is the object of dilection and love, and since good is either an end or a means, it is fitting that there should be two precepts of charity, one whereby we are induced to love God as our end, and another whereby we are led to love our neighbor for God's sake, as for the sake of our end.

Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province Aquinas Thomas

Accordingly, to love, considered as an act of charity, includes goodwill, but such dilection or love adds union of affections, wherefore the Philosopher says (Ethic. ix, 5) that "goodwill is a beginning of friendship."

Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province Aquinas Thomas

In like manner, too, the power of the Holy Ghost acts in the Baptism of Water through a certain hidden power; in the Baptism of Repentance by moving the heart; but in the Baptism of Blood by the highest degree of fervor of dilection and love, according to John 15: 13: "Greater love than this no man hath that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition Aquinas Thomas

The first thing is the fire of love perdurable, like as the apostle saith, the fire of dilection shall be perdurable and shall never fail at the altar of the heart.

The Golden Legend, vol. 1 1230-1298 1900

In this appeareth that the Holy Ghost is the perfection of all the law, for in that is the plenitude of dilection.

The Golden Legend, vol. 1 1230-1298 1900

For that heaven is without deformity, unmeasurable, of perfect light, and of capacity without measure; and rightfully it appertaineth unto angels and unto saints, which were all one in operation, immovable in dilection, shining in the faith and in knowledge, of great capacity in receiving the Holy Ghost, it appeareth by this Scripture that saith in the

The Golden Legend, vol. 1 1230-1298 1900

The fourth for the gold signifieth dilection or love; the incense, orison or prayer; the myrrh, of the flesh mortification.

The Golden Legend, vol. 1 1230-1298 1900