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 Stupendous and Life-Changing October 31, 2008
I'll never forget the way I first heard the Theology of the Body. I was a brand-new sister, having made my first vows the year Pope John Paul II was elected. My community used to read a snippet or two from the Papal Audience talks right after breakfast, before we scattered to the four winds in carrying out the day's mission. Bit by bit, as we made our way through an unusual series of meditations on the book of Genesis, I found that the whole theme of "gift" was beginning to resound within me. It was like a new wine being poured into the wineskin of the Church.
Whatever our vocation, we are each called to be a "person-gift," as the Persons of the Trinity are "gift," given over unreservedly, and unreservedly received. In a vague way, even though I was still very young (!), I realized that something extraordinary was going to come from these talks, and that it would mean great things above all for women.
It took twenty years for that message to begin to seep into the language of our Church culture, but now small groups of young adults and couples are beginning to meet in homes and conferences to ponder John Paul's vast, fully Christian vision of humanity. I've used the Theology of the Body to present the essence of the vow of chastity to our novices and junior sisters, and I keep looking for ways to introduce it to others, especially to people who find themselves struggling to understand the Church's teaching in all those areas that touch on our vocation to love. The beauty of its truth is hard to resist.
This new and carefully researched translation offers more than just a consistent translation of key terms: previously unpublished units came to light; the Pope's original title and subtitles have been added; the whole content appears in the order in which the Pope meant for it to be covered. Yes, Dr. Waldstein's careful and scholarly introduction can be a bit overwhelming, but this book is worth taking the time simply to sit with.
That's what you do with beauty anyway.
Great work October 14, 2008
This book is the best translation of John Paul II's work. Because of new findings, it is even better than the Italian version. The first 100 pages provide a background-research on the subject. The Theology of the Body is a must for all who want to know what the new revolution in the Church will be!
Excellent Introduction and Footnotes April 17, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have little to add to the positive commentary on the philosophical/theological content of this masterwork. But if you are choosing between versions of this book, Waldstein's commentary and footnotes are excellent and certainly enhance the understanding of John Paul II's thoughts.
John Paul the Great January 12, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is beautifully done. The introduction is very helpful and accurate. It gives JPII's philosophical and theological perspective and the modern philosophical problems (beginning with Francis Bacon) the pope is addressing. This call to holiness renews our call to salvation as embodied children of God from the beginnning. John Paul's reflections are moving, powerful, and pursuasive.
A magnificent new translation Of Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" July 22, 2007
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
It was in 1968 that Pope Paul VI gave the world "Humanae Vitae," his beautiful encyclical on human life: "The transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely & responsibly with God the Creator.... Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods & plans for artificial birth control.
* "Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity & a general lowering of moral standards....
* "Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, & ...reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires....
* "Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? ....Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone"
Few doubt that there has indeed been "a general lowering of moral standards," as well as a growing disrespect for women, in the past four decades. We also see affluent governments trying to impose contraceptive practices on less affluent governments! Yet, in spite of its proven prophetic nature, Humanae Vitae continues to meet with monumental resistance.
Before becoming pope, John Paul II prepared a masterful work, largely intended to lead the Church and the world to a better appreciation of Humanae Vitae. As he became pope before publication, he used his notes to address audiences at weekly catechetical sessions, over five years. Michael Waldstein has published an updated and magnificent translation of these "Theology of the Body" addresses, under the title: "Man & Woman He Created Them." This magnificent and scholarly translation provides a lifestyle challenges, which does not seem to have been so elusive for people of past generations.
As per Pope John Paul II, "The whole of the catecheses...can be grasped under the title, `Human Love in the Divine Plan," or with greater precision, `the Redemption of the body & the Sacramentality of Marriage'....The first part is devoted to the analysis of the words of Christ....The second part of the catechesis is devoted to the analysis of the sacrament based on Ephesians (Eph 5:22 - 23), which goes back to the biblical beginning of marriage expressed in the words of Genesis, `a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will be one flesh' (Gen 2:24)" (11/28/84).
"The reflections about the sacrament of Marriage were carried out in the consideration of the two dimensions essential to this sacrament, namely, the dimension of covenant and grace and the dimension of sign....The doctrine contained in...[Humanae Vitae] remains in organic relation both with the sacramentality of marriage and the whole biblical problematic of the theology of the body, which is centered on the `key words' of Christ....all the reflections dealing with the `Redemption of the Body and the Sacramentality of Marriage' seem to constitute an extensive commentary on the doctrine contained precisely in Humanae Vitae" (11/28/84).
Michael Waldstein has done a great service for the Church, the people of our generation, and the people of future generations.
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