Ask Christopher West

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📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Practicing Abstinence as Engaged Couple, Til Death Do Us Apart & Honoring and Loving a Woman | ACW286

24 juni 2024 | 56 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m a young woman happily dating a catholic man. The thought of having times of abstinence in marriage is a little sad. Could you speak on the beauty of abstinence? Is the ability to be physically intimate even in times of abstinence without it leading to intercourse something that is learned only in marriage? Is this something that can be learned as an engaged couple?
My husband of 32 years died last year and I’m struggling with the thought of no longer being a married woman. How can I reconcile the “two becoming one” and “til death do us apart”? What is the nature of the marriage relationship in heaven?
I met a woman that is 3 years older than I am which put me off initially but now I just can’t unsee her beauty. I get easily aroused by simple interactions with her. I often worry about messing up if we start dating. How can I honor God and love this beautiful woman?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Love & Responsibility YouTube Series

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Redirection of Desire, Sleeping in the Same Bed & the Dignity of Every Man & Woman | ACW285

17 juni 2024 | 47 min

Questions answered this episode:

What are some examples redirecting our desire (eros) in everyday life?
Is there anything inherently wrong with sleeping in the same bed as a long distance girlfriend when we visit each other? Is the near occasion of sin still a sin if I don’t end up sinning?
Where is this quote by John Paul II from: “It is the duty of every man to uphold the dignity of every woman”?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Aroused by Displays of Affection, Receiving the Eucharist in Mortal Sin & Getting Married Young

16 juni 2024 | 49 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m dating a wonderful man. I’m very sensitive to physical touch and get aroused very easily. Even holding hands results in arousal. Do you have any advice? Is it okay to keep showing those displays of affection even though they are accompanied by arousal?
Why is it a mortal sin to receive the Eucharist in a state of sin? Is the Lord not seeking for us to receive him even when we’re separated from him? Do you have any advice for raising children to feel comfortable refraining from the Eucharist without fear of judgment from those around them?
I hear so many religious people saying we should get married young. I’ll be 32 soon but I long for marriage. Should I give up on what I so desperately want because of people who clearly know about this topic?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

If you're interested in the TOB1 Online and TOB2 in person discount, reach out to Hannah Shaffer, our assitant director of programs: [email protected]
What to Do With Your Sexual Needs YouTube Video
Sexual Needs Into Prayer YouTube Video
Love & Responsibility YouTube Series

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Relationship With My Deceased Baby, P*rn Struggle & Compassion from God and for Others | ACW283

3 juni 2024 | 48 min

Questions answered this episode:

My husband and I are approaching the 25th anniversary of the birth and death of our second born. All this time later, I realize I wish I had a better relationship with him. Do you have any suggestions on how to go about nursing a relationship with my baby on this side of heaven before we are reunited again?
I’ve struggled with porn the majority of my life but I’ve been trying to identify what keeps drawing me back. This struggle leads me to have many anxieties and fears which don’t allow me to live life to the full. Do you have any advice?
Do you think it’s possible to have a connection with someone who does not show us compassion? How can one receive compassion from God in our lives? If we do feel compassion from God, can that help in forming a connection for someone whom we don’t feel it?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

If you're interested in the TOB1 Online and TOB2 in person discount, reach out to Hannah Shaffer, our assitant director of programs: [email protected]
Freedom Coaching

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Satisfied with God But Longing for a Husband, Struggle with M*sturbation as a Woman & Protestant Teaching on Contraception | ACW 282

27 maj 2024 | 59 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’ve heard it said that maybe the reason one hasn’t met their spouse is because God wants wants you to be content solely with Him. But if I get to a point where I am entirely satisfied by God and only Him, then would I even want a spouse at that point? How do I tell God I love Him above all but that I also want a husband?
I’ve struggled with masturbation since I was a little girl. I met a wonderful priest who helped me stop, not because of any particular advice but because of his profound love for me. At some point I moved away and fell into the old habit. I feel discouraged and don’t see a path forward. Do you have any advice?
I’m a protestant that recently got engaged. I’m somewhat familiar with the protestant position on contraception. I’ve done more study on the Catholic position and I see a lot of beauty in it. Why is it wrong to separate the pleasurable and procreative aspects of sex within marriage? Can a husband and wife not express their love for each other by giving themselves to the other for the intimacy and pleasure that sex brings?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

If you're interested in the TOB1 Online and TOB2 in person discount, reach out to Hannah Shaffer, our assitant director of programs: [email protected]
If you can't afford Christopher's Good News About Sex and Marriage, you can reach out to Michele Sankus: [email protected]
Click here for the link to the mentioned article:

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Cooperation with Evil, Appreciating Masculinity and Guarding One’s Heart | ACW281

20 maj 2024 | 45 min

Questions answered this episode:

I work for a subsidiary of a large national pharmacy that will soon start to distribute abortion pills. Do you have any advice for discerning the line between remote and material cooperation with evil? How should I determine when it’s time to start working for a new company?
I grew up as the oldest child of a narcissistic father and was verbally abused my entire life. I’m in my mid 20’s and I want to pursue the vocation God has for me, but I’m also terrified by the idea of marriage. Do you have any tips on how to appreciate masculinity? How can I recognize moments of contention that may indicate that I need healing and growth?
I’m attracted to a good and holy Catholic man and desire to pursue a relationship but I’m unsure if he feels the same way. I know the Lord is calling me to not bring the matter up to him, but to be patient and wait. How do I guard my heart when it desires more than friendship? How can I do this without shedding out the possibility of a relationship?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

John Paul II Healing Center
John Paul II Healing Center Events
CONSECRATION TO JESUS THROUGH ST. JOSEPH

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

“Jesus’ Hostility Towards the Body”, “The Main Goal of Intercourse” & “Bowing for Incense” | ACW280

