Lisa Hendey of www.CatholicMom.com posted this great video from this morning’s closing Mass of the Theology of the Body Congress with Cardinal Justin Rigali of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It was a poignant moment as the attendees closed in celebration of not only the Divine Liturgy, but in celebration of the renewal that is happening through this incredibly powerful work of John Paul II. Thanks for posting this Lisa! For more on the Theology of the Body Congress, check out this morning’s article here.

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. For Such a Time as This – Theology of the Body Congress I often wonder if Venerable John Paul II had any...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I often wonder if Venerable John Paul II had any idea the kind of lasting impact he would have on the world. On that September day when the white smoke announced to the world that we indeed had a new Pope, did he know in those moments that God would use him to not only affect the Church during the time of his Papacy, but the entire world for many years to come?

During his first five years as Pontiff, His Holiness, dedicated his Wednesday Audiences to deliver one message, it is a body of talks we now know as The Theology of the Body. It is a collection of “129 short talks between September of 1979 and November of 1984 – to providing a profoundly beautiful vision of human embodiment and erotic love. He gave this project the working title ‘theology of the body.’”  (www.tobinstitute.org)

To put it very simply, the Theology of the Body teaches us that the body reveals God.

“Far from being a footnote in the Christian life, the way we understand the body and the sexual relationship ‘concerns the whole Bible’ (TOB 69:8). It plunges us into ‘the perspective of the whole Gospel, of the whole teaching, even more, of the whole mission of Christ’ (TOB 49:3). Christ’s mission, according to the spousal analogy of the Scriptures, is to “marry” us. He invites us to live with him in an eternal life-giving union of love… 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).” (www.tobinstitute.org)

This teaching has been called a “theological time-bomb set to go off with dramatic consequences …perhaps in the twenty-first century.” (George Weigel, The Biography of Pope John Paul II)

Let the Explosion Begin

My friends, I am here to testify that this “time-bomb” is about to explode in a powerful ways. Already small charges have gone off as the groundwork is laid for an incredibly powerful renewal of the culture as we see it today.

Several years ago I first heard about the Theology of the Body through a friend who had been to a conference and learned about it. The simple explanation I received changed the way I saw life in a profound way. As I delved into the topic more, I could sense myself being transformed. It was as if I knew the truth of this teaching long before but had forgotten it in the confusion of sin. I recall going to a class put on by a Priest in our Diocese every Tuesday night and being floored each week but the incredible depth of this work. At the time, while the teaching was gaining steam, it was still a long way off.

It has been incredible to see how the Theology of the Body has made it’s way into so many circles and so much more is being done to teach it to the faithful. Many, many people have dedicated their lives to be missionaries of this great message – some in simple ways, like leading study groups in their parishes, and others in large ways, like raising funds to begin non-profit organizations whose mission is to spread this message.

The groundwork is being laid for an incredible work of evangelization which will lead to a profound renewal of our culture. This groundwork is coming in the way of people who are dedicating their lives to learning this message and then spreading it in many ways, it is being laid in the marriages that are being lived in truth because of this teaching, the children who are the fruit of these faith-filled marriages will be the new priests, the new evangelists, the new parents who will live in truth and their lives will change our world.

The Theology of the Body Congress

This week 450 people have gathered in Philadelphia for the first ever, Theology of the Body Congress, sponsored by the TOB Institute. The congress brought together the leading speakers and thinkers on Theology of the Body to teach Priests, lay evangelists, and ministry leaders and to celebrate this incredible work that is underway in our Church.

The Congress is reported to have been a huge success, having sold out weeks in advance. In fact, the response after selling out was so big that the TOB Institute offered a “live streaming” option to folks who wanted to watch the congress from their home, office, or parish.

The online response has also been huge. The Theology of the Body Congress has been “live tweeted” from the ground with quotes from speakers and insights into what was going on throughout and has been spread all across Twitter using the hashtag #TOBcongress. You can see a stream of these updates from many at the event and from the congress organizers themselves here. (NOTE: Hashtags are added to posts to categorize the topic and help it aggregate and gain attention) Posts were also updated on the congress’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tobcongress.

There is no doubt that people will be talking about this event for a long time and many more will seek to attend next year’s event. In fact, in closing remarks at the end of the closing Mass this morning, the Theology of the Body Institute board chairman shared that seed money is needed for next years congress so they can make it bigger and better. Shortly after a twitter post came out that a generous supporter has offered a $30,000 dollar for dollar match to the institute to help them fund next years event. If you would like to support the event please go to their donation page.

