When "Theology of the Body" is Misunderstood
Relationships: It take some elbow grease and the Grace of God.
Image inspired by photographs of Pope St. John Paul II, Author: “Theology of the Body”
By: Sr. Helena Burns, FSP ©
“The Human Person Becomes a Gift in the Freedom of Love”
Is it possible to abuse the gifts of God? Absolutely. Does it make them any less a gift just because they are open to abuse or we abuse them? No. Thomas Aquinas said that just about anything can be abused, even Gregorian Chant!
But what happens when we abuse a gift whose sole purpose is to keep us from abusing God’s gifts?
I’m talking about Theology of the Body, of course. God’s gift of Theology of the Body, given to us through St. Pope John Paul II, was written to restore and deepen the true meaning and dignity of the body, sex, beauty, love, relationships and marriage.
There are truncated presentations of TOB that are an oversimplification of God’s teachings on the body, human interactions, sexual morality, marriage. Instead, Theology of the Body is a comprehensive anthropology:
What does it mean to be human?
What does it mean to be the freaks of the universe, uniting matter and spirit, the physical and spiritual like no other creature?
Natural Family Planning (NFP)
By limiting youths’ and adults’ exposure to TOB to a one-hour “chastity talk” once in their lives, or a little Natural Family Planning (NFP) for engaged couples — the message is sent that TOB is not a terribly broad or important tool, and these vital topics do not require much of our attention, let alone a lifelong struggle and learning curve, with accompanying rewards.
The idea can be embedded by faulty TOB training that if I simply abstain from sex till marriage, my married life will be permanently ecstatic. And if I practice Natural Family Planning, I will be in total control of every aspect of my future — childbearing and rearing will be a breeze.
As a long time presenter, I have found there can be a shallow kind of enthusiasm for TOB if it isn’t presented in its proper, much broader context (which isn’t always possible).
Presenting a “hit and run” talk can lead to folks simply trying to find a way to fit TOB into their pleasure-seeking ethos. However, there are also plenty of folks, young and old, who get that Theology of the Body goes deep and wide, who understand that the Cross is everywhere, even in the most delightful aspects of life. And the Cross is our salvation.
I’ve heard even recent graduates from stellar Catholic universities were horrified at how “difficult” marriage is. Others got supremely frustrated when NFP didn’t “work.”
Teaching Natural Family Planning
What we can accomplish with elbow grease - and by the Grace of God!
I think a main problem is the way we raise children to think that life is all about “being happy,” or “whatever makes you happy,” and that negative emotions, being challenged by something difficult, or simply having a bad day is the worst possible thing that could happen to you, means something is terribly wrong and you need to pop some meds.
Believers can even send the message that “God wants you to be happy,” without the full catechism exposition of “knowing, loving, serving God,” and the far superior “happy with Him in the next life.” We set young people up to fail, to be fragile, to trust and follow only their emotions, think only of this life, etc.
And sometimes we can forget that we’re not doing this short life on our own:
Prayer,
The sacraments,
The practice of virtue,
Nobility of character,
Self-denial,
Enriching our knowledge and wisdom,
Combating our personality defects — with trust in God’s help and strength,
. . . these all go into the mix to make us, over time, fine, affable, nuanced, strong human beings, whether married or not. Life is not stasis.
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another. (1 Thessalonians 3:12).
No, we can’t just skip to the good part, but we can get there with elbow grease and the grace of God.
Go in Peace —and Glorify the Lord by your Life.
Sr. Helena Burns, FSP is a Daughter of St. Paul, an international religious congregation dedicated to proclaiming Christ through media and culture. A sought-after speaker, author, media literacy educator, and regular contributor to The Catholic Register, she presents workshops across Canada and the United States on faith, media, and St. John Paul II: Theology of the Body.
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