Not a Solitary Being:

In the Book of Genesis, after creating Adam, God said: "It is not good for man to be alone." Man was not created by God to lead a solitary life and existence. Man is made for, is meant to exist in, communion with others in a relationship of loving relationships. God created Eve, presented her to Adam, and upon seeing her, Adam exclaimed in an expression of ecstasy: "This indeed is bones of my bones and flesh of my flesh!" Adam was saying: "Here at last is a person like myself with whom I can enter into a loving relationships, a relationship of mutual gift of self!"

"Being-related-to" another is built into, is inscribed by God into, our very humanity as human beings created by God in his image and likeness. It is when we establish relationships of love with others and enter into loving communions of persons that we truly image God in this world. We are meant to love as God loves in this world. Here lies the our destiny as human beings. As Vatican II puts it: It is only when we give ourselves to others as gift that we truly find our own self-fulfillment and realization. Truly, as Christ says: "He who keeps himself will lose it, he who loses himseld will find it."

Marriage: A Communion of Love and Life:

It is unfortunate that many couple who enter marriage nowadays don't have the vaguest idea of what it is all about. Often, they get their notions of marriage from the lives of people in the entairtenment world.

This is so unfortunate. Marriage is a communion of love and life. Husbands and wives, in marriage, enter into a communion of persons rooted in love - a love that is open to life. Husbands and wives are supposed to give themselves totally to each other in love, after the example of the Blessend Trinity. Marriage and the family are a n icon of the Blessed Trinity.

The Body: A Vehicle of Love:

How do we express ourselves in this world? In and through our bodies, isn't it? How do you show people you are happy? Through your smile, isn't it? Your laughter. Through your bodily manifestations of joy and happineess. How do you show people you are upset? In and through your bodies, isn't it?

Our bodies is part of who we are as human persons. It is the expression of our persons. How do we express love? In and through our bodies. Therefore, the sexual union, the conjugal act, between husband and wife is the bodily expression of their love and total self-giving to each other in love, and not just a mere sexual adventure from which each derives pleasure for their own selfish gratification. And, as we have said, in that "one flesh union" accomplished through and in their male and female bodies and sexuality, they image the Trinitarian Communion of love in this world.

Here is God's plan for marriage and the family. And many families today have to re-discover this God-ordained plan for their unions. And Pope John Paul II once told families: "Families, become what you are meant to be!".

John Paul II's theology of the body is a very rich source for the renewal of families and marriages in our world today. The Pope does not condemn anyone. He proposes God's plan for you, he reminds you of God's beautiful plan for you - and offers you a sure path to happiness and peace and self-fulfillmeent in your family and married lives. This is the challenge, the invitation of Pope John Paul II for you, families!

( Book Series on John Paul II's Theology of the Body):

I have decided to publish a series of short booklets on John Paul II's Theology of the Body to make it more accessible to our Filipino families. I encourage you to avail of these publications and find out for yourselves the treasures that await you - your path to a happy married and family life and conjugal spirituality. Your can buy these books in Catholic Book Center outlets or or some St. Paul bookstores outlets. Help me pass the good news!)