Topics in each book are given under the following headings, which are listed alphabetically: Bible/Theology, Discernment of Vocation, Evangelization, Fatherhood/Motherhood, Forgiveness, Friendship, Marriage/Pre-Marriage/Sexuality, Miracles, Prayer, Sacraments/Liturgy, Sainthood/Saints, Suffering, Theology of the Body, Works of Mercy.
Bible/Theology
Book I: “My yoke is easy,” 10 commandments, Speaking the truth in love,
Parable of the Lost Sheep, I Corinthians 13
Book II: Saints Priscilla & Aquila, Ephesians 5 & Chrysostom, “Lord I am not worthy,” Paraclete, Bible as a whole, Genesis 1, John 1
Book III: Gospel of Matthew, “Do not be anxious… seek ye first,” Genesis 2 & 3, Zacchaeus, Lord’s Prayer
Book IV: Gospel of Luke, Parable of the Two Sons, Jesus, Ephesians 5, forgiven much and loves much, Isaac as the sacrificed only son, John 3:16, Cross
Book V: Putting on the armor of God
Book VI: Corinthians, Revelation, Gospel of Mark
Book VII: Genesis 2, unity and complementarity, Holy Spirit, Sabbath, power of the Word, obedience as ethos, Puritanism vs. Manichaeism, concupiscence, The Little Way, loving God & neighbor, union with Christ, ask-seek-knock, psalms
Discernment of Vocation
Book I: Questions to consider, gift vs. call, priesthood, career, personality
Book II: Priesthood, sainthood, using one’s gifts, job hunting
Book III: Based on need and/or joy, preparation for vocation
Book IV: Decisions about engagement, desire for priesthood
Book VI: Religious communities, discernment of married priesthood
Book VII: Religious communities, engagement
Evangelization
Book I: Invitation & welcome
Book II: Parable of the Four Soils, building relationships, teaching
Book III: Teamwork, prayer, care for needy, teaching, joy
Book IV: Incarnational ministry, restraint, RCIA
Book VI: To and with Protestants, RCIA
Book VII: Missions, martyrdom, creative analogies, to and with Protestants
Fatherhood/Motherhood
Book I: God as Father, parenthood as part of marriage, just causes
Book II: Fathers – God, priest, biological and adopted
Book III: Father’s role in courtship, trusting God as Father
Book IV: Biological/spiritual fatherhood, motherhood, and Church/Mary as mother
Book VI: Spiritual fatherhood, many examples of fathers
Book VII: Father’s role in courtship, spiritual parenthood
Forgiveness
Book I: Confession, love of enemy, in Mass
Book II: In Mass, in romantic relationships
Book IV: Of family members and enemies
Book V: Of past hurts
Book VI: Of self
Book VII: In romantic relationships, family, and from God
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is in every book (See Sacraments)
Friendship
Book I: Prayer & accountability with college roommates, support during suffering, fraternal correction, chastity in friendship (emotional and physical)
Books II – VII: The above themes continue in the series, in many friendships with older and younger characters and extending into workplace friendships
Marriage/Pre-marriage/Sexuality
(See Theology of the Body)
Book I: Dating safety, courtship, appropriateness of acts of tenderness, fidelity, openness to life
Book II: Chastity, attraction, “my sister, my bride,” pre-marital chastity, Priscilla & Aquila, married saints, Ephesians 5, fidelity, abortion
Book III: Ministry together, dating, parental involvement, forsaking all others
Book IV: Marriage, Ephesians 5, NFP versus contraception, chastity in depth, divorce
Book V: Suffering in relationships
Book VI: NFP, sacrificial love, divorce, annulment, faithfulness, wedding liturgy, homosexuality
Book VII: Concupiscence, chastity, sexual ethics, NFP versus contraception/reversal, parenthood, male/female complentarity, attraction
Miracles
Specific examples are found in Book I, Book II, Book III, Book IV
Prayer
Book I: Mental prayer, conversational prayer together, Peace Prayer of St. Francis
Book II: Listening, visions, blessings, prophecy, mystical, prayer with and for others
Book III: Lord’s Prayer, mystical, joy