13 maj 2024 | 44 min

Questions answered this episode:

Jesus seems to be hostile towards the body in Mt 5:29-31. How does that go together with the sacramentality of our bodies?
What is the main goal of the union between man and woman?
Why do people bow for incense?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Go to TOB Pilgrimages at 7pm ET on Monday. May 20th for an info session on the Rome Pilgrimage
Isaac's Music

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

“International Marriage”, “Disturbing Images In Prayer” & “My Husband Doesn’t Want Intimacy” | ACW279

6 maj 2024 | 57 min

Questions answered this episode:

What would you say about an international marriage? Do you think it’s better to marry someone from your own culture?
I was exposed to porn at an early age and that led to an addiction to it. Obscene and disturbing images come to mind particularly in moments of deep prayer. Do you have any advice?
I’m the one who pursues intimacy in my marriage and my husband is not really interested in it. Do you have any advice?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

"God & Menopause", "Girlfriend's Sexual Past" & "Infertility from Chemotherapy" | ACW278

29 april 2024 | 59 min

Questions answered this episode:

Does God like menopause?
My girlfriend has a sexual past including a 2 year relationship with a guy that she was sexually intimate with. I saved myself for marriage and this has been very difficult for me. I’m unsure if she repents of her past or not. Do you have any advice?
I’m dating and in love with a man who is infertile after starting chemotherapy for cancer. We’re starting to talk about marriage but the fact that he’s infertile has come up. Is it wrong to get married knowing he’s infertile.

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Dr. Thomas Sommers
Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here
Heaven’s Song by Christopher West
GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

"Wearing Grandma", "Afraid of Being Alone", & "Intercourse in Pregnancy" | ACW277

22 april 2024 | 43 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m a teacher and the other day, one of my 5th graders walked up to me and told me he was “wearing his grandma.” He was wearing an ash necklace where he was holding the ashes of his deceased grandmother. What is the difference between the Catholic tradition of relics and keeping an “ash necklace”
How can I tell the difference between loving someone and being afraid of being alone?
What does intercourse in pregnancy say about the beauty and goodness of God?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

[email protected]

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

"Wanting To Go Back", "Faith Jealousy" & "TOB Resources for Children" | ACW276

15 april 2024 | 34 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m in my 30’s and I’ve been married for a few years. My past was full of addiction to porn. I’ve been able to heal and overcome those past but I find myself wanting to go back. I also find myself thinking life would’ve been easier if I had married someone else. Do you have any advice?
What advice do you have for someone whose 1 year relationship just ended with her partner expressing doubts about life, work, relationships and feeling jealous of my faith?
Do you have any recommendations for resources for parents to teach their children about puberty and sex from a Catholic point of view?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

[email protected]
Beyond the Birds and the Bees
THE TRUTH AND MEANING OF HUMAN SEXUALITY
Ruah Woods Institute
TOBET Body Matters

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

"Bonding as Adoptive Parents" & "Practical Good Eros" | ACW275

8 april 2024 | 49 min

Questions answered this episode:

Soon after my husband and I got married I had cancer and needed to get a hysterectomy. My husband and I adopted our son a year ago. I notice that my husband didn’t bond with me like first time parents typically do. I have trouble sitting with the desire to want to be ministered to as a pregnant woman. Do you have any advice?
I have been steeped in pornography for most of my life but I’ve been free for over a year now. My tendency towards lust is still present and strong. At this point I don’t know what good eros towards a woman would feel like. What does good eros feels like practically?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here
Christopher’s Eating the Sunrise

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

"Attracting Certain Kind of Women", "Marriage or Monastery" & "Man & Woman Stranded on an Island..."

1 april 2024 | 46 min

Questions answered this episode:

As a young man in my mid twenties, I long for a godly woman. However, I’ve questioned my intentions about this yearning and wondered if my ambitions to get in shape, make a good living and develop a closer relationship with God could just be a cover for worshipping an idol of attracting a certain kind of woman. How can I learn to integrate these ambitions with becoming the kind of man God wants me to be.
I want to get married but I see many huge challenges in raising a family. I wonder if it would be safer to join a monastery despite my strong desire for marriage. Do you have any advice?
If a man and a woman were stranded alone in an island with no foreseeable way of ever leaving or having access to the Sacraments. Could they marry and raise a family?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Donate for Reversals

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

"Desire & Lust", "Pre-Marital or Non Marital Sex" & "Will Heaven Lack Something?" | ACW273

25 mars 2024 | 48 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m struggling with the line between desire and lust in the context of marriage. Can I watch my wife shower and not fall into lust?
What is it about marriage that makes desires and actions that, if otherwise took place outside of it would be sinful, not sinful?
Will heaven get better after the end times? Will heaven be lacking something when only our souls are there awaiting our reunion with out glorified bodies?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.
Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

"True Femininity", "Advice for Single Catholics" & "Trusting Jesus" | ACW272

18 mars 2024 | 52 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m a single Catholic woman in my early 30’s. I’m normally drawn to things that are typically associated with men. A spiritual director from the past attempted to direct me to more traditionally feminine things. What does femininity and masculinity really mean? Can not having a feminine or masculine enough personality constitute an impediment to marriage or to religious life?
Do you have any advice for single Catholics that are feeling a lack of Jesus’s love?
I’m a single 34 year old Catholic woman. I long for marriage but I haven’t found a man this is looking for the same things as me. Could it be that my vocation is not marriage even though it is not what I long for? How can I continue to trust Jesus?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here
COURSE SCHEDULE

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

"Excretory Functions In Heaven", "My Husband Won't Reverse His Vasectomy" and " the Marital Embrace Before Original Sin" | ACW271

11 mars 2024 | 46 min

Questions answered this episode:

