Praise for TOBET
How has our mission to spread the Theology of the Body impacted you?We want to reach more people and share St. John Paul’s life-changing message.
Your stories and positive reviews multiply our evangelization efforts!
Click on the links below to jump to specific topics
“…TOBET in making this message known is tremendously important…”
“Young people have grown up in a culture that has worked hard to sell them on the idea that sex is supposed to be safe and fun and free for everyone. You can imagine then how important I believe it was to make sure that they hear the truth about sex: that it is a sacred gift from God, a divine energy in man and a source of blessing in marriage.
That is why I am a fan and a benefactor of Monica Ashour and TOBET, the Theology of the Body Evangelization Team. The theology of the body of Pope John Paul II is the cure for the ambivalence that surrounds sexuality in our culture and the work of TOBET in making this message known is tremendously important to healing that ambivalence in our society.”
“What a delight… more memorable.”
“What a delight your [Marriage Preparation] book is! If a picture is worth 1,000 words, your 100 or so pictures are worth 100,000 words. And they’re much more memorable.”
“…persuasive, content-filled witness…”
“Each one of the presenters shared a persuasive, content-filled witness regarding the TOB, and did so in a manner and with a sincerity and authenticity that commanded the attention, respect, and the deeper reflection of our students.
May our good Lord enable all the seeds that were planted [yesterday] in the hearts of our students to take root, grow, and bear manifold fruit in their lives. And, may He continue to bless TOBET’s efforts to get this wonderful word out to as many young people as possible.”
“…thanks to [TOBET], my entire life-style has changed…”
“You explained this to us in a way that we could understand and grasp [Theology of the Body]. You didn’t just take this topic and give a seven hour lecture on it. You came up with fun activities and amazing stories to help us understand…. This was the best retreat I have attended and I will always remember it….thanks to you, my entire life-style has changed.”
“I learned more-pastorally and intellectually…”
“I learned more-pastorally and intellectually- from a one-hour discussion at a TOBET seminar than in a two-day ethics class.”
“…authentic in its articulation of the Theology of the Body…”
“The Theology of the Body Evangelization Team is an admirable effort to make this aspect of our Faith accessible to more people throughout our country. TOBET is authentic in its articulation of the Theology of the Body as well as the teaching of our Church in general. I recommend making use of TOBET’s resources in various ways—especially its helpful website.”
“…filled with insight, compassion, lively humor and examples.”
“[Monica Ashour’s] presentations are filled with insight, compassion, lively humor and practical examples. Coming away from [the weekend], I was filled with thanksgiving to our God and His Church for leading us deeper into Truth and to be more mindful of the need to be a joyful Christian witness in this world.”
“I have started to pray for my future husband…”
“I enjoyed the Theology of the Body talks. I was very inspired by your stories. I really started to think more seriously about my role as a woman…. I have really taken the Purity Contract seriously. It really struck me and I want to never break it. I have started to pray for my future husband to be all that you described men should. Thank you for telling the boys whatever you did (Girls retreat was Monday; boys on Tuesday) because it has worked. They treat us ladies with more respect now. Thank you so much.”
“…a clarion call to all of us, a beacon of light in these dark times…”
“I know Monica personally and believe that her work with TOBET will continue to be a way to bring about a message of hope and healing in this Culture of Death. The late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, gave us the Theology o/the Body, which I heard personally while I was in the seminary in Rome in the early 80’s…. These teachings get to the root of what it means to be a person, made in God’s image and likeness, a clarion call to all of us, a beacon of light in these dark times, an invitation to deeper conversion.
This monumental work will undoubtedly revolutionize our Church, and it is groups like TOBET which are helping to move this message forward.”
“…emphasis of parental involvement…”
“TOBET aims to equip people to be ambassadors…”
“Through its talks, study groups and programs, TOBET aims to equip people to be ambassadors of this great news: that the human body has a purpose in God’s plan and has great dignity. This is the message of the Incarnation, when the Word was made flesh. Truly, Jesus Christ, in becoming man, has shown us what dignity with which he considers the human person.
I encourage you to prayerfully consider your support for the Theology of the Body Evangelization Team (TOBET). This ministry is close to my heart and one which I believe will help move our country back towards a culture of life.”
The Body Matters Curriculum
Teachers, Catechists, and Parents all trust and enjoy using our lesson books“… I highly recommend TBM!”
“I am really impressed at the way The BODY Matters (TBM) reaches children–including my own–with insightful, repetitive, catchy language that captures their imagination while teaching them profound truths about themselves and God. I highly recommend TBM!”
“…Thank you again for all of your labor pains.”
“A discussion in my catechetics class made me appreciate that TOBET has tackled gender issues appropriately for third graders in The Body Is God’s Design. This is done through teachings on the existence of natures, identity, limits, and uniqueness. Thank you again for all of your labor pains.”
