TheBODYMatters Children's Program Pre-K–8th
Theology of the Body Evangelization Team
Between 1978 and 1984, Pope St. John Paul II delivered a series of Wednesday audiences that eventually became known as the Theology of the Body. This profound teaching offered what St. John Paul called an “adequate anthropology”—an examination of what it means to be human, made in God’s image and likeness, and how that reality is made visible in our human bodies. TOBET seeks to share this life-affirming message with others through educational resources: books, programs, talks, and seminars will offer hope and healing to a culture in need.
TOBET’s Episcopal Advisory Board confirmed the decision to create an original, age-appropriate program for Pre-School to 8th grade children not only to protect them from these negative influences, but also to help them to see the wonder of being made in God’s image and likeness.
Recent Blogs
TOB: A Sacramental View of Reality
Cover of our NEW Level 7, Book 1: Our Bodies Made Male & Female (Second Edition)“Mom and Papa, do you think I should really publish this book? I may go to jail for it.” “Do what’s right, Monica. We will visit you in jail,” they said with wry but truthful smiles! ...
Grand Finale for Lesson Books!
Cover of our Level 8, Book 2:Catholicism for EveryBODYFive years… and finally finished! The very last book of The Body Matters program has arrived from the printer! I must admit, I have reread my own book five times since getting it two days ago! And it is a hummer!...
The Penetrating Wisdom of Cardinal Sarah on the Body
Cardinal SarahMost of us are tired of all of the discussion about COVID19 and general upheaval, so we are relieved to speak of something else. To that end, let’s talk about Cardinal Sarah’s latest book, The Day Is Now Far Spent. At a time when we are uncertain whom to...
TOBET Presents Theology of the Body for Families: This month, we will cover the ways in which the body shows God’s design. We provide examples for parents to use Theology of the Body language when talking with their children to understand St. John Paul II’s Christian anthropology.
TOBET now has a series of posts to help you enhance your dialogue and reframe complex subjects through the lens of TOB and the way God intends us to live our lives. We hope this series will be inspirational to you and your family as we explore how to live our lives in God’s image and likeness.
God designed the human body with a purpose. He gave our bodies limits as a gift. These limits keep people safe and free, teaching us what we can and cannot do. When we accept these limits, we experience God’s love and joy.
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God the Designer
Your family trip to visit your parents has been canceled, and none of your kiddos are happy about it. They love visiting Nana and Papa, but something came up instead. You’ve coordinated a video chat with the grandparents, talking them through the set-up and use. It’s the scheduled day for the virtual visit, and your son Antonio is beside himself.
He’s old enough to understand why his grandparents can’t come to visit (their age and health make travel stressful and difficult). He’s also been begging for a trip to visit them for a long time. When the trip was canceled, it was actually his idea to set up the virtual visit.
After you and your kids visit with your parents for a few hours, the call has to end. The next day, Antonio has some thoughts to share with you.
Gift of the Body’s Limits
He says, “I get that Nana and Papa can’t travel and I really liked talking to them yesterday, but it just wasn’t the same. I got bored, and it was weird that Papa couldn’t hear me. Even with his hearing aids in and me yelling, he still missed half of what I said. I got mad and frustrated, too.”
You say, “Even with things like video chats, it’s not the same as being able to hug your grandparents, is it? And when even hearing each other is hard, it’s more and more frustrating. I hear you, son. And I’m sorry we couldn’t go see them as planned.”
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Limits Are for Love
You continue the conversation, wanting to teach your son about the importance of body-to-body experiences. You ask, “Why do you think it’s so important that we spend time in person?”
He says, “Well, I want Papa to hear me. And I miss Nana’s cooking, too. And her hugs. It’s just not the same.”
You say, “You’re absolutely right. It isn’t the same. God gave us our bodies to speak languages of love and truth. When we’re with people in person, we can share the gift of ourselves. He designed our bodies to experience joy when we’re in communion with others. That’s why seeing one another on a video screen isn’t enough.”
Your son asks, “Like when I play video games with friends online, versus in the same room? In person is just so much better, and we can help each other during missions because we talk better, too.”
You say, “Right. Whether it’s visiting your grandparents, playing video games, or going to Mass, it’s just not the same without doing so in real life.”
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Limits for a Mission
You continue, “God designed us to need other people, too. Do you feel sad that you didn’t get to visit your grandparents?”
