The Theology of the Body is the expression used to describe the teaching of Pope John Paul about the human person and human sexuality given during his Wednesday Catecheses in St. Peter’s Square between September 5, 1979 and November 28, 1984.
John Paul II says that these catecheses could be called “Human Love in the Divine Plan” or “The Redemption of the Body and the Sacramentality of Marriage.”
The theology of the body is a compelling, positive proclamation of the Gospel on Human Love and Sexuality in response to a sexual revolution that has resulted in a degradation of both.
I spend a lot of my time trying to proclaim this Gospel. Below you will find some resources that I hope will help you in assimilating and passing on this Good News!
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Roger J. Landry
Audio and Video Resources
- The Theology of the Body, Fr. Roger J. Landry.
This eight-part series of half-hour lectures was recorded at the NACEPF studios in Johnston, Rhode Island, and provides an overview of John Paul II’s thoughts for those who prefer to learn visually and orally.
Written Resources
These texts are in PDF format, which means, to read them, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have this program, you can download it for free by clicking here.
- Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body: A Cliff Notes’ Version, Fr. Roger J. Landry. (pdf)
This is a 34-page didactic recension or summary of the Holy Father’s revolutionary thought on the Gospel of Human Love in God’s Divine Plan. It was done to provide comprehensive lecture notes for those who teach the theology of the body, but it will also assist those who want to know the theology of the body, but might not have the time or the background to master the 400+ page series of catechetical addresses. - An Overview of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body,, Fr. Roger J. Landry. (pdf)
This is a one-hour lecture I gave in 2003 to various training couples and leaders in the Engaged Encounter Movement. It would be a good resource for those who want a quick overview of John Paul II’s revolutionary work on the Redemption of the Body and the Sacramentality of Marriage. - Ten Applications of the Theology of the Body to the Spiritual and Pastoral Life of Priests, Fr. Roger J. Landry. (pdf)
This is a 2004 talk given to the priests of the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont, applying the theology of the body to priests’ spiritual lives and pastoral work. Lay faithful may also profit in terms of living well the common priesthood flowing from their baptism. - Theological Andrology: What It Means to be a Real Man within a Christian Perspective, Fr. Roger J. Landry. (pdf)
This is a 2001 speech given at World Youth Day in Toronto as part of a forum organized by the World Youth Alliance. Inspired largely on Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, it describes man’s (the human male’s) vocation within God’s plan from a theological point of view, gives two practical models of Christian manhood, and then tackles common contemporary challenges to the education of Christian men. See below for details on ordering an audio recording of this speech. - The Foundations of the Doctrine of the Church Concerning the Principles of Conjugal Life, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla and others, 1968, translated by Fr. Roger J. Landry. (pdf)
This document from Analecta Cracoviensa is the “bridge” between Wojtyla’s Love and Responsibility and Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, This translation from the French original is a must read for serious students of the Pope John Paul II’s thoughts on human sexuality in general and rejection of artificial contraception in particular.