The Italian Memorandum

Carisimmo: Basis for the Dolce Vita,  “The Sweet Life”

February is the Month of Love, Hallmark Cards and chocolate covered cherries (uhmm!).  But, there is a set of metaphysics that transcend even the sweetness and lyrics of this world.  However beautiful these may be, there is a Valentine from another place, more heavenly and much higher than Hollywood.  The purpose of this post is to get us thinking about carissimmo and the dolce vita.  (Italian for beloved and the sweet life).

The possibility of being Beloved is the groundwork for the dolce vita, the sweet life.  In the classic text where Jesus invites all men to come to him (Matthew 11:28-30), Jesus says of his yoke that it is dolce.  Dolce is sweet, dessert, pleasant.  It is translated into English from the Greek as, “easy”.  This sweet life is the life which derives from coming to Jesus.  Yes, some have assumed no conditions of allegiance to the Lord here; but this is a blundering mistake.  However, assuming that one is daily seeking him in a New Testament manner, carissimmo and the dolce vita are the promise.

The basis for the dolce vita may be seen in 3 John’s uses of carissimmo (beloved).  It occurs four times (verses 1,2,5,11).  Given the brevity of 3 John, such a frequency is notable.  This carissimmo starts four of the seven sections. Also, let it be observed that the New Testament  consistently applies this concept of beloved status.  Consider, for example, 2 Peter 3:1,8,14,17.  The plural, carissimmi, here,  is used with notable frequency.  The apostles use of this carissimmo, or, beloved status, is used to refer to individual Christians, as well as to local churches of Christ.

Chocolate covered cherries would be bitter without carissimmo status.  How will you define the dolce vita this February?

See if you can find Marla in the second photograph (click on).  Incidently, the above scenes of desserts were very common throughout Milan.