What's New
9/2/10 -- Busy day ahead on Tuesday 9/7/10 -- 7:45 AM Eastern, EWTN/ Sacred Heart Radio Son Rise Morning Show with Brian Patrick; 11:00 AM (& 11:30 PM) Eastern, Women of Grace with Johnnette Benkovic on EWTN TV; 1:00 PM Central, On Call with Wendy Wiese of Relevant Radio.
6/17/10 -- Please check out the review of The Rosary Workout in the Catholic Book Reviews section.
New articles on Unearthing Your Ten Talents (featuring the story of the amazing 11-year-old John Paul Fitzmaurice who has memorized all 265 popes in order!) and From Atheism Catholicism are up at www.iibloom.com. (I also invite readers who have read either of those books -- and liked them! -- to jot down a line or two in Amazon.com's book review sections on those books' pages. They can even be done anonymously. Many thanks!)
In the early stages of planning of another talk for another awesome Legatus group -- next stop, Atlanta, Georgia.
Most Recent and Upcoming Radio Spots. (Many of the past shows are available in the radio stations' archives.)
6/2/10 -- Kresta in the Afternoon on From Atheism to Catholicism. (What a treat to do that one face-to-face with Al at the Religious Booksellers Exhibit in St.Charles,IL.)
6/7/10 -- EWTN Son Rise Morning Show with Brian Patrick, Monthly spot at 7:45 AM Eastern on Unearthing Your Ten Talents.
6/8/10 -- On Call with Wendy Wiese of Relevant Radio for From Atheism to Catholicism.
6/11/10 - Had the pleasure of chatting with Brian again during the Sacred Heart Radio Fundraiser.
6/21/10 -- With Jerry Weber on TheCatholicRevolver talking about From Atheism to Catholicism at 5:00 PM Central Time
6/28/10 -- With Sean Herriot of Relevant Radio's Morning Air on From Atheism to Catholicism,7:00 AM Central Time.
6/30/10 -- With Jon Leonetti of KWKY Des Moines, IA. Mostly on From Atheism to Catholicims (I think.)
July -- Back with Wendy Wiese -- details to follow. (CALL-IN SHOW!!)
7/5/10 -- Monthly spot with Brian Patrick of EWTN's SonRise Morning Show @7:45 AM Eastern Time. Topic: The Virtue and "Talent" of Temperance.
9/13/10 -- 6:00 PM Central Time -- Catholic Answers Live with host Patrick Coffin talking about From Atheism to Catholicism. (CALL-IN SHOW!!)
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4/13/10 - Dr. Vost live on air on the On Call Show with Wendy Wiese of Relevant Radio today at 1:00 PM Central.
3/21/10 - Live on Air with Des Moines, Iowa's KWKY Catholic Radio Morning Show tomorrow 3/22/10 @7:40 AM Central Time. Topic: my books, I suppose.
3/1/10 -- Live on Air with Patrick Coffin of Catholic Answers Live @3:00 PM Pacific Time today. Feel free to call in!
2/22/10 -- Please check out new monthly articles on my books at www.iibloom.com.
2/11/10 -- Unearthing Your Ten Talents: A Thomistic Guide to Spiritual Growth is now in stock at http://www.sophiainstitute.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=414 !!
2/9/10 -- In the Catholic Book Review section, please check out my review of Robert P. Lockwood's A Guy's Guide to the Good Life: Virtues for Men.
Also, please be aware that Unearthing Your Ten Talents is due out any day now. More to follow.
01/27/10 -- There is a lot of new stuff coming!
- Unearthing Your Ten Talents is due from Sophia Institute Press on 2/12/10.
- From Atheism to Catholicism is due from Our Sunday Visitor on 3/15/10.
- I'll be live on the airwaves of KWKY Catholic Radio with Jon Leonetti at 7:10 PM Central Time tonight talking about Fit for Eternal Life.
