Life and the Sanctity of Marriage/Family/Human Sexuality
St. Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" on marriage/family/human sexuality
Photo by Calvin Craig on Unsplash
Recently, I wrote of how George Weigel described a series of St. Pope John Paul II's general audiences as a "theological time bomb." These addresses are consistent with magisterial teaching on marriage/family/human sexuality, going back to at least 1880 (e.g., From Pope Leo’s Arcanum to 2013 – Part 1 and Part 2). It was not until 1997 that these addresses (L'Osservatore Romano translations) appeared in one volume: The Theology of the Body / Human Love in the Divine Plan. As per St. Pope John Paul II's conclusion:
the catechesis which I began over four years ago and which I am concluding today can be summed up under the title:..."The redemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage." The catechesis can be divided into two parts. The first part was dedicated to a study of Christ's words....
First of all there is the text in which Christ referred to "the beginning" in his discussion with the Pharisees on the unity and indissolubility of marriage (cf. Mt 19:8; Mk 10:6-9). Next there are the words Christ spoke in the Sermon on the Mount concerning concupiscence as adultery committed in the heart (cf. Mt 5:28). Finally, there are the words reported by all the synoptic Gospels in which Christ referred to the resurrection of the body in the other world (cf. Mt 22:30; Mk 12:25; Lk 20:35).
The second part of the catechesis was dedicated to the analysis of the sacrament based on the Letter to the Ephesians (Eph 5:21-33). This goes back to the biblical beginning of marriage expressed in the words of Genesis....
The catechesis of the first and second parts repeatedly used the term "theology of the body." In a certain sense, this is a "working" term....the term "theology of the body" goes far beyond the content of the reflections that were made....
In a certain sense we can even say that all the reflections that deal with the redemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage seem to constitute an ample commentary on the doctrine contained in the Encyclical Humanae Vitae....
the 1980 Synod also referred to the Encyclical Humanae Vitae and fully reconfirmed its doctrine. (St Pope John Paul II, 11/28/1984)
"The redemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage", Part 1
Original Unity of Man and Woman:
Catechesis on the Book of Genesis
1. Of the Unity and Indissolubility of Marriage
2. Biblical Account of Creation Analysed
3. The Second Account of Creation: The Subjective Definition of Man
4. Boundary Between Original Innocence and Redemption
5. Meaning of Man's Original Solitude
6. Man's Awareness of Being a Person
7. In the Very Definition of Man, the Alternative Between Death & Immortality
8. Original Unity of Man and Woman
9. Man Becomes the Image of God by Communion of Persons
10. Marriage One and Indissoluble in First Chapters of Genesis
11. Meaning of Original Human Experiences
12. Fullness of Interpersonal Communication
13. Creation as a Fundamental and Original Gift
14. Revelation and Discovery of the Nuptial Meaning of the Body
15. The Man-Person Becomes a Gift in the Freedom of Love
16. Mystery of Man's Original Innocence
17. Man and Woman: A Mutual Gift for Each Other
18. Original Innocence and Man's Historical State
19. Man Enters the World as a Subject of Truth and Love
20. Analysis of Knowledge and of Procreation
21. Mystery of Woman Revealed in Motherhood
22. Knowledge-Generation Cycle and Perspective of Death
23. Marriage in the Integral Vision of Man
"The redemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage", Part 1
Blessed Are the Pure of Heart:
Catechesis on the Sermon on the Mount
25. Ethical and Anthropological Content of the Commandment: You Shall Not Commit Adultery
26. Lust is the Fruit of the Breach of the Covenant With God
27. Real Significance of Original Nakedness
28. A Fundamental Disquiet in All Human Existence
29. Relationship of Lust to Communion of Persons
30. Dominion Over the Other in the Interpersonal Relation
31. Lust Limits Nuptial Meaning of the Body
32. The Heart a Battlefield Between Love and Lust
33. Opposition in the Human Heart between the Spirit and the Body
34. Sermon on the Mount to the Men of Our Day
35. Content of the Commandment: You Shall Not Commit Adultery
36. Adultery According to the Law and as Spoken by the Prophets
37. Adultery: A Breakdown of the Personal Covenant
38. Meaning of Adultery Transferred from the Body to the Heart
39. Concupiscence as a Separation From Matrimonial Significance of the Body
40. Mutual Attraction Differs from Lust
41. Depersonalizing Effect of Concupiscence
42. Establishing the Ethical Sense
43. Interpreting the Concept of Concupiscence
44. Gospel Values and Duties of the Human Heart
45. Realization of the Value of the Body According to the Plan of the Creator
46. Power of Redeeming Completes Power of Creating
47. Eros and Ethos Meet and Bear Fruit in the Human Heart
48. Spontaneity: The Mature Result of Conscience
49. Christ Calls Us to Rediscover the Living Forms of the New Man
50. Purity of Heart
"The redemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage" , Part 2
Life according to the Spirit:
St. Paul’s Teaching on the Human Body
52. Opposition Between the Flesh and the Spirit
53. Life in the Spirit Based on True Freedom
54. St. Paul's Teaching on the Sanctity and Respect of the Human Body
55. St. Paul's Description of the Body and Teaching on Purity
56. The Virtue of Purity Is the Expression and Fruit of Life According to the Spirit
