On the feast of the Holy Family, it’s appropriate to meditate on the divine call to family life as articulated by Saint John Paul II in his “Theology of the Body.” He states that the essence of human identity and the call to communion in marriage are realized through one’s gender—man and woman find their purpose in their mutual complementarity. This theology emphasizes that the human body, through its male and female distinctions, is designed for a communion of persons where self-giving is the path to self-realization.
Saint John Paul II further teaches that true self-giving in marriage requires one to possess oneself fully. This means mastering one’s passions and desires, which is crucial for genuine self-giving. Thus, to fulfill the vocation for which every human is created, one must exercise dominion over their own passions.
In contemporary society, many experience a deep dissatisfaction, often because they chase after goals that do not fulfill the human spirit. This leads individuals to fill their inner voids with pursuits like excessive partner-seeking, overworking, substance abuse, or even escapist spiritual journeys. However, according to John Paul II, true fulfillment isn’t found in these pursuits but in living out the call to self-giving, which is visibly marked by the body’s sexual differentiation.
For one to truly answer this call, there must be a mastery over sin and passions, ensuring that one is not enslaved by them. This teaching from the “Theology of the Body” not only underscores the sanctity of marriage but also the personal responsibility of each individual to live a life of virtue.