- I'll be chatting with Brian Patrick of EWTN/Sacred Heart Radio's Son Rise Morning Show this Monday morning 2/1/10 at 7:45 AM Eastern Time (and every first Monday of the month this year at 7:45 AM Eastern) to talk about Unearthing Your Ten Talents.
- I'll be chatting live with Wendy Wiese of Relevant Radio's On Call call-in show on Tuesday 2/2/10 at 1:00 PM Central (feel free to call in) and then again in April and June (details to follow.)
- Patrick Coffin of Catholic Answers Live will be my host on Monday 3/1/08 at 3:00 PM Pacific Time for an hour long call in program on Unearthing Your Ten Talents.
- April 21, 2010 I'll be talking live to the good people of the Springfield, MA Legatus Chapter on Memorize the Faith!
- April 22, 2010 I'll be talking to the fine folks of the Morris County, NJ Legatus Chapter on Memorize the Faith!
- May 8, 2010 at 10:00 AM Central I'll address the Catholic Home School Conference in Naperville, IL, also on Memorize the Faith! (I suppose.).
- Every month (the good Lord willing and the crick don't rise -- see also James 4:15) there will be a new article addressing topics from Unearthing Your Ten Talents on the dynamic new Catholic website www.iibloom.com. There are a couple up on Fit for Eternal Life already.
- I will soon update the Forum Section with results of a Fit For Eternal Life reader who has recorded every workout he has done according to the book's guidelines for over one year.
- This site will have a revamped look with new materials and photos -- including some shots from the KWKY/KVSS Catholic Caribbean Cruise of 2010.
- I'm working on a new biography of St. Albert the Great for TAN/St. Benedict books by the way -- with a special emphasis on the lessons that the Patron Saint of Scientists can share with us today.
- I suppose I should start linking podcasts of radio interviewers for readers who might be interested. Here are a few:
(Go to Radio Archive 7/7/08 for Memorize! and 1/14/09 for Fit.)
Catholic Answers Live with Jerry Usher on Memorize the Faith!
Catholic Answers Live with Patrick Coffin on Fit for Eternal Life.
(Go to the Spirit Morning Show archives for 2/26/08.)
Chris and Bruce McGregor from KVSS Omaha on Fit for Eternal Life.
(Please see below for links to Johnnette Benkovic's DVDs on interviews based on these books.)
11/9/09 -- Mary Lenaburg has just posted an interview with me on the excellent Phases of Womanhood website at www.phasesofwomanhood.org.
Also, on Friday, 11/13/09 @6:35 am Central Time, I'm scheduled to talk with Brian Patrick of EWTN's Son Rise Morning Show on St. Albert the Great as a medieval memory master.
On Monday, 11/16/09 @ 1:00 pm Central Time, I'm scheduled to talk again with Wendy Wiese of Relevant Radio on her On Call Show. This is a call-in show, so please -- call in!
9/11/09 -- I just had the pleasure of talking about Fit for Eternal Life again with Brian Patrick of EWTN's Son Rise Morning Show. Tuesday I had the pleasure of speaking for the first time with Bill and Rich of the Bill and Rich in the Morning Show on KWKY Des Moines, IA Catholic Radio.
ALSO, Unearthing Your Ten Talents is now available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble.com, and From Atheism to Catholicism at Amazon.com.
8/11/09 -- I just had an enjoyable interview with Wendy Wiese of Relevant Radio on her On Call show. Please check them out at www.relevantradio.com.
7/18/09 -- A reader named Alex was kind enough to inform me that Fit for Eternal Life is being featured today at http://www.spiritdaily.com Please check out their site!!
Also, Unearthing Your Ten Talents is now at the typsetter's and will hopefully be out in a couple of months or so. (Rest assured, I'll let you know.)
