Original Nakedness The revelation of the original solitude of man leads to the original unity of man and woman. The original unity of man and woman reveals yet another profound truth concerning man in his original state, that is, original nakedness. This state of original nakedness is a state of being without shame. The Holy Father describes it in these words.
Nakedness signifies the original good of God’s vision. It signifies all the simplicity and fullness of the vision through which the ‘pure’ value of humanity as male and female, the pure value of the body and of sex, is manifested . . . Seeing each other, as if through the mystery of creation, man and woman see each other even more fully and distinctly than through the sense of sight itself, that is, through the eyes of the body. They see and know each other with all the peace of the interior gaze, which creates precisely the fullness of the intimacy of persons.[1]
This gaze allows man and woman to see one another as complementary, respective of their masculinity and femininity. This is manifested within a communion of persons. Moreover, this complementarity is reciprocal. Through this communion of perfect reciprocity, which is a fruit of original nakedness, man and woman become a gift for each other. This takes place precisely through the body and attributes to the body its highest meaning, what is called the nuptial meaning of the body. John Paul II teaches that man and woman are originally conscious of this nuptial meaning of the body. That is precisely why, at the moment of the fall, man and woman experience shame in God’s presence and hide themselves. This new instinct to hide from the presence of God is the tragic consequence of sin that continues to plague and wound humanity and its relationship with God to this very day and distort the highest meaning of the body. Article by Fr. Alejandro Valladres, Archdiocese of Mobile |