Antonio says, “Actually, a little. It’s not just about Nana’s cooking or hugs, either. I feel like I wouldn’t have gotten bored or frustrated at all if we were actually there. Just like I get mad at my friends for getting distracted if we play video games together and they leave the game without saying anything.”
You say, “It’s the same thing at Mass. God gave us our bodies to be fully present in everything we do. It’s why His Son, Jesus, is fully present in the Eucharist. It’s why the Body and Blood aren’t just bread and wine, but so much more. When we follow God’s design, we receive Him in flesh and spirit, just like receiving the gift of a home-cooked meal or a warm hug.”
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Thank you for receiving the gift #TOBET has to share by reading our post. If you’d like to learn more about how The Body Is God’s Design, please visit tobet.org/product/gods-design/
Be sure to check out next week’s post as we share Theology of the Body in other unique scenarios. If you want to support our mission beyond purchasing The Body Matters books, visit www.tobet.org/partners to donate today.
“Love consists of a commitment which limits one's freedom - it is a giving of the self, and to give oneself means just that: to limit one's freedom on behalf of another.”
― John Paul II, Love and Responsibility
Learn more at #TheBodyMatters and #TOBET.
If you would like to learn more about The Body is God's Design, please visit tobet.org/product/gods-design/.
TOBET Presents Theology of the Body for Families: This month, we will cover how the body is God’s design. We provide examples for parents to use Theology of the Body language when talking with their children to understand St. John Paul II’s Christian anthropology.
TOBET now has a series of posts to help you enhance your dialogue and reframe complex subjects through the lens of TOB and the way God intends us to live our lives. We hope this series will be inspirational to you and your family as we explore how to live our lives in God’s image and likeness.
God designed the human body with a purpose. He gave our bodies limits as a gift. These limits keep people safe and free, teaching us what we can and cannot do. When we accept these limits, we experience God’s love and joy.
😴😴😴
God the Designer
Your daughter Esther has been fighting her bedtime routine for months now. Both you and your spouse have tried multiple times and ways to get her in bed, but she’s a stubborn seven-year-old. She’s already tried various routines: asking for a glass of water, requesting just a few extra minutes, “forgetting” to brush her teeth, and taking forever to actually get things done.
Lately, she’s taken to asking for bedtime stories, whether she reads them herself or is read to. She’s partial to stories of the saints’ lives, and you’ve been hesitant to tell her to stop reading about holy people. For the last month, she’s been falling asleep reading, usually with her flashlight still on.
Today, she comes to you and says, “Can I have some batteries for my flashlight?”
You say, “Why’s your flashlight dead? We just put in new batteries last month?”
She says, “I need it to read when it’s dark…”
You say, “Isn’t that what the lamp on your nightstand is for?”
She says, “Yeah...but if I turn it on, you always come in and tell me it’s past my bedtime…”
Gift of the Body’s Limits
You say, “I sure do. Do you want to know why your flashlight’s really dead?”
She says, “Uh-huh.”
You say, “It’s because you keep falling asleep with it still on. Why do you think you forget to turn it off?
Ester replies, “Because I’m tired?”
You say, “Yep! If you went to bed when you were supposed to, your batteries wouldn’t be dead on your flashlight because you could use your lamp. God made your body to need rest so you can remember small things like that.”
She asks, “Is that why you make me go to bed at a certain time?”
You say, “Exactly! When we set limits on how late you stay up, we’re really following God’s example. He made our bodies with limits as a gift.”
😴😴😴
Limits Are for Love
Esther says, “How is that a gift??”
You say, “Sleeping gives our brains time to dream and play. It’s a gift from God in that way. As your parents, we set limits on your bedtime to show you we love you. If you were tired all the time, you wouldn’t have any of the energy to do the things you love.”
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Limits for a Mission
You continue, “We also stopped telling you to go to bed on time because we’re really happy you’re reading about the saints. It’s really important to us that you care about the holy people who lived within God’s limits for their lives. In the same way He wants saints to bring others closer to God, we want you to know that it’s okay to lose a little sleep to know God’s servants more. But staying up too late will make your batteries weak!”
😴😴😴
Thank you for receiving the gift #TOBET has to share by reading our post. If you’d like to learn more about how The Body Is God’s Design, please visit tobet.org/product/gods-design/
Be sure to check out next week’s post as we share Theology of the Body in other unique scenarios. If you want to support our mission beyond purchasing The Body Matters books, visit www.tobet.org/partners to donate today.