In eight chapters, this little ditty teaches the next generation of adults more about themselves than any reality TV show can destroy. The more I learn about Bl. John Paul II’s extensive work of Theology of the Body, the more I know in my heart this should be a mandatory study for all youth beginning in grade school. The younger the child is, the deeper these teachings will reach their hearts. Beautifully orchestrated to bring the youth from who they are and where they came from to the purpose of life and respecting self and others in their lifetime. Statistics show that the younger a child begins to “date” the higher the risk and/or sooner they will be subjected to and engage in sexual behavior. With our teens now attending a formal high school, this is apparently the case; their fellow students are swapping boyfriends as quickly as they switch career choices, which as you know can be a weekly event. Are these young people knowledgeable of their purpose in life and do they know how to arm themselves against temptation?

Foundational and spiritual in content, Theology of the body for Teens, middle school bundle, uses down-to-earth common sense connections with the 5 senses and the sacraments to bring home the true purpose of how each sacrament works in our lives bringing God physically to us through the bread and wine, the oils, healing and forgiveness, and commitment in the vows we make later in life. I especially like the body/soul explanation, it is very clear and imperative to the program’s teaching. The explanation of sin, the imagery of the stain-glass window is simply beautiful and has the potential of driving home why we need to think differently about our bodies, souls, and what we do as soul-bodies in a world that has lost its mind when it comes to morals.

What I really like about this program is that the authors, Brian Butler, Jason Evert, and Colin &Aimee MacIver worked hard to make this program work WITH parents, not for them. Parents need to be onboard with this program and engaged with their children, especially during their teen years with all the pressures of modern thinking, which is definitely not modest thinking!

This Bundle comes with a parent’s guide explaining what will be covered with their children during their religion class, inviting them to read along with them some resources that will help them understand this program more fully. Also, it has a section for “Family Application” where several suggestions for fruitful parent/child discussions can take place along with prayers. The DVD set contains 3 DVD’s that further explain the content with actual people covering some of the material in a more engaging way.
From discovering who they are, their relationship with God and Jesus’ love for them, to how to act, understand more clearly the Church teachings on Sex, Love, and Chastity; to knowing the difference between “using” versus loving a person, and what their calling in life is, this program teaches teens that the Church is not the Church of “No!” but of “ Yes!” and with prayer and God’s love they will be who they are called to be!

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Theology of the Body for Teens Middle School Bundle. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

By Catholic Writing and Publishing