“The books are just brilliant!”
“Can I just say what a wonderful job you and the team have done with the TOBET resources! I purchased… 7 books for young kids [TOB for Tots, TOB for Kids, and the Body as a Sacrament]. … the books are just brilliant! It has really helped me in my work with schools…to incorporate TOB… and build an understanding with students of a Christian Anthropology. I look forward to the rest of the TOBET resources!”
“…This is information that is insightful and helpful even at my age!…”
“I just wanted to let you know I am so impressed with The Body Matters curriculum. I am just finishing up Level 4, Book 1 with my class and I LOVE what we are learning about friendship. This is information that is insightful and helpful even at my age! Dealing with relationships and friendships is so crucial, but something that many of us live our whole lives never learning much about. Thanks for doing the work–I hope it enriches many lives and relationships.”
“… It gave them the depth and the TOB vision for a proper and complete understanding [of the Body]!…”
“The 5th Grade had the first part of Lesson 1 The Sacraments [yesterday]. It corresponded perfectly with the curriculum and their Religion book. It gave them the depth and the TOB vision for a proper and complete understanding [of the Body]! They loved the books!”
“…No other curriculum is as authentic to St. John Paul II’s vision of the human person…”
“This curriculum brings out St. John Paul II’s thoughts and ideas about the human person in a clear, concise, and age appropriate way. No other curriculum is as authentic to St. John Paul II’s vision of the human person as ‘The Body Matters’ series by Monica Ashour and her team.”
“…age appropriate TOB curriculum for kids…”
“Thank you for developing a positive, age appropriate TOB curriculum for kids in a culture that devalues our beautiful church teaching. … We have to share the truth about our bodies especially in the midst of our current church crisis with the clergy sex abuse scandal. I was so happy to learn it was seven U.S. Catholic Bishops that asked TOBET to develop a TOB curriculum for kids! We need strong leaders to help us battle the culture, and battle this sickness happening within our church. The crisis is exactly what prompted me to research curriculum that would help educate my last and 5th child at home and my youngest Godchild. Thank you for helping me catechize those precious to me, it truly is a privilege.”
“…reach children with the wonderful truth of ‘who’ they are…”
“We need to reach children with the wonderful truth of ‘who’ they are and God’s design for their bodies, before they are inudated with confusing, even toxic, messages from the culture. That’s why I recommend TOBET’s The Body Matters.”
“… My students were so engaged that they hungered for more when we finished a book!”
“Level 4 of The Body Matters helped me to teach concepts at earlier ages in ways that were relevant and on my students’ level. It built a foundation for them to go deeper when they reached middle school. My students were so engaged that they hungered for more when we finished a book!”
“…Thank God TOBET exists!”
“With so much confusion today about human identity, love, sex, marriage and family, we urgently need better to know, live and spread Saint John Paul II’s profound wisdom found in his Theology of the Body. The Theology of the Body Evangelization Team understands it, distills it brilliantly in its great resources and passionately shares it. Thank God TOBET exists!”
“…a palatable format for our youngest parishioners…”
“Thank you for making The Body Matters and supplemental TOB materials in such a palatable format for our youngest parishioners to digest and for parents to teach to their children! What a gift TOBET is to the Church!”
“…My mom and I read it in the car together…”
“The Body Matters is really cool. My mom and I read it in the car together. It helps me have a good understanding about the body and the gift of self and the love God gives to us through our bodies.”
“It builds a foundation in a way they can understand… Best Foundation Ever”
“The dialogue that we are having with the students using TOB language and examples is essential! It builds the foundation in a way they can understand. They see the relevance of TOB in their everyday life as children. They can intentionally apply the truth of God’s inner circle of love in their life right now, in the relationships that are most meaningful to them at this stage in their life. Helping them understand what full gift of self means and how they can live it out—Best Foundation Ever. We are preparing them to be able to engage their intellect when it comes to topics of sexuality.”
“… emphasis of parental involvement…”
“The emphasis of parental involvement in The Body Matters was a deciding factor in our choice to adopt it over other TOB-based programs.”
“What a blessing to find resources that go to the heart of the message of Theology of the Body…”
“The format of the grade level books, with the breakdown into separate lessons that build on one another, and build concepts from grade to grade, is providing a common language and understanding among all our students.”
Sister Mary Michael, CK, Principal and
Sister Mary Angela, CK, Assistant Principal
Saint Peter Catholic School, Lincoln, NE
“… These books are needed in this culture…”
“Reviewing TOBET’s the Body Matter’s was an important work. These books are needed in this culture. I read them with my own children.”
“…extremely helpful… especially for the sake of any teachers who will be teaching TOB for the first time.”