4/8/09: Here are links to DVDs with Johnnette Benkovic of EWTN's The Abundant Life TV program and myself, based on Memorize the Faith! and Fit for Eternal Life:
http://womenofgrace.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=824
http://womenofgrace.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=797
Theology of His Body and Theology of Her Body:
A Book Review (Or Two)
Theology
of His Body and Theology of Her Body
Jason Evert (Ascension Press, 2009)
March 7, 2009
When I received my slick and shiny new copy of Theology of Her Body in the mail from the Catholic Company, my first thought was, “Hey, what happened to his body?” Then I flipped the book over -- and there he was. This little double-book is full of surprises before you even open the cover. The theological reflections on the male and female bodies are presented as two separate books within one cover, one written right-side-up and the other upside-down. (I soon found though that by flipping the upside-down side over, I was able to read it right-side-up as well.)
The two-in-one packaging is especially effective for several reasons. First, each separate book is about 50 pages long, capable of an initial read in just one sitting of maybe an hour or so. And I mention an initial read because these books are definitely worth keeping and rereading to ponder their profoundly important messages time and again. The separate book format also works great because of the particular subject matter, since a man or woman can obtain a concise and inspiring overview of God’s master plan for his own masculinity or her own femininity, and just as easily change gears, flip over the book and read of the wonders of the complementary sex God has crafted for him or for her.
As for the contents themselves, Jason Evert has done a masterful job of extracting very straightforward, practical, and motivating lessons from the sublime body of writings of Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body. He also draws from his own extensive experience in working with modern young men and women faced with so many pressures from a modern world that has so little awareness of the true and holy wonder that is man and woman. Each book also features a foreword by master theologian of the body, Christopher West.
Theology of Her Body is subtitled “Discovering the Beauty and Mystery of Femininity,” and these two concepts of feminine beauty and mystery are examined and explained in ways that should inspire any female reader to thank God he has crafted her as the pinnacle of all things beautiful in creation, and as the carrier of the mystery of life. (Perhaps I need not mention that this should elicit equal thanks to God for woman from the perspective of any attentive male reader!)
Theology of His Body is subtitled “Discovering the Strength & Mission of Masculinity,” and these twin concepts of interior strength and mission are examined and explained in ways that should inspire any male reader to thank God he has given him the opportunity to be a mighty and responsible warrior, protector, father, and an initiator of love. These are especially important messages today, when young men are so often encouraged by the popular culture rather to be shifty and irresponsible plunderers, defilers, avoiders of fatherhood, and initiators of lust.
These books would make an ideal read for teens of both sexes, for their parents, grandparents, teachers, or anyone who deals with youths today. (Where was this book when I was teaching Adolescent Psychology??) There are also lessons in these books that those concerned elders themselves can profit from. It can inspire full-grown men and women to become “real” men and women in the highest sense of the word. (It got me fired up, anway.)
And here’s another thing. Though this book should be around for a long time, this is an especially good time to be reading it, since Jason Evert and his wife Crystalina currently have a new television series, “Theology of the Body for Teens,” running on EWTN. This provides a great opportunity for readers to flesh out its bodily lessons with the messages on their program. Of course, the books stand quite well alone and should be godsends on their own. I highly recommend this selection.
Theology of Her Body and Theology of His Body is theology for everybody’s body – and soul.
Kevin Vost, Psy.D.
Dr. Vost, a Catholic psychologist, is the author of Memorize the Faith!, Fit for Eternal Life, and coming soon -- Unearthing Your Ten Talents and Theology for Atheists.
This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Theology of Her Body and Theology of His Body.
2/16/09 --
I'll soon be reviewing new Catholic books for the Catholic Company that will appear here, at The Catholic Company's website and on other sites. The first book will be a new one on the theology of the body by Jason Evert. Details to follow.
2/12/09 -- I'll be appearing on Johnnette Benkovic's Abundant Life TV show on EWTN at 10:00 PM Eastern Time on Monday 3/2/09 to talk about physical and spiritual fitness and at the same time on Monday 3/23/09 to talk about memorizing the faith. The shows will also air at later times throughout those weeks. Hope you can watch, and let me know what you think.
