In a world with over 80 gender options, where parents can often feel like they’re paddling against the current, struggling to fight the good fight in the spiritual battle at home, Dr Christopher West’s message on the theology of the body (TOB) rings with renewed urgency and hope.
“We have the antidote to the crisis of our times in our hands, but it hasn’t yet really been injected into the bloodstream of the Body of Christ, of the church, and that’s the work of the Theology of the Body Institute—to inject this into the bloodstream of the person in the pew.”
Setting the stage for his return to Australia in 2026 to lead the “Theology of the Body I: Head and Heart Immersion” course between 18-23 January at the Benedict XVI Retreat Centre, West explained that the confusion and pain so many experience today, especially around questions of gender, sexuality, and the meaning of the body, are precisely why TOB is needed now more than ever.
“The crisis we are facing in the modern world is a crisis of the rupture of the body and the soul. It is a crisis that has immediate and direct impact on our sexuality. We are awash in the modern world in utter chaos and confusion when it comes to why did God make us male and female, right? This used to be just taken for granted… and now today, the facts of life, if you haven’t noticed, they’re entirely up for grabs.”
In a recent interview with The Catholic Weekly, West, the cofounder of the TOB Institute, which offers graduate level courses and other training programs, reflected on the enduring relevance of St John Paul II’s teaching. He emphasised that the genius of TOB is its ability to speak to everyone, regardless of their background.
“If you have a body, this theology is for you. It’s a reflection on what it means to be human. Why did God make us male and female? And everyone is either male or female at the deepest level, even when there’s confusion about that, God has made us male and female for a reason,” he stated.
Using music, art, and humour, West makes TOB accessible, something that has made him a globally recognised expert on the spiritual teachings of St John Paul II.
“I’ve been working on it for 30 years and it’s still a work in progress,” he says. “It’s a continual process of refinement to put it in a language that the people in front of me can understand.”
Looking ahead to next year’s visit, West expressed his deep affection for Australia.
“I have a special love for the people of Sydney and Australia. Over my many visits to Australia, I just have a special affinity and love for my brothers and sisters Down Under,” he said.
West’s words are a call to rediscover the church’s vision for the human person and to prepare for a new outpouring of grace through the theology of the body. His upcoming “Head and Heart” immersion course will be a transformative experience for all who seek to understand and live the fullness of God’s plan for humanity.
For more details or to register for Theology of the Body Head and Heart Immersion Retreat on 18–23 January at Benedict XVI Retreat Centre head to the website.
