A bit of TOB history!

I found this talk from the "launch" of the Waldstein translation of "Man and Woman He Created Them." It is by Daughter of St Paul Sister Marianne Trouve' and details the publishing history of the Theology of the Body texts.

Christopher West on "Fill These Hearts"

I missed the webinar today (it was during our community Hour of Adoration), but Image Books is making it available for me and you. This is in conjunction with the launch of West's newest book, "Fill These Hearts." (I just got a review copy, and will be posting my response soon--God willing!)

Meanwhile, here is Mr. West on the theme of his book: desire.

TOB testimony

Every time I come across another of these young couples who come out of the NFP closet, I wonder what would happen if all of them "came out" at once.

Kudos to the Cajuns!

The Ragin Cajun Catholics of Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Student Center (University of Louisiana, Lafayette) have a lot going for them in the Theology of the Body department. It helps that their pastor, Father Bryce Sibley, studied TOB at the original "John Paul II Institute for Studies of Marriage and the Family" at Rome's Lateran University.

Here are a few examples of their "New Evangelization" approach to TOB (remember, the "new" means "new in its ardor, new in its methods, new in its expression").

Spring program update!

  We have a few more details for our springtime Theology of the Body series with Father Robert Sprott, OFM:

The class will meet on May 4, 11 and 18 (Saturdays) from 9:30-3:30 (with a generous break for lunch). Two hours of teaching will be devoted to each "chapter" of Pope John Paul's masterpiece "Man and Woman He Created Them." (It took Pope John Paul five years to get through the whole Theology of the Body; we're going to do it in three days!)

 If you are not in the Chicago area, do not despair! These sessions will be streamed live and archived online for ready access. We suggest you get a group together and share the class with others. This can also be done at the parish level, using an ethernet connection (recommended over wireless), projector and speakers. Wouldn't it be fantastic to have a nationwide TOB program going on in homes and parishes (and convents), all linked in real time not to unpack the riches of Pope John Paul's insights into the most travailed topics of our day?

The fee for participation, whether online or in person, will be $20 per day. This will help us cover the expenses involved, and will allow us to provide a suitable stipend to the presenter, who is already hard at work preparing the material. The program will be, as the text is, intellectually stimulating. Father Sprott is not entertaining, but he is mesmerizing, so this program will be ideal for people who are looking for something that will engage them on all levels.

 Our sisters from the video department at the motherhouse are hoping to come to take care of the filming (onsite participants, there will be video releases posted at the entrance). (They are looking forward to a trip to Chicago!)

Now, what can you do in the meantime? Tell others, especially young adults and people involved in young adult or youth ministry, marriage prep teams, wavering Catholics, the searchers... Send them right here to this page, or to our Google+ community ("Theology of the Body").

More links coming as soon as each area (ticketing, streaming, etc) is finalized!

Are you ready? New TOB program coming soon!

We are in the planning stages of a 12-session video series on the Theology of the Body, to be led by Father Robert Sprott (best known here in Chicago for his annual series at the Newberry Library).

The six chapters of Pope John Paul's masterwork will be covered in two one-hour segments each, for a total of twelve classes. Filming begins in April, but that is about as far as we have gotten. (Father transferred to a new parish over the summer and was only able to confirm this week that he would be available.) Most likely we will film the series a chapter at a time (two hours per recording session).

Our Founder, the media apostle Blessed James Alberione, told us that our mission must always "start from Bethlehem"--in poverty. That about sums up the resources we have to bring this project about. We need sponsors to underwrite the costs of video (film crew, lighting and supplies) and a just stipend for Father. Do you know anyone who is especially interested in promoting a greater appreciation of the most misunderstood aspects of the Gospel message? Here's their chance!

We will also need an audience for each of the sessions! Check back soon for a calendar and sign-up.

"Just" a body?

My friend Father Sibley (pastor of the Ragin' Cajun Catholics at the University of Louisiana (Lafayette) posted this insight from then-Cardinal Ratzinger on Facebook. It clearly speaks to the confusion in society today--how many times I have heard women dismiss their femininity as being "just biology" and "not who I am."

Whenever biology is subtracted from humanity, humanity itself is negated. Thus, the question of the legitimacy of maleness as such and of femaleness as such has high stakes: Nothing less than the reality of the creature. Since the biological determinateness of humanity is least possible to hide in motherhood, an emancipation that negates bios is a particular aggression against the woman. It is the denial of her right to be a woman. Conversely, the preservation of creation is just so far bound up in a special way with the question of woman. And the Woman in whom “biology” is “theology”—that is, motherhood of God—is in a special way the point where paths diverge.”

– Joseph Ratzinger in Mary: The Church At The Source