Aquinas and the Theology of the Body thomistic ressourcement series Volume 7 series editors Matthew Levering, Mundelein Seminary Thomas Joseph White, OP, Dominican House of Studies editorial board Serge-Thomas Bonino, OP, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Lawrence Dewan, OP, Dominican College of Ottawa Gilles Emery, OP, University of Fribourg Reinhard Hütter, Duke University Bruce Marshall, Southern Methodist University Emmanuel Perrier, OP, Dominican Studium, Toulouse Richard Schenk, OP, Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt Kevin White, The Catholic University of America Aquinas and the Theology of the Body The Thomistic Foundations of John Paul II’s Anthropology Thomas Petri, OP The Catholic University of America Press Washington, D.C. Copyright © 2016 The Catholic University of America Press All rights reserved The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standards for Information Science—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984. ∞ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Petri, Thomas Title: Aquinas and the theology of the body : the Thomistic foundations of John Paul II’s anthropology / Thomas Petri, OP. Description: Washington, D.C. : The Catholic University of America Press, 2016. | Series: Thomistic ressourcement series ; Volume 7 | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2015048888 | ISBN 9780813228471 (cloth : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Human body—Religious aspects—Catholic Church. | John PaulII, Pope, 1920–2005. Theology of the body. | Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?–1274. | Sex—Religious aspects—Catholic Church. | Theological anthropology—Catholic Church. Classification: LCC BX1795.B63 P48 2016 | DDC 233/.5—dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015048888 Nihil Obstat: Reverend Christopher Begg, STD, PhD Censor Deputatus Imprimatur: Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout Auxiliary Bishop of Washington Archdiocese of Washington March 26, 2015 The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. There is no implication that those who have granted the nihil obstat and the imprimatur agree with the content, opinions, or statements expressed therein. Nihil Obstat: Reverend John Corbett, OP, STL, PhD Censor Deputatus Imprimi Potest: Very Reverend Kenneth Letoile, OP, STL Prior Provincial Dominican Province of Saint Joseph April 8, 2015 The nihil obstat and imprimi potest are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error and that the author has been given permission by his major superior to publish the work. There is no implication that those who have granted the nihil obstat and the imprimi potest agree with the content, opinions, or statements expressed therein. In loving memory of my parents, Jack and Mary. Dedicated to my Dominican brethren with fraternal affection and gratitude Contents List of Abbreviations ix Preface xi Introduction 1 1. From Thomas Aquinas to the Manualists 11 2. Personalism and the Debate on Marriage and Contraception 45 3. The Moral Theology of Karol Wojtyła 92 4. Karol Wojtyła’s Ethics of Sexuality 127 5. The Spousal Meaning of the Body in Theology of the Body 162 6. The Anthropology of Thomas Aquinas 198 7. The Movement of Love in the Summa Theologiae 235 8. Marriage and the Conjugal Act according to Thomas Aquinas 273 Conclusion 309 Bibliography 315 Index 331 vii Abbreviations AAS Acta Apostolicae Sedis AS Acta Synodalia Sacrosancti Concilii Oecumenici Vaticani II CC Casti Connubii (encyclical of Pope Pius XI) FC Familiaris Consortio (apostolic exhortation of Pope John Paul II) GS Gaudium et Spes (document of Second Vatican Council) HV Humanae Vitae (encyclical of Pope Paul VI) MD Mulieris Dignitatem (apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II) PG Patrologiae cursus completus. Series graeca, ed. Migne PL Patrologiae cursus completus. Series latina, ed. Migne SCG Summa contra Gentiles (Thomas Aquinas) ST Summa Theologiae (Thomas Aquinas) TOB Theology of the Body (Pope John Paul II) ix Preface As a Catholic priest born in 1978, the year of three popes, I lived much of my young life during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. Like many priests my age, John Paul became for me a shepherd larger than life and a model for my own priesthood. Only after I entered semi- nary studies and later the Order of Preachers did I come to realize the significance of his pontificate for so many people in the church and in the world. How could one not grow in admiration of him? Thom- as Aquinas, on the other hand, was perennially present in my home growing up, since my mother had a devotion to him (for reasons I still do not quite know). But when I began to study Aquinas in semi- nary and later as one of his brother Dominicans, my devotion both to him and to his teaching grew. This book grew out of a genuine affec- tion for these two great