Theology of the Body

"Theology of the Body" is the title given to a collection of talks (addresses) on God's design for human sexuality by Pope John Paul II during the course of five years. Appealing to the individual's experiences of truth, the Holy Father discusses both Sacred Scripture and Catholic Tradition on the subject. This approach seeks not only to make understandable the rich theology of Catholic teaching on the nature of humanity created as man and woman, but also to communicate the truth and beauty of God's design of human sexuality. Included in this series is a substantial reflection on the papal encyclical, Humanae vitae(Of Human Life) which treats married love and responsible parenthood. 

• John Paul II’s New Vision of Human Sexuality, Marriage and Family Life
• Introduction to John Paul II's Theology of the Body

1. What is meant by “Beginning?”
2. The meaning of Original Solitude
3. The meaning of Original Unity
4. The meaning of Original Nakedness
5. Man in the dimension of gift
6. “Knowledge” and procreation (Gen 4:1)
7. [Conclusion: an integral vision]

1. In the light of the Sermon on the Mount
2. The man of concupiscence
3. Commandment and ethos
4. The “Heart” – accused or called?
5. The ethos of the Redemption of the Body
6. Purity as “life according to the Spirit”
7. The Gospel of the Purity of Heart – yesterday and today
   Appendix: the ethos of the body in art and media

1. The resurrection of the body as a reality of the “Future World”
2. Continence for the Kingdom of Heaven
   [Conclusion of Part 1: the Redemption of the Body]

1. Ephesians 5:21-33
2. Sacrament and mystery
3. Sacrament and “Redemption of the Body”

1. “Language of the Body” and the reality of the Sign
2. The Song of Songs
3. When the “Language of the Body” becomes Language of the Liturgy (Reflections on Tobit)

1. The ethical problem
2. Outline of Conjugal Spirituality
   [Conclusion]