Delivered in series of catechetical addresses, John Paul II himself called this work "The Theology of the Body". This monument of theology presents the mystery of love as it flows from the Trinity, through Christ's spousal relationship with the Church. This same love is realized in human relationships and in a concrete way in the human body.
If Pope John Paul II's theology of the body is a "theological time bomb set to go off" (George Weigel), this book lights the fuse. With clarity and precision Christopher West unpacks the pope's weighty talks and translates them into a much more accessible language.
Theology of the Body Explained makes the perfect companion to the Pope's text. For the first time ever, readers have a commentary that follows the complete series of general audiences, explained in an appealing way. Scholars and average readers alike will find this commentary greatly rewarding.
"In my biography of the Pope, I wrote that the theology of the body needs explication for those who aren't specialists in biblical studies, theology, or philosophy. I am delighted that Christopher West has taken up that challenge. With intellectual care, with the experience bred of long years of teaching this material in the classroom and the parish, and taking account of his own experiences as a husband and father, Christopher West has put us in his debt by making the "Theology of the Body" available to a wide and, I hope, appreciative readership. " -George Weigel
Broken families, abortion, AIDS, Internet pornography, sexual abuse scandals, homosexual marriage, our Church and our world are in the midst of a profound sexual crisis. Is there a way out?
For such a time as this have we been given Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body. Based on the words of Jesus, John Paul II's famous reflections on the body and sex take us to the root of the modern crisis and chart the path to an authentic sexual liberation. Yet the Pope's dense scholarship often intimidates the average person.
In his book, Theology of the Body Explained, Christopher West offered a more detailed, six-hundred page commentary on John Paul II's Theology of the Body. Here, he provides a short and popular summary of the Pope's revolutionary teaching.
• What is the meaning of life?
• Why did God create us male and female?
• Why is there evil in the world and how do we overcome it?
• How do we attain true happiness on earth?
• What kind of joys await us in heaven?
• How can we experience the love we long for in the depth of our hearts?
The first edition of Theology of the Body for Beginners (2004) quickly became an international best-seller. This freshly revised and expanded edition is based on Dr. Michael Waldstein's much improved translation of John Paul II's catechesis.
New for this edition:
• All quotations have been updated with the new translation.
• Key insights discovered through Dr. Waldstein's access to the John Paul II archives have been incorporated.
• The outline of the text has been substantially reorganized to reflect the newly discovered outline of John Paul's original manuscript.
• John Paul's "hidden" and previously untranslated addresses are summarized.
Journey with Christopher West into the hidden talks of John Paul II's Theology of the Body only recently discovered in the archives in Rome and find out why the Pope himself deemed them too delicate to be delivered in St. Peter's Square.
What is it about music? Consider what happens when you chance upon your favorite song on the radio. What emotions does it stir? What season of your life does it zoom you back to? Now, imagine if you can hear the greatest song ever written. To what heavenly places would it lift you?
The Bible actually claims to contain the song of all songs: the boldly erotic Song of Songs. Here, as countless saints attest, we discover that sexual love provides the mystical key enabling us to enter into everlasting union with God.
Heaven's Song takes you there. With profound insight, Christopher West guides you through the unabridged version of John Paul II's talks on the erotic poetry of the Song of Songs and the great spiritual contest surrounding the marriage of Tobias and Sarah. If you are already familiar with the Theology of the Body, you will delight in this new material. If not, this book serves as a superb introduction to John Paul's revolutionary teaching and is certain to whet your appetite for more.
In this book, intended for married, single and celibate alike, you will discover:
• What makes the Song of Songs the authentic soundtrack of Christianity
• What's at the root of the sexual chaos in our culture and how to find peace in the midst of it
• Why there is a violent spiritual attack on marriages today and how to be victorious over it
• How to live an integrated sexual life as a path to union with God
• The secret of Mary (according to St. Louis de Montfort) in living an embodied spirituality
• Real-life stories of men and women who have found hope and healing in John Paul II's teaching
• Practical advice, prayers, and reflection questions to help you become the man or woman God created you to be
By releasing Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) as his first encyclical, Pope Benedict XVI, building on the legacy of Pope John Paul II, presents the Church with a glorious vision of love and human sexuality, one that cuts to the core of all human struggles. The Holy Father's message profoundly shows how agape, the self-sacrificial love of God, empowers romantic love, eros, with life-giving and meaningful existence.
Today, the term love has become one of the most frequently used and misused words, a word to which we attach quite different meanings. We speak of love of country, love of one's profession, love between friends, love of work, love between parents and children, love of neighbor, and love of God. Amid this multiplicity of meaning, however, one in particular stands out: love between man and woman, where body and soul are inseparably joined and human beings glimpse an apparently irresistible promise of happiness. This would seem to be the very epitome of love: all other kinds of love immediately seem to fade in comparison (Deus Caritas Est, n.2).
The Love that Satisfies, by Christopher West, focuses on this last kind of love the love that promises such happiness but so often leads to despair; the love that seems to be the epitome of all love but which relatively few people find in a measure that satisfies.
Why should this be the case? Why is the love between man and woman so attractive and illusive, demanding and rewarding, restrictive and liberating, painful and ecstatic, messy and beautiful, maddening and fulfilling? Our world is saturated with sex but remains starved for love. Why? Perhaps, as Waylon Jennings put it, we're looking for love in all the wrong places, looking for love in too many faces. Where, then is the right place and whose, then, is the right face in which to look for love?
