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Happening ... in the Local Church
 A
group of young adult parishioners traveled from St. Thomas Aquinas, West
Lafayette, to hear Christopher West’s presentations. “Behind the
idolatry of sex, our desire for God has gotten all twisted up,”
Christopher West says. (Photos by Caroline B. Mooney) |
 Christopher
West |
Two-day seminar at St. Maria Goretti offers introduction to ‘theology of the body.’
By Caroline B. Mooney
The
Catholic Moment
WESTFIELD — Two hundred and nine people from six states heard Christopher West present “Into the Heart: Introduction to Theology of the Body” in a two-day seminar Nov. 13-14 coordinated by the marriage ministry team at St. Maria Goretti Church.
“I think his breakdown of the teachings of John Paul II and the ‘theology of the body’ has been very beneficial to the whole Church — to married couples, single people, even priests and religious,” said Father Kevin Haines, pastor of St. Maria Goretti. “What John Paul did was brilliant, but Christopher West helps us understand as he explains it. It is an honor to have him here.”
“Theology of the body” is the name given to 129 talks presented by Pope John Paul II between September 1979 and November 1984. The Scripture-based talks looked at humans before and after original sin, and in the age to come. The pope then applied the message to the vocation of marriage and celibacy.
West, a best-selling author, is a research fellow and faculty member of the Theology of the Body Institute. He has delivered more than 1,000 public lectures on four continents, in more than a dozen countries. He and his wife, Wendy, have five children and live in Lancaster County, Pa.
“It is not unusual for people to ask whether and how it is possible to make and keep a lifetime commitment in marriage,” Bishop William L. Higi said in opening the seminar. “Our Church has a vision for marriage that can sustain spouses in good times and bad, one that can lead them to happiness and holiness in their relationship. This message is based on both reason and faith; it is God’s plan for the good of the spouses, their children and family, and society as a whole.
“… It is my prayer that as you leave this session, you will do so feeling that you better understand the call to holiness God has extended to you through the vocation of marriage to which he is calling you.”
“We are made for one another,” West said. “The reason for sexual difference — two are designed to become one flesh. (Theology of the body) takes us on a journey. … What does it mean to be human? Every human being is searching for the meaning of life. We are made for one another. … Our sexual choices determine the face of history.
“What holds a family together?” he asked. “Properly ordered sexual choices hold everyone together. Why we are in such trouble as a culture? We are willing to indulge our lust. We remain starved for love. The number one idol in human history has always been sex. When we lose sight of God, sex is the next best thing. Behind the idolatry of sex, our desire for God has gotten all twisted up.
“… If we want to know what is most holy in the world, look at what is most sacred,” West said. “The gift of (theology of the body) helps us reclaim what the enemy has plagiarized. Sexual love is one of the sacraments of the Catholic Church. What makes marriage marriage? … The two become one flesh; that is the core of the family. Sexual embrace leads to family. … We are here to take back the true meaning of our bodies.”
West’s talks included “An Education in Being Human,” “The Great Analogy of Spousal Love,” “Celibacy for the Kingdom,” “Marriage as a Sacrament,” “Man and Woman He Created Them,” “Man and Woman He Redeemed Them” and “The Language of Sexual Love.”
“I heard him speak when I was in high school and was anxious to see him again,” said Sarah Bube, a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, West Lafayette, who came to the seminar with 24 other Purdue University students.
“I think it’s a fascinating topic and most of the time it’s not covered properly,” Bube said. “It’s interesting to hear from someone who has studied so much.”
“As a college student this is great to hear,” said fellow parishioner David Violi. “I am happy with the turnout — he’s a great speaker.”
Ted Fussner, another member of St. Thomas Aquinas, said the conference was “something that is important for the revitalization of the Catholic faith. It’s something that I needed to come to, and it’s been really good.”
Mary Jo Gremling, a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Carmel, heard West speak six years ago.
“I have had an interest in the theology of the body since 2006,” she said. “I think it’s a beautiful teaching with so much that rides on our understanding of the beauty of human love in the divine plan. It’s key to healing the ills of society and evil. Christopher West expresses that so beautifully. I looked at this as an opportunity to renew in myself and take it out into the world.”
For more on West and the theology of the body, go to www.TheologyoftheBody.com or www.christopherwest.com.