ABSTRACT
Love is understood as not merely a benevolent attitude but rather as a relation of mutual fellowship or amicitia. The love of God is then a reciprocal relationship in which God does not merely love us but also desires that we should freely reciprocate his love. Divine love should be understood as analogous to human love and loving fellowship between God and human beings should be understood as analogous to loving fellowship between humans. God has a human face. According to St Augustine, it is at this point where the love of God differs radically from human love. It is only by loving God that we can achieve ultimate happiness and complete fulfilment in our lives. Augustine therefore characterises the love of God as frui, i.e. fulfilment or enjoyment. In contrast to our human will, the will of God is perfect and infallibly good. In fact, for believers the will of God counts as the ultimate standard of goodness.
