About Theology of the Body

Knowledge3 said:

I've read and studied Theology of the Body by John Paul II <http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2TBIND.HTM>. In order for this Catholic theology to work one has to marry in the Catholic Church and have a spouse or partner correct? Male and female? This doesn't work without a partner or spouse in a marriage approved by the Church.

Theology of the Body doesn't work without a partner or spouse in marriage.

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Matt.9

1. [15] And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matt.25

1. [1] "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2. [5] As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
3. [6] But at midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
4. [10] And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.

Mark.2

1. [19] And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
2. [20] The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

Luke.5

1. [34] And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
2. [35] The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days."

John.3

1. [29] He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full.

Rev.18

1. [23] and the light of a lamp
   shall shine in thee no more;
   and the voice of bridegroom and bride
   shall be heard in thee no more;
   for thy merchants were the great men of the earth,
   and all nations were deceived by thy sorcery.

Rev. 21: 9
Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."

Rev. 22: 17
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let him who hears say, "Come." And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.

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The Church is the Bride of Christ
796 The unity of Christ and the Church, head and members of one Body, also implies the distinction of the two within a personal relationship. This aspect is often expressed by the image of bridegroom and bride. The theme of Christ as Bridegroom of the Church was prepared for by the prophets and announced by John the Baptist.234 The Lord referred to himself as the "bridegroom."235 The Apostle speaks of the whole Church and of each of the faithful, members of his Body, as a bride "betrothed" to Christ the Lord so as to become but one spirit with him.236 The Church is the spotless bride of the spotless Lamb.237 "Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her."238 He has joined her with himself in an everlasting covenant and never stops caring for her as for his own body:239
This is the whole Christ, head and body, one formed from many . . . whether the head or members speak, it is Christ who speaks. He speaks in his role as the head (ex persona capitis) and in his role as body (ex persona corporis). What does this mean? "The two will become one flesh. This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the Church."240 And the Lord himself says in the Gospel: "So they are no longer two, but one flesh."241 They are, in fact, two different persons, yet they are one in the conjugal union, . . . as head, he calls himself the bridegroom, as body, he calls himself "bride."242

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Knowledge3 said:

I don't understand the concept of bride and bridegroom for the Church.

Is it a type of metaphor,allegory, or parable from the Gospels?

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Knowledge3 said:

I've read and studied Theology of the Body by John Paul II <http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2TBIND.HTM>. In order for this Catholic theology to work one has to marry in the Catholic Church and have a spouse or partner correct? Male and female? This doesn't work without a partner or spouse in a marriage approved by the Church.

Theology of the Body doesn't work without a partner or spouse in marriage.

. . .

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Filia Mariae said:

No. The whole point is that theology of the body is for everybody, married, single, religious, whatever. Did you read the section on celibacy for the sake of the kingdom?

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HyacinthBouquet said:

The "Song of Solomon" is often used to illustrate Christ's relationship with his 'Bride', the Church.

I'm not sure, personally, how or where this religious imagery originated. I suspect that it had a lot to do with St Paul. I recall that some of his letters, contained in the latter part of the New Testament of the Bible, used this type of imagery to explain the relationship between Christ and his Church.

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