Defense of the family - Part five. The Theology of the body & Humanae Vitae

Pope John Paul II began to teach on The theology of the body at his general audiences which were held each Wednesday at St. Peters. They were held each Wednesday from 1979 to 1984. The Holy Father began with the second creation story in Genesis. "God created man from the dust of the ground.. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life and he became a living being" Man, however was alone. God said "It is not good for the man to be alone". When the animals were created God brought them to the man and he named them but none were suitable for the man. This period is called the solitude of man. God put the first man whom he had named Adam into a sleep and took from his side a rib which became a woman.. This account is theological in nature and is not political or feminist. It is that woman was made for man and man was made complete by woman. The woman was named Eve. Scripture refers to them as husband and wife. God who created them for each other commanded them to "go forth and multiply and fill the earth" This relationship is nuptial. Marriage is their vocation. At this point we will skip foreward to Jesus crucifixion on the cross, Scripture says that the centurian opened Jesus side with a lance after he died, ( when He was in the sleep of death ). The wound in Jesus side produced blood and water. The water symbolizing Baptism  and  The  blood the Holy Eucharist, both meaning life. Christ is the bridegroom and the Church which is born from His side is the bride. Christ and his Church is nuptial from which the Sacrament of Matrimony comes.  "For this reason a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife". Adam said on seeing Eve,"this is flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone". "what God has joined let no man put asunder" "The two shall become one flesh"  The secular humanist, rationalistic mindset of human beings has fractured the original plan of God. It is the Cross of Christ that has restored the possibility of our recovering our original wholeness. We are enjoined to follow Christ and to observe the teachings of His Church to recover holiness.

Twenty Forth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This is the twenty fourth Sunday in ordinary time. The Lord in the Scriptures speaks to us about mercy and reconciliation. But we must recognize and acknowledge that we, like St. Paul, are sinners, in need of mercy and forgiveness. He says in his letter to Timothy today, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of these I am the foremost.” If St. Paul says this, so must I say it.

We are inclined to delude ourselves about this. In Mt. 9:13 Jesus says, “It is not the healthy who need a physician, but they who are sick. But go and learn what this means. I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I have come to call sinners, not the just.” Again in Mk 10:17 in the parable of the rich young man we read, “A certain man running up fell upon his knees before Him and asked Him, ‘Good Master, what shall I do to gain eternal life?’ But Jesus said to him ‘why do you call me good, no one is good but God alone.’”

In defense of the family part four - Homosexual unions

We quote from a proclamation from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on, "Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons". This document was signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect with the approval of Pope John Paul II. It is dated June 3rd 2003.

                                                         INTRODUCTION

1." In recent years, various questions relating to homosexuality have been addressed with  some frequency by Pope John Paul II and by relevant Dicasteries of the Holy See. (1) Homosexuality is a troubling moral and social phenomenon, even in those countries where it does not present significant legal issues. It gives rise to greater concern in those countries that have granted or intend to grant - legal recognition to homosexual unions, which may include the possibility of adopting children. The present Considerations do not contain new doctrinal elements; they seek rather to reiterate the essential points on this question and provide arguments drawn from reason which could be used by Bishops in preparing more specific interventions, appropriate to the different situations throughout the world, aimed at protecting and promoting the dignity of marriage, the foundation of the family, and the stability of society, of which this institution is a constitutive element. The present considerations are also intended to give direction to Catholic politicians by indicating the approaches to proposed legislation in this area which would be consistent with Christian conscience. (2) Since this question relates to the natural moral law, the arguments that follow are addressed not only to those who believe in Christ, but to all persons committed to promoting and defending the common good of society".