saints and a real conviction that their thought is more connected than is often suggested. For various reasons, some of which were beyond my control, this book has taken many years to produce and there are several peo- ple who must be acknowledged as assisting and supporting its pub- lication along the way. First among those deserving thanks is John Grabowski, who directed the writing of an earlier version of this man- uscript during my doctoral work at the Catholic University of Amer- ica and later insisted repeatedly that it should be published imme- diately. John Corbett, OP, and William Mattison were also crucial reviewers in the early days of the manuscript. I am also grateful for the CUA Press peer reviewers: Jarosław Kupczak, OP, and Deborah Savage. The feedback of these great scholars strengthened this book xi xii Preface and I trust the reader will not hold them responsible for any error they might find herein. Every book needs editors. Eleanor Nicholson performed above and beyond all expectation when she agreed to edit this manuscript in the months just prior to giving birth to her second child, Veroni- ca Eve. Through the intercession of saints Thomas Aquinas and John Paul, may Veronica find happiness in this life and know it perfect- ly in the next. Bianca Czaderna pored over the manuscript to check the spelling of every Polish word. James Kruggel, John Martino, Paul Higgins, and the editorial staff at CUA Press were not only constant supporters of this project, but worked tirelessly to bring it to fruition. This book would never have seen the light of day without the invalu- able assistance of its editors. I am honored that Matthew Levering and Thomas Joseph White, OP, invited this book to be included in the Thomistic Ressourcement Series. The series has published some of the best scholars in Thom- ism, and I am grateful to have my small contribution stand next to theirs since, like them, I believe Thomas Aquinas has much to con- tribute to present-day conversations and debates. Dominic always sent his brethren out two by two; Dominicans do not engage the world alone, but always together. This book would also not have been possible without the support of my Dominican brethren. Fr. Dominic Izzo, OP, and Fr. Brian Mulcahy, OP, as suc- cessive Prior Provincials during my doctoral studies and the writing of this book allowed me the time and space necessary to complete this work. Fr. Kenneth Letoile, OP, and Fr. John Langlois, OP, were also instrumental in encouraging and promoting my studies. Various houses throughout the Order welcomed and supported me as I wrote this book throughout the years: the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.; St. Pius V Parish in Providence, Rhode Island; and St. Thomas Aquinas Priory at Providence College. Their patience with me and support for this work has been a constant witness of the fraternal charity that so characterizes Dominican life. This is why I am dedicating this book, in part, to my Dominican brothers. The cloistered Dominican nuns at St. Dominic’s Monastery in Linden, Virginia, welcomed me monthly over the last year as I com- pleted this book. Dominic founded communities of cloistered wom- Preface xiii en to support the active mission of the friars. The good fruit that Dominican friars bear to the world is due, in large part, to their inter- cession for us. Finally, the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, provided me the necessary seclu- sion in the home stretch of this manuscript’s completion. We Domin- ican friars are always grateful to be co-workers with our active sisters for the evangelization of the world. Finally, this book is in memory of my parents, Jack and Mary, with gratitude for the life they gave me and with a prayer that one day we will see each other again in the life to come. Rev. Thomas Petri, OP Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary September 8, 2015 Aquinas and the Theology of the Body Introduction On September 5, 1979, Pope John Paul II began a series of catechet- ical talks on man, woman, love, marriage, and sexuality during his Wednesday general audience. These weekly catecheses concluded on November 28, 1984. They were interrupted only during the pope’s recovery from an assassination attempt in 1981, during a Holy Year (1983–84), and for various other intermittent topics. Collectively, these catecheses have been referred to as a “theology of the body.” De- livered during a time of exceptional confusion on these matters in the church and in society, the content of these addresses has become the focus of a cottage industry of commentaries and popular works. Papal biographer George Weigel suggested that “these 130 catechetical ad- dresses, taken together, constitute a kind of theological time bomb set to go off, with dramatic consequences, sometime in the third millen- nium of the Church.”1 Only time will prove the veracity of this claim.