We are taught to love the other as ourselves. How does this translate in our relationships with those with mental health issues. The same way as it does for everyone. The individual is given ourselves.
February brings us to the final fleeting of winter and the new beginnings of life in Spring. Valentine’s day is celebrated on February 14th which also shares the day with one of my favorite comedian’s birthday Jack Benny. Now over his career in the 1930’s onward Jack created a beloved and truly flawed character who was self-loving, arrogant, miserly and the like. He built this character over decades of showmanship and excellent writing.
The reality was a completely different story from the character. Truly generous and full of true love of the other. This extended not only to the fans but those he worked with and he was so beloved as a person We are still treated to reruns of his shows but the people whom we watch and truly remember watching were very much influenced by Jack. Johnny Carson David Letterman, from a similar show type but vast majority of the comedians we watch today are influenced. He shared his birthday with the right holiday. St Valentine’s Day is no longer a part of the Catholic calendars as it was, but the idea of love and affection still holds on February 14th.
In 1960, long before he became Pope, Karol Wojtyla wrote a book called Love and Responsibility. In it we can see many of the themes from his papacy as well as his ability to see where ideas and actions would be taking humanity. Our topic of love and relationships are highlighted by this letter of a wizened pastor and bishop.
In this article If we focus on one quotation, that has one of the wider spread effects. Jesus asks that we love him with our heart mind and soul and to love others in the same way. Limiting ourselves for the sake of the other is this love which Jesus speaks of..
The quote from the future pope can be applied to many facets of our lives, including Mental Health. Regardless of the issue we must know down deep how much God loves his creation. We are each created by God and should be loved with the utmost priority. Elsewhere in the book John Paul says that
This is a critical thought because once we begin to use the other for our own needs love is out the window. That miserly, self-loving and arrogant person begins to be seen. And worse it is no longer a fictional characterization, but our own self appearing with the devil guiding us along.
In our culture we have been taught since our youth that freedom is paramount… but that is a falsehood. Love is paramount and St JPII teaches us in his book…to bring ourselves to love will limit our actions on behalf of the other. This is what can be learned by reading this letter… This is what can be learned from watching those who pursue love for loves own goal… helping others help others is loving others to love others. The Catholic faith in simple words.
Love and Responsibility is a book written by Karol Wojtyła before he became Pope John Paul II and was originally published in Polish in 1960 and in English in 1981 A new translation was published in 2013. Fr. Wojtyła was inspired to write the book when he was a professor at the Catholic University of Lublin,[5] through the experiences he had while teaching young Catholics.
