Class8 The ology of the Body

Understanding Catholicism: Intellectual Formation Theology Class: 

Understanding Catholicism: Intellectual Formation Theology Class Theology of the Body

Catholicism As Comprehensive and Holistic: 

Catholicism As Comprehensive and Holistic Matthew 19:5 '…a man shall leave his Father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one; So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.' ~One flesh union, covenant joined by God~

Theology of the Body : 

Theology of the Body John Paul II’s comprised biblical reflection after much study on the human person and human experience (phenomenology) Collection of Wednesday Audiences given between September 1979 and November 1984 Interested in reflecting on an adequate understanding of the human person in the light of Christ and mankind’s origin Deeply impacted by Vatican II’s summation of the human person 'Christ…fully reveals man to himself and brings to light his most high calling' Gaudium et Spes

Adam and Eve and the Birds and the Bees : 

Adam and Eve and the Birds and the Bees Genesis’ 3 Original States: Original Solitude, Original Unity, Original Nakedness Original Solitude- man recognizes his conscious subjectivism, 'I' as well as his uniqueness among all of the other animals Body was capable of expressing himself, but was unfulfilled, longing for another 'I' like himself

Adam and Eve and the Birds and the Bees: 

Adam and Eve and the Birds and the Bees Original Unity- creation of woman, another of equal dignity Wonderfully different and differences intended unity; the body has a nuptial meaning Covenant of marriage as the most fundamental and intense form of human community Authentic self-giving love w/in marriage becomes a communion of persons reflecting (is an icon) of the reciprocity of love in God’s own triune life Biblical term for sexual union 'to know' shows knowledge gained through self-giving

Adam and Eve and the Birds and the Bees: 

Adam and Eve and the Birds and the Bees Original Nakedness- experience of no shame before the fall Following the fall man’s interior relationship of body and soul, sensible and spiritual was ruptured, as well as man’s relationship with society (spouse), environment (Eden), and God himself Domination and discrimination of relationship between the sexes ensued; this domination diminishes the dignity of both sexes, but has more serious consequences for the female in that she is made the object of male control —lust

Restoration of Relationships: 

Restoration of Relationships Grace restores and beyond that redeems all of man’s ruptured relationships: interior, w/ society, w/ environment, w/ God Now marriage is understood as 'mutual subjection out of reverence for Christ' (Eph 5:21) The communion of self-giving love incarnates for the subject the love of Christ for His Church, God in the Trinity andamp; God’s creation Celibacy as well brings forth the marital character of self-giving love as a gift of love to the Divine Spouse.

Use and Action : 

Use and Action Subjective Person No one can want for me, I act as a subject To Use- to employ some object of action as a means to an end To merely use someone as a means to an end denies the very nature of the other’s personhood and subjectivism 'Whenever a person is the object of your activity, remember that you may not treat that person as only the means to an end, as an instrument, but must allow for the fact that he/she, too has, or at least should have, distinct personal ends' –JPII Love and Responsibility

Love is the opposite of Use: 

Love is the opposite of Use When two persons seek a common aim, it puts them on a footing of equality Love subordinates oneself to the common good for the good of the other Marriage most fully fulfills ‘love’ as the persons subordinate themselves to procreation, future, family, ripening of relationship, etc. Love facilitates and participates in a growing union of relationship between two free persons Attraction is the essence of love, but love is not merely attraction Selflessnesss- 'Ti Volgio Bene' (I desire your good), key for genuine love

Language of the Body: 

Language of the Body We communicate our desires through the language of words and body language Conventional Symbols- society determines meaning, i.e. nod means yes, except in Bulgaria where nod means no, shake means yes Natural Symbols- we do determine meaning, i.e. hug, smile -we can abuse these symbols, i.e. hug intended to harm; we know that we are being dishonest in language, do not change the meaning of the symbol, but we know that we are lying when using it

Sexual Union as Body Language: 

Sexual Union as Body Language Language we use to fully express the attraction of love is sexual union, however there are higher forms of expression Sexual union is naturally symbolic Ultimate communication between man and woman Symbol means 'I give myself everything about myself to you, and I receive everything about you into myself' Loving, selfless, for the common good, for mutual joy, complete gift, commitment

Lies in the Language of the Body : 

Lies in the Language of the Body Different kinds of sexual expression; more or less dishonest Masturbation- one person making use of just one part of sex (pleasure) Sex between Strangers- involves two persons, but clearly w/o love and commitment signified by the union Boyfriends/Girlfriend- little closer to truth, but more so 'I like you' or 'I like you more than the last one' or 'I like you until somebody better comes along' Engaged Couples- 2 persons, commitment made, limited w/o vows, vows give freedom

Moral Act and ImplicationsHumanae Vitae: 

Moral Act and Implications Humanae Vitae Object (objective and absolute) Intention or Ends (subjective and absolute) Circumstances (subjective and relative) The two ends or intentions of the Sexual Act intrinsically are: 1. Procreative: raw, biological, a share in the creative power of God 2. Unitive: personal, mutual love, bonding, natural The sexual act requires both ends to be moral -argument from Humanae Vitae July, 25 1968 -against natural law

Implications- John Paul II’s Theology of the Body : 

Implications- John Paul II’s Theology of the Body Contraception violates the language of the body as complete self-giving of the whole person Teaching not only based on natural law (human reason tells us seeking an object devoid of its natural ends is inappropriate i.e. bulimia) but also 'the moral order revealed by God' (biblical exegesis) New view of understanding the human person’s anthropology as well as a more authoritative foundation for Catholic understanding of sexual ethics and responsibilities

Concise Secular Rendering : 

Concise Secular Rendering Steps for understanding sexual ethics 1. We are unique and desire happiness 2. Happiness does not come from having much, but from giving much (loving) 3. Sexual union is a significant and adequate expression of the sentiments of love (giving much) 4. Sexual union with contraception is not interested giving much (total self-gift), but having much (pleasure)

Gravest of Implications: 

Gravest of Implications Pope Paul VI’s general 'prophecies' if the teachings of Humanae Vitae are not welcomed 1. Conjugal infidelity and the general lowering of morality 2. Lack of respect for women 3. Abuse of power among authorities 4. Unlimited Dominion over one’s own body Positive 'prophecies' in the acceptance of HV: 'Such discipline bestows upon family life fruits of serenity and peace; and facilitates the solution of other problems; it favors attention for one's partner, helps both parties to drive out selfishness, the enemy of true love, and deepens their sense of responsibility.'