Integration

Catholic thought doesn’t split you into parts. It doesn’t say your body is bad and your soul is good, or that your emotions are unreliable and only your intellect matters. Instead, it sees you as an integrated whole — body, soul, mind, emotions, relationships, will, and vocation all woven together into one irreplaceable person. And honestly? That vision of who you are is the most liberating thing you will ever hear. ...

Can we be honest for a minute? If you grew up Catholic, chances are the message you received about sexuality sounded something like a long list of things you weren’t supposed to do. Don’t have sex before marriage. Don’t look at that. Don’t think about that. Don’t, don’t, don’t. And if that’s all you heard, I understand why the Church’s teaching on sexuality might feel like a cage instead of an invitation. ...