Be Filled

Welcome to the show! We are continuing our study of St. Pope John Paul II”s teaching on the Theology of the Body. Today we discuss audiences 58 and 59 which is a review of what we have discussed so far in the text. We talk about some of the practical applications of what we have learned to our marriages and everyday lives. You won’t want to miss it! 

Quotes: 

“When you decide to lead a clean life, chastity will not be a burden on you: it will be a crown of triumph.” (Saint Josemaria Escriva)  

“The inner man must open himself to life according to the Spirit, in order to share in evangelical purity of heart: in order to find again and realize the value of the body, freed by redemption from the bonds of concupiscence.” (TOB 58:5)

“This is the body’s great dignity: it incarnates God’s mystery, which is love. Man’s vocation is to love as God loves, and it is revealed through the spousal meaning of his body.” (Christopher West, Theology of the Body Explained, p. 278) 

“It is the purity of the “man of concupiscence”, who is nevertheless inspired by the word of the Gospel and open to “life according to the Spirit”, that is the purity of the man of concupiscence who is completely enveloped by the “redemption of the body” achieved by Christ. (TOB 58:5) 

“The satisfaction of the passions is, in fact, one thing, quite another is the JOY a person finds in possessing himself more fully, since in this way he can also become more fully a true gift for another person.” (TOB 58:7)

“It is also to be feared that the man, growing used to the use of contraceptive practices, may finally lose reverence for women and…may come to the point of considering her as a mere instrument of selfish enjoyment, and no longer as his respected and beloved companion.” (Pope Paul VI, Humane Vitae 17) 

Reflection Questions: 

1. What spoke to your heart most this episode? 
2. Do you see chastity or “purity of heart” as a burden? 
3. Do you believe that “you can do hard things”? Do you believe “purity of heart” is possible? 
4. Do you have others in your life who you can walk with to pursue the Lord and “purity of heart”? 
5. Pray about your marriage and the way you “make love”. Are you truly loving the whole person or are there ways in which you are using each other? Ask God to show you what His vision is for your marriage. 
6. Have you allowed yourself to be “completely enveloped by the redemption of the body achieved by Christ”? 
7. Have you experienced the joy in “possessing” yourself more fully and to “become more fully a true gift for another person”? 
8. How is your heart after hearing about the Catholic Church’s teaching on contraception? Pray with whatever comes up and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. 

Resources: 

Humanae Vitae (Pope Paul VI) 

Good News About Sex and Marriage, Christopher West

Music from #Uppbeat

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