48.  Who that is capable of discerning the essential character of love cannot see this?  For what is it to love self alone, instead of loving some one outside of self by whom one may be loved in return?  Is not this separation rather than conjunction?  Conjunction of love is by reciprocation; and there can be no reciprocation in self alone.  If there is thought to be, it is from an imagined reciprocation in others.  From this it is clear that Divine Love must necessarily have being (esse) and have form (existere) in others whom it may love, and by whom it may be loved.  For as there is such a need in all love, it must be to the fullest extent, that is, infinitely in Love Itself.

49.  With respect to God:  it is impossible for Him to love others and to be loved reciprocally by others in whom there is anything of infinity, that is, anything of the essence and life of love in itself, or anything of the Divine.  For if there were beings having in them anything of infinity, that is, of the essence and life of love in itself, that is, of the Divine, it would not be God loved by others, but God loving Himself; since the Infinite, that is, the Divine, is one only, and if this were in others, Itself would be in them, and would be the love of self Itself; and of that love not the least trace can possibly be in God, since it is wholly opposed to the Divine Essence.  Consequently, for this relation to be possible there must be others in whom there is nothing of the Divine in itself.  That it is possible in beings created from the Divine will be seen below.  But that it may be possible, there must be Infinite Wisdom making one with Infinite Love; that is, there must be the Divine Love of Divine Wisdom, and the Divine Wisdom of Divine Love (concerning which see above, n. 35-39)

50.  Upon a perception and knowledge of this mystery depend a perception and knowledge of all things of existence, that is, creation; also of all things of continued existence, that is, preservation by God; in other words, of all the works of God in the created universe; of which the following pages treat.

51.  But do not, I entreat you, confuse your ideas with time and with space, for so far as time and space enter into your ideas when you read what follows, you will not understand it; for the Divine is not in time and space.  This will be seen clearly in the progress of this work, and in particular from what is said of eternity, infinity, and omnipresence.

52.  All things in the universe were created from the Divine love and the Divine wisdom of god-man.