By reflecting on key passages from Pope Benedict's grand encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, this book explores these and many other questions with the goal of pointing all who read it toward the love that satisfies.
Good News About Sex and Marriage answers to Your Honest Questions About Catholic Teaching. Good News About Sex and Marriage offers readers an easily readable, down-to-earth, and stimulating account of the reasons why the Church's teaching on sex and marriage is true, and, because it is true, `good news' for people today. Writing with conviction and enthusiasm, Christopher West shows how this teaching so eloquently proclaimed by Pope John Paul II is rooted in the dignity of men and women as sexual beings made in God's image and likeness, and whom we are to love for themselves and never to use as objects of enjoyment. - William E. May, Michael J. McGiveny Professor of Moral Theology John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Washington.
The sexual revolution brought a terribly distorted vision of the body and sex into the mainstream. How should Christians respond? With his illuminating Theology of the Body, Pope John Paul II challenged the modern world not to stop at the surface, but to enter the depth of the “great mystery” that the body and sex reveal: a mystery that lies at the heart of the Gospel itself. Since he first discovered John Paul II’s teaching in 1993, Christopher West has devoted himself to sharing its life-transforming message with the world. In this highly anticipated work, West leads us into the depth of Christ’s “nuptial union” with the Church, demonstrating how authentic Catholic teaching on the body and sex saves us from both the libertine perspective of popular culture and the cold puritanism that has sometimes infected Christianity. In the process, West provides a blueprint for reaching our sexually broken world in the “new evangelization.”
“The light of the Gospel, which is a clear but at times painful light, can illumine human sexuality to its very depth in order to transform it and bring it to its full beauty. Here lies the great strength of Blessed John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. In this peaceful and positive response to critics, Christopher West proves once again that he is a faithful and inspiring interpreter and communicator of this great pope’s teaching, a teaching so urgently needed for an effective proclamation of the Gospel.” —Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, cardinal archbishop of Vienna; general editor, Catechism of the Catholic Church; and grand chancellor, International Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family
Fill These Hearts by Christopher West is a book about desire. Not trivial wants or superficial cravings, but the most vital powers of body and soul, sexuality and spirituality, that haunt us and compel us on our search for something. Weaving life-altering lessons together from classical and contemporary art, pop music, movies, and the Christian mystical tradition, popular theologian Christopher West explores the ancient but largely forgotten idea that the restless, erotic yearnings we feel in both our bodies and our spirits reveal the cry of our hearts for God. Along the way, West blows the lid off the idea of Christianity as a repressive, anti-sex religion by demonstrating that Christ came to stretch and inflame our desire for love and union to the point of infinity.
More than sexual, we are relational: meant for true and intimate relationship with each other and with God.
Rather than a casual indoor sport, sex is sacred. And John Paul II's radical perspective on how we view life, love, and sexuality can transform our relationships into profound experiences of communion.
This is a simple introduction to the basic premise of the Theology of the Body. It explains how our bodies are symbolic, free, meant for love, and redeemed by Christ. It presents unambiguous reasons for the Church's teaching on premarital sex, contraception, homosexuality, pornography, and more. And it gives reason to hope that the love we crave so deeply is, in fact, promised us by God-from the beginning.
Rev. Anthony Percy is a priest of the Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn, Australia. His doctorate in Sacred Theology is from the John Paul II Institute in Washington, D.C.
In nine straightforward lessons, Mary Healy introduces the reader to the Pope's warm, deeply biblical understanding of God's original plan for men and women, a plan that brings with it healing of mind in regard to sexuality and the body. "Dr. Healy offers us a concise and clear summary of the ideas developed at length by John Paul II... It is an ideal book not only for educators teaching high school and college students, but also for parents." - Dr. Alice von Hildebrand
Originally published in Polish in 1960, Love and Responsibility is Karol Wojtyla’s groundbreaking book on human love which explains relationships between persons, especially concerning sexual ethics, in the context of human dignity
Nearly a decade after Spain's conquest of Mexico, the future of Christianity on the American continent was very much in doubt. Confronted with a hostile colonial government and Native Americans wary of conversion, the newly-appointed bishop-elect of Mexico wrote to tell the King of Spain that, unless there was a miracle, the continent would be lost. Between December 9 and December 12, 1531, that miracle happened, and it forever changed the future of the continent.
It was then that the Virgin Mary famously appeared to a Native American Christian convert on a hilltop outside of what is now Mexico City. The image she left imprinted on his cloak or tilma has puzzled scientists for centuries, and yet Our Lady of Guadalupe's place in history is profound. A continent that just months before the apparitions seemed completely lost to Christianity suddenly and inexplicably embraced it by the millions. Our Lady of Guadalupe's message of love replaced the institutionalized violence of the Aztec culture, and built a bridge between two worlds the old and the new that were just ten years earlier engaged in brutal warfare.
Today, Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to inspire the devotion of millions. From Canada to Argentina and even beyond the Americas one finds great devotion to her, and great appreciation for her message of love, unity and hope. Today reproductions of the Virgin's miraculous image can be seen throughout North and South America, in churches and homes, on billboards and even clothing apparel. Her shrine in Mexico City, where the miraculous image is housed to this day, is one of the most visited in the world.
In Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love, Anderson & Chavez trace the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the sixteenth century to the present discuss of how her message was and continues to be an important catalyst for religious and cultural transformation. Looking at Our Lady of Guadalupe as a model of the Church and Juan Diego as a model for all Christians who seek to answer Christ's call of conversion and witness, the authors explore the changing face of the Catholic Church in North, Central, and South America, and they show how Our Lady of Guadalupe's message was not only historically significant, but how it speaks to contemporary issues confronting the American continents and people today.
Common wisdom portrays sex and church to be at odds, yet studies show that Catholics have better sex, and more often. This witty, frank, and refreshingly orthodox book draws from the beautiful truths of Catholic teaching to show people of all faiths about rich and satisfying sexuality. Hailed by Christians across the spectrum from Christopher West and Janet E. Smith to John L. Allen, Jr., Holy Sex! includes dozens of questionnaires, quizzes, and valuable lessons from real-life stories.
"The Talk." It's one of the most daunting prospects parents face. Communicating the richness of Catholic teaching on sexuality in a faithful and effective way can be an overwhelming responsibility. But does it have to be so?
In this thoroughly revised version of Beyond the Birds and the Bees, Greg and Lisa Popcak empower you with the tools needed to move well beyond "the Talk" by offering a comprehensive guide to raising sexually whole and holy children. Using the riches of Blessed John Paul II's Theology of the Body, the Popcaks help you safely navigate your children from infancy through the teenage years and beyond.
This book answers the questions parents may have, including: • What lessons must my children learn at each stage to develop a healthy Christian sexuality? • How can I have age-appropriate conversations about sensitive issues with my children? • How can I teach my children what it takes to be a true Catholic man or woman? • How can I help my children have healthy, Christian dating relationships? • ...and much more
In this illuminating and comprehensive analysis, Fr. Richard M. Hogan explains why these teachings speak so powerfully to a new generation of believers. At the heart of John Paul’s series of talks is the unchanging truth that we are created in God’s image, and so are called to love as God loves and to express that love in and through our bodies. Marriage, sexuality, celibacy, virginity, the resurrection of the body—all of these issues are covered within the pope’s expansive framework. Guided by Fr. Hogan, readers will gain a deeper understanding of important aspects of their Catholic faith while they grow in appreciation of the pope’s ability to address controversial moral topics in a new and groundbreaking way.
--A comprehensive overview of the entire series of talks by Pope John Paul II that comprise the Theology of the Body.
--Fr. Hogan explains why John Paul’s thinking is so appropriate for our modern era.
--A helpful commentary for readers who want to read the original talks and need a side-by-side explanation.
"Pope John Paul II's teachings, on the theology of the body are such a goldmine, with so many rich veins to explore, that new treasures emerge every time they are studied. This book by Fr. Richard Hogan moves us forward in the exhilarating project of understanding and living out the genius of John Paul II and his view of the human person." --Janet E Smith, Fr. Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Ethics, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, MI
Reverend Richard M. Hogan was ordained a priest in 1981 and has served several parishes in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He is the co-author of two books on the theology of Pope John Paul II, and is an author and editor of the Image of God series. In addition to writing, he is currently involved with Natural Family Planning Outreach.
Pope John Paul II called "The Theology of the Body" his "working term" for the 129 talks which he gave at his Wed. General Audiences between Sept. 1979 and NOv. 1984.
He specifically directed these talks to an explanation of human love in God's Plan.
The Simplified Version is based upon the full text of these 129 talks. Permission for this book has been given by the Vatican Secretary of the State
Finally-a reader-friendly, yet thorough explanation of Pope John Paul II's theology of the body - enlivened with stories and anecdotes! The Splendor of Love: John Paul II's Vision for Marriage and Family, by Fr. Walter Schu, LC, makes the Holy Father's profound insights accessible to everyone who desires to build the new civilization of love. Discover. . . ? the nuptial meaning of the body ? a new horizon of married love in the language of the body ? how true conjugal love integrates the sexual urge, emotional attraction, and the personal gift of self ? a compelling spirituality for spouses and parents ? the three pillars of John Paul II's Christian humanism ? the threats against marriage and family that endanger humanity's future-and how to respond ? the two irreconcilable visions of the person that lie behind contraception and NFP ? the role of human sexuality in both marriage and celibacy, and how each vocation supports and sheds light on the other ? and much more!
The papal encyclical Humanae Vitae predicted the disintegration of marriage and family life, partly as a result of the widespread use of contraception. Pope John Paul II has since addressed the problem by articulating a fresh understanding of marriage, love, and sexuality which takes account of the dignity of the human person, and especially of women.
In this most exhaustive and scholarly assessment of John Paul II's Christian anthropology ever written, Mary Shivanandan examines the scientific data and the theological analysis that underlie his teachings on marriage and sexuality. Her book will be an essential text for the study of the development, meaning, and implications of Catholic doctrine in this controversial area. It is both lucid and multi-disciplinary. Its appearance marks a new stage in the debate over sexuality in the modern world.
Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body was a revolution, changing how we understand ourselves, our bodies, and our sexuality. But what difference does that make in real life? Marcel LeJeune decided to find out.