“I recently finished a pilot of TOBET’s The Body Matters for my 6th and 7th grade students and ROOTED from Ruah Woods Institute for my 8th grade students. In my own classroom, I have found the simplicity and repetition of TOB concepts from The Body Matters to be extremely helpful, and this gives me confidence to expand this program to all grade levels in our school, especially for the sake of any teachers who will be teaching TOB for the first time.”
“…the best professional development…”
“TOBET’s ‘Educating the Educators’ was the best professional development that my faculty had ever received.”
“…The students grasp their true nature, their true purpose, and understand true love.”
“The Body Matters ties together God’s intention for His creation and our Catholic Faith for all age groups. The students grasp their true nature, their true purpose, and understand true love.”
“Overall, the students responded very well to it and were excited when I came into the classroom…”
“Overall, the students responded very well to it and were excited when I came into the classroom.
The ‘How Do You Approach People & Things’ chart on page 31 was very effective. I actually had a student come up to the front of the room (one who I knew could handle it) and went down the list asking if the student or a random object that I had in a hand had ‘fill in the blank quality from the chart.’ For example, ‘Can the student or the pencil sharpener be controlled?’ It got the students engaged, they did laugh a lot, but the point was very clear in their minds.
The book was good. Pictures were engaging and fitting. Theology, of course, was sound.”
“…Instead of saying, “Boys and girls, pay attention,” I say, “Boys and girls, be a gift by receiving my gift of what I am about to teach you.”…”
“One of the amazing things about The Body Matters is that it gives us a new way of seeing and saying things, and the children respond so well. For example, instead of saying, “Respect each other,” the third grader will say, “The body shows us we deserve reverence—wonder and awe!” The 5th grader, instead of saying, “I shouldn’t cheat on a test,” now says, “If I cheat, I am telling a lie with my body. Let me be a person of integrity instead.” Instead of saying, “Boys and girls, pay attention,” I say, “Boys and girls, be a gift by receiving my gift of what I am about to teach you.” Thank you, TOBET! With gender identity looming, I see how right St. John Paul was in taking the body seriously; TOBET helps educators build a foundation for children. (From Colleen:) The TOBET seminars and The Body Matters gave me a clear understanding of TOB, and as a result made it natural and easy to integrate this teaching into all curriculum areas, not just religion class! “Remember, the body matters”, “The body is important”, and “God’s design for the body” were phrases I used frequently throughout the day in my classroom. For example: One student intentionally tripped another walking by: I asked, “Is that what God designed your body for?” “No.” replied the student. “What did He design your body for?” I asked. “God designed my body to be a gift to others.” “What happens when you use your body in a way that is not God’s design?” I asked. “Someone will get hurt,” replied the student. Trusting in God’s love for us and thus trusting in God’s design for our bodies made sense to the students. The stories and scenarios in The Body Matters are relatable to the children, and they looked forward to reading and discussing them in class. At the beginning of the year when parents were told that TOB would be part of the curriculum, they automatically thought it was sex education. I sent The Body Matters home for parents to preview so they could see that TOB at this age is about building the foundation. Occasionally throughout the year I sent the books home with an assignment to read and discuss part of a chapter with their parents. It provided a way to evangelize and to partner with the parents. One parent sent me a beautiful thank you note for giving her and her husband a better understanding of TOB and a way of speaking and acting the truth of the body at home. It made a difference! Now that I am teaching middle school TOB in the upcoming year, I will first start out by going through the books they missed when they were young. In 5 years, TOB will be an important part of the Catholic culture in our school. “
Theology of the Body For Engaged Couples
Husbands and wives express thanks for the materials and presentations given.“What a delight your book is!…”
“What a delight your book is! If a picture is worth 1,000 words, your 100 or so pictures are worth 100,000 words. And they’re much more memorable.”
“…closer to each other and to the Lord.”
“Thank you guys so much for new understandings on so many things. This class I believe has brought us closer to each other and to the Lord.”
“…real-life examples and hardships that all couples face…”
“Thank you for this class! It was very informative and I appreciate all the hard work that went into planning. The instructors & speakers provided real-life examples and hardships that all couples face. It was not just the happy but the real.”
“…dedication towards each of our success.”
“The info and all of the presenters were very helpful. I appreciate your time and dedication towards each of our success.”
“…I highly recommend this program.”
“The TOBET facilitator really knew how to reach the average engaged couple. The Theology of the Body book, slideshow presentation, and Facilitator Guide set a firm foundation in understanding the truth of marriage, which is so needed nowadays. I highly recommend this program.”
“…truly useful marriage preparation...”
“This book is a real contribution to the need for truly useful marriage preparation materials based on the Theology of the Body.”
“…praying together as a result of this class…”
“It was very good! We will review the book and have more discussions at home. We intend to begin praying together as a result of this class and will implement the book’s other suggestions as well.”
“…recommending it to Catholics AND non-Catholics.”
“Thank you so very much! I appreciate this course and I plan on recommending it to Catholics AND non-Catholics.”