Do you think we’ll still have our excretory functions in the eschaton?
I’m a new convert to the faith. My husband is still a non-catholic and had a vasectomy some time ago. I don’t think he will reverse it. Do you have any advice?
Was there sex before original sin? Was marriage meant to last for eternity?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Donate for Reversals
Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery, click here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Difficulty Holding On, Surgery for the Sake of Openness to Life & Hellish Comparison. | ACW270

4 mars 2024 | 50 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’ve been going deep into the TOB for a few years but after all this time has passed, I’ve noticed it’s difficult to hold on. Did you have a similar experience? Could you provide some encouragement?
My wife and I are newly weds. We both would like to have children but she’s currently taking a medication that could be harmful for her pregnancy. There is an option to have a medical procedure that would get her off the medication but the surgery is also risky. Are we morally obligated to have the surgery for the sake of openness to life?
I’m a young Christian woman struggling with undiagnosed body dysmorphia. I was compared to other women in a previous dating relationship. I’ve been feeling inadequate and I feel like there’s so much pressure for women to be as attractive as possible from everyone around them. How can I combat this challenge and be set free?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Donate for Reversals
Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here
View our COURSE SCHEDULE
Christopher’s Eating the Sunrise
Christopher’s At the Heart of the Gospel

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery, click here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Open Bathroom Policy, Stopping Birth Control "Cold Turkey" & Idolizing One's Spouse | ACW269

26 februari 2024 | 50 min

Questions answered this episode:

My husband and I have 4 children 7 years old and under. We have unintentionally adopted an open door bathroom policy in our home. Is there an age where this would cease to be appropriate?
I’m entering the Church this easter but my husband is not. I want to honor him but I also want to step into what I believe God wants for us and our fertility. How do I have this conversation with my husband? Do I just stop birth control “cold turkey”?
What does idolizing one’s spouse actually look like?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Donate for Reversals
Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery, click here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

"Remain", Contraception & the Sacrifice of Motherhood | ACW268

19 februari 2024 | 39 min

Questions answered this episode:

The word remain has been coming up in my prayer. Do you have deeper insights into this word? Has it ever come up for you in prayer?
Where do you recommend that I go to learn more about the topic of contraception from an academic perspective?
I’m a stay at home mom. The way the world, my family and friends think about motherhood saddens me. Do you have any advice?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages?
Donate for Reversals

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Resurrection & Final Judgement, Anesthetized to Beauty and Call to Single Life | ACW267

12 februari 2024 | 57 min

Questions answered this episode:

Will heaven be less spectacular until the day when souls get reunited with their bodies? How will the final judgement change the status of people already in heaven or in hell?
How can I begin to enter into the deep emotional realities of art like music or movies?
How can I know if my desire to live a single life is my calling?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Donate for Reversals
God Is Beauty Book

John Paul II's Letter to Artists

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

God Liking Us, Dating Wounds In Newly Weds & Fishing for Compliments | ACW266

5 februari 2024 | 48 min

Questions answered this episode:

How can I know if God not only loves me but likes me?
My husband and I recently married but I find that I’m resentful and defensive because of things that happened during our 5 years of dating. I continue to grow angrier and resentful as our marriage goes on. Do you have any advice?
I’m a young woman and often find myself wanting to be desired by another man. Is looking for affirmation in this way a form of lust?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

COURSE SCHEDULE
Donate for Reversals

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Letting My Future Husband Love My Body, Medical Infertility & TOB for 7th Graders | ACW265

29 januari 2024 | 41 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m engaged and looking forward to marriage but have struggled with body image and eating disorders. How can I prepare myself mentally, emotionally and/or physically for the marital embrace? How can I love my body more so that I can let my fiancé love it too?
What does the Church say about medical infertility?
Do you have any resources available to teach Theology of the Body for 7th graders?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Awaken Parish Program

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Subjective Beauty, Abstinence from Sexual Intimacy & Unwanted Pregnancy. | ACW264

22 januari 2024 | 40 min

Questions answered this episode:

Is it true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder?
I become distant and irritable when abstaining from sexual intimacy with my wife. Do you have any advice?
How can I accept an unwanted pregnancy?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies of GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE
Paul VI Institute
God is Beauty Book

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Makeup, Prescribing Contraception & NFP as Openness to Life | ACW263

15 januari 2024 | 33 min

Questions answered this episode:

Is there anything wrong with me for being attracted to someone only when she uses makeup?
As a physician, is prescribing contraception a mortal sin?
My husband thinks we should use NPF for the rest of our marriage but I long to continue having children. Do you have any thoughts?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

AWAKEN Parish Program
Paul VI Institute
Catholic Medical Association

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Fertility Body Fluids, M*sturbation & Healing of Sexual Past | ACW262

8 januari 2024 | 42 min

Getting Over First Love, Same Sex Attraction & Wedding Ceremony | ACW261

3 januari 2024 | 46 min

Blessing of Same Sex Unions, Wedding Night & Intimacy in Prayer with Jesus and One Another. | ACW260

25 december 2023 | 49 min

Questions answered this episode:

What’s going on with the blessing of same sex unions?
Does the TOB have anything to say about consummating your marriage on the wedding night?
How do Christopher and Wendy live their intimacy with Jesus in parallel with their intimacy as husband and wife?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

YouTube Video Mentioned on the Pooper

Vatican Doc on Blessing of Same Sex Unions

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Spiritual Mothers in Parishes, Beauty Standards & "Not in the Mood" | ACW259

18 december 2023 | 49 min

Questions answered this episode:

Why are our parishes only run by fathers if the domestic church (the family) is run by fathers and mothers?
I’m not “stunning” compared to the standards of beauty that society has. I know I’m “beautifully and wonderfully made” but I understand this only with my mind, not my heart. Do you have any advice?
I’ve heard that as married couples, we need to be intimate to show our love even if we’re not in the mood. If my bride is not in the mood, it would seem to me like I’d be forcing my needs unto her. Does the TOB shine a light on this?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

-Janis Ian - At Seventeen
-Vatican Document on Collaboration of Men & Women

TOB Institute PO Box: PO Box 573. Quarryville, PA 17566.