This book tells the stories of everyday Catholics whose lives were transformed by the theology of the body. These firsthand accounts tell of struggles with issues such as:
Understanding the gift of sexuality helped these ordinary men and women achieve extraordinary change.
Each of the stories in Set Free to Love will help you hear the same call to live out the gift of love in your own life, in your own way. Discover the theology of the body-your life will never be the same.
The Church's Marian beliefs have constantly shed light on other teachings, and the Theology of the Body is no exception. In this compilation of essays, some of the world's most foremost Mariologists and experts on the Theology of the Body share their insights on how Mary illuminates the message of the Theology of the Body in a profound way.
As the Mother of God, Mary provided Jesus with His body, a body that would be offered on the cross for our redemption. She bore witness to His bodily resurrection and ascension, and she herself was assumed bodily into heaven. Through an understanding of Mary's role in salvation history, we are able to see more clearly our personal roles in the Christian life.
In this book you will learn about:
- The nuptial meaning of the body in the marriage of Joseph and Mary
- The Immaculate Conception and the human person
- The significance of Mary as virgin and mother
- The Virgin mary and the culture of life
- The image of God in the image of Mary as model Christian
Now, the theology of the body is being made available in simplified language for the general reader! In his book, Body and Gift: Reflections on Creation, Sam Torode masterfully distills the essence of the Pope's general audiences on the theology of the body. It begins with the creation of man as recorded in Genesis. What does this ancient book have to teach us today about the human body and God's design for marriage? Body and Gift expresses the heart of John Paul's teachings on this important subject. Highly recommended as a simple, easy to understand introduction to John Paul II's thought - and a beautiful gift!
What is Purity of Heart?
What is the difference between love and lust?
How does purity of heart affect our own relationships?
Romantic theology is an oxymoron no longer. In this second volume of the series Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body in Simple Language by Sam Torode, the complex longings of the human heart are illumined through profound reflections on human sexuality. Purity of Heart, reveals how lust harms relationships, and how it can be overcome by love. True Christianity does not aim to repress our sexuality, but to redeem it. Through Christ, we can truly experience the redemption of the body!
These study guides for the text of the Theology of the Body are designed to assist you in exploring the depths of John Paul II's theology and in applying his life-changing reflections to daily life. Anastasia Northrop gives a brief overview of each audience, followed by thought-provoking questions to inspire lively and fruitful discussion for those using it in a group setting, and food for thought for those reading it on their own. Definitions are provided for some of John Paul II's tough vocabulary words. Included are recommendations for beginning and facilitating a study group. Complete set, parts 1-4.
Whether you've never heard of Theology of the Body or you're familiar with John Paul II's jam-packed lectures, this book is for you. You'll gain a new understanding of what the Catholic Church teaches and why, as you read through John Paul II's profound Scriptual reflections on the whole panorama of salvation. Best of all, this book can be read either individually or in a discussion group in order to break apart John Paul II's challenging vocabulary to strengthen your faith - and impact the lives of those around you!
Discovering the Feminine Genius presents a framework in which women can discover and understand their human and spiritual journey as a daughter of God, a woman, a unique individual, and spouse of the Spirit. Katrina Zeno, renowned speaker on the theology of the body, explores the role of women in our complex world. Based on an immensely successful women's retreat that Katrina Zeno has been offering for the past decade, Discovering the Feminine Genius continues Zeno's exploration of women seeking to understand their own journey. Reviews: "From the moment I met Katrina Zeno, I knew she would bring her own feminine genius to bear in promoting John Paul II's Theology of the Body-Oh, how much the Church needs her gifts! Katrina's Discovering the Feminine Genius is not only a must-read for women. Men, too, will benefit from her beautiful illumination of the feminine mystery." - Christopher West Theology of the Body Institute "Using details from Genesis to the present age, Katrina Zeno carefully explains the divine plan for man and woman. She offers a wealth of intriguing morsels for her readers, illustrated with her own hard-won insights. Katrina's humility and humor reveal the deep joys that accompany God's marvelous design." - Genevieve S. Kineke Author of The Authentic Catholic Woman
Drawing on John Paul II's work on 'the feminine genius' the publication represents an attractive and moving synopsis of both John Paul's thought and Doyle's own desire to see women empowered and encouraged to embrace their identity.
Based on four key concepts-Receptivity, Generosity, Sensitivity, and Maternity-the book encourages women to accept, explore and develop these capacities in service of others and the world.
"For so long, some of the things that are particular to the feminine, such as the capacity to be emotionally available and attuned to others have been seen as weak or problematic. You can hear it every time someone talks about women being too emotional. What I found in my post-graduate study of John Paul's philosophical anthropology was that he saw that these capacities were powerfully linked to the receptive and nurturing nature of the whole female person. Rather than being a problem, he saw them as an answer to so many of the problems that face the world."
Throughout history, human beings have always asked fundamental questions about life and destiny, such as "Who am I?" and "What is love?" Modern culture attempts to answer these questions by promoting the pursuit of sexual pleasure as the answer for our yearning for intimacy. The tragedy is that after fleeting sexual encounters people often find themselves feeling hurt and unfulfilled. This is an introduction for the person who wants the real answer, which lies in the teaching of John Paul II: understanding the significance of our bodies as male and female and how the physical, embodied reality of our gender reveals spiritual truths about God and the meaning of life.
