Expert: J.M.J. West - 2/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: Good afternoon. My name is James N from Bombay, India,R/C.
I am  reading Gaudium et spes,of Vatican II, pastoral constitution chapter 1. My question  are as below
1: Could U please explain 3 levels of sexuality ie Primary, affective and Genital
@: Also  the 4 values of consecrated celibacy namely
Eschatological value, Sacrificial value & Spiritual value.
God bless thee . James N

ANSWER: Classically sex has been viewed as having a three fold purpose, though, that might line up with these terms.  Sex is given to us by God, and it is in fact a mysterious image of the very life of the trinity.  It is an image of God written upon our being, and to seek to thwart its purposes is to seek to thwart our understanding of God.

The "primary" would be the rearing of Children, because this ultimately is what sex is aimed at.  Even in other species which don't experience the emotional bonding of sex, sex is present for the furthering of the species.  Sex is to be "fruitful" and "open to life".  Thus anything that seeks to frustrate this first aim ultimately distorts our view of sex.

The "affective" would then be the what is also called the "unitive".  Sex unites and deepens the love and affection of the spouses.  Sex must always been unitive, or else it also distorts our very understanding of sex and God.

The "genital" then would be what Paul is speaking of when he writes: "If anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, and if a critical moment has come and so it has to be, let him do as he wishes. He is committing no sin; let them get married." (1 Cor 7:36).  To keep us from lusting, marriage has been ordained that we might properly use the gift of sexuality (though to remain chaste/celibate is better, according to both Christ and St. Paul).

As for the values of consecrated celibacy, I can only assume that:

Eschatological value - Ultimately we are all feminine in relation to God's masculinity.  We are members of the Church, the bride of Christ, and by remaining chaste in this life we anticipate that heavenly nuptial union.

Sacrificial value - Giving up something good for the sake of something better is a real form of mortification that has good effects upon our very souls and wills

Spiritual value - Um...keeps us holy...via the sacrificial value...

Hopefully that helps.

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Good morning: Thanks for thy help.My questions are as under as I have to explain to my scc people in Bombay.
1:What relevance for our life does the doctrine of Trinty have?
2:Teachings of Ireneus and Tertulian about the Holy Trinity.  What are the differences . Are they same?

3:Problems faced by  the early church in formulating dogma of Trinity?

Thaking U James N Bombay

Answer
1) The relevance of the trinity is manifestly the most important thing, because we are created in the image of God, and God is Love, and love exists between persons.  "In the image of God he made them; male and female he made them" says Genesis 1, and Genesis 2 concludes this with "that is why a man...clings to his wife and the two become ONE FLESH".

The very nature of duality of persons and singularity of beings is meant to be etched in divine poetry in our bodies.  For more on this, read John Paul II's Theology of the Body:  http://tinyurl.com/bsu9lp

2) To my understanding they are essentially the same.

3) Lacking a concrete and uniform language with which to adequately explain the nature of God in a way that was not heretical...this developed over time, becoming more precise where needed.

Hopefully this helps.

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West