Meaning: The quote "The commandment of God is, that we love Our Lord in all our heart, in all our soul, in all our thought" is attributed to Richard Rolle, an English hermit, mystic, and religious writer of the fourteenth century. This quote is a reflection of Rolle's deep spiritual beliefs and his emphasis on the importance of wholehearted devotion to God.

Rolle's writings often center around the themes of divine love, spiritual intimacy, and the pursuit of a deeper connection with God. In the quote, he encapsulates the essence of the commandment to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, drawing from the teachings of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament.

The commandment to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind is derived from the Bible, specifically from the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus responds to a question about the greatest commandment by saying, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment." This commandment is foundational in Christian theology and serves as a guiding principle for believers in their relationship with God.

Rolle's articulation of this commandment reflects his profound understanding of the nature of spiritual devotion. By emphasizing the totality of one's being—heart, soul, and thought—Rolle underscores the all-encompassing nature of love for God. This love is not merely a surface-level emotion or intellectual assent, but a deep, holistic, and transformative commitment that permeates every aspect of a person's existence.

The quote also highlights the interconnectedness of the different facets of the self in relation to God. The heart, soul, and thought represent the entirety of a person's inner life, encompassing emotions, spiritual essence, and cognitive faculties. By exhorting the love of God to permeate all these aspects, Rolle emphasizes the unity of the self in its devotion to God and the integration of faith into every dimension of human experience.

Rolle's emphasis on loving God with the entirety of one's being also speaks to the transformative power of such love. He envisions a love that is not compartmentalized or partial, but rather one that has the capacity to bring about a profound inner renewal and alignment with the divine will. This aligns with the broader mystical tradition within Christianity, which often emphasizes the potential for union with God and the transformative effects of divine love on the individual soul.

In conclusion, Richard Rolle's quote encapsulates the essence of the commandment to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, drawing from the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. It reflects Rolle's deep spiritual insight and underscores the all-encompassing nature of love for God, as well as its transformative potential. This quote continues to inspire and challenge believers to cultivate a wholehearted devotion to God, seeking to integrate their love for God into every aspect of their being.