Introduction to the Thought of John Paul II Fr. Richard Hogan.

Introduction to the Introduction to the Thought of John Paul IIThought of John Paul II

Fr. Richard HoganFr. Richard Hogan

A New Way to Teach the A New Way to Teach the FaithFaith

We need a new way of explaining the We need a new way of explaining the faith because we do not think in the faith because we do not think in the same categories as beforesame categories as before ““Substance”Substance” ““Accident”Accident”


The faith according to The faith according to Augustine and ThomasAugustine and Thomas ObjectiveObjective DeductiveDeductive PrincipledPrincipled

Hard to understand the Hard to understand the language they uselanguage they use

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We thinkWe think SubjectivelySubjectively InductivelyInductively ExperientiallyExperientially

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We need a third wayWe need a third way John Paul II is giving us that way!John Paul II is giving us that way!

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The Significance of The Significance of John Paul IIJohn Paul II

Part IIPart II

Significance of John Paul IISignificance of John Paul II Pope John Paul II is the next Thomas or Pope John Paul II is the next Thomas or

AugustineAugustine Neither he nor John Paul I were expected to Neither he nor John Paul I were expected to

be chosen in 1978be chosen in 1978 Double Name: John PaulDouble Name: John Paul Three Popes in a single year: not since Three Popes in a single year: not since

16481648 Non-Italian Pope: not since 1523Non-Italian Pope: not since 1523 From a Communist countryFrom a Communist country

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Significance of John Paul IISignificance of John Paul II

PopularityPopularity TravelsTravels Assassination Assassination

attemptattempt Theologian PopeTheologian Pope

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Significant Influence on Vatican CouncilSignificant Influence on Vatican Council Significant Influence on Significant Influence on Humanae VitaeHumanae Vitae New Code of Canon LawNew Code of Canon Law Influence and Teaching brought down Influence and Teaching brought down

Communist world in EuropeCommunist world in Europe New Catechism of the Catholic ChurchNew Catechism of the Catholic Church


Revising the LiturgyRevising the Liturgy Changed the RosaryChanged the Rosary 44thth longest lived pope longest lived pope

inin history history

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Theology of the BodyTheology of the Body

Part IIIPart III

We are created like God as We are created like God as personspersons

Are there any other persons besides Are there any other persons besides us?us? Persons of the TrinityPersons of the Trinity AngelsAngels

Is a body part of the definition of a Is a body part of the definition of a person?person? No.No.

What is the definition of a person?What is the definition of a person? Mind, willMind, will


What do we do with these powers?What do we do with these powers? Think and chooseThink and choose

We are like God and the angels in We are like God and the angels in that we are personsthat we are persons

We are unlike them in that we have We are unlike them in that we have bodiesbodies

We are like the animals and plants in We are like the animals and plants in that we are living bodiesthat we are living bodies


We are a very strange mixture of We are a very strange mixture of person and body, of spirit and matterperson and body, of spirit and matter

We are enfleshed spirits or We are enfleshed spirits or spiritualized bodiesspiritualized bodies


Why did God make us?Why did God make us? If He wanted more persons in the If He wanted more persons in the

universe, He could have made any universe, He could have made any number of angelsnumber of angels

If He wanted more living bodied beings If He wanted more living bodied beings in the world- there are any number of in the world- there are any number of animals and plants He could have madeanimals and plants He could have made

What is it we bring to the party? What is What is it we bring to the party? What is it that is our unique contribution?it that is our unique contribution?


It is precisely that we are persons with It is precisely that we are persons with bodies: we manifest or show in and bodies: we manifest or show in and through our bodies what it means to be a through our bodies what it means to be a personperson

We manifest personhood in the visible We manifest personhood in the visible worldworld

Not even the angels can do that because Not even the angels can do that because they do not have bodiesthey do not have bodies

Neither can God in the divine nature Neither can God in the divine nature because in the divinity He does not have a because in the divinity He does not have a bodybody

We express God HimselfWe express God Himself

When we act as we should and When we act as we should and express those acts outwardly in and express those acts outwardly in and through our bodies, our bodies through our bodies, our bodies become literally, physical icons of become literally, physical icons of God!God!

