THEOLOGY OF THE BODY


Pope John Paul II

Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan

“Original Unity of Man and Woman:
Catechesis on the Book of Genesis”

  • The Unity and Indissolubility of Marriage
  • Analysis of the Biblical Account of Creation
  • The Second Account of Creation: The Subjective Definition of Man
  • The Boundary Between Original Innocence and Redemption
  • The Meaning of Man’s Original Solitude
  • Man’s Awareness of Being a Person
  • The Alternative Between Death and Immortality Enters the Definition The Original Unity of Man and Woman
  • The Original Unity of Man and Woman
  • By the Communion of Persons Man Becomes the Image of God
  • In the First Chapters of Genesis, Marriage is One and Indissoluble
  • The Meaning of Original Human Experiences
  • The Fullness of Interpersonal Communication
  • Creation as a Fundamental and Original Gift
  • Revelation and Discovery of the Nuptial Meaning of the Body
  • The Human Person Becomes a Gift in the Freedom of Love
  • The Mystery of Man’s Original Innocence
  • Man and Woman: A Mutual Gift for Each Other
  • Original Innocence and Man’s Historical State
  • Man Enters the World as a Subject of Truth and Love
  • Analysis of Knowledge and of Procreation
  • The Mystery of Woman is Revealed in Motherhood
  • The Knowledge-Generation Cycle and the Perspective of Death
  • Marriage in the Integral Vision of Man

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart:
Catechesis on the Sermon on the Mount

  • Christ Appeals to Man’s Heart
  • The Ethical and Anthropological Content of the Commandment “Do Not Commit Adultery”
  • Lust is the Fruit of the Breach of the Covenant with God
  • The Real Significance of Original Nakedness
  • A Fundamental Disquiet in All Human Existence
  • The Relationship of Lust to the Communion of Persons
  • Dominion Over the Other in the Interpersonal Relationship
  • Lust Limits the Nuptial Meaning of the Body
  • The “Heart” — A Battlefield Between Love and Lust
  • The Opposition in the Human Between the Spirit and the Body
  • The Sermon on the Mount to the Men of Our Day
  • The Content of the Commandment “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”
  • Adultery According to the Law and as Spoken by the Prophets
  • Adultery is a Breakdown of the Personal Covenant
  • The Meaning of Adultery is Transferred from the Body to the Heart
  • Concupiscence is a Separation from the Matrimonial Significance of the Body
  • Mutual Attraction Differs from Lust
  • The Depersonalizing Effect of Concupiscence
  • Establishing the Ethical Sense
  • Interpreting the Concept of Concupiscence
  • Gospel Values and Duties of the Human Heart
  • Realization of the Value of the Body According to the Plan of the Creator
  • The Power of Redeeming Completes the Power of Creating
  • “Eros” and “Ethos” Meet and Bear Fruit in the Human Heart
  • Spontaneity: The Mature Result of Conscience
  • Christ Calls Us to Rediscover the Living Forms of the New Man
  • Purity of Heart

St. Paul’s Teaching on the Human Body

  • Justification in Christ
  • Opposition Between the Flesh and the Spirit
  • Life in the Spirit is Based on True Freedom
  • St. Paul’s Teaching on the Sanctity and Respect of the Human Body
  • St. Paul’s Description of the Body and Teaching on Purity
  • The Virtue of Purity is the Expression and Fruit of Life According to the Spirit
  • The Pauline Doctrine of Purity as Life According to the Spirit
  • Positive Function of Purity of Heart
  • Pronouncements of Magisterium Apply Christ’s Words Today
  • The Human Subject of Works of Art
    Reflections on the Ethos of the Human Body in Works of Artistic Culture
  • Art Must Not Violate the Right to Privacy
  • Ethical Responsibilities in Art

The Resurrection of the Body

  • Marriage and Celibacy in the Light of the Resurrection of the Body
  • The Living God Continually Renews the Very Reality of Life
  • The Resurrection and Theological Anthropology
  • The Resurrection Perfects the Person
  • Christ’s Words on the Resurrection Complete the Revelation of the Body
  • The New Threshold of the Complete Truth About Man
  • The Doctrine of the Resurrection According to St. Paul
  • The Risen Body Will be Incorruptible, Glorious, Full of Dynamism, and Spiritua
  • The Body’s Spiritualization Will be the Source of Its Power and Incorruptibility

