Between 1979 and 1984, Pope John Paul II gave Wednesday Audience talks on thoroughly surprising topics: the original unity of man and woman, the sacrament of marriage, imaging God as a “communion of persons,” celibacy for the Kingdom, Humanae Vitae, etc. Collectively, those talks became known as the Theology of the Body.

Why a “theology of the body” rather than a “theology of the human person”? Are we not, substantially, rational beings? Why does John Paul II call marriage a primordial sacrament? Why does he say that the spousal love of man and woman is the example of a total gift of self in our experience? Why were the mystical writings of St John of the Cross essential in the development of the TOB? In this session, we’ll ask and attempt to answer such questions.

The lecture is open to all, and refreshments will follow.

Lecturer: John S. Hamlon, Faculty

John Hamlon is the author of A Call to Families and several articles on marriage and family.