Theology of the Body Questions & Answers (Part 2)
There are many misconceptions about what the Catholic Church teaches regarding marriage, sexuality, and responsible parenthood. Theology of the Body offers a deeper vision—one that reveals the dignity of the human person, the meaning of the body, and God’s design for love within marriage. This teaching helps us understand not only what the Church teaches, but why.
What does it mean to say we are souls with bodies?
We are souls with bodies; we are a physical manifestation of God created in His image and likeness and therefore each of us has an inherent dignity that needs to be respected.
How do our intellect and free will reflect God?
We as images of God have a mind to know and a will to choose. So, before we can reflect God, we have to know what He does and then we have to choose to do it.
What are the characteristics of authentic love according to Christ’s example?
If we analyze Christ’s passion, we can see that the love of God has five characteristics. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is the clearest and most dramatic example of God’s love. Christ’s choice to die on the cross was also an informed decision—He made it based on knowledge. He knew that His death would mean our salvation, and He made His choice because of that.
Through this act of salvation, we can share the very life of God, which is grace. There are five characteristics of God’s love revealed to us in Christ’s sacrifice. They are:
- A choice
- Based on knowledge
- A self-gift
- Permanent
- Life-giving
So, if we are to be an image of God, and if we are to love as God loves, our love needs to have all five characteristics. If we don’t have all five, we are not loving.
Why does the Church say there are only two ways to relate to others?
If it’s not love, then it’s “using another person,” because there are only two ways to relate to persons and things. We’re supposed to love people and use things.
We are empowered to love as God loves, and it is one of the privileges of being a human person. There is no greater vocation or calling in anyone, in any being on earth. Marriage is a vocation where this love can be expressed, but it has to be expressed with all five characteristics.
Take a look at the CCL TOB Information page for more information.
This Q & A article continues in Theology of the Body: Questions & Answers, Part 3. Find Part 1 of this series here.
Excepts taken from CCL NFP Class video with Bishop Erik Pohlmeier. Click here for all of CCL’s NFP class options.