They are sacred and holyThey are sacred and holy They make visible “what has been has They make visible “what has been has

been hidden in the invisible God for been hidden in the invisible God for all eternity”all eternity”

We express God HimselfWe express God Himself

Our flesh and blood is a vehicle God Our flesh and blood is a vehicle God has created for revealing Himselfhas created for revealing Himself

Not as perfectly as Christ revealed Not as perfectly as Christ revealed the Father because His body the Father because His body perfectly expressed the Father, but perfectly expressed the Father, but still, when we act as we should and still, when we act as we should and express those acts outwardly express those acts outwardly through our bodies, the body is a through our bodies, the body is a sacrament of God Himselfsacrament of God Himself

This isn’t the way we think of This isn’t the way we think of our bodies!our bodies!

We usually do not like everything about We usually do not like everything about ourselves: we want to change our bodies ourselves: we want to change our bodies –lose weight, change hair styles, beauty, –lose weight, change hair styles, beauty, etc.etc.

The cosmetic, dieting, and exercise The cosmetic, dieting, and exercise industries depend on our own dislike of our industries depend on our own dislike of our physical beingphysical being

God likes us – just the way He created us God likes us – just the way He created us in cooperation with our parentsin cooperation with our parents

This isn’t the way our society This isn’t the way our society teaches us to think of our teaches us to think of our

bodies!bodies! Science fiction Science fiction

movies give off the movies give off the message that the message that the body is just a body is just a machinemachine Persons become Persons become

machinesmachines Machines are personsMachines are persons Machine parts and Machine parts and

human parts are human parts are interchangeableinterchangeable

……Better than he was Better than he was before…before…

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Our bodies as machinesOur bodies as machines

This causes problemsThis causes problems If the body is a thing, a machine which If the body is a thing, a machine which

each of us owns, we can do whatever each of us owns, we can do whatever we want with itwe want with it

If we can own it, someone else can own If we can own it, someone else can own it, tooit, too

We could rent it outWe could rent it out Child abuse would be acceptableChild abuse would be acceptable Love would disappearLove would disappear

John Paul II’s SolutionJohn Paul II’s Solution

John Paul hold out two worlds:John Paul hold out two worlds: World where body is a machine and can World where body is a machine and can

be used for whatever purposebe used for whatever purpose World where body is sacred and holy World where body is sacred and holy

because it is an expression of the because it is an expression of the human person, and of God Himselfhuman person, and of God Himself

Which world do you want to live in?Which world do you want to live in?


The Human body is world more than The Human body is world more than the sum of its biological partsthe sum of its biological parts

Through the body and its functions is Through the body and its functions is expressed the very mystery of God expressed the very mystery of God as well as the mystery of each as well as the mystery of each human personhuman person


“ “The habit of confusing the order of The habit of confusing the order of existence with the biological order, or existence with the biological order, or rather, of allowing the second to obscure rather, of allowing the second to obscure the first, is part of that generalized the first, is part of that generalized empiricism which seems to weigh so heavily empiricism which seems to weigh so heavily on the mind of modern intellectuals, and on the mind of modern intellectuals, and makes it particularly difficult for them to makes it particularly difficult for them to understand the principles on which Catholic understand the principles on which Catholic sexual morality is based.”sexual morality is based.”

Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II

Love and ResponsibilityLove and Responsibility


There is an order of existence and an There is an order of existence and an order of biology. The two are related, order of biology. The two are related, but distinctbut distinct

The biological order is the creation of The biological order is the creation of man’s science – the study of how the man’s science – the study of how the body works body works

The results of this study when applied The results of this study when applied to the real world, all other aspects of to the real world, all other aspects of the human person must be taken into the human person must be taken into accountaccount


Because humanity has created Because humanity has created biology and can decide what to do biology and can decide what to do with this knowledge, humanity with this knowledge, humanity “controls” how the knowledge is “controls” how the knowledge is appliedapplied

If biology is the sum total of the If biology is the sum total of the definition of man, scientists and definition of man, scientists and physicians can seem to be gods – physicians can seem to be gods – those who control human personsthose who control human persons