1/28/09 -- Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas -- Mr. Randy Hain has invited me to start writing articles for www.catholicexchange.com and he has featured my article on lessons we can learn from St. Thomas, today, on the Angelic Doctor's feast. Good timing! (and thank you Randy!)
1/27/09
1. Check out www.4marks.com for an article I wrote in honor of the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas on 1/28.
2. Check out the catholic music web site of Nick Alexander "The Catholic Weird Al" for my workout music recommendations.
3. I'll have the pleasure of speaking again with Brian Patrick of the Son Rise Show on EWTN radio (Sirius 160 and local Catholic radio stations) about St. Thomas on 1/28/09 at 6:20 AM Central Time.
4. Unearthing Your Ten Talents: A Thomistic Approach to the Virtues and Gifts is supposed to have a completed manuscript by the end of February -- details to follow.
5. Last week, through the gracious invitation of Katey Yeley, I had the great pleasure to talk about Fit for Eternal Life with the "Fit with Faith" group at the Episcopalian Cathedral of St. Paul in Springfield, IL. Those ladies really know how to dish out good, tough questions!!! (It was a special treat to participate in the "Fit in Faith" prayer -- see Quotes section.)
1/7/09 -NEWSFLASH- I just found out by phone that my Catholic Answers Live Radio Interview next Wednesday (see below) will be with dynamic new host, Patrick Coffin. Please check us out and give us a call!!!
1/06/09 - What a pleasure to talk to Brian Patrick of the Son Rise Radio show of Cincinnati's Sacred Heart Radio again this morning. (See links section for their link.) Their first hour is now broadcast on EWTN! We talked about setting attainable fitness goals for the new year.
NEXT UP: Catholic Answers Live Radio Call-in Program, 1/14/09 at 3:00 PM Pacific Time. Feel free to call in your question or comment to 1-888-318 TRUTH (1-888-318-7884)! (See links section.) You can also listen live or through their archive. Our topic this time is Fit for Eternal LIfe.
12/17/08 - I had a fun interview on Memorize the Faith! with Greg and Jennifer Willits, "The Catholics Next Door" on Sirius/XM radio yesterday. The biggest zinger of the interview came when Greg, from out of the blue, said (to paraphrase) "By the way, what is the eighth Station of the Cross?" I shot back, "Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem." They said that was great, but then something to the effect that they might not have known if I was right or not. Greg said they might have believed it was "Jesus goes to the supermarket!" (Admittedly, we had just been talking about using the memory system for grocery lists!) If you can listen to these two on XM117 or Sirius 159, please do yourself a favor and do it!
12/09/08 - I just had the pleasure of interviewing with Lisa Hendey of www.catholicmom.com for her Catholic Moments podcast. We focused on Memorize the Faith! I'll let you know when it is up on her site.
ALSO, I'm scheduled to chat with the always amusing Greg and Jennifer Willits, The Catholics Next Door, on XM 117/Sirius 159 Satellite Radio at 11:20 Eastern on Tuesday 12/16/08, again about Memorize the Faith! (And what of poor Fit for Eternal Life, you ask? Lisa Hendey has suggested a podcast in 01/09, and a Catholic Answers Live Interview is set for 1/14/09. Details to follow.)
11/19/08 - This morning I had the honor to do my fifth interview with Brian Patrick of Sacred Heart Radio of Cincinnatti. Our topics were training in the cold weather months and coping with holiday feasting. Their program is on the verge of going international via EWTN radio. Please see the link in my Links section if you'd like to listen in or support them. In other news, I'm scheduled to record an interview with Joseph McClane, "The Catholic Hack," next Tuesday for future airing on his podcast. (Looks like I'd better add another link.)
11/04/08 - Yesterday I had the pleasure and privilege of filming television interviews on both Fit for Eternal Life and Memorize the Faith with Johnnette Benkovic for her Abundant Life Program on EWTN. I'll keep you posted on when these might air. (Please see the Links section for her program's web site.)
