John Paul II discusses excitement and emotion in Theology of the Body

In a general audience from October 31, 1984, Pope John Paul II discussed the concepts of excitement and emotion within his ‘Theology of the Body’. He emphasized that self-control is a spiritual effort that frees individuals from emotional tension and allows the ‘language of the body’ to express love in its full richness.

According to the Pope, this effort is not merely external discipline but involves the entire person. He linked these concepts to the encyclical Humanae vitae, noting that the issue extends beyond biological fertility to the subjectivity of the human person. He distinguished between physical excitement and emotion, describing emotion as a reaction to the whole person of another. Self-control serves to maintain a balance between intimate union and responsible parenthood.