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Pope John Paul II coined a phrase in his teaching on the subject of human sexuality. He speaks about a “theology of the body,” referring to the truth that our bodies are the vehicles through which we speak the language of love.
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Human beings are the only creatures made in God's image and likeness. Human beings are different from animal beings because persons can think and choose. Our bodies are expressions of what we know and choose. Therefore, created in God's image, we are called to act like God and to reflect God's love through our bodies.
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Man and woman together image God and express God's wisdom and goodness in creating them in perfect equality as persons. The fundamental vocation of each person is to love. Furthermore, each and every human person deserves to be loved as a wonderful creation of God, created for his or her own sake and destined to live for all eternity.
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If the body is the expression of the person as the image of God, then the call to love includes the person in his or her totality. Love, of necessity, includes the human body. Sexuality is not just biology. Sexuality is, in fact, a profound expression of the human person in the dignity of being created male or female.
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When fully understood, this revolutionary way of thinking about the human person as a sexual person impacts every pastoral concern of the Church. Fundamentally, it is about who we are as persons and what we are made for.
Envision a parish where, from the moment of conception until death and burial and beyond, the person is central to every apostolate. Imagine a Catholic perspective that dignifies the person as part of a family, just as God had intended from the very beginning. There is no point of departure in bringing this message to the people that is not appropriate or worthwhile. Let everyone begin – with whatever apostolate is his or her particular concern – to incorporate this fresh, new way of thinking into evangelizing. Let us be filled with hope that, as we interface among our varied apostolates, this theology of the body teaching will serve as the common denominator that will move Catholic life to a new moment in time. [Back to Top]
There are a number of organizations, web sites, speakers, discussion groups, books and Bible studies on the theology of the body. Family Honor has compiled a master listing of these resources in our booklet titled Bringing the Good News Home: Evangelizing and Renewing Faith Communities with Theology of the Body. Please go to our Resource section to find out how to order it.
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