Resource Review/Links
Between September 1979 and November 1984, St. John Paul II gave 129 Wednesday addresses on what our bodies reveal about God and about ourselves. That body of teaching came to be called the Theology of the Body, and it has since been adapted into books, videos, podcasts, and school curricula for nearly every age group.
The range is part of the problem. A parish leader looking for a starting point finds dozens of options and no way to tell which one fits the people in front of them. Most people also meet this teaching only through Catholic sexual morality, which it does address, and never learn that John Paul II was answering two much larger questions: who is God, and who am I?
This guide gives you a short explanation of the teaching and a curated set of resources, grouped by how you would use them. Several of them cost nothing.
What's Inside
- What the Theology of the Body is — where it came from, what John Paul II meant by an "adequate anthropology," and the Genesis texts he builds on
- Why it is about more than sex — how it applies to work, home life, suffering, prayer, art, and how we treat our own bodies
- Theology of the Body for children — how to teach the dignity and language of the body to young children, long before "the talk"
- Video and audio — talks, lecture series, and ongoing podcasts, including several that are free
- Books — with a suggested reading order, from a nine-lesson study guide to John Paul II's own text
- Studies for parishes and groups — streaming, workbook-based, and free options, plus a parish-wide program
- For youth — K–12 school curricula and programs for middle school and high school
- For families — board books for toddlers, a picture book for ages 4 to 8, and books for parents of teens
Who This Is For
Catechetical leaders, youth ministers, Catholic school teachers and principals, marriage prep teams, and parents deciding what to hand a teenager. If the teaching is new to you, read the first pages before the lists. They are short, and they will change which resource you pick.
How These Were Chosen
Every resource here is one we have used or would hand to someone we are walking with. They are faithful to what John Paul II actually taught, written for the audience they name, and usable by a parish leader who is not a theologian. We check the links and refresh the list as new resources are released, so this page always holds the current version.
A short video resource emphasizing the Father’s love and the personal address of the Gospel. Use it when the blockage is distrust, shame, or the sense that Christianity is mainly demand.
BY: Ascension Presents
In this short but powerful video, Fr. Angelus and Fr. Mark-Mary of the CFRs remind us of the most important truth we can ever know: God the Father loves us. Through a personal story of a young man moved to tears by hearing that simple message, they invite viewers to pause, reflect, and let God’s love sink in.
A video built around the logic of the Gospel as gift and the call to respond—receiving, not striving. Best used as a bridge into a concrete invitation (prayer, confession, conversation, next step).
BY: Blessed Is She
In this short video from Blessed Is She, viewers are invited to hear and respond to the heart of the Gospel message: Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart, offering His love and life fully and forever. The video includes a simple prayer of commitment—adapted from Catholic Christian Outreach’s Ultimate Relationship resource—that guides anyone ready to place (or re-place) Jesus at the center of their life.
BY: CARL LAFERTON AND CATALINA ECHEVERRI
This beautifully illustrated picture book takes children on a journey from Eden to God’s perfect new creation. With simple storytelling and vivid artwork, it explains that “because of our sin, we can’t go in”—but because of Jesus’ victory on the Cross, an even better garden awaits. It is a simple yet profound proclamation of God's Love and Jesus' redemption appropriate for children. Perfect as a bedtime read-aloud or a Baptism gift.
BY: Joyce Denham
Written under the playful pen name Sir Wyvern Pugilist, this imaginative handbook invites kids to see sin as dragons and faithful Christians as dragon slayers—equipped and led by the Chief Dragon Slayer, Jesus Christ. With humor, adventure, and engaging storytelling, the book presents the core truths of the Gospel in a way that resonates with children who love knights, weapons, and quests. A companion Study Guide is available to support leaders, teachers, or parents in using the book with individuals or groups. Especially suited for elementary and middle school students, it also makes a creative resource for First Reconciliation prep.
