1. Theology of the Body for Teens
Seventh Grade Curriculum 1.2
Who am I? Discovering my True Identity

2. Bellwork Write a word to fill in each of the blanks:
1. When I was 5, all I wanted was _______.
2. When I was 6, I wanted to be a _____ when I grew up.
3. When I was seven, I would have watched _______ all day.
4. When I was eight, my favorite subject in school was ________.
5. When I was 9, I was afraid of _______, but not now.
6. Right now, I want _______ more than anything.
7. When I am 16, I hope I can _______.
8. When I go to college, I am going to _____________.
9. When I am old, I hope I’ll be able to say that I ____________.
10. My biggest goal is to be a _________ person.
11. In the end, I think all anyone really wants is _________________

3. Opening Prayer
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Fr. Thomas Merton

4. Our Identity as Human Beings
-Read page 5.
-Jot down the answers to these two questions:
1. What do human beings desire?
2. How do these desires evolve or change as we grow older?
Discuss.

5. Notes on “Humanity”
Humans have a deep desire to grow up, be independent, and find happiness.
The more freedom you have, the more your happiness depends on your own choices.
As your life changes, it is very important that you know who you really are as a human person.

6. Group Activity Read “Looking for the Beach,” p. 6-8.
Each group will discuss its question and present their answers or conclusions to the class.
Group 1: What makes a person truly happy?
Group 2: What makes a person matter?
Group 3: Why does the Incarnation challenge how we think about ourselves?
Group 4: Why do we study “Theology of the Body”?

7. Notes on “Theology of the Body”
One way God helps humanity is to inspire holy men and women with wisdom that they can share with others. For example, Saint John Paul II and his “theology of the body” (TOB).
TOB teaches us how our visible bodies can express the truth about our invisible souls.
Our bodies teach us that we have been created for loving relationships with God and others.

8. Journal
Even though ______________________ is invisible, I know it is real because _________________________________ (Give an example of something that you are sure is real even though it is invisible. Then explain how you can be sure of this.) ___________________________________________

9. Video
Watch:
“Man on the Street”
“Trivia”
(begin at 10:10)

10. Vocabulary Human Person Saint Incarnation Theology of the Body
Please know the definitions to these words:
Human Person
Incarnation
Saint
Theology of the Body