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Marital Jealousy in Heaven, Passing on Genetic Disease & Saying "No" | ACW258

11 december 2023 | 50 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m getting married soon and I know that there will be no marriage in heaven. Recently the thought of spending such a short life with my future husband and then eternity alone has crept in. Can the TOB speak into this?
I have a genetical disease that has a 50% probability of being passed on. Can the Theology of the Body provide help to discern if I should take the risk?
In my marriage, my husband seems to use sex like a drug. Can I refuse to engage in intercourse out of love?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Next Step: A Course for Discerning Marriage

🏔️Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Intrusive Thoughts After P*rn Usage, Is Circumcision Mutilation? & Baptism of Desire for Babies in Womb | ACW257

4 december 2023 | 45 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m a 40 year old husband and father. I grew up in a family dynamic where porn and masturbation was normal. I quitted porn after 7 years of marriage but now I’m really struggling with intrusive thoughts. Do you have any advice?
I recently heard that circumcision is mutilation. Should I confess this?
I’m a mid-wife accompanying a couple that’s pregnant with a child that possibly won’t be born alive; they long for their daughter to be baptized. Can you explain baptism of desire?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

🔥 Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body

📕 Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

What to Do with Your "Sexual Needs" as a Christian
TRUE PURITY: Going Beyond Just Avoiding Lust
How to Turn Your "Sexual Needs" into a Prayer

🎥Check out our YouTube Channel

📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

🏔️ Join Bill Donaghy on a pilgrimage to the UK to walk in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. July 16-25, 2024
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

My Son is Gender Neutral, Dating an Older Woman & Listener's Affirmation | ACW256

27 november 2023 | 43 min

Questions answered this episode:

My son wants to change his name to a gender neutral name. What do I call him?
I’ve developed a friendship with a woman that’s several years older than I am. As our friendship grows, the possibility of a romantic relationship has come up but I don’t feel “butterflies” in my stomach. Would it be irresponsible to enter a relationship without those romantic feelings?
This is not a question but an affirmation of the wisdom and balance coming from Wendy and Christopher’s marriage

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Check out our YouTube Channel

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher, Fr. David Stavarz and the TOBI Team for our Holy Land pilgrimage Sept 3-13, 2024!
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Wild Eros, Vampires & Modesty | ACW255

22 november 2023 | 58 min

Liberal Parish, Practical Advice to Overcome P*rn & the Receptive Role of Man | ACW254

13 november 2023 | 52 min

Questions answered this episode:

My current parish has a radically liberal priest and LGBTQ ministries. Should I speak to my parish priest or should I just look for another parish?
I’ve struggled with pornography for a long time. Do you have any practical advice on how to overcome porn?
I’m having difficulty accepting my place as the bride in the spousal analogy. How can I accept my receptive role as a man?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

How To Quit P*rn As A Christian

Check out our YouTube Channel

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Death and Dinosaurs, Disinterested Gift & the Fruits of Sin | ACW253

6 november 2023 | 53 min

Questions answered this episode:

If death entered the world with the fall of man, what about all the other creatures on earth before man came into the scene?
What is the disinterested gift that John Paul II talks about and how does it relate to eros?
My wife does not want any more children and resists the idea of practicing NFP. How do I not destroy my marriage, not put my soul in jeopardy and still live my moral obligation as a Catholic with a clear conscience under these circumstances?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Check out our YouTube Channel

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher, Fr. David Stavarz and the TOBI Team for our Holy Land pilgrimage Sept 3-13, 2024!
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Trauma Growing Up, TOB for Teens & Top 5 TOB Movies | ACW252

30 oktober 2023 | 44 min

Questions answered this episode:

I grew up in a very painful and hurtful environment and fear that all my personality traits come from this broken past. How do I continue to trust God when it feels like I’m becoming a stranger to myself and everyone that knows me?
Is it possible to talk to teens about the beauty of their sexuality in a way that won’t make them feel threatened or embarrassed?
What are the top 5 Theology of the Body movies that you would recommend to someone?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB at the Movies

Check out our YouTube Channel

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher, Fr. David Stavarz and the TOBI Team for our Holy Land pilgrimage Sept 3-13, 2024!
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Looking Lustfully, M*sturbation & Perfectionism in Marriage | ACW251

23 oktober 2023 | 42 min

Questions answered this episode:

I have a hard time trying to determine if the way I look at women is sinful or not. Do you have any advice?
Is there any difference between touching different parts of my body and masturbation? I don’t understand why the latter is sinful while the former is perfectly acceptable.
Did you struggle with perfectionism when practicing NFP? Is the way I see NFP a contraceptive mentality? How can I feel more confident and not scared about the pleasure I’ll feel in marriage?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of Christopher's [Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty](www.eatingthesunrise.com)

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

[Eating The Sunrise Book](www.eatingthesunrise.com)
Love Is Patient But I'm Not Book

Check out our YouTube Channel

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher, Fr. David Stavarz and the TOBI Team for our Holy Land pilgrimage Sept 3-13, 2024!
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Living as Brother and Sister, Climax Outside Intercourse & the Incarnation as Plan B | ACW250

16 oktober 2023 | 55 min

Questions answered this episode:

When would it be appropriate to recommend living as brother and sister to couples who got a civil divorce, got remarried but are still in a sacramental marriage with a former spouse? What exactly does “living as brother and sister” entail?
Where does the Church teach that mutual acts of intimacy which do not involve intercourse but which result in orgasm for one or both spouses are evil?
Can you explain how the Incarnation was not God’s plan B?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOBI YouTube Channel