9/7/08 -- I had the pleasure to talk for the third time with Stephanie Wood on EWTN radio's NEXTWAVE LIVE program on Thursday 9/5/08. I thank Stephanie, John, Amy, and all those who called or emailed in with a challenging mix of spiritual and nitty-gritty practical training questions. (She also featured the song "Salad Bowl" by Nick Alexander, "The Catholic Weird Al," which is a parody on a J. Giels Band song, and which gives a dietary message very much in line with the nutrition chapters in Fit for Eternal Life!)
8/31/08 - Check out the new quote in the quotes section. I found it cited in a web periodical put out by the Claretians.
7/18/08 -- I'm scheduled to appear on Cincinnati's Sacred Heart Radio Wednesday 7/23/08 at 7:20 am to recommend some Catholic Summer reading. So please consider becoming a listener -- and reader.
Last Wednesday in Arlington Heights, Illinois, I gave a live workshop on Fit for Eternal Life to a provincial gathering of the clerics of St. Viator (including a some of my own high school teachers.) What a fine and gracious group of dedicated clergy and lay associates! My wife and I were treated grandly. The Viatorians are involved in education and a variety of other good works. I'm posting a link to their website in my links section.
6/3/08 -- Some new radio interviews are being lined up. I'll be on with Jerry Usher of Catholic Answers Live on July 7th, taking calls about Memorize the Faith! (I'll provide more details later.) I'll appear for a brief spot for the fourth time with Brain Patrick of Sacred Heart Radio of Cincinnati on July 23rd at 7:20 AM to recommend five Catholic books for summer reading. Interestingly, John McNichol, author of The Tripods Attack, emailed me yesterday to say he'd heard through the publishing grapevine that I enjoyed his book, and that is quite true. His fast-paced novel featuring a young G. K. Chesterton as the hero, is among the books I'll be recommending. Check out the Publisher link on this site to take you to Sophia Institute, to learn more about his book (and mine as well, if you're so inclined.)
5/7/08
Rachelle Linner of the Catholic News Service has written a nice little review of Fit for Eternal Life. (See "Book Reviews" section).
4/12/08
This Tuesday morning 4/15/08 at 7:50 AM Eastern time (6:50 Central), I'll be talking for a third time with Brian Patrick of Sacred Heart Radio of Cincinnati, Ohio at 740 AM on your radio dial in that area (or through their website at www.sacredheartradio.com.)
3/22/08
Next Saturday, March 29th at 10:00 am I'll be joining other area authors for a signing event at Barnes & Noble in Springfield, IL.
On Thursday, April 10th at 9:00 pm (Eastern) I'm scheduled to talk again with Stephanie Wood of EWTN's NEXTWAVE LIVE radio program on Sirius Satellite Channel 160 and on local AM and FM Catholic radio channels. We'll be talking about Memorize the Faith! this time, and call-ins are welcome!
03/08/08
If you'd care to listen to the fun I had with Bruce and Kris McGregor of KVSS Spirit Radio, here's a link. (Go to Tuesday, February 26.)
03/01/08
I have an article entitled Memorize the Mass! in the March magazine of 4marks.com.
02/23/08
A radio interview with Gus Lloyd of Sirius Satellite Radio's Catholic Channel 159's Seize the Day show is set for Wednesday, February 27th at 8:30 AM Eastern Time. Please join us!
02/17/08
A radio interview is scheduled for the Spirit Morning Show with Bruce and Kris McGregor of Spirit Catholic Radio of Omaha, Nebraska for Tuesday, February 19th at 10:00 AM Central Time. It's a 88.9 FM. You can also listen live through their website.
02/07/08
Another radio interview with Brian Patrick of Sacred Heart Radio of Cincinnati, Ohio at 740 AM on your dial (or online through their website) is set for Tuesday, February 12th, 8:40 AM Eastern Time (7:40 AM Central). Topics will include some positive approaches to Lenten devotions. Please join us as we get fit for Lent!
