★★★★★ 5
Stupendous and Life-Changing
Format: Paperback
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This new and carefully researched translation offers more than just a consistent translation of key terms: previously unpublished units came to light; the Pope's original title and subtitles have been added; the whole content appears in the order in which the Pope meant for it to be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.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2008