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher, Fr. David Stavarz and the TOBI Team for our Holy Land pilgrimage Sept 3-13, 2024!
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Being "Cool", Erectile Dysfunction & Adopting Embryos | ACW249

9 oktober 2023 | 56 min

Questions answered this episode:

I’m a mother, and now that my children are in school and going through the social dynamics of popularity, memories from my own time in school and this unhealthy dynamic are welling up. Why do I have this need to feel like I’m “cool”?
We are a married couple struggling with the trial of managing intimacy and aging. At this point, I’m struggling to maintain an erection and my wife is urging me to seek a solution. Do you have any advice?
My housemate works for a Christian adoption agency that allows couples desiring children of their own to adopt and implant embryos that were originally conceived for in-vitro fertilisation purposes but that are no longer going to be allowed to further develop by the conceiving couple. What are your thoughts?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher, Fr. David Stavarz and the TOBI Team for our Holy Land pilgrimage Sept 3-13, 2024!
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Reading TOB, NFP Struggles & Old Loves | ACW248

2 oktober 2023 | 47 min

Questions answered this episode:

I'm trying to read through the actual text of John Paul's Theology of the Body but I find it incredibly difficult to understand. Is there anything I could do?
My best friend and her husband are practicing Natural Family Planing. She feels isolated, discouraged and frustrated. Meanwhile, I feel like NFP should be a team effort and a source of closeness to the couple. Do you have any advice?
I was in an unhealthy relationship with a man but I still long for his closeness. What place do old relationships have in light of the TOB?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher, Fr. David Stavarz and the TOBI Team for our Holy Land pilgrimage Sept 3-13, 2024!
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Wife Blessings, Parenthood Roles and Dating Non-Catholics | ACW247

25 september 2023 | 39 min

Questions answered this episode:

Can a wife bless her husband?
My husband doesn’t understand the huge life change that motherhood has been for me. How can I prevent our difference in parenthood roles from affecting our relationship?
I’m a Catholic young adult whom recently dated an Anglican. I enjoyed our time together but decided to not formalize the relationship. I’m uncertain if my decision was based on selfishness or prudence. Do you have any advice?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB 1: Head & Heart Immersion Course Online
Sexual Integration & Redemption Course

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher, Fr. David Stavarz and the TOBI Team for our Holy Land pilgrimage Sept 3-13, 2024!
Get details here

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Cohabitation, Scarred Sexuality and Alzheimer's | ACW246

18 september 2023 | 39 min

Questions answered this episode:

My daughter & her fiancé are thinking about moving in together before getting married in the Church and she expects me to help with the move. What should I do?
I struggled with porn addiction and I experience self-hatred towards my sexuality. How can I deal with my scarred sexuality in a practical way?
My father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and whenever I look at him I don’t recognize him. What does our faith teach us about mental disease?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

EatingTheSunrise.com is not yet avaiable.

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Lingerie in Marriage | ACW245

12 september 2023 | 48 min

Questions answered this episode:

I was pregnant and developed a condition that led to an early delivery and the passing of my son within a few hours of delivery. Now I’m struggling to see my womb as a place of life instead of death. Can the Theology of the Body shine a light on this?
Does one have to be in a state of grace in order to receive the sacramental benefits from marriage? What if one of the spouses is in a state of grace and the other is not?
What does the Theology of the Body have to say about lingerie?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

Paul VI Institute
NaPro Technology

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Horrors that Christ Endured | ACW244

4 september 2023 | 48 min

Questions answered this episode:

I recently watched the movie Sound of Freedom and I was deeply moved. What do you think is contributing to this horrific reality and why hasn't the Church addressed this crisis?
Was Adam at fault when eating of the forbidden tree? Did John Paul II say anything about it in his Theology of the Body?
My wife has been experiencing excessive bleeding and doctors have recommended a hysterectomy. What is the Church's position on this?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

EVENT SCHEDULE

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

Heart of God by Victor Issa

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

How To Heal a Stoic Heart | ACW243

28 augusti 2023 | 51 min

Questions answered this episode:

Do you have any tips for healing for someone that chose to be a stoic rather than an addict before he/she knew about the banquet that the Gospel offered?
Should I share that I'm no longer a virgin with the next person I date? Can I become a virgin again?
We are recent weds but discerned avoiding pregnancy for the beginning of our marriage. We are uncertain about when her next menstrual cycle will come and are wondering if we'll have to wait until her next cycle so that we can consumate our marriage. Why is God putting us in this situation?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

Paul VI Institute
NaPro Technology

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Intimacy In Dating | ACW242

21 augusti 2023 | 43 min

Betrayed By My Body | ACW241

14 augusti 2023 | 50 min

Questions answered this episode:

* I recently became a mother but now I feel like I lost a sense of my personhood. How can I embrace my life as a mother while still honoring my person?
My wife went through medical procedures that made it impossible for her to have intercourse. What are our options for sexual intimacy as a couple?
I’ve been married for 3 years but haven’t been able to conceive and I feel betrayed by my body. Do you have any advice?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

You Cannot Give What You Don't Have | ACW240

7 augusti 2023 | 51 min

I've been overwhelmed by the call to leadership as a husband, father, and professional. Do you have any advice?
I'm going through a rough patch in my relationship with my boyfriend. I feel disappointed and anxious about the thought of losing this relationship. Could you offer some wisdom?
I struggle with lust. I want to be honest with my wife, and whenever I bring these things up, she shuts down. Can you help me?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Conversation with Jay Wonacott
Made for More Event Contact: [email protected]

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Theology of the BodyBuilder | ACW239

