Ordo amoris

Ordo amoris (Latin for "order of love") is a concept in Catholic theology concerned with the proper ordering of Christian love. It is sometimes conflated with the related ordo caritatis (Latin for "order of charity".)

Deriving from the Augustinian works The City of God and On Christian Doctrine, and expanded upon by Thomas Aquinas in Summa Theologica, the concept has been interpreted as establishing an interconnected hierarchy in terms of which "special regard" is to be paid to those persons who, "by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into closer connection" with the Christian individual. In modern philosophy, ordo amoris has primarily been associated with the German philosopher Max Scheler and his work on emotional life.