Reader’s Respond

I’ve got two questions and I’d love your response below:

1. Do you think the “time-bomb” has gone off or about to go off and why?

2. If you were at the Theology of the Body Congress,  please leave your comments on your highlights and aha moments below. What do you think will come out of this great event? What will you do with what you learned?

##

Click here for video of the closing Mass with Cardinal Justin Rigali. Attendees  sing “Joyful, Joyful”, a fitting song.

Click Here to Receive LivingGracefully.net right in your inbox.

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. Updates – What’s New… So, 20.10 is already in full steam. We are 1/12th...
2. Living Gracefully in 20.10 Happy Belated New Year and of course a very Holy...
3. Is Your Life Creative? “I came that they might have life and have it...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

After a full day of set visits, being extras, getting to know the makers of the film, and of course a comforting southern meal of Fried chicken Billy Atwell of BreakPoints, Tim Drake of the National Catholic Register, Kenneth Henderson of TrueKnights, and myself sat down to discuss “Courageous” and the effects it will have on men and even the effect it will have on us.

NOTE: This was shot on a video camera w/o proper microphones, in a crowded hotel lobby – Please forgive the loud background noise. Despite the sound quality I think there are some good pieces of conversation. Be sure to check out our quick discussion of the Duggar’s at the end.

“Courageous” Round-table Discussion from Kenneth Henderson on Vimeo.

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. On the set of Courageous This week I have been blessed with the opportunity to...
2. Living Gracefully in 20.10 Happy Belated New Year and of course a very Holy...
3. Updates – What’s New… So, 20.10 is already in full steam. We are 1/12th...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This week I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit the set of a new film, Courageous, by Sherwood Pictures (Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof). What an incredible week it was.  I was there as a part of media and ministry week. There were over 100 representatives from various media outlets, bloggers (like me), and ministry leaders.

Courageous, is a story of four Sheriff’s Deputy’s who vow to “serve and protect” as officers and who daily fight for good, but in their own lives they struggle with understanding who they are called to be as Father’s.

I must say that without a doubt this film will be a game changer for men. As I sat in the small auditorium at Sherwood Baptist Church to watch a few rough cuts of scenes, I was not only overwhelmed by the quality of the film but was convicted to be a better man, a better husband and a better father. In the eleven scenes that we were shown we found ourselves bent over laughing and often holding back tears.

Writers, Alex and Stephen Kendrick (Associate Pastors of Sherwood Baptist), have outdone themselves with some incredibly well written comedy woven throughout this inspiring film. Many have asked me my initial impressions, and while I will most certainly write more at length on this film and on Fatherhood in the coming week I thought I’d just put down my initial thoughts:

Lives will be changed

It was no doubt to myself or the other guests that this film will have a profound impact on everyone who sees it. It is a gripping story line with a God-inspired message. It is a message that we need in our day and the timing couldn’t be more right.

Sherwood is Committed to Improving Quality

As with each film Sherwood has done, they work on a shoestring budget compared to most films. Yet, with each picture they have stepped up in quality. I must say that after seeing the scenes I was able to see, that the production quality is no less than any other major motion picture. Even the script seems to have improved.

God has his hand on this Church and this film

After spending time with the people behind Sherwood Pictures, I can honestly attest that this dream of creating movies did not come from some egotistical agenda to make a pastor famous or rich. Everything about these people screams of humility and a true service of the Gospel. This film is most definitely the result of a sincere prayer and God is most definitely working in big ways in this Church in the town of Albany, GA.

We were all amazed to hear that after the incredible success of Fireproof, the Sherwood Pictures team did not assume it was time to make a new movie. First, they had to stop and ask God what he wanted them to do. And that is just what they did, they waited and prayed for an entire year as they sought God’s will. It was only through prayer that they found themselves feeling called to make a movie on fatherhood. Every aspect of this film has truly come together in a miraculous ways. We were told story after story this week of the ways God has worked to pave a way for this film.

We need to get behind this

No matter what denomination we are, it is no doubt in my mind that we as a Church need to get behind this. There is most definitely a need for calling men to be better father’s and for men, women, and children to see a film that addresses the issues that we are seeing in our country today. Just like Fireproof transformed marriages, I have no doubt that this film will inspire and convict men to be better father’s and bring about healing for many.

