Welcome to this series, summarising John Paul II's amazing teaching that has come to be known as the Theology of the Body. The teaching was delivered in his Wednesday audiences over a four year period. After his death the original manuscript was found, written in Polish, revealing the underlying structure of this great work. It divides into two parts: The Words of Christ (Links A,B,C,D below) and The Sacrament (Links E,F,G below). Some commentators (most notably Christopher West) divide the work into six cycles, treating E and F together. In the original structure D appears as part of C, in fact as a corollary. I've taken the liberty of treating the work in seven separate cycles, and a further liberty of giving each cycle a link title (see below) that I believe encapsulates the teaching of that cycle. I hope you find this teaching as inspiring as I have found it.

Fr William 11th June 2009


A. ORIGINAL INNOCENCE

B. CAPTIVITY AND REDEMPTION

C. A NEW SPIRITUALISATION OF THE BODY

D. THE DAWNING OF THE KINGDOM

E. A PARTICLE OF THE CHRIST-CHURCH MYSTERY

F. THE LANGUAGE OF THE BODY

G. THE LAW OF LIFE


All texts have been approved for publication by the Very Rev Dom Henry Wansborough MA STL LSS, Censor of Books for the English Benedictine Congregation, October 2009.