An interview is also being arranged for Catholic radio in Omaha, Nebraska for Tuesday morning 02/19/08. More details to follow.
01/27/08
This Thursday night, 01/31/08 at 9:00 Eastern Time (8:00 Central), interview with Stephanie Wood of EWTN's NEXTWAVE LIVE program for young adults (and everybody else.) Feel free to listen in, call-in, or email the program with your questions or comments. The show can be heard on Sirius Satellite's EWTN Channel 160, on local radio stations carrying EWTN, or live through the internet site of NEXTWAVE LIVE. I hope to hear from you!
01/13/08
This issue of SO, Springfield's Own Magazine, features writer Kregg Argenta's two-page interview/book review on Fit for Eternal Life. Fit has also picked up its first review (5-star) on Amazon.com.
There's a new review of Memorize the Faith! in the student newspaper of the University of Waterloo, Canada. A direct link is posted in the Book Review Section.
Also, radio interviews are lining up for Fit for Eternal Life -- one with Fr. Dave Dwyer on his Busted Halo program on Sirius Satellite's Catholic Channel on Wednesday 1/16/08 at 8:20 PM Eastern Time and one tentatively set for the evening of Thursday 1/31/08 with Stephanie Wood of NEXTWAVE LIVE on EWTN radio. More details to follow on that one.
There's a new article based on Fit for Eternal Life posted on Brian Johnston's Prescribed Exercise Certification website called A Body Like a Greek God! (or would you settle for a Greek Philosopher?).
01/03/08
A radio interview with Brian Patrick of Sacred Heart Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio has been scheduled for Tuesday, 01/08/08 at 8:10 am Eastern Time.
01/02/08
It's here. What's here? Fit's here. I received my first personal copy of Fit for Eternal Life today and it looks pretty good to me. I'll be glad to address any questions or comments from readers or would-be readers. Also, the article Great Fit: A Tale of Two Books, is now up at Clarence Bass's fitness web site.
12/21/07
Steven McEvoy, book reviewer extraordinaire, likes the spiritual fitness quotations in Fit for Eternal Life, and he's posted a small sample on his Book Reviews and More blog. I hope you too enjoy his tasty bon mot sampler!
12/18/07
In case you were wondering, my Holy Hairy He-Man article is up now in the Lion's Den section at the Lionheart Christian Apparel web site.
12/15/07
Fit for Eternal Life is now the number two bestseller in the Spirituality category at Ave Maria Radio's online catholic store.
This is based on pre-orders. Dr. Vost is still waiting to see a hard copy himself, (I mean myself.)
Coming soon -- Three new articles to be posted in the weeks ahead:
1. Holy Hairy He-Man
(for Tarek Saab's lionheart apparel site)
2. A Body Like Greek God! (Or Would You Settle for a Greek Philosopher?)
(for Brian Johnston's IART fitness certification site)
3. Great Fit: A Tale of Two Books
(for Clarence Bass's RIPPED health and fitness site)
I'll keep you posted and provide the direct links when they're up.
In other news, an inside source reveals that Borders Express Book Store in the White Oaks Mall, Springfield, IL is now selling signed copies of Memorize the Faith! displayed in their Inspirational section.
12/02/07
Advance praise for Fit for Eternal Life! (See the link to McEvoy's Musings in our Links section.)
We're linked now through the official website of Brian Johnston's International Association of Resistance Trainers, the premiere organization for certifying personal fitness trainers. (See our link to their site under Personal Trainer Certification in our Links section.)
11/29/07
A review of Fit for Eternal Life and an interview with Kevin are to be featured in an article by Kregg Argenta in the January, 2008 edition of SO, Springfield's Own Magazine.
Fit for Eternal Life is now available for pre-order through Amazon.com.
National radio interviews are being lined up right now. Details will follow after Fit's release later next month.