Ethan Walker
Sexuality is an integral part of being human, and for Catholics, it is no different. The Catholic Church teaches that sex is a gift from God and has a twofold purpose: unity and procreation. Within the confines of marriage, spouses are encouraged to experience pleasure and enjoyment in their sexual relationship. However, the Church also considers certain sexual behaviours outside of marriage as sins, including masturbation, pornography, and homosexual practices. Achieving spiritual sexuality involves embracing love and challenging shame, seeing the human body as a creation of God, and understanding the purpose of sex within the context of Catholic theology.
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What You'll Learn
Sexuality is a gift from God
Catholics believe that God created sex for the purpose of procreation and unity. Within the sphere of marriage between a man and a woman, God intended for spouses to experience pleasure and enjoyment, and for it to lead to deep human fulfilment.
Sexuality is an integral part of God's design and essential to being made in the imago Dei. The human body, therefore, has great dignity, and human sexuality is a great good. This is because God found everything he created to be "very good", so the human body and sex must be good.
Sexual relations should be lived in the way God designed, always fulfilling the following: be only between spouses; have the intent of unity and the renewal of the marriage covenant; and be open to the natural design of God for the begetting of children without hindering that natural design.
Sexuality is not something that exists with a purely biological purpose defined by personal preference. It is an intimate nucleus of the person that spiritually is designed by God to unite man and woman as one flesh. This is not because man and woman preferred it this way, but because God designed and created woman to be equal but different from man.
Sexuality has the unique power to challenge shame and expand vulnerability at the deepest level. This makes lovemaking a spiritual exercise, first and foremost. It is also a way to prepare oneself to stand confidently in the presence of God's gaze.
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Sex is for procreation
The Catholic Church teaches that sexuality has a fundamental purpose, decreed by God: procreation. God created sex for this purpose, and for unity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "conjugal love... aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul", since the marriage bond is to be a sign of the love between God and humanity.
The belief that marriage is primarily intended for the purpose of procreation dominated early Christianity and was held by many Church Fathers. This view is supported by the Bible, specifically in Genesis, which describes man's official companion being made from his bone and flesh.
Sexual relations should therefore be lived out in the way God designed it, always fulfilling the following:
- Be only between spouses.
- Have the intent of unity and the renewal of the marriage covenant.
- Be open to the natural design of God for the begetting of children without hindering that natural design.
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a legitimate way for spouses to embrace God's natural design regarding a woman's fertility. However, it is important to avoid a "contraceptive mentality", where couples use NFP negligently to avoid pregnancy for selfish reasons.
Sexual expression outside of marriage or deliberately frustrating the procreative function within marriage (e.g. using contraception) is considered a grave sin by the Catholic Church. This includes masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.
Catholics are encouraged to view sexuality as a spiritual exercise that challenges shame and expands vulnerability, uniting spouses and creating new life. By embracing their sexuality as God designed it, Catholics believe they can achieve true happiness and fulfillment.
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Sex is for unity
Sexuality is an integral part of God's design and is essential to being made in the imago Dei. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "conjugal love ... aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul", since the marriage bond is to be a sign of the love between God and humanity.
Sexual relations should be lived out in the way God designed them to be: between spouses, with the intent of unity and the renewal of the marriage covenant, and open to the natural design of God for the begetting of children without hindering that design. God created sex for procreation, but also for unity.
Sexuality has the power to challenge shame and expand vulnerability, uniting two people and creating new life, and thus making lovemaking a spiritual exercise. Shame can cause us to hold back where we are called to be generous, preventing sex from being the "self-gift" that Pope John Paul II said it ought to be. Our sexual and bodily shame is a direct descendant of the shame Adam and Eve encountered after the Fall, standing before God in their nakedness.
To achieve a spiritual sexuality, one must love more, love better, and love every day. This is because our identity must be in who we are, not in what our sexual appetites are drawn to. Sexuality is not something that exists with a purely biological purpose defined by personal preference; rather, it is an intimate nucleus of the person that spiritually is designed by God to unite man and woman as one flesh.
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Sex is not a chore
The Catholic Church teaches that God created sex for the deep fulfillment of human beings. It is not a duty, a chore, an extra, or even a “nice thing” to do when you have the energy. Sex is made for marriage, and only in marriage can it find its fulfillment. If you are married, then lovemaking is the foundation of your vocation. It is God’s first commandment to all of humanity when He said, “Go forth and multiply”.
Sexuality is an integral part of God's design and essential to being made in the imago Dei. The human body, therefore, has great dignity, and human sexuality is a great good. God created sex for the purpose of unity and procreation. Within its proper sphere, marriage between a man and a woman, he also established that spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment.
To achieve a spiritual sexuality, one must love more, love better, and love every day. Not necessarily because your spouse deserves it, but because your Christian dignity demands it. Sexuality has the power to challenge shame and expand vulnerability at the deepest level, which, in addition to its power to unite two people and create new life, makes lovemaking a spiritual exercise, first and foremost.
Sexual relations should be embraced and lived in the way God designed it. It must always fulfill the following: be only between spouses; have the intent of unity and the renewal of the marriage covenant; and be open to the natural design of God for the begetting of children without hindering that natural design.
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Shame hinders sexual fulfilment
For Catholics, sexuality is an intimate aspect of a person's being, designed by God to unite a man and a woman as "one flesh". However, a major obstacle to a joyful sexual experience is the shame that many Christian couples feel about their sexuality. This shame can cause individuals to hold back and prevent sex from being a "self-gift".
Sexual shame is a specific type of shame that involves a feeling of disgust or humiliation towards one's identity as a sexual being. It can be categorized into three types: relational sexual shame, internalized sexual shame, and sexual inferiority. Relational sexual shame involves interactions with another person that evoke feelings of humiliation or disgust. Internalized shame involves feeling abnormal or inferior, which can be caused by body image concerns and societal beauty standards. Sexual inferiority refers to the feeling of not fulfilling self-experienced expectations, which are often influenced by societal norms and culture.
Sexual shame can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including suppressed sexual desire, anxiety about intimacy, and dissociation during sexual encounters. It can also impact an individual's self-esteem and emotional well-being, making it challenging to form healthy and fulfilling relationships. Women, in particular, have historically experienced higher ratings of sexual shame compared to men due to societal expectations of modesty and passivity. However, this gap is diminishing, and sexual shame can affect both men and women.
To overcome sexual shame, it is crucial to address the underlying causes, such as negative messages, judgments, or a lack of education. Self-acceptance, validation, and access to accurate and affirming information about sexuality can help in the healing process. By challenging vulnerability and shame, sexuality can become a spiritual exercise that unites couples and creates new life.
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