Our oldest, age 13, has been attending weekly teen meetings called Theology of the Body. I first saw the teachings when I was working in a Catholic high school and looking for age appropriate, body and sexual material. By sexual material, I mean age appropriate, based on catholic doctrine information about the majesty of the body and the respect it commands. Based on St. John Paul II's teachings, theology of the body is a beautiful series (one for middle school and one for high school ages) that explores the body in a way that brings the mystery to light and also gives teens a new language in which to converse about "the body."
St. John Paul II used 129 Wednesday audiences as the platform to deliver the divine message on the theology of the body which now comprises the curriculum of the TOTB materials.
George Weigel, author of Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II, calls this papal study of human sexuality “one of the boldest reconfigurations of Catholic theology in centuries” – a “theological time-bomb set to go off with dramatic consequences ...perhaps in the twenty-first century.” At this point the Pope’s vision of sexual love “has barely begun to shape the Church’s theology, preaching, and religious education.” But when it does, Weigel predicts, “it will compel a dramatic development of thinking about virtually every major theme in the Creed” (pp. 336, 343, 853).
I have to admit that it is indeed life changing to truly explore the teachings of the theology of the body. It is very clear and easy to understand, which I do believe is what is so appealing to my daughter. She is seeing first hand that her body is an instrument that God specifically made and how beautiful it is. In that same breath she is learning the importance of protecting it and holding every ounce of it sacred. Truly amazing!
By helping us understand this profound interconnection between sex and the Christian mystery, John Paul’s theology of the body not only paves the way for lasting renewal of marriage and the family; it enables everyone to rediscover “the meaning of the whole of existence, the meaning of life” (TOB 46:6).
*TOB Man and Woman He Created Then: A Theology of the Body, John Paul II's general audience addresses on Human Love in the Divine Plan, Michael Waldstein translation (Pauline, 2006)I am inspired at her devotion to this ministry and commitment to the weekly meetings. Every night she returns with knowledge nuggets about catholic doctrine and her body and can communicate very well her feelings and why she feels this way. It is one thing to say something...its another to validate those feelings with your faith and know you are following the Gospel. Such a blessing!
More info can be found here:
http://www.tobinstitute.org/default.asp