Great for one's own personal development in the area of sexuality and meaning, but perfect as a gift for graduation, weddings, and anniversaries, really for anyone you care about and who hasn't yet encountered the message of the sacredness of who we are and how we are created as male and female.
Is marriage the foundation of family life? Many people today would say, ''No!'' Others would say, ''Yes!'', but they would define ''family'' and ''marriage'' in ways at odds with how the words have been used almost throughout human history. In this revised and expanded edition of Marriage: The Rock on Which the Family is Built, internationally-renowned theologian William E. May makes the case for marriage's foundational role for family, with marriage defined as the union of one man and one woman. Drawing on Pope John Paul II's ''theology of the body'', he explains the person-affirming, love-enabling, life-giving, and sanctifying nature of marriage. He shows how marriage is necessarily a complementary union of man and woman and how this rules out the idea of ''same-sex'' marriage.
May argues, drawing on Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, that marriage fully respects the equal dignity of husband and wife as persons, while recognizing their unique, exclusive, enduring, complementary contributions to their union. Likewise, he shows how marriage honors the truth that each new human life brought about by sexual union is a person equal in dignity to his mother and father. What's more, both reason and revelation are used to show that only the family, founded on marriage as an enduring, mutually-exclusive union of one man and one woman, provides the proper context for begetting and raising children.
A Courageous Priest Speaks to Men About Marriage and Family Life.
Heroic men have always inspired me. Saints, military generals, and famous presidents have always provided light and direction during my life. Men like Paul, Athanasius, Thomas Moore, John Fisher, Edmond Campion, John Vianney, Miguel Pro, Oscar Romero, John Paul II, Pope Benedict, Washington, Lincoln, Reagan, Patton, MacArthur and Eisenhower are all men that I admire very much. They are all lighthouses: men, who within their own historical circumstances, stood up to the plate and lived their lives with heroism.
Today, as men, we are constantly being challenged.
If the house is burning, get a hose and put out the fire. If someone is trapped inside, we need to go in for the rescue. Only the cowards would watch from the sidewalk and do nothing.
I love heroes. I loathe cowards.
I know that as married men you are challenged every day. I am writing to you in order to encourage you to remain faithful and to be a hero.
In Dressing with Dignity, Colleen Hammond challenges today's fashions and provides you the information you need to protect yourself and your loved ones from the onslaught of tasteless, immodest clothing. Colleen Hammond shares real-life examples of how women can accentuate the grace and beauty of their femininity, and she shows that modest definitely does not mean frumpy !! DRESSING WITH DIGNITY covers it all . . . The history and forces behind the changes in fashion. How to talk to teenagers about the privilege of femininity so they will want to dress with dignity. How to awaken chivalry in men and be treated with respect. How to regain and teach the lost charm of interior and exterior femininity! How to dress in an attractive, dignified, classy manner! Specific documents about manners of dress from the Magisterium, the Popes and the Saints. Comprehensive guidelines for choosing tasteful attire. Resources on where to find beautiful, modest clothing. And much, much more!
- Freedom - 12 Lives Transformed by the ToB - Ed. Matthew Pinto
In Freedom, you will meet people who, through the Theology of the Body, have discovered the meaning of their very existence. They have all realized that the message of the Theology of the Body is the key to understanding their purpose in this life. They have found what we're all looking for ”the authentic path to happiness and freedom".
Through twelve real-life stories, you will:
- See how the Theology of the Body gives you a 'new lens' through which to see the world with great clarity.
- Learn how this teaching is uniquely capable of healing past spiritual and psychological wounds.
- Discover how the path to sexual integration, although challenging, will actually liberate all aspects of our lives.
- Learn the extraordinary connections between human sexuality and the entire Catholic sacramental order.
- See why persisting in sin ultimately leads to misery.
- Understand why 'love' is the greatest of the three theological virtues.
- Marvel at God's powerful and healing grace in the lives of ordinary people.
- See that God's grace can prevail over any challenge in life.
- Our world is yearning for the truth and beauty of the Theology of the Body. The good news is that a new sexual revolution is beginning to take root in the lives of men and women across the globe. Witness first-hand the power of this life-giving message, and discover how you, too, can achieve true freedom.
A thoughtful, accessible work on the beauty of love and the splendor of the body, inspired by Pope John Paul II.
Christianity has long been regarded as viewing the body as a threat to a person's spiritual nature and of denying its sexual dimension. In 1979, Pope John Paul II departed from this traditional dichotomy and offered an integrated vision of the human body and soul. In a series of talks that came to be known as “the theology of the body,” he explained the divine meaning of human sexuality and why the body provides answers to fundamental questions about our lives.
In Called to Love, Carl Anderson, chairman of the world’s largest catholic service organization, and Fr. Jose Granados discuss the philosophical and religious significance of “the theology of the body” in language at once poetic and profound. As they explain, the body speaks of God, it reveals His goodness, and it also speaks of men and women and their vocation to love. Called to Love brings to life the tremendous gift John Paul II bestowed on humanity and gives readers a new understanding of the Christian way of love and how to embrace it fully in their lives.
What does it mean to be human?