Virginity for the Sake of the Kingdom

  • Virginity or Celibacy for the Sake of the Kingdom
  • The Vocation to Continence in This Earthly Life
  • Continence for the Sake of the Kingdom is Meant to Have a Spiritual Fulfillment
    Continence is an Effective and Privileged Way
  • The “Superiority” of Continence Does Not Devaluate Marriage
  • Marriage and Continence Complement Each Other
  • The Value of Continence is Found in Love
  • Celibacy is a Particular Response to the Love of the Divine Spouse
  • Celibacy for the Kingdom Affirms Marriage
  • Voluntary Continence Derives from a Counsel, Not from a Command
  • The Unmarried Person is Anxious to Please the Lord!
  • Everyone Has His Own Gift from God, Suited to Each One’s Vocation
  • The Kingdom of God, Not the World, is Man’s Eternal Destiny
  • The Mystery of the Body’s Redemption

The Sacramentality of Marriage

  • Marital Love Reflects God’s Love for His People
  • The Call to Be Imitators of God and to Walk in Love
  • Reverence for Christ is the Basis of the Relationship Between Spouses
  • A Deeper Understanding of the Church and Marriage
  • St. Paul’s Analogy of the Union of Head and Body
  • The Sacredness of Human Body and Marriage
  • Christ’s Redemptive Love has a Spousal Nature
  • Moral Aspects of the Christian’s Vocation
  • The Relationship of Christ to the Church is Connected with the Tradition of the Old Testament Prophets, Especially Isaiah
  • An Analogy of Spousal Love Indicates the Radical Character of Grace
  • Marriage is the Central Point of the “Sacrament of Creation”
  • The Loss of the Original Sacrament is Restored With Redemption in the Marriage Sacrament
  • Marriage is an Integral Part of the New Sacramental Economy
  • The Indissolubility of the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Mystery of the Redemption of the Body
  • Christ Opened Marriage to the Saving Action of God
  • The Marriage Sacrament is an Effective Sign of God’s Saving Power
  • The Redemptive and Spousal Dimensions of Love
  • The “Language of the Body” is the Substratum and Content of the Sacramental Sign of Spousal Communion
  • The Language of the Body in the Structure of Marriage
  • The Sacramental Covenant in the Dimension of Sign
  • The “Language of the Body” Strengthens the Marriage Covenant
  • Man is Called to Overcome Concupiscence
  • Reflections on the Song of Songs
  • Truth and Freedom Are the Foundation of True Love
  • Love is Ever Seeking and Never Satisfied
  • Love is Victorious in the Struggle Between Good and Evil
  • The Language of the Body and the Spirituality of Marriage

Reflections on Humanae Vitae

  • The Morality of the Marriage Act is Determined by the Nature of the Act and of the Subjects
  • The Norm of Humanae Vitae Arises from the Natural Law and Revealed Moral Order
  • The Importance of Harmonizing Human Love with Respect for Life
  • Responsible Parenthood
  • Faithfulness to the Divine Plan in the Transmission of Life
  • The Church’s Position on the Transmission of Life
  • A Discipline That Ennobles Human Love
  • Responsible Parenthood is Linked to Moral Maturity
  • Prayer, Penance and the Eucharist are the Principal Sources of Spirituality for Married Couples
  • The Power of Love is Given to Man and Woman as a Share in God’s Love
  • Continence Protects the Dignity of the Conjugal Act
  • Continence Frees One from Inner Tension
  • Continence Deepens Personal Communion
  • Christian Spirituality of Marriage is Possible Only by Living According to the Spirit
  • Respect for the Work of God
  • The Redemption of the Body and the Sacramentality of Marriage

 


Appendices
Encyclical Humanae Vitae ["On Human Life"] (1968)
Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem ["Dignity and Vocation of Women"] (1988)
Encyclical Evangelium Vitae ["The Gospel of Life"] (1995)