Sherwood Pictures understands that they are not in this alone and that they need others to help get this movie out there. Because of that they have sought to partner with even more ministries and churches to get the word out about this movie and to create a movement that will get many men into theaters to see this film and hear its message.

Start praying about how you can be a part of this movement to “turn back the hearts of father’s to their children”.

For More on Courageous, be sure to check out www.courageousthemovie.com and follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/courageousmovie and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/courageous movie

Look for more articles on fatherhood and Courageous in the coming week in advance of Father’s Day on June 21st.

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. How Has Grace Been Sufficient for You? I have countless stories of my own on how I...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

READ BELOW FOR A SPECIAL GIVE-AWAY

My blog post this week was on 2 Cor. 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” … check out “Is Grace Sufficient?” to read that post.

As the primary author of this blog and as a speaker on Grace -  I am constantly speaking on how we need to rely more on God’s grace and how we need to allow more of His divine Grace into our lives.

I have countless stories of my own on how I have allowed God’s grace to sustain, support, and save me in so many ways. But, I’m just one guy…

What about you?

This week’s “Theology Lived” Question is quite simple:

Has God’s Grace been sufficient for you?

Now remember I’m not asking for the runaway “yes” or “no” answer. This is the chance for you the reader to share your heart, your story, your witness with a few hundred others. So tell us about a time when God’s grace was sufficient – or about how he is constantly sufficient for you. On the converse I would love to hear if anyone has a story of a time when it seemed Grace would not be enough – and how you overcame and Grace got you through.

GIVE AWAY:

Since this is officially my 101st post on this site – I thought it fitting to run another contest. Leave a response to the above question to be entered to win. On Monday I will pick one commenter at random to receive a free copy of  “THEOTOKOS:: An Advent Retreat / Preparing Ourselves for the Christmas Season.”

**UPDATE** Our Contest is closed. We have a winner – her name is Kim (the first Kim to comment not the second). Congratulations and thanks for all of your comments. If you still would like to comment you certainly can. I’m enjoying reading people’s stories. Very inspiring.

Post your comments below.

Comment Rules:

1. Use at least a first name (unless it is way too personal) and include your email address – this is for me so I can reply directly to you in an email.

2. If you would like to reply to someone’s post – please click “reply” under their post instead of just leaving a comment – this will help in knowing what you are referencing.

3. Thanks for sharing!

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. Is Grace Sufficient? PUBLISHER’S NOTE: I’m excited to note that this is the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I’ve asked guest blogger Dan Kenney to share his thoughts on our “Theology Lived” question this week: “How do you lead your spouse to heaven?” – Dan shares a beautiful reflection on the example his grandparents set and that he is seeking for his own marriage.

To read the original post and respond to the question with your own thoughts please go here “Theology Lived: How do you lead your spouse to heaven?”

by Dan Kenney

When I was a little boy, nights at my Grandparents’ farm always started out kind of rough.  My tiny bed was shoved against the window, and as I lay there trying to fall asleep, I would stare out the window at the half dead tree, listen to the creaky windmill, and scare myself awake.

Inevitably though, at some point, I would be saved by a familiar sound.

My Grandparents’ room was right below where my brothers and I would sleep, and every night, without fail, Pat and Bly McGill would hit their knees and pray the rosary.  The sound of their prayer calmed me down and helped me drift to sleep.

Whether it was going to sleep, waking up, or driving to the American legion baseball game in town, the constant in my grandparents’ marriage was prayer. 

Years later, as my grandpa lay in a small town hospital close to death, it was prayer that once again calmed me down.  But this time it was the prayer of my Grandma Bly together with that of her 11 children and 64 grandchildren.  Together we sang Irish songs and prayed over the bed of this dear sweet man.  It was the most beautiful moment of my life.

The man who farmed all his life but never owned a piece of ground.  The man who, based on the world’s balance sheets was an abject failure.  This Pat McGill left the world guided by the prayer of 75 souls that he had brought into this world with the help of that special lady who stroked his hair and kissed his forehead until his final breath. 

Pat and Bly McGill didn’t cure diseases.  Didn’t run countries.  Didn’t create mind bending products.  Didn’t do lots of today’s Great Things.

No, Pat and Bly McGill raised children and…..prayed.

Pretty simple, huh?

And boy do I complicate things.

