Theology of the Body Institute TOB Testimony: Into the Wild with TOB

Armed with the profound knowledge of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, I and some other men have made it our full-time mission to build up the men of the Church to be true leaders, protectors and providers. We have taken on the multi-billion dollar pornography industry by articulating the dignity of the human person. This is the mission of the men’s lay apostolate, The King’s Men.

The fire which set ablaze The King’s Men began in the summer of 2004 with my journey towards the discovery of the Theology of the Body. It is a fairly typical story for most lay Catholics living in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that can be summed up in just two words: Christopher West. Christopher spoke at a Theology on Tap early that summer to what I believe was a record crowd. I had previously heard Christopher deliver some engaging and insightful talks on TOB from a cassette series. Since I was working full-time for the pro-life and chastity organization Generation Life attending the talk on theology of the body was important for my personal and professional development. While standing in line to meet Christopher West, I made the acquaintance of Tony Luna. Our conversation, fueled by the Holy Spirit and our own personal reactions to the talk, enabled me to discuss my own masculinity in a way that I had yet to experience in 29 years as a man. Tony and I had a mutual friend in Damian Wargo and together the three of us decided to explore how we as men could best live out the truths of our Catholic manhood through the lens of the Theology of the Body. Little did I know that God was going to use this evening to forever change the course of my life.

The Head & Heart Immersion course further opened my eyes to the profound understanding that Pope John Paul II had into the human condition. Primed for an intensive immersion in the writings of John Paul the Great, I had pre-registered for the TOB1 Course for that summer. When I arrived at Black Rock Retreat Center, somehow I knew that I was embarking on something very special and I was blown away by the number of attendees from all over the United States as well as internationally. It was to be a pioneering experience for all of us in attendance. I learned on that course that a life of sexual integrity would soon become not just a virtue lived out by saying “no” to my sexual desires, but an embrace for the goodness they contained and for the gift that I possessed. Christopher explained that chastity was but a “stepping stone to the Theology of the Body” and that they were complimentary pieces of the puzzle. Intellectually and spiritually, I was absorbing the formation of the virtue of chastity as a lecturer on teen sexuality, but there was a piece that was missing from my formation. I believe receiving education in the Theology of the Body and my subsequent co-founding with Damian Wargo of The King’s Men were that missing piece.

Based on the fact that pornography is a “partial truth” as John Paul explains in the Theology of the Body, The King’s Men was founded in 2006. Since then Damian and I have been forming ourselves and hundreds of men in the truths of authentic Catholic masculinity. I count this early formation in the Theology of the Body as critical to my development—both as a man and in ministering to men who struggle with sexual integrity. I can honestly say the message of the Theology of the Body has been internalized and continues to be an integral part of who I am as a leader, protector & provider.

The King’s Men continues to utilize this great gift by developing new programs that help men live out this truth.In the spirit of our beloved late Pontiff’s early work with young adults as a priest in Poland, The King’s Men have organized multiple outdoor retreat experiences for men of all ages. “Into the Wild”, an outdoor experiential weekend for men, will be taking place at French Creek State Park in Elverson, PA (June 4-7, 2009). This retreat weekend is an example of the New Evangelization working in the hearts of men who are passionate about “being men.” (Check out http://www.intothewildweekend.com/ for more details and spread the word.)

Mark currently lives in Quakertown, PA with his wife Ryan-Marie and their newborn baby, and he is the founder and president of The King’s Men. The apostolate began its full time outreach to men in 2006 with a commitment to end pornography and support men's masculinity through mentoring and weekly formation groups that are "virtue-oriented,"and monthly protests outside of strip clubs and adult bookstores. Holding signs that say "Real Men Don't Exploit Women," and "Help Us Fight Porn," members work toward four goals: raising public awareness, engaging the community to evoke change, ministering to men and women entering the businesses and affecting the lucrative porn industry. To learn more about the King’s Men, go to: http://www.thekingsmen.org/