The Three Stages of Love, by Dr. Donald DeMarco, by Dr. Donald DeMarco

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By Dr. Donald DeMarco, Catholic Exchange, Feb. 10, 2023

Dr. Donald DeMarco is Professor Emeritus, St. Jerome’s University and Adjunct Professor at Holy Apostles College.  He is is the author of forty-two books and a former corresponding member of the Pontifical Academy of Life.  …

Whether there is such a thing as ‘love at first sight’ is an age-old question.  Its defenders might point to Dante’s first encounter with Beatrice.  Yet, the historical record shows that when they first met, Beatrice was 8-years-old and  Dante was 9.  Dante was no doubt smitten by Beatrice.  He assigned her a lofty role in his masterpiece, The Divine Comedy.  But was his initial response to her something closer to fascination than love?

It seems that love must develop from a basis of knowledge, according to the Latin aphorism, “Ubi amor, Ibi oculus” (wherever there is love there is knowledge).  In the absence of knowledge there may be ‘infatuation,’ a term whose root refers to being fooled.  Love endures, whereas infatuation soon fades away.  While I believe in like at first look, I remain skeptical about love at first sight. …