31 juli 2023 | 40 min

-Question 1: I'm a bodybuilder, and I see both the good and the bad in this pursuit. Is there a way to integrate my life of faith with my passion for bodybuilding?
-Question 2: I went through a life-threatening condition during childbirth that is making my husband and me reconsider how we approach sexual intimacy. Do you have any advice?
-Question 3: I recently started an intentional relationship, and I know that at some point we'll need to have more intimate conversations. Do you have any advice on how to talk about sex without it being an occasion for sin?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.
Pope Paul VI Institute: FertilityCare and NaProTechnology
Good News About Sex & Marriage YouTube Playlist
GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Did Jesus Suffer As Much As SA Victims? | ACW238

24 juli 2023 | 56 min

Sexual abuse is a punishment almost worse than death. How can TOB explain that Jesus truly understands the deep pain endured by people who have suffered sexual abuse?
I'm a young adult man drawn to a friend. I am not as physically attracted to her. Is physical attraction less important than other aspects?
Was woman punished more severly than man after the fall?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

“When the hour had come for him to fulfill the Father’s plan of love, Jesus allows a glimpse of the boundless depth of his filial prayer.” We see this depth “in his last words from the Cross, where prayer and the gift of self are but one … until the ‘loud cry’ as he expires, giving up his spirit. All the troubles, for all time, of humanity enslaved by sin and death, all the petitions and intercessions of salvation history are summed up in this cry of the incarnate Word. Here the Father accepts them and, beyond all hope, answers them by raising his Son. Thus is fulfilled and brought to completion the drama of prayer in the economy of creation and salvation” (CCC 2605-2606).

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

Flannery O'Connor Conversation

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Gender Stereotypes | ACW237

17 juli 2023 | 61 min

I want to honor my children’s gender while not imposing gender stereotypes on them. Are there any activities, clothes or toys that should be kept exclusively to a specific gender?
I had sex with the woman I intend to marry. We’ve both repented and gone to confession. Is there still hope that our relationship will lead to a holy marriage?
I’ve struggled with porn and lust since I was a teenager. I’m approaching 40 now and I’m a husband and father. How do I get to the point where attractiveness becomes an occasion of grace instead of an occasion of sin?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

Saint Paul VI Institute
The Dark Night: Psychological Experience and Spiritual Reality by Marc Foley

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

A Heart That Gives Itself To Those In Misery | ACW236

10 juli 2023 | 33 min

Is there a bad type of eros or is this only a form of porneia?
I had a vasectomy because my wife had a heart condition that would put her life at risk if she happened to get pregnant. I went to a priest and he left me feeling hopeless. Was the way he reacted consistent with gravity of the mistake we made as a couple?
Sometimes painful memories from past relationships come to mind and I feel like I’m betraying God. Is this normal?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Is the Church Anti-Woman? | ACW235

3 juli 2023 | 54 min

My wife and I practice Natural Family Planning. She thinks it’s unfair that the only time she has any interest in sex is during times of fertility. She also thinks that the Church’s stance is anti-woman. How can I respond to her?
I’ve struggled with loving my body and feeling feminine. Do you have any insights?
I’m a husband discerning diaconate. What does the TOB has to say about marriage and holy orders as a deacon.

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Sweden Video

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Chastity is for EVERY BODY | ACW234

26 juni 2023 | 45 min

I’ve heard that couples should have a short engagement so as to not fall into sexual sin. What are your thoughts?
Would artificial conception be permissible in the case of illness?
Both vocations to marriage and celibacy are a call to sacrifice. How can I discern properly if I have a profound desire to give my life completely to God?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

Our Bodies Tell God's Story: Discovering the Divine Plan for Love, Sex and Gender

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Feminine Beauty Is a Grace | ACW233

19 juni 2023 | 28 min

Is finding out the sex of your child in the womb wrong?
I belong to a protestant group ministry and several of our members have been hurt by one of the ministry leaders who constantly objectifies men and women. Do you have any advice?
I’m a young adult that studied business and worked in a top tier firm. The demands of the work made it very hard to take care of my personal life so I decided to leave after knowing it was the right thing to do. I’m currently facing criticism from those close to me. How can I look at this with TOB eyes?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

OUR BODIES PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL STUDY GUIDE

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Poop Jokes | ACW 232

12 juni 2023 | 52 min

I feel profoundly lonely and I’m desperate. How can I address this longing without turning it into an idol?
I’m trying to teach my daughter to be prudent regarding poop jokes. Do you have any advice?
My husband and I are trying to integrate NFP in our family life. Is it okay to use ovulation predictor kits?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Where to Draw the Line | ACW231

5 juni 2023 | 57 min

The bodies of some saints and holy men and women have been found incorrupt. Can you explain the miracle of incorrupt bodies and how it relates to the Theology of the Body?
I struggle with gaping at women. How do I overcome the desire to look at women?
How did you live your marriage with openness to the number of children God wanted to give you?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Denmark/Sweden event info and Registration

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Annihilation or Sublimation? | ACW230

29 maj 2023 | 49 min

I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and have been unable to conceive. I've been suggested to take a drug that induces ovulation, but this drug may cause cancer. Am I morally bound to use this medical treatment?
How do you deal with the far right movement in the Church?
I have feelings for a man and I can't think of him without getting aroused, which makes me feel bad. How can I learn to think of him without these sensual affections?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Untwisting the Twisted | ACW229

22 maj 2023 | 44 min

I've been doing Exodus 90 for the past few years. One of the ascetic practices involves only listening to music that lifts the soul to God. Is this asceticism opposed to listening to popular/secular music?
I'm a 22 year old woman in college that has struggled with pornography for a few years. I've realized how porn has affected the way I see my boyfriend whom I'm planning to marry. I'm afraid of entering into marriage with these wounds. Do you have any advice?
My daugher and I attended one of your Made for More events and she was deeply moved by one of the sculptures displayed. Could you tell us more about it?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