In his theology of the body, John Paul II made an important contribution to answering this question. Here Brian Bransfield provides a systematic approach to his teaching, using it as a basis for an integrated moral theology/Christian anthropology that gives practical support in living the Christian life.
"Because readers who seek out the teaching of John Paul have varying backgrounds, this book explains even basic concepts in his teaching to allow the central teaching to be more easily understood. This book will clarify important concepts and terms, presenting them in slow motion. It will also relate these concepts to the wider teaching of John Paul and the teaching of the Church. John Paul's teaching is not a random topic that he simply chose to speak about when he became pope. His work is a strategic development that responds immediately to humanity in crisis. "Pain fills the cry of the third millennium. The pain reverberates from a deeper place: the very identity of the human person. Every day, thousands of people in the United States have their personal information stolen and become victims of identity theft. The thieves steal identity for financial gain, and it can take years to repair the damage. Yet, a far more horrific identity theft has been under way for decades. The theft is not economic but cultural. Human nature is robbed of its dignity and reduced to a mere expression of instinct or business acumen. The anguish of people today flows from several factors. No simple diagnosis has sufficed from a sociological perspective to explain the predicament of humanity in the postmodern age. The prescription of a quick fix brings only further injury.
"In remedy, Church teaching and theology seek to reassert true human dignity." -From the Introduction
The zenith of John Paul II's thought on the human person, marriage, and the family is found in his "theology of the body." For the first time, William E. May provides a comprehensive yet readable overview of this work in the context of several other key writings of Karol Wojtyla /John Paul II, providing rich insights into its development.
Works surveyed include Love and Responsibility, Familiaris consortio, Mulieris dignitatem, and Letter to Families.
"In this book I want to show how Love and Responsibility, a profound, challenging, and difficult work, helps prepare the way for TOB. I will then show how the teaching found in Familiaris Consortio, written when TOB was about halfway completed, embraces many of TOB's key ideas and themes. I will conclude by considering two documents written after TOB was completed, the apostolic letters Mulieris Dignitatem and Letter to Families. I will thus take up the writings in this order: (1) Love and Responsibility, (2) Familiaris Consortio, (3) Theology of the Body, and (4) Mulieris Dignitatem and Letter to Families." -From the Introduction
Practical Insights from John Paul II's Love and Responsibility
"Love and Responsibility brilliantly sheds light on the mysterious dynamics between men and women and challenges us to live those dynamics better.
The essential background to the Theology of the Body!
Father Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) published Love and Responsibility in 1960, the fruit of his pastoral work, particularly among young people. His analysis of the true meaning of human love is life-transforming and practical, shedding light on real issues between men and women.
Edward Sri unpacks the contents of this great work, making it accessible to every reader. The author emphasizes the down-to-earth nature of Love and Responsibility, helping readers appropriate practical information on such topics as:
• how to determine if a relationship is one of authentic love or is doomed to failure
• the problem of pornography
• the meaning of friendship
• how to achieve greater intimacy in marriage and much more.
Study questions with each chapter make this a valuable resource not only for individual personal reading but also for small group study.
Hailed as thought-provoking, inspirational passionate and honest, Motherhood Matters by Dorothy Pilarski is a straight-talking guide for Catholic mothers trying to cope in today's hectic world.
Pilarski, a mother of two teenagers, has lovingly compiled a personal collection of touching stories, letters, prayers and quotes that she has been sharing with her Mother's Group for many years. TV talk show host Colleen Hammond calls the finished product "thought provoking and "jam-packed with inspiration."
Pilarski tackles a breath-taking range of topics: working moms, child-rearing, faith, marriage, attending Mass, public morality, holiday celebrations, education, friendship and such important Catholic themes as faith, hope and charity. The finished product is a book full of courage, wit and grace that author Lisa Hendey calls a "terrific compilation of writings about the triumphs and tragedies of being a mother in today's world."
Morrison’s 1999 book, Beyond Gay, is eloquently and insightfully written. While not matching the consistent heights of St. Augustine’s Confessions, Beyond Gay nevertheless does have similar moments. Beyond Gay is a beautifully-crafted tale of a personal search for Jesus, and how Jesus led the searcher to Catholicism.
Morrison confronted the meaning of the very direct language of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on homosexuality (CCC 2357-2359), and for Morrison this language paradoxically revealed truths about creation and his own place as part of God’s family, of the Catholic Church, and of the wider human family.
The amazing material shared in this book will help you:
1. Understand of the real purpose of the human body.
2. Reconcile what you “should” look like with the way Jesus views you.
3. Become more accepting of the body God gave you.
For the first time, here’s a book that will teach you to accept and love your body using the best tool of all: God. Too many people suffer from a poor body image, especially catholic girls and catholic women who are continually denigrated in secular society. If you are looking for Catholic answers for your Catholic Family this is the book for you to help someone understand the impact of the overwhelmingly negative effect pop culture can have on the development of self esteem.
Improving Your Body Image addresses the common triggers of negative body image for both men and women, and uses the Catholic faith and John Paul II’s Theology of the Body to show practical ways that the Christian faith can help us understand the human body and correct our own body issues. You will enjoy this book since it is written in an easy-to-read, conversational style. It will be attractive to readers, men and women alike, from older teens to older adults, due to its style, brevity, and interesting examples and stories. Catholic author and EWTN radio/TV personality Teresa Tomeo has written the foreword while Christopher West, Greg Popcak, Lisa Hendey (CatholicMom.com) and Dr. Bill Theirfelder (president of Belmont Abbey) have endorsed it.