57. The Pauline Doctrine of Purity as Life According to the Spirit
58. Positive Function of Purity of Heart
59. Pronouncements of Magisterium Apply Christ's Words Today
60. The Human Body, Subject of Works of Art
61. Reflections on the Ethos of the Human Body in Works of Artistic Culture
62. Art Must Not Violate the Right to Privacy
63. Ethical Responsibilities in Art
"The redemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage" , Part 2
The Resurrection of the Body
65. The Living God Continually Renews the Very Reality of Life
66. The Resurrection and Theological Anthropology
67. The Resurrection Perfects the Person
68. Christ's Words on the Resurrection Complete the Revelation of the Body
69. New Threshold of Complete Truth About Man
70. Doctrine of the Resurrection according to St. Paul
71. The Risen Body Will Be Incorruptible, Glorious, Dynamic, and Spiritual
72. Body's Spiritualization Will Be Source of Its Power and Incorruptibility
"The redemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage" , Part 2
Virginity for the Sake of the Kingdom
73. Virginity or Celibacy for the Sake of the Kingdom
74. The Vocation to Continence in This Earthly Life
75. Continence for the Sake of the Kingdom Meant to Have Spiritual Fulfillment
76. The Effective and Privileged Way of Continence
77. Superiority of Continence Does Not Devalue Marriage
78. Marriage and Continence Complement Each Other
79. The Value of Continence Is Found in Love
80. Celibacy Is a Particular Response to the Love of the Divine Spouse
81. Celibacy for the Kingdom Affirms Marriage
82. Voluntary Continence Derives From a Counsel, Not From a Command
83. The Unmarried Person Is Anxious to Please the Lord
84. Everyone Has His Own Gift from God, Suited to His Vocation
85. The Kingdom of God, Not the World, Is Man's Eternal Destiny
86. Mystery of the Body's Redemption Basis of Teaching on Marriage & Voluntary Continence
"The redemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage" , Part 2
The Sacramentality of Marriage
87. Marital Love Reflects God's Love for His People
88. The Call to Be Imitators of God and to Walk in Love
89. Reverence for Christ the Basis of Relationship Between Spouses
90. A Deeper Understanding of the Church and Marriage
91. St Paul's Analogy of the Union of Head and Body
92. Sacredness of the Human Body and Marriage
93. Christ's Redemptive Love Has Spousal Nature
94. Moral Aspects of the Christian's Vocation
95. Relationship of Christ to the Church Connected With the Tradition of the Prophets
96. Analogy of Spousal Love Indicates the Radical Character of Grace
97. Marriage Is the Central Point of the Sacrament of Creation
98. Loss of Original Sacrament Restored with Redemption in Marriage-Sacrament
99. Marriage an Integral Part of New Sacramental Economy
100. Indissolubility of Sacrament of Marriage in Mystery of the Redemption of the Body
101. Christ Opened Marriage to the Saving Action of God
102. Marriage Sacrament an Effective Sign of God's Saving Power
103. The Redemptive and Spousal Dimensions of Love
104. The Substratum and Content of the Sacramental Sign of Spousal Communion
105. The Language of the Body in the Structure of Marriage
106. The Sacramental Covenant in the Dimension of Sign
107. Language of the Body Strengthens the Marriage Covenant
108. Man Called to Overcome Concupiscence
109. Return to the Subject of Human Love in the Divine Plan
110. Truth and Freedom the Foundation of True Love
111. Love Is Ever Seeking and Never Satisfied
112. Love Is Victorious in the Struggle Between Good and Evil
113. The Language of the Body: Actions and Duties Forming the Spirituality of Marriage
"The redemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage" , Part 2
Reflections on Humanae Vitae
114. Morality of Marriage Act Determined by Nature of the Act and of the Subjects
115. The Norm of Humanae Vitae Arises from the Natural Law & the Revealed Order
116. Importance of Harmonizing Human Love with Respect for Life
118. Faithfulness to the Divine Plan in the Transmission of Life
119. The Church's Position on Transmission of Life
120. A Discipline That Ennobles Human Love
121. Responsible Parenthood Linked to Moral Maturity
122. Prayer, Penance & the Eucharist: Principal Sources of Spirituality for Married Couples
123. The Power of Love Is Given to Man and Woman as a Share in God's Love
124. Continence Protects the Dignity of the Conjugal Act
125. Continence Frees One from Inner Tension
126. Continence Deepens Personal Communion
127. Christian Spirituality of Marriage by Living According to the Spirit
128. Respect for the Work of God
129. Conclusion to the Series: Redemption of the Body and Sacramentality of Marriage
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About the Author
Joe Tevington is a proudly orthodox Catholic, a husband since 1986, a dad to two married adult children, a grandpa to two, and a civil service retiree. He is a sign language fluent certified rehabilitation counselor with graduate degrees in deafness rehabilitation, religious studies/moral theology, & Christian counseling psychology, as well as a catechetical diploma and certificates in benefits planning and Catholic social ministry. He deeply appreciates Catholic teaching on the sanctity of human life and the sanctity of the transmission of human life, as well as how they are to inform us in our apostolates and ministries.
On much lighter notes, he fancies himself to be the foremost authority on his native Brooklyn, when it comes to architecture, geography, history, Italian food, Saturday Night Fever, stick ball, stoop ball, or wiffle ball.