There is more to us than biology There is more to us than biology Person is defined by his or her creation Person is defined by his or her creation

in God’s imagein God’s image His or her body is the expression of the His or her body is the expression of the

human personhuman person

Natural Family PlanningNatural Family Planning

The body expresses the person, The body expresses the person, reveals who God isreveals who God is The body “speaks a language”The body “speaks a language”

The language the body speaks is The language the body speaks is personhoodpersonhood

This language can be readThis language can be read Some aspects of the body speak with Some aspects of the body speak with

more clarity than othersmore clarity than others


Since we are created to act like God Since we are created to act like God and God loves, we care called to loveand God loves, we care called to love

Sexual powers are primary way of Sexual powers are primary way of expressing love in and through the expressing love in and through the bodybody

These powers speak with a clarity These powers speak with a clarity that almost no other aspect of our that almost no other aspect of our bodies do.bodies do.


Sexual powers reveal more about Sexual powers reveal more about each human person and the mystery each human person and the mystery of God than the study of any other of God than the study of any other aspect of the human body.aspect of the human body.

Sexual powers speak the language of Sexual powers speak the language of lovelove

Most human act – most God-like actMost human act – most God-like act


NFP is the study of the sexual powers NFP is the study of the sexual powers of the human personof the human person Study of the language they speakStudy of the language they speak Reveals the dignity of the human personReveals the dignity of the human person Reveals the mystery of the spouseReveals the mystery of the spouse


Knowledge gained from the study of Knowledge gained from the study of this languagethis language Discovery of human dignityDiscovery of human dignity Leads to awe and wonder at the gift of Leads to awe and wonder at the gift of

the other to oneselfthe other to oneself Leads to gratitude and love in proper Leads to gratitude and love in proper

modemode NFP leads to proper love in the NFP leads to proper love in the

context of marriage and virtuecontext of marriage and virtue

Sins against the Human Sins against the Human BodyBody

LustLust PornographyPornography Intimate TouchingIntimate Touching MasturbationMasturbation Extramarital Sexual ActivityExtramarital Sexual Activity Divorce and RemarriageDivorce and Remarriage Contraception and sterilizationContraception and sterilization Artificial Reproductive Artificial Reproductive

TechniquesTechniques AbortionAbortion Homosexual ActivitiesHomosexual Activities

Theology of the FamilyTheology of the Family

Familiaris ConsortioFamiliaris Consortio

Part IVPart IV


We are created in God’s Image to act as We are created in God’s Image to act as God actsGod acts

Christ, as God the Son made man, shows Christ, as God the Son made man, shows us who God is and how God acts.us who God is and how God acts.

Christ shows us how to loveChrist shows us how to love There is only one way to love – the way There is only one way to love – the way

God lovesGod loves How does God love? How does Christ love?How does God love? How does Christ love? The greatest example of His love is His The greatest example of His love is His

Passion, Death, ResurrectionPassion, Death, Resurrection


In His Passion we see the characteristics of In His Passion we see the characteristics of LoveLove Act of His will “Not my will but thine be done”Act of His will “Not my will but thine be done”

He united His will with the Father in full He united His will with the Father in full freedomfreedom

Not subservient like a child – but a mature Not subservient like a child – but a mature choice in total freedom to give Himself to choice in total freedom to give Himself to the Father and a free choice to do what the the Father and a free choice to do what the Father asked because HE wanted to do thatFather asked because HE wanted to do that

This is why obedience is not a horrible wordThis is why obedience is not a horrible word



Not the obedience of a good little child – Not the obedience of a good little child – because the child is not yet capable of love. because the child is not yet capable of love. The child is responding to a benevolent The child is responding to a benevolent dictatorship of the parentsdictatorship of the parents

Obedience in the sense of the Gospel is the Obedience in the sense of the Gospel is the Result of love – otherwise it would be Result of love – otherwise it would be offensive to the human person who is offensive to the human person who is created as autonomouscreated as autonomous



Christ freely autonomously chose to love Christ freely autonomously chose to love and therefore to do what the Father askedand therefore to do what the Father asked

Love is a union of wills freely chosen and Love is a union of wills freely chosen and therefore St. Paul can legitimately ask lovers therefore St. Paul can legitimately ask lovers to obey each other – because they have to obey each other – because they have freely chosen to love each other.freely chosen to love each other.


