Kinds of Love

It is said that “LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING”.

Reflecting on this statement, I would like to share my viewpoints on its significance.

Love, indeed, can be categorized based on one’s relationship with people, as follows:.

1. AGAPEIC LOVE - This is the universal love for all men based on one’s relationship with every human being as having been “created in the image and likeness of God”. Since every human being is a creature of God, it behooves that he be respected and treated well according to God’s will.

2. EROTIC LOVE - This love is based on a feeling of attraction of
one to another human being. There is a desire to be united in one way or another with the loved one.
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3. FILIAL LOVE - This love is based on one’s personal relationship with siblings, offsprings, relatives and friends. Thru consanguinity, affinity, or mere acquaintance they constitute one’s inner circle of love.

4. PARENTAL LOVE - This love is one’s relationship with his parents. This is the love first experienced by a child. It is a love that acknowledges parents as God’s instruments in bringing a child into existence and providing for his needs especially in the early years of his life

5. CONJUGAL LOVE - This love is exclusively a spouse to spouse relationship. It is a love between two persons “until death” for in the Sacrament of Matrimony God joins them to become one as life-partners . This love is the most intimate relationship that one can ever experience. It is a love that unites two people physically, emotionally and spiritually.


I believe that when Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you”(Lk.6:27) He meant the AGAPEIC kind of love. In essence this love wants well to everyone. Hence, even to one’s enemies one can at least pray that God will do what is best for them.

by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan

February 28, 2010