Freedom to Love The Theology of the Body Applied to Our Lives OLOP|YA Our Lady of Peace Young Adult Group

Table of Contents A Brief Overview of the Theology of the Body Sex and the Meaning of Existence Understanding the Body as a “Theology” God’s Mystery & the Spousal Analogy Unmasking the Counterfeits For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free What is Freedom The Dependence of Freedom on Truth How Do We Know the Truth? The Freedom for Which Christ Set Us Free The Holy Spirit is the Source of Freedom Love as I Have Loved You What is Love? Chastity & the Integration of Love Love & the “Unrepeatability” of the Person Living the Redemption of Sexuality Sex, Lies, & Redemption The “Great Divorce” Integration in Christ Some Practical Points

A Brief Overview of the Theology of the Body

Sex and the Meaning of Existence

Understanding the Body as a “Theology”

God’s Mystery & the Spousal Analogy

Unmasking the Counterfeits

For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free

What is Freedom

The Dependence of Freedom on Truth

How Do We Know the Truth?

The Freedom for Which Christ Set Us Free

The Holy Spirit is the Source of Freedom

Love as I Have Loved You

What is Love?

Chastity & the Integration of Love

Love & the “Unrepeatability” of the Person

Living the Redemption of Sexuality

Sex, Lies, & Redemption

The “Great Divorce”

Integration in Christ

Some Practical Points

The Bouillon Cubes

Sex and the Meaning of Existence 1 1a. What we learn is obviously “important in regards to marriage.” However it “Is equally essential… for the understanding of man in general: for the… self-comprehension of his being in the world” (TB, 352-353

1a. What we learn is obviously “important in regards to marriage.” However it “Is equally essential… for the understanding of man in general: for the… self-comprehension of his being in the world” (TB, 352-353

Sex and the Meaning of Existence 2 1b. Though it focuses on sexual love, the theology of the body affords “the rediscovery of the meaning of the whole of existence, the meaning of life” (TB, 168)

1b. Though it focuses on sexual love, the theology of the body affords “the rediscovery of the meaning of the whole of existence, the meaning of life” (TB, 168)

The Banquet that Satisfies 3c. Understanding the true meaning of the body and sexuality “concerns the entire Bible” (TB, 249). It plunges us into the perspective of the whole Gospel, of the whole teaching, in fact, of the whole mission of Christ” (TB, 175).

3c. Understanding the true meaning of the body and sexuality “concerns the entire Bible” (TB, 249). It plunges us into the perspective of the whole Gospel, of the whole teaching, in fact, of the whole mission of Christ” (TB, 175).

The Eyes to See God created sexuality to reveal to us, His mystery of love to the world.

God created sexuality to reveal to us, His mystery of love to the world.

The MOAB: Mother of All Bouillon Cubes 2c. “The body, and in fact, 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 hidden since time immemorial in God, and thus to be a sign of it” (TB, 76).

2c. “The body, and in fact, 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 hidden since time immemorial in God, and thus to be a sign of it” (TB, 76).

Freedom. Truth. Two sides: One Coin Addicted to Love C+F

Sexual Desire "God gave us sexual desire as fuel for a rocket that is meant to launch us into the stars, and beyond, to the Eternal Embrace."

"God gave us sexual desire as fuel for a rocket that is meant to launch us into the stars, and beyond, to the Eternal Embrace."

God said to the first man: “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall die” (Genesis 2:16-17) 1c. “With this imagery, the Bible teaches that the power to decide what is good and what is evil does not belong to man, but to God alone.” The Original Abuse of Freedom

God said to the first man: “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall die”

(Genesis 2:16-17)

1c. “With this imagery, the Bible teaches that the power to decide what is good and what is evil does not belong to man, but to God alone.”

Freedom for the Good Freedom is given to us not to determine good and evil, but to choose between them.

Freedom is given to us not to determine good and evil, but to choose between them.

Survival of the Fittest If there is no objective truth, then all we have is “Might Makes Right”, survival of the fittest.

If there is no objective truth, then all we have is “Might Makes Right”, survival of the fittest.

The Great Divorce: Freedom and Truth Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free ." John 8:31-32 Freedom and Truth are two sides of the same coin.

Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free ." John 8:31-32

Freedom and Truth are two sides of the same coin.

The Audacity of Tyranny The Audacity of Tyranny: Planned Parenthood

The Witness of a Life

True Freedom Serves the Good 2a. “There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good…The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to the ‘slavery of sin’” (CCC, n. 1733).

2a. “There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good…The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to the ‘slavery of sin’”

(CCC, n. 1733).

Consequence of Believing the Fundamental Lie “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons…” (Genesis 3:6-7) Shame and lust mark the loss of freedom, because perfect love casts out all fear

“Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons…” (Genesis 3:6-7)

Shame and lust mark the loss of freedom, because perfect love casts out all fear

Free Choice 1b. “Human dignity requires man to act through conscious and free choice, as motivated and prompted personally from within, and not through blind internal impulse or merely external pressure.” (GS, n. 17) SELF MASTERY

1b. “Human dignity requires man to act through conscious and free choice, as motivated and prompted personally from within, and not through blind internal impulse or merely external pressure.”

(GS, n. 17)

True Freedom "True freedom is liberation not from the external constraint that calls me to good, but from the internal constraint that hinders my choice of the good." Lenten Fast

"True freedom is liberation not from the external constraint that calls me to good, but from the internal constraint that hinders my choice of the good."

How do we know the Truth? “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” John 16:13

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” John 16:13

Pope John Paul the Great pray for us