Book IV: “Not my will but Thine be done,” Rosary, Stations
Book V: Chaplet of Divine Mercy, tongues, Dark Night, spiritual battle,
Book VI: Prayers in various liturgies
Book VII: Novena, actions as prayer, Morning Offering, Adoration
Sacraments
Mass/Eucharist:
Book I: Perpetual offering, covenant, connection with God
Book II: Further teaching
Book III: Communion as Passover and marriage
Book IV: Mass as Cross and liturgy, “Peace be with you”
Book V: Lamb, sacrifice of all the baptized
Book VI: Communion as marriage to Jesus, Eucharist in Corinthians, Revelation, John 6 explained to Protestants
Sacrament of Reconciliation: Characters confess to a priest in every book
Anointing of the Sick: Book I, Book II, Book VI biblical explanation
Holy Orders: Several characters are priests, discernment is discussed in all books
Baptism/RCIA:
Books I-III: Pre-catechumenate (See Evangelization)
Book IV: Baptism and RCIA
Book V: Baptism as marriage to Jesus
Book VI: Rite of Catechumens, Rite of Election
Matrimony: See Marriage/Pre-marriage/Sexuality, or Theology of the Body
Confirmation: Book VI, Book VII
Liturgy
Every Book: Mass
Books IV, VII-VIII: Eastern Catholic Liturgy
Book VI: Ash Wednesday, Stations of the Cross, Easter Vigil explained
Book VII: Lent explained, Stations of the Cross in depth
Sainthood/Saints
Book I: St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Therese of Lisieux
Book II: Married saints, canonization process, relics, St. Francis, St. John Chrysostom
Book III: Sainthood as suffering and meeting a need
Book IV: Virgin Mary, St. Juan Diego, The Little Flower
Book V: Virgin Mary, Virgin of Guadalupe, St. Juan Diego, St. John of the Cross
Book VI: Marian Theology, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Pope St. John Paul II
Book VII: martyrdom, St. Hildegard von Bingen, St. Therese of Lisieux
Suffering
Book I: Offering up pain, philosophical questions, suffering for love
Book II: Questioning, martyrdom, St. John Chrysostom
Book III: Suffering for love
Book IV: Suffering in order to reach joy
Book V: Dark Night, suffering as identification and prayer, accepting a fallen world and hope for redemption
Book VI: Prayer amidst suffering, “carry your cross”
Theology of the Body
These are the main topics emphasized in each book, though there are specific terms and many more key ideas throughout the series. For a detailed list of TOB terms, please contact us. We also offer more information on using the AGM Series to teach TOB here.
Book I: Gift of self for person versus as use of an object, chastity, longing of eros, discernment of vocation, male/female complementarity, gift of self to God, Original Solitude
Book II: Brother/sister, fatherhood, mystical prayer, healing from past sexual sin, Genesis 1, Ephesians 5, the body is holy, marriage to Christ
Book III: Discernment of vocation, Genesis 1-3, fidelity, Holy Communion as marriage, trusting God as Father, mystical prayer
Book IV: Puritanism vs. Manichaeism, chastity, NFP, motherhood, attraction to beauty, eros, freedom
Book V: Mystical prayer, spiritual battle, role of the Spirit in ethos of redemption
Book VI: Marriage and celibacy as signs of the spousal relationship between Christ and the Church, spousal meaning of marriage and baptism, homosexuality
Book VII: Puritanism/Manichaeism, Ethos of redemption
Works of Mercy
Book I: Visit the sick, comfort, forgive, console, advise, pray
Book II: Visit the sick, comfort, bear wrongs patiently, instruct, advise, pray
Book III: Planning to serve, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, give alms to poor, instruct, pray
Book IV: Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, bury the dead, give alms to the poor, instruct, advise, console, comfort, forgive, bear wrongs patiently
Book V: Visit the sick, welcome the stranger
Book VI: Visit the sick, instruct, console, comfort
Book VII: Feed the hungry, alms to the poor, console, forgive, bear wrongs patiently
Adventures in the Great Mystery 