Be Filled

Welcome to the show! We are so glad you are here as we continue our journey through St. Pope John Paul II’s teaching on the Theology of the Body. This episode we are discussing Audiences 124 and 125 as we continue looking at the underlying motives for using our natural rhythms to regulate fertility as opposed to contraception. 

Quotes: 

“The theology of the body…in some way plunges its roots into the theology of the family and, at the same time, leads to it.” (TOB 124:3) 

“To make use of the gift of conjugal love with reverence for the laws of the generative process means to acknowledge oneself not to be the arbiter of the sources of human life, but rather the minister of the plan established by the Creator.” (TOB 124:5) 

“The family that lives the requirements of love and forgiveness to the full becomes the main bulwark of the civilization of love and the hope for the future of humanity.” (Familiaris Consortio, St. Pope John Paul II) 

“There is no family that does not know how selfishness, discord, tension and conflict violently attack and at times mortally wound its own communion…But, at the same time, every family is called by the God of peace to have the joyous and renewing experience of ‘reconciliation,’ that is, communion reestablished, unity restored.” (Familiaris Consortio, St. John Paul II) 

“...the way of behaving in question, corresponds to the truth of the person and thus to the person’s dignity: a dignity that belongs “by nature” to man as a rational and free being. As a rational and free being, man can and should reread with insight the biological rhythm that belongs to the natural order. He can and should conform himself to it for the sake of exercising “responsible fatherhood and motherhood,” which is inscribed according to the Creator’s plan in the natural order of human fruitfulness.” (TOB 125:1) 

“...One should keep in mind that the “body speaks” not only with the whole outer expression of masculinity and femininity, but also with the inner structure of the organism, of somatic and psychosomatic reactivity.” (TOB 125:1) 

“Such discipline bestows upon family life fruits of serenity and peace, and facilitates the solution of other problems; it favors attention to one’s partner, helps the spouses to drive out selfishness, the enemy of true love; and deepens their sense of responsibility.” (TOB 125:6) 

Reflection Questions:

1. What spoke most to your heart in this episode? 
2. Do you want to be the one to always decide what is good for you? Do you think you always know what is good for you? 
3. Think through moments of your life. Have there been times you really thought you knew what was best and it turned out NOT to be? 
4. What is the disposition of your heart when it comes to submitting to God’s authority in your life? Are you listening to what God wants for you? Are you willing to do whatever He asks of you? 
5. How do you feel about being a “minister” of God’s plan instead of in charge of the plan? 
6. What “tasks” of the family do you feel your family is growing in? What “tasks” do you struggle most with? Bring this all to prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you. 
7. How is your family an image of trinitarian love in the way you give and receive? 
8. How do you respond to the struggles of your children? Could their struggles help shed light on areas where you need healing? 
9. Is using contraception making you more “free” or more dependent? Is it helping you to grow in virtue, knowledge of your body, and freeing you from selfishness? 
10. Are you open to going deeper in your understanding of how God made you? Pray with this and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. 

Resources: 

“The Shack” Judgement Scene

Familiaris Consortio

The Language of Your Body: Embracing God’s Design for Your Cycle by Christina Valenzuela 

Pearl and Thistle 

The Good News About Sex and Marriage by Christopher West

Related Podcast Episodes: 

Purity as Life According to the Spirit (Part 1) 

Purity as Life According to the Spirit (Part 2) 

Gospel of Purity of Heart-Yesterday and Today 

Music: 'Chase The Sun' by Mark July on #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/c/mark-july

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