One of the greatest and best-loved spokesmen for the Faith here sets out the Church's beautiful understanding of marriage in his trademark clear and entertaining style. Frankly and charitably, Sheen presents the causes of and solutions to common marital crises, and tells touching real-life stories of people whose lives were transformed through marriage. He emphasizes that our Blessed Lord is at the center of every successful and loving marriage. This is a perfect gift for engaged couples, or for married people as a fruitful occasion for self-examination.
A broad reflection on John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and how it applies to every day life for people of all ages.
Highly explored and examined, Pope John Paul II’s scripture-based reflections on human relationships and sexuality have captivated thousands of women and men around the globe. Yet few have discussed the implications of his theology for everyday life. Theology of the Body for Every Body offers us just that: a holistic reflection meaningful for everyday life.
This outstanding book explains Pope John Paul II’s foundational ideas and then looks to his encyclicals and writings on family, justice, labour and the Church to broaden the application of his Theology of the Body beyond simple – and simplistic - sexual ethics. Bringing a female voice to the writings surrounding the Theology of the Body, Leah Perrault explores its deeper applications for sexual ethics within a vision for human growth, service and justice.
Scott Hahn has the rare ability to explain the essential teachings of Catholicism in a totally accessible manner. Rather than burdening the reader with difficult or arcane references and arguments, he writes of familiar feelings and situations and allows the theology to unfold naturally. In First Comes Love, Hahn turns his attention to the search for a sense of belonging, revealing the intimate connection between the families men and women create on earth and the divine family, the Holy Trinity.
Delving into the Gospels, Hahn shows that family terminology--words like brother, sister, mother, father, and home--dominates Jesus' speech and the writings of His first followers, and that these very words illuminate Christianity's central ideas. As he explores the fatherhood of God, the marriage of the Church to Christ, and the all-enveloping role of the Holy Spirit, Hahn deepens readers' understanding of the sacraments, teaches them how to create a family life in the image of the Trinity, and demonstrates the ways in which the analogy of the family applies to every aspect of Catholicism and its practices--from the role of "father" embodied by the ancient patriarchs and contemporary parish priests, to the comfort and guidance offered by the brothers and sisters who comprise the Communion of Saints, to the nurturing embrace of Mary, the mother of all Christians.
Through real-life examples (both humorous and compassionate) and quotations drawn from the Scriptures, Hahn makes it clear that no matter what sort of family readers come from--no matter what sort of "dysfunction" they have experienced--they can find a family in the Church. Reaching out to newcomers and to lifelong Christians alike, First Comes Love is an invitation to discover a true home in the divine.
“Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body can be a tough doctrine to get one’s head around, and Gerard-Marie’s devotional approach in Who Am I? Theology of the Body in Prayer is a welcome contribution to the ongoing conversation about the meaning of the human person. Hopefully readers will bring an attitude of prayer to their reading of this book, and make progress in seeing Theology of the Body as a livable reality that cannot be confined to the pages of a textbook.”
It was Blessed John Paul II’s greatest gift to the Church: The theology of the body. A window into who we are, the theology of the body is a theology for the rooms where we make love. But it’s also a theology for the rooms where we work, where we eat, where we laugh, and where we pray. These Beautiful Bones takes you on a walk through those rooms. With both humor and practical wisdom, it sheds light on what the theology of the body has to say about life beyond the bedroom, about the everyday moments of life, helping you discover how to let grace enter into those moments and make of them something extraordinary.
Discover the five great loves of St. John Paul II through remarkable unpublished stories on him from bishops, priests, students, Swiss Guards, and others. Mining through a mountain of papal resources, Jason Evert has uncovered these many gems, offering a treasure chest brimming with the jewels of the saint’s life. After a brief overview of John Paul’s life, Evert explores in depth his five great loves: Young People, Human Love, The Eucharist, Our Lady, The Cross.
This work is intended to be catechetical, inspiring, and evangelical. By looking at what he loved and why, the goal is to help readers learn more about key aspects John Paul’s life and teachings, including Theology of the Body, Divine Mercy, Total Consecration, Eucharistic adoration, and redemptive suffering.
In Jesus the Bridegroom, Brant Pitre once again taps into the wells of Jewish Scripture and tradition, and unlocks the secrets of what is arguably the most well-known symbol of the Christian faith: the cross of Christ. In this thrilling exploration, Pitre shows how the suffering and death of Jesus was far more than a tragic Roman execution. Instead, the Passion of Christ was the fulfillment of ancient Jewish prophecies of a wedding, when the God of the universe would wed himself to humankind in an everlasting nuptial covenant.
To be sure, most Christians are familiar with the apostle Paul’s teaching that Christ is the ‘Bridegroom’ and the Church is the ‘Bride’. But what does this really mean? And what would ever possess Paul to compare the death of Christ to the love of a husband for his wife? If you would have been at the Crucifixion, with Jesus hanging there dying, is that how you would have described it? How could a first-century Jew like Paul, who knew how brutal Roman crucifixions were, have ever compared the execution of Jesus to a wedding? And why does he refer to this as the “great mystery” (Ephesians 5:32)?
