Review: Heaven's Song

Heaven's Song by Christopher West

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I truly enjoyed Heaven's Song: Sexual Love as it was Meant to Be, by Christopher West. This book on John Paul II's Theology of the Body (TOB) focuses on JP II's "hidden talks" and, due to certain potentially loaded ideas, such as the liturgical relationship between man and woman's sexual union as it points to the Divinity of the Trinity, the book is meant to be read by people who are already acquainted with most of the basic doctrines of the TOB and can appreciate the finer theological points raised here.

Besides West's clear expounding of JP II's revolutionary hermeneutics of the the Bible's Song of Songs and Tobit, I also liked how the author set out his chapters. There is part of a practical case study at the beginning, followed by analyses of the TOB doctrines, and then the rest of the case study, followed by reflection questions and a suggested prayer. The form of the book seems to focus less on the theoretical and more on the practical application of the ideas presented in the TOB, giving the reader a sense that they are attending one of West's presentations.

The case studies offer a wide cross-section of society, real people, including married couples, engaged/dating couples, divorcing couples, a single mother and also a priest, and how all of these can benefit from a deeper understanding of the TOB.

Heaven's Song is definitely worth reading, but not as one's introduction to the Theology of the Body.



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