Synopsis:
Theology of the Body
Sixth and Ninth
Commandments
Goodness
Sexuality is not a casual act
because it is a good gift from God
to be respected
Goodness
1. God created the body to be
good
2. Sex is created to be good
3. Children are good, and
deserve to be loved and nurtured
Goodness
4. Therefore we should choose a
good spouse to insure this. We
are created good and are
deserving of respect and dignity.
Know when to say “I don’t.” Will
he be a good, supportive, loving
husband and father?
Marriage
B. Marriage is a place of
permanence, stability, mutual
love and support.
C. Love of spouses:
1. Meant to mirror the love of the
Trinity
a. Father-Son-Holy Spirit
b. Husband-Wife-Child
Theology of the Body
by Pope John Paul II
2. Sex as an expression of this
love: is meant to be:
Free
Faithful
Total
Fruitful
Free
Nobody is forcing me
No one is pressuring me
Faithful
Fidelity
Chastity
We have sex with each other only
No cheating
Total
We give ourselves to each other
physically, emotionally, spiritually,
financially, legally, etc.
Without reservation
Now and Forever
In good times and in bad times
Fruitful
We are open to new life in this
relationship
We are open to children as gifts
from God
3. Two equal and inseparable
aspects of sex in marriage:
a. unitive: sharing of love between
spouses, bonding
b. procreative: openness to new
life, babies
4. Remove any part and sex is
removed from this love and marriage
context and it can become:
a. lust
b. selfish, using, sterile, insecure,
risky, possibly abusive
c. may create an insecure future
for me and any resulting children
5. Natural Family Planning
a. a way to keep the unitive and
procreative aspects together
b. a means to be responsible parents
by spacing children according to our
ability to lovingly take care of them
c. uses awareness of cycle,
ovulation, and abstinence
Examples that do not meet the
standards of fruitful, free, total and
faithful:
recreational sex: just pleasure;
Children? Contraception?
Heartbreak? Not fruitful, not
faithful, not total
Not free, faithful, total, fruitful
relationship sex: “We love
each other” Children?
Contraception? Security? Not
fruitful, not total, faithful?
Not f, f, t, f
almost committed sex: living
together, engaged; Children?
Contraception? Not total, one of
us could still walk away, fruitful?
Not f, f, t, f
Artificial contraception: not
fruitful, tries to prevent
openness to new life or
procreation
Not . . .
Some artificial fertility
technologies: not open to love
or unity of the couple; not total,
faithful, or free
Not . . .
Pressure to have sex or to get
married, or rape: not free, not
total, not faithful, fruitful?
Sex Sells
If you buy this product, you will be
attractive and therefore happy
Sexualization of our culture
Younger and younger children are
being dressed in “sexy” clothes
Younger and younger children are
engaging in sex acts
It is everywhere
Music
Movies
T.V.
Advertising
Conversation
Language
Peer Pressure