Created for LoveCreated for Love

Bell Work Bell Work

Please answer the following in a few sentences

1. What is the reason for our existence?

2. What is the purpose of our bodies?

Please answer the following in a few sentences

1. What is the reason for our existence?

2. What is the purpose of our bodies?

Bell Work 8/27/09Bell Work 8/27/09

Copy this quote into the bell work section:

“God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.”

Gen 1:27

Copy this quote into the bell work section:

“God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.”

Gen 1:27

Pope John Paul II and “Theology of the Body”Pope John Paul II and

“Theology of the Body” Theology is the study of God Theology of the Body is a study of

God and the purpose of our existence as discovered and revealed through our bodies

1. Our bodies reveal something about God

2. We can look at our bodies and sexual desires and discover the purpose of our existence and the meaning of life

Theology is the study of God Theology of the Body is a study of

God and the purpose of our existence as discovered and revealed through our bodies

1. Our bodies reveal something about God

2. We can look at our bodies and sexual desires and discover the purpose of our existence and the meaning of life 1

How?How?

sacrament: makes a spiritual reality visible to usEg. The 7 Sacraments

make a spiritual reality (grace) visible to us

Eg. Baptism

The body also is a sacrament

sacrament: makes a spiritual reality visible to usEg. The 7 Sacraments

make a spiritual reality (grace) visible to us

Eg. Baptism

The body also is a sacrament

2

John Paul II says:John Paul II says:

“The body, in fact, and it alone is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and divine. It was created to transfer into the visible reality of the world the mystery of God…and thus be a sign of it

“The body, in fact, and it alone is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and divine. It was created to transfer into the visible reality of the world the mystery of God…and thus be a sign of it

Sacramentality of the body:

Sacramentality of the body:

the human body is capable of making the invisible spirit, visible.

God is invisible but our bodies reveal something about him and make him visibleChrist of course, does this most

perfectlyBecause we are made in his

“image and likeness”

the human body is capable of making the invisible spirit, visible.

God is invisible but our bodies reveal something about him and make him visibleChrist of course, does this most

perfectlyBecause we are made in his

“image and likeness”3

4

Sacramentality of the Body

Sacramentality of the Body

The inherent ability of the body to act as a visible sign of God’s invisible love

The inherent ability of the body to act as a visible sign of God’s invisible love

The body is a “sign”The body is a “sign”

Sign: points to a reality beyond itself and makes a reality present to us.Eg. Road sign

The body is a sign of something beyond itselfWhat might that be?

Sign: points to a reality beyond itself and makes a reality present to us.Eg. Road sign

The body is a sign of something beyond itselfWhat might that be? 5

God’s original planGod’s original plan

Being made male and female (human sexuality) points to our call to love one another

Sexual union between man and woman is meant to point to our union with God in heavenunion with God sexual in natureSexual union is a “sign”

Being made male and female (human sexuality) points to our call to love one another

Sexual union between man and woman is meant to point to our union with God in heavenunion with God sexual in natureSexual union is a “sign”

6

Bell Work 8/28/09Bell Work 8/28/09Copy the quote before answering the

questions:“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you,says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe,plans to give you a future full of hope.” - Jer 29:11

1. What was the purpose of JPII’s “Theology of the Body”?

2. How is the body “sacramental”?3. What deeper reality is the body a sign

of?

Copy the quote before answering the questions:

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you,says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe,plans to give you a future full of hope.” - Jer 29:11

1. What was the purpose of JPII’s “Theology of the Body”?

2. How is the body “sacramental”?3. What deeper reality is the body a sign

of?

“God is love” - 1 John 4:8“God is love” - 1 John 4:8

We’re made in the image and likeness of LOVE itselfBodies reflect our being created for love

God is one and at the same time threeTrinityTrinity is an eternal exchange of love

We are called to share in this eternal exchange

We’re made in the image and likeness of LOVE itselfBodies reflect our being created for love

God is one and at the same time threeTrinityTrinity is an eternal exchange of love

We are called to share in this eternal exchange

7

Love is never present in isolation

Love is never present in isolation

In order for love to be present, you need something to love.

Love must haveA loverA belovedThe love between

them

In order for love to be present, you need something to love.

Love must haveA loverA belovedThe love between

them

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are needed to see this picture.

8

Love = communionLove = communion

Communion of Persons: when two or more persons give themselves to one another in love

Communion of Persons: when two or more persons give themselves to one another in love

9

God is a Communion of Persons

God is a Communion of Persons

Father Son(lover/beloved) (lover/beloved)

Holy Spirit(the love between them)

Father Son(lover/beloved) (lover/beloved)

Holy Spirit(the love between them)

10

Man as a Communion of Persons

Man as a Communion of Persons

Humans were created to participate in the Trinitarian lifeTo live as a communion of personsBeing made male and female makes it

possible for us to image God as a communion of persons

We reflect the eternal exchange of the Trinity in and through our sexuality

Humans were created to participate in the Trinitarian lifeTo live as a communion of personsBeing made male and female makes it

possible for us to image God as a communion of persons

We reflect the eternal exchange of the Trinity in and through our sexuality

11

We best reflect God in context of the family

Woman Man(lover/beloved) (lover/beloved)

Baby (the love between them)

The love between them is so strong it creates another person.

We best reflect God in context of the family

Woman Man(lover/beloved) (lover/beloved)

Baby (the love between them)

The love between them is so strong it creates another person. 12

Foreshadowing heavenForeshadowing heaven

The love between man and woman is a sign that points to something beyond itselfThe union between God and

manSexual love foreshadows

heavenThe desire for sexual union

is an expression of a deep spiritual desire for union with God

The love between man and woman is a sign that points to something beyond itselfThe union between God and

manSexual love foreshadows

heavenThe desire for sexual union

is an expression of a deep spiritual desire for union with God 13

Our experienceOur experience

We don’t experience our bodies this way

Many are burdened by their bodies

Many feel ruled by the “urges” or passions of their body

Because of this many feel burdened by rules imposed by the Church about sexuality

We don’t experience our bodies this way

Many are burdened by their bodies

Many feel ruled by the “urges” or passions of their body

Because of this many feel burdened by rules imposed by the Church about sexuality

14

Original SinOriginal Sin

This disconnect of spirituality and sexuality is a result of original sin

We now experience concupiscence - a tendency toward sin as a result of original sinMore sin, broken families,

sexual abuse, addictions, infidelity…

This disconnect of spirituality and sexuality is a result of original sin

We now experience concupiscence - a tendency toward sin as a result of original sinMore sin, broken families,

sexual abuse, addictions, infidelity…

15

Satan Counters God’s planSatan Counters God’s plan

“Satan seeks to counteract God’s plan in plagiarizing the sacraments” - Tertullian

Satan wants to ruin God’s plan of our union with God

Attacking our view of the body, sexual union and marriage is the most effective way to draw us away from that original plan

“Satan seeks to counteract God’s plan in plagiarizing the sacraments” - Tertullian

Satan wants to ruin God’s plan of our union with God

Attacking our view of the body, sexual union and marriage is the most effective way to draw us away from that original plan

16

Culture dominated by lustCulture dominated by lust

Lust – disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure

Primarily selfish in nature

“In the beginning it was not so” – Mt 19:8

Lust – disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure

Primarily selfish in nature

“In the beginning it was not so” – Mt 19:8

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Bellwork 8/31/09Bellwork 8/31/09

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another.”John 13:34

In what way does the family image the life of the Trinity?

What is concupiscence?Why does Satan attack the image of

the body?

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another.”John 13:34

In what way does the family image the life of the Trinity?

What is concupiscence?Why does Satan attack the image of

the body?