Theology of the Body

Pope John Paul II was a great defender of truly vulnerable human beings throughout his life, affirming their personhood consistently and powerfully. In John Paul II on the Vulnerable, Jeffrey Tranzillo provides a lucid introduction to John Paul II's philosophical and theological understanding of the human person. Unlike other writings on the topic, Tranzillo's explicit aim is to highlight an aspect of John Paul's work that has been largely neglected until now. He shows convincingly that John Paul's seminal reflections on the human being as a personal agent progressed over time to include human beings at even the most vulnerable stages of development or decline. With this advance in thought, the pontiff began to declare eloquently that the vulnerable are capable of contributing to and enriching the human community through their activity.

An engaging overview of John Paul II's life, thought, and work introduces the book and provides readers with helpful background material. It shows that John Paul's interest in, and lofty regard for, the human person is rooted in his strong Catholic faith and in the extraordinary life experiences that he interpreted in its light. Following this is an examination of his principal works on the human person, emphasizing their implications for vulnerable human beings as persons and actors. Tranzillo considers this theme in the light of selected Christological texts of John Paul II and then reflects on John Paul's portrayal of the vulnerable in his social encyclicals and Evangelium Vitae. A final chapter develops the anthropological underpinnings of John Paul's thought on the radically vulnerable and their personal agency.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jeffrey Tranzillo received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from the Catholic University of America and has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

"This is a masterful work--one of the very best books I have read exploring the thought of John Paul II. Jeffrey Tranzillo provides a compelling and theologically rich account of John Paul II's Christian anthropology, showing how it grounds his understanding of the inalienable dignity of every human being, particularly the vulnerable. Elements of John Paul II's papacy may fade with time, but this extraordinary book keeps the pope's enduring philosophical and theological insights glowingly alive."-- Thomas G. Guarino, Professor of Systematic Theology, Seton Hall University

Internationally renowned Biblical scholar Michael Waldstein offers a new critical translation of Pope John Paul II's talks on the Theology of the Body, presenting his magnificent vision of the human person with meticulous scholarship and profound insight. A Preface by Cardinal Schönborn, a Foreword by Christopher West, a comprehensive index of words and phrases, a Scriptural index, and a reference table for other versions of the papal texts are included. Recipient of a CPA Award!

Maybe you've heard of Pope John Paul II's theology of the body and wondered, vaguely, what it's all about. Maybe you've never heard of it until now and are asking, theology of the what? Maybe you're already familiar with the basics and are ready to incorporate this teaching on sex, love and marriage into your own life.

Whatever your level of understanding, you're probably ready for some good news about sex in a culture littered with the bad news of divorce, adultery, sexually transmitted disease, heartache and loneliness.

This guide is designed to help you appropriate the Pope's astonishing message: True, lasting love--that which humanity enjoyed in the beginning, before the Fall--is possible here and now. In nine straightforward lessons, Men and Women Are from Eden introduces the reader to the pope's warm, deeply biblical understanding of God's original plan for men and women, a plan that brings with it healing of mind in regard to sexuality and the body.

Broken families, abortion, AIDS, Internet pornography, sexual abuse scandals, homosexual marriage, our Church and our world are in the midst of a profound sexual crisis. Is there a way out? For such a time as this have we been given Pope John Paul IIs Theology of the Body. Based on the words of Jesus, John Paul II's famous reflections on the body and sex take us to the root of the modern crisis and chart the path to an authentic sexual liberation. Yet the Pope's dense scholarship often intimidates the average person. In his book, Theology of the Body Explained, Christopher West offered a more detailed, six-hundred page commentary on John Paul II's Theology of the Body. Here, he provides a short and popular summary of the Pope's revolutionary teaching. What is the meaning of life? Why did God create us male and female? Why is there evil in the world and how do we overcome it? How do we attain true happiness on earth? What kind of joys await us in heaven? How can we experience the love we long for in the depth of our hearts? The first edition of Theology of the Body for Beginners (2004) quickly became an international best-seller. This freshly revised and expanded edition is based on Dr. Michael Waldsteins much improved translation of John Paul IIs catechesis. New for this edition: All quotations have been updated with the new translation. Key insights discovered through Dr. Waldstein's access to the John Paul II archives have been incorporated. The outline of the text has been substantially reorganized to reflect the newly discovered outline of John Paul's original manuscript. John Paul's hidden and previously untranslated addresses are summarized.

Today's sexual confusion is not caused because the world glorifies sexuality, but because the world fails to see its glory.

Through his Theology of the Body, St. John Paul II unveiled the beauty of God's plan for human love. In 60 minutes, discover how the human bodyin its masculinity and femininityreveals who we are and how we are called to live.