Reflection on March 24, 1982

https://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/jp2tb74.htm

Here on earth the spousal meaning of the body is shown through the union of man and woman in marriage. But after the Resurrection, when they are neither husband nor wife, the spousal meaning of the body does not disappear. SJPII points that the spousal meaning of the body is perfected in its union with God, and in that way, union with everyone else in the Communion of Saints. The spousal meaning of the body, seen through a dirty lens here on earth, is perfected after the Resurrection in union with God. Those that choose continence for Heaven while here on earth are a sign to us of that perfected union with God that is to come. Obviously, it is only a sign, not a reality, because we are human and fallen. But we are to see in that choice a glimpse of the spousal union with God through their choice to stay continent for Heaven.

I don’t know if I have ever thought about the significance of Mary’s virginity as it relates to the Old Testament understanding of that being shameful, for lack of a better word. I have always seen the birth of Christ as a miracle, something showing God’s power. But Christ, with His birth, immediately takes the shamefulness away from the choice of virginity. (I have heard some say, and I don’t know how much of this can be relied on, that Mary also asked how this could happen because she had pledged herself to always be a virgin. She had made a vow at some point and even though she was betrothed to Joseph, she was never going to consummate the marriage. Therefore, her question as to how what not only because she had never been with Joseph, but would never be with anyone. If that is true, it further shows God’s choosing of her moves the pendulum on the attitude towards virginity.) The reason it is so important to reflect on the importance of the virginity and Christ “approval” of it is because we have gone back to a world where virginity is seen as a blemish, not a beauty. We need to recall the importance of virginity and what it means to our experience and our understanding of humanity.

I think it is also interesting to reflect on the fruitfulness that is in continence for the kingdom. Wait, what is that? Continence means you are not doing something, specifically, remaining chaste. That means there will be no reproduction, the exact opposite of fruitfulness. But there is more than one kind of fruitfulness and Christ shows. We see that Mary, through her continence for Heaven, did bear fruit, in bringing forth Christ into the world. All the priest and religious, living continence for Heaven, provide much fruit by their lives and can look to Mary as the example of the fruit that can come from the choice to remain continent for Heaven.