The Heart of God sculpture by Victor Issa

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

At Breast of Mary | ACW228

15 maj 2023 | 49 min

I’m a young adult that struggles with same sex attraction. I was deeply wounded by my parents’ reaction when I shared my struggle. Do you have any advice?
I want to continue loving my husband but I sometimes worry that I’m using him in the marital embrace. What helps you keep the spiritual reality of the marital embrace at the forefront?
Secular art, when seen through the lens of our relationship with Christ, awakens in our heart a holy erotic longing. Could you share a playlist of the songs that move you?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Redeeming the Wounds of Pornography | ACW227

8 maj 2023 | 43 min

I'm struggling with sloth and the burdens of motherhood, does the Theology of the Body have any advice?
I was exposed to pornography and I'm afraid I'll bring the wounds into my marriage. Is there any way to forget these memories?
I struggled with self hate and whenever men approach me I close down. I'm also drawn to religious life, how can I work through this?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Did Jesus and Mary have Sexual Desires?

1 maj 2023 | 48 min

How is it that God met Moses "face-to-face" before the incarnation? I have some fears about NFP as a soon-to-be-engaged woman and I am sometimes tempted to just use contraception. Do you have any advice? Did Jesus and Mary have sexual desires? Were they able to have sex? How did their sexuality differ from ours?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Marriage after "Detransitioning" | ACW225

24 april 2023 | 40 min

How important do you think physical fitness is in light of Theology of the Body? If Satan has no body, how can he have offspring? (In Genesis it says that God will put emnity between his offspring and Eve's.) As someone who fell for the gender ideology and got a double mastectomy, what does TOB have to offer me as I am now embracing my femininity and discerning marriage with a man?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

What to Do with Sexual Dreams | ACW224

24 april 2023 | 41 min

Every part in the light | ACW223

17 april 2023 | 36 min

HE IS RISEN | ACW222

10 april 2023 | 40 min

How have you instilled Theology of the Body in your children? Do you think we will be naked in heaven? Any advice for getting my boyfriend on board with using NFP as a protestant?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

OUR BODIES TELL GOD'S STORY: DISCOVERING THE DIVINE PLAN FOR LOVE, SEX, AND GENDER by Christopher West

Couple to Couple League

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Is the Soul Greater than the Body? | ACW221

3 april 2023 | 58 min

Even though I know God loves me, infedelity in my parents marriage and rejection from my family has left me feeling unloved by God. How can I apply Theology of the Body to my life? What does Theology of the Body have to say about the claim that the soul is more important than the body? What advice would you give for engaged couples who have a past with sexual sin and pornography?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Christopher West: A Meditation on the Passion, Death & Resurrection Like You've Never Heard Before

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

View our MADE FOR MORE Schedule

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE by Christopher West

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Is My Marriage Valid? | ACW220

27 mars 2023 | 50 min

Living Chastely as a Same Sex Couple? | ACW219

20 mars 2023 | 49 min

Why haven't I heard this? | ACW218

13 mars 2023 | 43 min

Can NFP be Contraceptive? | ACW217

6 mars 2023 | 51 min

I know we are no longer bound by them, but what was the line of thinking behind Jewish purity laws? We used natural family planning with a contraceptive mentality and it wounded our marriage. . . do you have any advice? In a world of so much confusion about one's own image, gender, belonging, how can mothers and fathers nourish our children's identities?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Watch the Ask Christopher West podcast on YouTube

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

The Dark Night: Psychological Experience and Spiritual Reality by Marc Foley

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Abstaining forever? | ACW216

27 februari 2023 | 49 min

Does Theology of the Body have anything to say about age difference in marriage? Is it permissable for married couples to use contraception or sterilization in cases where pregnancy is likely to cause serious health problems or death for the mother? I've been married for five years and sometimes I can't stand my husband, but I want to truly love him. . . can you help?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body!

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Temptation, Gender Ideology, and Wedding Bands | ACW215

20 februari 2023 | 48 min

The Gaze of Understanding | ACW214

13 februari 2023 | 44 min

Do children take a toll on marriage? | ACW213

6 februari 2023 | 46 min

God the Mother? | ACW112

30 januari 2023 | 45 min

Is Netflix Pornography? | ACW211

23 januari 2023 | 46 min

The Language of Lovers | ACW210

16 januari 2023 | 51 min

A Child in His Name | ACW209

9 januari 2023 | 44 min

The Blood of Our Lord | ACW208

2 januari 2023 | 46 min

The Mystery of Birth | ACW207

26 december 2022 | 52 min

Strides Toward Sacrilege | ACW206

19 december 2022 | 43 min

Open the Latch | ACW205

12 december 2022 | 43 min

How can TOB help with a healthy relationship to food? For many years I suffered from premature ejaculation but now, sometimes I have unions with my wife where I do not ejaculate. . . is that acceptable? I am yearning for spiritual and emotional intimacy with my husband of 29 years, but he seems incapable of sharing his heart and our conjugal union has become, for me, merely mechanical. How does one survive in such a marriage?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Just Reason | ACW204

5 december 2022 | 48 min

Many devout Catholics hold a negative view of NFP, but Humanae Vitae seems to cast it in a positive light. Am I wrong to think that practicing NFP is not only permissiable but commendable? If redemption and resurection is the restoration of our humanity to its origins, why won't there be marriage in heaven? How can TOB help me give myself sexually to my husband when I feel so disconnected from him due to betrayal and use?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Reclaiming "Sexiness" | ACW203

