Today marks the feast of a somewhat obscure saint in the minds of American Catholics: St. Martin of Tours. This particular feast used to hold particular importance in Medieval Europe, as it marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of Winter. The occasion, often called “Martinmas” or “Old Halloween,” saw feasting, the giving of small gifts to children, and even marked the beginning of St. Martin’s Lent.
Saints and Holy People
Why JPII Gave Us TOB
On this the Feast Day of our beloved Pope St. John Paul II, we at TOBET continue to trust in his
intercession for the Church and for the first organization (TOBET!) established to promulgate the Theology of the Body (TOB), especially geared toward families, children, and youth.
Miracles of the Body
Pope John Paul II’s intercession after his death saved the lives and health of two women who prayed to him for help, thus securing his canonization in 2014.
Reflections for the Year Ahead
TOBET aims to educate children about Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, emphasizing human dignity and identity in a culture often confused about the body’s significance through various ideologies.
Beauty Will Save the World
Fyodor Dostoevsky, celebrated for emphasizing beauty’s role in spirituality, influenced Pope John Paul II, who promoted beauty as a means of hope against oppression, contributing to the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe.
Even Dead Bodies Matter
The Church has long venerated relics, reflecting deep reverence for holy figures. Relics serve to connect believers with the lives of saints, fostering hope in eternal life and inspiring holiness among the faithful.
Windows Into Heaven
Icons in the Catholic faith serve as powerful sacramentals, illustrating Biblical events and saints to foster prayer and spiritual awareness. They represent the divine and remind believers of their own reflection of God’s image through the body.
Every Body is Smart
The review of “Every Body is Smart” highlights its lessons on self-understanding and self-mastery for preschoolers, emphasizing the importance of recognizing bodily signals and practicing virtue.
Every Body is a Gift
“Every Body is a Gift” emphasizes the importance of expressing love through our bodies. It teaches children that small acts of kindness make them gifts to others, reinforcing human connection and dignity in everyday interactions.
Everybody Has a Body
The book “Everybody Has a Body” conveys important lessons for children about appreciating their bodies as reflections of their inner selves and highlights the beauty of gender differences as intentional designs by God.