Catholic Kermit

Today was the highly anticipated lecture by Christopher West, titled “Priestly Celibacy and the Redemption of Sexuality.”  It was a presentation of Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” directed for us seminarians in our journey toward priesthood.  It was very rich in theological language, yet applied to our immediate lives, especially in the area of our personal sexuality.  It was very well received … and this was only day #1.

He used a lot of song references from the 80’s to highlight points.  I wrote some points for my reflection as I was trying to keep up:

• 80’s song “Blinded by Science” –> science has blinded us;  our bodies are theological, not only biological
• U2 song “Desire“
• Peter Gabriel’s song “In Your Eyes” lyrics demonstrate a “twisted mystic” that hints at “Song of Songs”
• In seminary, we learn to “inseminate” the “bride” (Church)
• Bruce Springstein’s song “Everybody has a Hungry Heart“
• Bookends of the Bible begins with Adam & Eve and ends with the NEW Adam (Jesus) & the NEW Eve (Church).  This is a great analogy of how “God wants to marry us”
• Are we eating from “fast food” or a “starvation diet”
• “Idolatry of body” verses “Iconography (window to heaven) of body”
• Devil is the “enemy” of human nature (body & soul union).  He wants to separate.  Horror movies show this with ghosts or corpses.
• On the Cross, the giving “flow of blood & water” is the giving of “His seminal flow” (from St Augustine)
• Eve “takes” the apple (gift) denying the trust of “receiving” the gift
• Lust “extorts the gift”
• Even my will is “grace.”  “All is grace.”

Weblinks to Theology of the Body resources:

• Christopher West homepage
• Theology of the Body Institute
• Theology of the Body — other resources, speakers, Theology of the Body International Alliance
• Theology of the Body — John Paul II’s 129 lectures
• Theology of the Body — wikipedia info