116 - Covenant of Love: Pope John Paul 11 on Sexuality, Marriage, and Family in the Modern World & The Way to Christ: Spiritual Exercises

Covenant of Love: Pope John Paul II on Sexuality,
Marriage, and Family in the Modern World
By Richard M. Hogan and John M. Le Voir
Garden City, Doubleday, 1985. 246 pp. $15.95.

The Way to Christ: Spiritual Exercises
By Karol Wojtyla
San Francisco, Harper and Row, 1984. 139 pp. $10.95.

The world has become familiar with the presence of John Paul II in a way that is unique among modern popes. He has walked amidst the peoples of all cultures, moving easily with the poor and the powerful, acclaimed by youth and reverenced by the aging, followed by thousands and challenged by many, wounded by attacks both physical and verbal, always continuing to pastor the whole people of God.

Hogan and LeVoir preface their commentary on John Paul's Apostolic Exhortation on the Family with a detailed analysis of his philosophical thought. A main thesis of the authors is that John Paul, in his teaching, has presented a "new synthesis of faith and reason." Indeed, they credit him with creating a revolution in thought with his emphasis on the subject, that is, on the human person and human experience. The authors claim that the Lublin/Cracow school of phenomenology significantly influenced the development of thought at

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Vatican II through the unique insights of Karol Wojtyla (a claim that needs to be shared with other highly significant contributors to Vatican II). John Paul sees the human person as made in the image of God, living within a communion of persons, embodied and thus intimately united with creation, endowed with a task and a mission-to love. The dignity of the person, reverence for the body, the value of relationship, and the centrality of love for human growth are basic to John Paul's interpretation of the beauties and the problems of family life in this world.

The ideal of marriage is effectively presented by John Paul as a communion of persons, recognizing and upholding the equality of man and woman, the responsibilities and rights of husband, wife, and children. He identifies the family as a miniature church, a living experience of divine love humanly expressed. But the reality of family life in this world is not as evident. While the major problem of sexuality and family life are clearly identified and addressed, the actual contexts of the conflicts are not given adequate recognition. Those who fall short. of the ideal are consistently identified as sinners and excluded from the life of the Christian community.

Theologically, the development of John Paul's thought is rooted in the first chapters of Genesis with the identification of the human person as created in the image of God. He gives major significance to the doctrine of original sin; the human person is incapable of love due to the fall of Adam. This leads to an understanding of Christ's great love, his total gift of himself, his sacrifice, as recompense for a sinful humanity.

Intended for those who seek the truth that John Paul teaches, the book does a service in clarifying the major philosophical and theological elements that underlie the teaching in the Apostolic Exhortation. In an appendix, the authors provide definitions of twenty key terms used in the logical development of John Paul's assessment of the status of marriage in today's society and of his responses in the light of faith to the many problems in family life. The authors thus give us a sound basis for dialogue.

The second book, The Way to Christ, is a much simpler discourse, as Karol Wojtyla bishop of Cracow, addresses college students in two separate retreat experiences (1962 and 1972). The same reverence for the human person as made in the image of God is central to his thought. The importance of women and the complementarity of women and men in human living are stressed. The bishop shows keen awareness of the real problems faced by young people in that country at that time. He is realistic in acknowledging a lack of ready answers for many situations. He emphasizes the need for personal responsibility in attempting to live humanly, to live as Christ. And be warns of the very real obstacles in terms of sin and temptation that are always present. Love is central to human life, yet we have lived through "terrifying periods of hatred."

On a personal level, as a bishop talking with a small group of young people, Karol Wojtyla seems a bit more sympathetic to the context of difficult situations. His description of the "process of sin" is particularly

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useful in emphasizing the very personal nature of sin with its responsibilities and its consequences.

Intended for people who want to reflect on the application and relevance of the faith, the book serves a larger purpose of revelation of the person of John Paul. In this sense, it presents, in another context, affirmation of the basic concepts of his thought. It also confirms his identity as pastor.

Mary Peter McGinty
Loyola University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois