HUMAN SEXUALITY IN CATHOLIC TERM

HUMAN SEXUALITY IN CATHOLIC TERMS

General Information by Marta Alves

Posted on LEAP OF FAITH - http://faithleap.home.att.net/human_sexuality.htm

Explaining sexuality to Catholics is not easy. Here are a few resources to make the job easier.

The Theology of the Body was developed by Pope John Paul II and it is beautiful. You can get some information about the Theology of the Body on: http://www.theologyofthebody.net.

Below there is an excerpt from that website:

What is the Theology of the Body?

The 'Theology of the Body' is Pope John Paul II's integrated vision of the human person - body, soul, and spirit. As he explains, the physical human body has a specific meaning and is capable of revealing answers regarding fundamental questions about us and our lives:

· Is there a real purpose to life and if so, what is it?

· Why were we created male and female? Does it really matter if we are one sex or another?

· Why were man and woman called to communion from the beginning? What does the marital union of a man and woman say to us about God and his plan for our lives?

· What is the purpose of the married and celibate vocations?

· What exactly is "Love"?

· Is it truly possible to be pure of heart?

All of these questions and many more are answered in Pope John Paul II's 129 Wednesday audiences, which were given between the years 1979 and 1984. His reflections are based on Scripture (especially the Gospels, St. Paul and the Book of Genesis), and contain a vision of the human person truly worthy of man. John Paul II discusses who man was in the beginning, who he is now (after original sin), and who he will be in the age to come. He then applies this message to the vocations of marriage and celibacy, in preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Lastly, this website is dedicated to the promotion of the Pope's revolutionary and life-transforming message of hope that counteracts societal trends which urge us to view the body as an object of pleasure or as a machine for manipulation. John Paul II portrays a beautiful vision of sexuality in his Theology of the Body and other earlier works including Love and Responsibility. He encourages a true reverence for the gift of our sexuality and challenges us to live it in a way worthy of our great dignity as human persons. His theology is not only for young adults or married couples, but for all ages and vocations since it sums up the true meaning of the human person.

"Brace yourself! If we take in what the Holy Father is saying in his Theology of the Body, we will never view ourselves, view others, view the Church, the Sacraments, grace, God, heaven, marriage, the celibate vocation...we will never view the world the same way again." - Christopher West

See Theology of the Body in LEAP OF Faith

Websites with Catholic Information

St. Laurence Catholic Church - www.stlaurenceparish.com

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston - http://www.diogh.org

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - http://www.usccb.org

New American Bible - http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible

Catechism of the Catholic Church - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Catholic Answers - http://www.catholic.com

Leap of Faith - Marta Alves, Webmaster - http://faithleap.home.att.net

Documents on Marriage can be found at

The Vatican Site - www.vatican.va

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - http://www.usccb.org