In His Passion we see the characteristics of In His Passion we see the characteristics of LoveLove The reason for choosing to unite one’s will with The reason for choosing to unite one’s will with

another is the knowledge of the other’s dignity another is the knowledge of the other’s dignity and valueand value

Christ knew that we were created to be with Christ knew that we were created to be with God forever in heaven – He knew our value God forever in heaven – He knew our value given to us by the Father in the act of creation.given to us by the Father in the act of creation.

Similarly, we love – unite our wills – because Similarly, we love – unite our wills – because we recognize in those we love their incredible we recognize in those we love their incredible value and dignityvalue and dignity


In His Passion we see the characteristics of In His Passion we see the characteristics of LoveLove Love is a self-gift. The choice is to give oneself. Love is a self-gift. The choice is to give oneself.

Obviously, Christ did that on the cross – what Obviously, Christ did that on the cross – what more could He have given.more could He have given.

It is permanent – Christ is always and for all It is permanent – Christ is always and for all eternity the Lamb of God who bears the marks of eternity the Lamb of God who bears the marks of His Passion. Furthermore, He did not spend an His Passion. Furthermore, He did not spend an hour on the cross and then say, “That’s hour on the cross and then say, “That’s enough!” No, He gave Himself to the very end – enough!” No, He gave Himself to the very end – a permanent gift.a permanent gift.

Love is life-giving. When Christ loved us, He Love is life-giving. When Christ loved us, He gave us the life of gracegave us the life of grace


Love isLove is And act of the willAnd act of the will Based on the knowledge of the dignity and Based on the knowledge of the dignity and

value of the one or those lovedvalue of the one or those loved The act of the will is the choice ot give oneself The act of the will is the choice ot give oneself

to another or to othersto another or to others This gift is permanentThis gift is permanent Life-givingLife-giving

If one does not have all five – it is not loveIf one does not have all five – it is not love If one is not loving, one is usingIf one is not loving, one is using


Procreation must always be included in a Procreation must always be included in a loving actloving act Physical love must be potentially physically Physical love must be potentially physically

life-giving – because if it is not it is life-giving – because if it is not it is useuse It is not unitive and procreative – it is unitive It is not unitive and procreative – it is unitive

(which must also be life-giving because without (which must also be life-giving because without life, it is not unitive (i.e., loving)life, it is not unitive (i.e., loving)

Solves the problem why can’t we be just Solves the problem why can’t we be just unitive or just procreative – like bacon and unitive or just procreative – like bacon and eggs?eggs?

With love, it has not the potential for life, it is With love, it has not the potential for life, it is not love.not love.

Theology of the FamilyTheology of the Family Sins against loveSins against love

LustLust PornographyPornography Intimate TouchingIntimate Touching MasturbationMasturbation Extramarital Sexual ActivityExtramarital Sexual Activity Divorce and RemarriageDivorce and Remarriage Contraception and SterilizationContraception and Sterilization Artificial Reproductive TechiquesArtificial Reproductive Techiques AbortionAbortion Homosexual ActivitiesHomosexual Activities

Photo CreditsPhoto Credits Time MagazineTime Magazine

www.time.comwww.time.com USA TodayUSA Today

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www.staticfriends.comwww.staticfriends.com Sci-fi ChannelSci-fi Channel

www.scifi.comwww.scifi.com ABC galleryABC gallery

www.abcgallery.comwww.abcgallery.com Aquinas OnlineAquinas Online

www.aquinasonline.comwww.aquinasonline.com St. Michael Cyber ScriptoriumSt. Michael Cyber Scriptorium

http://Papal.library.saint-mike.orghttp://Papal.library.saint-mike.org www.jeffbots.comwww.jeffbots.com

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Introduction to the Thought of John Paul II Fr. Richard Hogan.

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