As Pitre shows, the key to unlocking this mystery can be found by going back to Jewish Scripture and tradition and seeing the entire history of salvation, from Mount Sinai to Mount Calvary, as a divine love story between Creator and creature, between God and Israel, between Christ and his bride—a story that comes to its climax on the wood of a Roman cross.
In the pages of Jesus the Bridegroom, dozens of familiar passages in the Bible—the Exodus, the Song of Songs, the Wedding at Cana, the Woman at the Well, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and even the Second Coming at the End of Time—are suddenly transformed before our eyes. Indeed, when seen in the light of Jewish Scripture and tradition, the life of Christ is nothing less than the greatest love story ever told.
Pope John Paul II expected theologians to expand their insights of the 129 lectures given during his Wednesday audiences in St. Peter's Square and Paul VI Audience Hall between September 1979 and November 1984. However, his integrated vision of the human person - body, soul, and spirit - has rarely gone beyond the popular topics of moral theology associated with sexuality and marriage. Now, Susan Windley-Daoust, a passionate disciple of John Paul's complete work, devoted spiritual director, and popular Assistant Professor of Theology at St. Mary's University of Minnesota, extends the Theology of the Body to what it means to be human during the experiences of childbirth, impairment, and dying. Are there spiritual signs in these bodily events that are central to the human experience? Oh yes! And the signs mysteriously and wonderfully point to God
Many people live a life of darkness and suffering under the weight of childhood trauma, neglect or abuse. Anger and rage are distress symptoms of a deeper issue. The Holy Spirit knows the gentlest way to guide you to truth and freedom and He desires to woo His bride gently. He does not desire to kick in your doors or expose you in shame. My journey of Inner-healing and deliverance based on Theology of The Body has truly transformed my life so that I could reclaim the truth that God has made me for greatness. One person can change the world and that person is you.
In John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, the sexed human body speaks a language revealing God’s creative design and heralding humanity’s ultimate goal in the nuptial union of Christ and the Church. In a similar way, the Church, the body of Christ, anticipates her future nuptial union with Christ here and now through the “body language” of her public worship. Holy Eros combines insights from the great Pope’s theology of the body with traditional and contemporary liturgical studies, allowing each to shed light on the other. It shows how the various rituals of the Church, and the “shape” proper to the liturgical gathering, engage us as performative, physical enactments which actuate the spiritual and divine realities they signify, making heavenly marriage real on earth.
A longtime friend and student of the late Pope John Paul II, Stanislaw Grygiel in this book reflects on the life and thought of this extraordinary pope, giving new insight into his character and his vision of beauty as the path that leads us to God.
More than simply biographical information about John Paul II -- who was Bishop Karol Wojtyla before he became pope -- or a dry academic analysis of his teaching, Discovering the Human Person derives from Grygiel’s extensive firsthand interaction with Wojtyla. Grygiel reflects on the importance of Christian personalism, or communion, as the ground of John Paul II’s life, particularly in response to the communist environment that surrounded him in Poland. Grygiel also addresses the pope’s call for a new evangelization, his understanding of marriage and family, and the relationship of those to a genuine, healthy understanding of nation and state.
Gift and Communion offers a critical presentation of John Paul II's the- ology of the body, understood in the light of Christian theological tradition. The main thesis of the book is that John Paul II's theology of the body forms a new, inspiring approach to Christian ethics and the theology of marriage and family, as well as to theological anthropology. A central thrust of Gift and Communion is to treat theology of the body―as it deserves―in all its philosophical and theological serious- ness and to present it as an important stage in the historical development of Catholic theology. This new approach combines a hermeneutical, post-modern reading of the holy scriptures with an attempt to interpret the biblical text in the light of important currents of Western philosophy as well as Catholic theological tradition. Gift and Communion critically evaluates the method, fundamental notions, and significance of John Paul II's thought, places his thought in the context of contemporary challenges to Christian belief and presents it as an important stage in the historical development of Catholic tradition.
What does it mean to be a woman today? Is there a one-size-fits-all answer? How can a woman be truly Catholic and truly feminine, hard-working and creative, and yet be at peace within? How does she nurture life at home, at school, on the job or in the culture? In this profound yet practical guide, Genevieve Kineke invites women to consider the Church, the Bride of Christ, as the model for authentic Catholic womanhood. "The mission of women is inscribed in the mystery of the Church," Pope John Paul II said. The author explores facets of this mystery—the Church as mother, bride, spouse and teacher, as sacramental, as font of wisdom, source of culture, and life-giving sanctuary—and reveals how women mirror the Church in their core identity. Faithful to this authentic identity, women will play a critical role in rebuilding a civilization of love and life.
Deliverance from pornography is possible—and these true stories prove it.
• The pious Catholic man whose fairytale marriage was almost destroyed by his fierce addiction…
• The young woman who escaped a broken and abusive childhood only to become ensnared in porn’s seamy underworld…
• The couple who tried everything to beat the pain and shame of porn in their home…
• The female musician who thought porn was a guy thing until she got hooked herself…
• …and five other inspiring tales of liberation from the ravages of pornography.
Delivered is proof that no one is beyond the reach of God’s healing grace.