I have at one time or another made marriage about satisfying my romantic fantasies, finding myself, changing my wife, not changing myself, continuing to be selfish, acting like a child, being undisciplined with money, having a fancy house, making tons of money, becoming famous, having people like me.  You get the point.

I know that my Grandparents weren’t perfect but by the time I got to know them, it was pretty clear that Pat and Bly made marriage about one thing; getting each other to heaven.

So they prayed….a lot.

Thankfully, I have a wife who knows how to stand by her man and pray for her husband.  And after lots of prayers and a few difficult years, she and I are finally on the same page.

And guess what?  She doesn’t need me to be famous at something.  She also doesn’t need a brand new designer house.  In fact, she doesn’t need nor want a lot of the things that I’ve been wasting time trying to get.

She has made it clear that what she really wants is a Husband who is a good man.  One who prays with her and helps her to get to Heaven.

Now, at nights, my wife and I pray the rosary from our living room as our six little children sleep nearby.  I hope they hear us and I hope the familiar sound of their parents praying comforts them at night when they are scared.

I’m no longer a little boy….but I still get scared.  And I mostly get scared of dying.  Sometimes late at night, when I wonder about what’s really waiting for me on the other side….I feel two comforts. 

The one is my wife, next to me in bed.  I know she will fight and scrape and claw and do anything she can to help me get to Heaven.

The other comfort is the faint sound I can just faintly hear.  No longer coming from downstairs.  This familiar sound now comes from above.  It is the sound of my Grandparents, still praying.  They may have gotten each other into Heaven….but there’s still me and a bunch of souls left.  

And that wonderful thought helps me drift off to sleep.

——————————————————————

Dan Kenney and his wife Teresa raise their six children in Omaha, Nebraska.  Dan has a Masters in Theology, years of experience teaching Scripture and Theology and currently writes articles for his blog at http://dankenney.wordpress.com.  Dan and Teresa are trying to get each other into Heaven. 

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. The Lord Hears Your Cry Recently I was overwhelmed by a feeling of sadness. All...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Marriage is an incredible gift – in marriage we find our life long companion who will share in the good and the bad. We find that equal with which to share all things – burdens and joys.

In the Catholic view of things Marriage is a vocation – a vocation ordered in getting the other to heaven. When we choose to join in marriage we are choosing to serve, minister to, and love the other person. The question is, to what end? – That end – the goal – the pinnacle I, as spouse, should seek in this vocation is heaven. For whom do I seek this goal? – My spouse. Yes, of course I too must be walking towards heaven – how could I lead another to a place I am not going? But first I must ensure that my spouse, my life companion, my equal is on her way. I must love “the other” (my spouse) towards not myself but towards God – towards union with God.

This is a sobering call. I recall being engaged and having this realization for myself – that my bride would not be mine forever. To think that one day I would have to say goodbye – that just as her parents “gave her away” to me at our wedding – I too would have to give her over to the hands of God.

Love is never ordered towards oneself – if it is then it is not truly love. If I love my bride only to bring her closer to me then I am only serving my own ego – in the end she will not be fed, instead she will be left disappointed. If, however I love her towards the One who is, and was, and always will be – if I love her towards that celestial paradise in which we are made to be in complete union with God – then, my bride will find the love that satisfies – the love that cannot disappoint.

This is our call in the Vocation of Marriage. It is our call to love one another towards heaven – it is our call to lead our spouse to Sainthood.

This is an awesome and humbling call. One that must be met with reverence and prayer. With careful regard I must love and care for my spouse above my own needs. I must be ready and willing always to fight for her sanctity – I must wash her feet, pray for her salvation, and be Christ in all things – even to the point of sacrificing myself on the cross. If I seek my own Sainthood first then I will have left behind the one whom God has placed in my care – the one God has called me to lead home.

Each week I will pose a question for you the reader and ask that you give your insight and thoughts – and ask your questions as well. My hope is that this will be a place of discussion. Please join in…

So the question for this week is this:

1. How do you (or should you) lead your spouse to heaven?

2. What are some practical ways that we can do this?

UPDATE:

In addition to the responses below I’ve asked blogger Dan Kenney to write his own thoughts on this topic. Please check out Dan’s beautiful reflection here.

