Commentary on the Introduction to the Theology of the body by Chris West, Ascension Press, slides presented by Fr. Joseph LoJacono, IVE

1. Questions to Ponder

2. How does the wife image the bride of Christ?
How does the husband image Christ
This symbolic view of marriage
reveals a difficult, but exalted view of
marriage. It is a call to love as Christ
Marriage represents
loves.
the very love of Christ

3. Ephesians 5:21-33
21 [a]and be subject to one another in the [b]fear of Christ. Marriage Like Christ
and the Church22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23
For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the
church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is
subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in
everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by
the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the
church [c]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that
she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own
wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no
one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also
does the church, 30 because we are members of His body.
31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND
SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.
32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the
church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own
wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she [d]respects her
husband.

4. Ephesians 5
This should be always kept in a Christian context
Christ Man
Christ was
crucifed for
the Church
Church Woman

5. Cross of Christ shows true love
► Free
► Total
► Faithful
► Self-giving
► How can marriage image this?

6. Marriage is the prototype of all
sacraments

7. The language of the body
►The body as made in two incarnations, male
and female, has language of its own.
►There is a truth and falsehood to sexuality in
as much as one withholds or gives themselves
completely over to the other in marriage
►Idolatry and adultery are linked etymologically
and historically showing how true worship of
God is imaged through the marital embrace.

8. They are not created Communion in their bodies.
created for for communion in their bodies

9. What is the difference?
Will you
have sex Will you
with me? have a child
with me?

10. What is the difference in the
language of the body?
► The hookup culture Marriage
Groom: I, John, take you, Mary,
Will you give for my lawful wife, to have and
yourself to to hold, from this day forward,
me tonight? for better, for worse, for richer,
for poorer, in sickness and in
health, until death do us part.
Bride: I, Mary, take you, John,
for my lawful husband, to have
and to hold, from this day
forward, for better, for worse, for
richer, for poorer, in sickness and
in health, until death do us part.