I've just finished listening to an amazing talk by Christopher West, a meditation on Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body. Specifically, on those matters of the Theology of the Body that involve monogamous, marital sexual union.

It's probably typical to think of sex as a topic that isn't discussed… or even a topic that shouldn't be discussed… in Church. The problem with that is that it is grown out of and perpetuates the stigma that human sexuality is a bad thing. That stigma is a terrible, dysfunctional thing, and it has had an awful effect on the way our society views the human body and sexual matters. Marital intimacy is an invention of God, and was intended by God as a way for a man and woman to become "one flesh." It is not only good, it is also very important to God, since he chose this expression as the way by which he would create human life. Marital intimacy is, in that sense, a holy sacrament. A gift from God; but not just a gift… something holy. Something powerful, profound and deeply spiritual.

Christopher West did a great job of explaining a Catholic understanding of marital sexuality, vis-à-vis John Paul II's Theology of the Body. There are a number of MP3 files available to download if you'd like to hear some of what he has had to say. Or, you can simply go to the Mary Foundation and order a free copy of the CD. The Mary Foundation is a non-profit foundation that distributes educational and informative materials related to the Catholic Church, and they do wonderful work.

The Theology of the Body, as explained by John Paul II, is really amazing. Our bodies are called our personal "Temples of the Lord," and as such, they should not be defiled. It is easy to concentrate on that aspect of the body regarding our obligation to God. In other words, it's easy to focus on the negative aspect… what we shouldn't do to or with our bodies. The positive aspects… what we should do with our bodies, aren't often discussed. That is unfortunate, because the things that God wants us to do with our bodies are wonderful. And, those holy obligations include the Catholic understanding of marital, monogamous sex. In fact, West argues that sex is so important and so holy to God that it's very importance is the reason it has been attacked and perverted so badly by the enemies of God over the years. Marital sexual intercourse is a union of man and woman through love, and a way in which they share in the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. It is natural, when you think about it that way, that the enemies of God would want to pervert sex into something dirty, obscene and pointless. I don't think I realized just how much of an attack against God that pornography really is until I heard this CD… and I don't think I realized how wonderful and important marital sexual intimacy is in the eyes of God, either.

Anyway, order the CD and or download some of the MP3s and check it out. It's smart stuff.

And, by the way, having listened to this material has cemented my belief that the Tool song "Parabola" is about the holy embrace of marital intimacy. I know, I know, I'm a kook. I'm a nutcase for thinking that Tool of all bands would write a song about the Theology of the Body… nonetheless, it doesn't matter if Tool's lyricist Maynard Keenan believes in God or not… I think that the Holy Spirit believes in Maynard, and used him to express some truly holy ideas about the marital union. Am I nuts? Maybe… but read the lyrics and judge for yourself:

We barely remember who or what came before
This precious moment,
We are choosing to be here right now. Hold on, stay inside...
This holy reality, this holy experience. Choosing to be here in...
This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal, pain is an illusion.
Alive!

This holy reality. This holy experience. Choosing to be here in...
This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal, pain is an illusion...

Swirling round with this familiar parable.
Spinning, weaving round each new experience.
Recognize this as a holy gift and
Celebrate this chance to be alive and breathing
This chance to be alive and breathing.
This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality.
Embrace this moment. Remember. we are eternal.
pain is an illusion.