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. How Has Grace Been Sufficient for You? I have countless stories of my own on how I...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

UPDATED 2:47pm 5/14/09

My wife often discuss parenting and how we are going to instill the Gospel values in our children. I have often thought about the problems of my own childhood and adolescence and oh, how I wish I had been raised with an understanding of God’s plan for me and for my body. If only Theology of the Body was something my family had known about. I am also asked by parents often how they should teach the principles found in Theology of the Body to their children – young and old.

As a youth minister I have seen firsthand the wounds of a culture that is so confused by sexuality and personhood. I have watched beautiful young men and womens lives be destroyed as they fell prey to the false truth that is offered to them.

I have also watched as lives were transformed by the truth of God’s divine plan for men and women. I’ve seen people be completely renewed as God redeemed them from their sin and they became a new creation in Christ.

I believe that our generation of Catholics – that is the generation I would call the JPII Generation is called to set a new course for future generations. (I use the term Generation loosely – as it is probably about three generations that fall into this category.) Through the work of the Church over the last twenty-five to thirty years we have been called to a new level of holiness.

Our generation still has lots of wounds – many of us were raised by parents who did not understand this truth and despite their best efforts they failed to protect us from the dangers of this destructive culture. However, John Paul II was a voice of reason in this chaos and for those of us who have heard the message of God’s plan for our lives and who are trying to to answer that call – striving for holiness, being faithful to our vocation, battling sin, allowing ourselves to be transformed by the renewal of our minds – it is now up to us to raise a new generation of Catholics who have been redeemed by the truth of God’s divine plan for us.

So how do we teach or model Theology of the Body for our children? A few people have asked me if there are any resources out there that parents can use to teach their children. As of yet I do not know of any. (UPDATE: A friend emailed me to say that http://wholelifecurriculum.com has a curriculum that incorporates ToB in age-appropriate lessons for K-8. – check it out) I do believe however that Theology of the Body holds within it many profound truths that need to be taught to our children from a young age. I am not proposing that you teach your five year old about sex. – In fact I’m not proposing that you teach them about sex at any certain age – that is up to you and ultimately up to when your kid begins asking questions. Theology of the Body is about much more than sexuality. It is an understanding of who we are as people and who God calls us to be as redeemed people. If we understand God’s plan for us and who we are meant to be and if we are raised in a way in which we live this truth – then all the questions about our sexuality will fall in line and in many ways answer themselves.

So I pose this question to you the readers. I will pose the question in a couple different ways and you can choose to answer as you like – but please do leave your comments. I will publish the comments in a follow up post.

- Should the principles of Theology of the Body be taught in the home?
- How should we instill the values of the Theology of the Body in our children?
- What principles of Theology of the Body should we teach and at what age?
- How do/have you instilled these values in your children?

Tweet This Post

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

My wife and I have had some discussions recently about sacrifice. Nothing major, just little side conversations about how far we are to go in sacrificing for our spouses, our children, etc.

Christ calls us to “love one another as I have loved you.” Christ loved us by dying, sacrificing everything for us. So how far are we to go? St. Paul says that husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the Church, laying down his life for us (cf. Eph 5).

I know in my own marriage, family that I am willing to die for my wife and children. Truthfully I believe I’m willing to die for most people I care about, but especially my family. I feel extremely confident that it is my responsibility to be willing to sacrifice my life for my wife and children.

But what about sacrifice that does not require actual death? What about sacrificing my wants, my desires, my career if it came to that? How far am I willing to go to sacrifice for my wife and children – my primary vocation? If it came down to it would I give up my career in youth ministry to in turn spend more time with them or to make more money so they could be more comfortable? (Just so you know this is not something we’re discerning now – those of you at St. Leo’s don’t start thinking I’m planning to leave, this is not an issue at this point.)

There are so many aspects to this question and so many areas of our lives that we could be called to sacrifice. In fact I think that in our society today if more husbands and wives would consider that sacrifice is a part of their marriage we probably would have less divorcees our there. Marriage is about more than “compromise” or “give and take” it is about laying down your life for the other.

Sacrifice plays a role in all of our relationships, dealings – not just marriage. So the question I pose for discussion here is how far are we to go in sacrificing for our spouses, our children, or others that we love?

I do believe it is a discussion worth having. Please post your thoughts in the comments section and share this post with others who you think ought to share.

May we all learn to love as Christ loved us, laying down his life.

In Christ,
Chris Faddis
Husband, father, youth minister, blogger, goofball

Tweet This Post

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.