The Theology of the Body is the sophisticated work of a mystical theologian. Discovering its gems and absorbing its subtleties is an ongoing process. One never "arrives." There is always more to learn, always more to appreciate, always more to see. Along the way of this journey, the different emphases of various thinkers can only add to our overall understanding, as Father Tugwell expressed. This is why I believe the spirited conversation that the TOB has engendered in recent years represents a positive development and an important catechetical moment for the Church. The signs of the times continue to underscore how desperate is the need—both in and outside the Church—of recovering a vision of the "great mystery" of divine love revealed through our bodies.
With gratitude for all I have gleaned from a host of "different opinions and schools of thought," my goal in this work is simply to unfold what I believe John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are teaching about this "great mystery" and how we are to share it with the world in the new evangelization. While this work represents a new stage in the development of my own thinking, I also quote from my previous works to show the continuity of my thought and to summarize what I have presented over the years.
It's my sincere hope that all who read this work will enter more deeply into the "great mystery" that lies at the heart of the Gospel and come away all the more compelled to "go into the main streets and invite everyone to the wedding feast" (Mt 22:9).
Copyright © 2012 by Christopher West
Reprinted here with permission from Image Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., NewYork.
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