Be Filled

Welcome! We are so glad you are here with us as we study St. Pope John Paul II’s teaching on the Theology of the Body. This episode we are going to be discussing Audiences 114-117 of the text. We talk about the importance of prayer in marriage, practical advice on how to combine forces in prayer as a couple, and how your love life actually DOES make “Heaven a Place on Earth”! If you would like to watch the video of this episode you can find it here.

Quotes

Prayer of Tobias and Sarah: “Blessed are you, O God of our fathers, and blessed for all generations is your name. Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you for all ages. You created Adam, and you created his wife Eve to be a help and support for him. From the two of them the whole human race was born. You said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make him a help similar to himself.’ Now it is not out of lust that I take this sister of mine, but with rightness of intention. Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together.” And they both said, “Amen, Amen”. (Tobit 8:5-8) 

“...this love is validated by ethos, that is, by the will and the choice of values.” (TOB 115:1) 

“The truth and strength of love are manifested in the ability of love to place itself between the forces of good and evil that fight within man and around him, because love is confident in the victory of good and is ready to do everything in order that good may conquer.” (TOB 115:2) 

“...brings the loving dialogue of the spouses in some way to silence. What emerges is another dimension of love: the “language of the body” expressed with the words of choices and acts.” (TOB 115:3) 

“...in order to repel the evil threatening to kill the body, one must prevent the evil spirit from having access to the soul, one must free oneself within oneself from his influence.” (TOB 115:5) 

“This voice, this act of speaking in unison, allows both of them to pass beyond the threat of evil and death, inasmuch as they open themselves totally, in the unity of the two, to the living God.” (TOB 115:6) 

“The spouses of the Song of Songs mutually declare their human love with ardent words. The new spouses in Tobit ask God that they may know how to respond to love. Both aspects find their place in what constitutes the sacramental sign of marriage. Both share in the formation of the sign.” (TOB 116:5) 

“The sacraments infuse holiness into the terrain of man’s humanity: they penetrate the soul and body, the femininity and masculinity of the personal subject, with the power of holiness. All of this is expressed in the language of the liturgy…The liturgy…elevates the conjugal covenant of man and woman…to the dimensions of the ‘mystery,’ and at the same time enables that covenant to be realized in these dimensions through the ‘language of the body’” (TOB 117b:2)

“When lived according to the “great mystery” of God’s designs, even the marital embrace itself becomes a profound prayer. It becomes eucharistic as an act of thanksgiving offered to God for the joyous gift of sharing in his own life and love.” (Theology of the Body Explained, Christopher West) 

“When spouses become one-flesh, this great sign expresses not only “an interpersonal event full of intense personal content.” It also expresses “a sacred and sacramental reality, rooted in the dimension of the covenant and of grace.” (TOB 117b:2)

Reflection Questions

1. What spoke to your heart most in this episode?
2. If you are considering marriage or preparing for marriage, have you been willing to “look under the hood”? What is holding back? Are there any fears you need to bring into the light? Ask the Lord to look with you and remember “Do not be afraid”? 
3. What suffering have you experienced in your marriage that has led you to grow closer to God and to each other? 
4. Are you encouraging your spouse to make acts of faith even if it is scary to you? Can you trust your spouse to lead you and your family? 
5. What temptation do you need to “stand up” or “get up” and move away from to move to prayer? 
6. If you are single, are you tempted to not believe you could ever find a good man? Or you are too wounded? Take this to prayer and ask the Lord to increase your faith in His ability! 
7. What is the climate of your heart? Do your actions match the love you have in your heart? Ask yourself how can I be selfless today? 
8. What “strengthening exercises” is God allowing into your life right now?
9. Do you pray with your spouse? Are you willing to try one of the ideas Katie mentioned? (Links below) 
10. Can you allow your heart to be pierced every time you receive the Eucharist? Can you allow your heart to be pierced every time you come together with your spouse? Ask the Lord for the grace to see what is really happening in the Mass and in your marriage. 

Resources

Canon of the Holy Scriptures

Fr. Mike Schmitz-Catechism in a Year on the Canon of Scripture 

Bill Donaghy Commentary Videos 

Divine Office 

Forever Catholic Marriage Devotional 

Come What May 

Heaven is a Place on Earth 

Audio: Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/chase-the-sun

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