I highly suggest you watch his talk, which was filmed and will be available in the upcoming months for purchase through Catholic Answers. There are only a few things I want to highlight that really stood out to me.
In society today there are lots of negative feelings towards the Catholic church due to their stance on contraception, which is of course, don't use any form. When contraception is used it is inhibiting life, and God created man and woman to join together in love to create life in an unselfish act. So, when the Church says not to use contraception, people's reaction is "The church is trying to control us."
Actually, the Church is doing no such thing. Contrary to "popular" belief, the church is saying, "Have sex, love each other, enjoy it! But...just do all that when you truly love someone, when you are ready to make a commitment, when you are ready for a family. If you are not ready for any of that, then you are not ready to have sex."
In his talk, Jason introduces a very important thought by St. Augustine. St. Augustine pointed out that the cross is the marriage bed of Christ, where He gave Himself to His bride, the Church. What a beautiful example of married love. Christ gave Himself to His Church, to us, fully because he loved us, and in doing so created life in His Church. We should all strive to love as Christ loves, and then will we find eternal happiness.
God is great!
Hey Elizabeth, do you remember during the Chaldean rite Catholic Mass, when there is a prayer that says, "...He put on our humanity in order to quicken us by His divinity..."? Saint Augustine's quotes sheds new light on that passage!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you've heard of Father Donald Calloway, but he is a very Marian priest. I am in the process of wading through one of his academic articles, and it also has some beautiful imagery of the Church as the Bride of Christ and the role of Mary as the model for the Church herself. Here's the link:
http://www.motherofallpeoples.com/Articles/General_Mariology/the-immaculate-conception-in-the-thought-of-adrienne-von-speyr.html
I know it's long, but I guarantee it is worth the read!
God bless!
Thanks so much Daniel, I will take a look at it!
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