Moderators: David Albertson & Fr. Luke Dysinger

Social friendships encompass a range of loves, from respecting the stranger to affection for old friends. Between married spouses, human friendship is completely expressed in the intimate love of body and soul, a total gift of self. On the other hand, desire for God perfects human love beyond any one physical relationship. In this Seminar we’ll consider the meaning of physical love for friendship as a communion of persons. What are the vocations of celibacy and marriage, and how do both express chastity?

Topics & Readings:

• Bishop Erik Varden, Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses (2023)

• John Paul II, Male and Female He Created Them: A Theology of the Body [aka “TOB”] (1985)

• Reading Guide for Theology of the Body

Seminar Schedule:

9:00-9:30 Mass in Church of Our Savior (optional)
9:30-10:00 Coffee & donuts on the patio
10:00-11:30 Session 1 in Newman Hall
11:30-12:30 Buffet Lunch outside on the patio
12:30-1:30 Session 2 in Newman Hall

This Seminar is supported by a grant from the Lumen Christi Institute with funding from the John Templeton (Grant #63614) from the John Templeton Foundation.