28 november 2022 | 42 min

Balancing Ministry and Family | ACW202

21 november 2022 | 58 min

What Kind of Desire? | ACW201

14 november 2022 | 43 min

Did God Know? | ACW200

7 november 2022 | 39 min

I Never Would Have | ACW199

31 oktober 2022 | 50 min

This Is Our Union | ACW198

24 oktober 2022 | 49 min

A Secret Request | ACW197

17 oktober 2022 | 45 min

What does it mean theologically that men are always fertile while women are only fertile for a fraction of each month? My boyfriend has a past of watching porn. . . it is very hard for me to feel beautiful and confident in front around him because I know that it must have effected his ideas and expectations of what the female body should look like. Any advice? I want to love and cherish my husband and be intimate with him but I am struggling with being able to be aroused. We've been married for eight years and have two young kids with a third on the way. I find I can't separate the frustrations of the day from our intimate time and I'm constantly thinking negative thoughts about his attempts to get me in the mood. I get frustrated with him and myself for not being able to be aroused and half the time we justt give up. Why can't I be aroused by my husband anymore?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

Be Restored: Healing Our Sexual Wounds through Jesus’ Merciful Love by Bob Schuchts

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

For The Joy Set Before Him | ACW196

10 oktober 2022 | 56 min

What reflections do you have on the sacramental view of nature and Theology of the Body? What should do when my fiancé looks at women on Instagram? Is it possible for sexual arrousal to be born out of love and deep desire for spiritual communion? If it is possible, how can I train myself to change my mind from responding to seduction to being a man able to love and give myself as a gift?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

Christopher's conversation with his dad, Soren, about hiking the Appalachian Trail: https://youtu.be/UNWR5hK-NMU

GOD IS BEAUTY: A RETREAT ON THE GOSPEL AND ART by St. John Paul II

FILL THESE HEARTS by Christopher West

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Until Death Do Us Part | ACW195

3 oktober 2022 | 50 min

How do I know that I truly love the woman I'm dating and that it's not just the feelings of comfort she gives me? I do not want to make my wife an object for my desire, yet when she rejects me I struggle mightily. How do I unconditionally love my wife and not ask or expect anything of her when I have such strong desires? If marriage is a sacrament of Christ's love for the Church, why is marriage only until death? Christ's love for the Church goes beyond death.

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Register for the St. Therese and The Little Way Seine River Cruise (October 26–November 2, 2023)

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Riding the Wave | ACW194

26 september 2022 | 44 min

To Awaken Love | ACW193

19 september 2022 | 50 min

The Little Way | ACW192

12 september 2022 | 55 min

How can spouses communicate how they feel about the issue of maintaining physical attractiveness throughout the stages of married life without adding hurt to the relationship? Regarding marriage in old age, is there a dispensation in Canon Law permitting marriage if the union is unable to be consumated due to impotence after child baring years? What does it mean to take in movies, TV shows, and other stories through a "TOB lens"?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Whole Bible in 5 Words | ACW191

5 september 2022 | 42 min

Any tips on how to offer hope to my brother who struggles with same sex attraction? Wendy, could you share more about praying for Christopher while he was pursuing an other woman before you were together? Where can I find the complete works of John Paul II on Theology of the Body?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

A Conversation with my Dad (Soren West)

God Is Beauty: A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karol Wojtyla/St. John Paul II

Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Deception, Marriage Debt, and Sexual Trauma | ACW190

29 augusti 2022 | 52 min

The Spiritual Fingerprint | ACW189

22 augusti 2022 | 45 min

Can you flesh out the concept of placing our intentions in the womb of the Blessed Mother? Isn't using NFP to avoid a pregnancy less open to life than just having sex without tracking the woman's cycle? As a young woman I sometimes find myself wishing my body was different and I feel that what God has given me is not enough. Does Theology of the Body have any help to offer?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Good News About Sex & Marriage by Christopher West

Body Image, Celibacy, and Theology of the Body with Sr. Maria Gemma

Join Christopher and Wendy on the TOB Institute’s “St. Therese & the Little Way” Seine River Cruise in France from Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2023 (optional pre-cruise extension trip to Lourdes Oct. 22-26). Get complete details and place your deposit here.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Jackpot | ACW188

15 augusti 2022 | 49 min

The Healing Journey | ACW187

8 augusti 2022 | 46 min

A Waste of Time? | ACW186

1 augusti 2022 | 34 min

The Glory That Awaits | ACW185

25 juli 2022 | 46 min

It Takes A Lifetime | ACW184

18 juli 2022 | 37 min

The Third Way | ACW183

11 juli 2022 | 50 min

Blood and Water | ACW182

4 juli 2022 | 45 min

They Know Not What They Do | ACW181

27 juni 2022 | 47 min

The One Blessing | ACW180

20 juni 2022 | 53 min

What Is Your Calling? | ACW179

13 juni 2022 | 42 min

We Have to Stand Up | ACW178

6 juni 2022 | 54 min

Purity in Physical Affection | ACW177

30 maj 2022 | 43 min

Somebody Knows We're Confused | ACW176

23 maj 2022 | 36 min

The Demands of Love | ACW175

16 maj 2022 | 33 min

Not As Orphans | ACW174

9 maj 2022 | 41 min

Good Eros vs. The Near Occasion of Sin | ACW173

2 maj 2022 | 42 min

Was Jesus Naked on the Cross? | ACW172

25 april 2022 | 35 min

Matter Matters | ACW171

11 april 2022 | 43 min

Matt is Coming! | ACW170

4 april 2022 | 41 min

Body Image | ACW169

28 mars 2022 | 42 min

Active Suffering | ACW168

22 mars 2022 | 48 min

A Rich Spiritual Life | ACW167

14 mars 2022 | 47 min

The Goal of Lent | ACW166

7 mars 2022 | 45 min

Attracted to a Priest? | ACW165

28 februari 2022 | 43 min

Big Air | ACW164

21 februari 2022 | 42 min

The Way Up Is Down | ACW163

14 februari 2022 | 44 min

Mixed Motives | ACW162

8 februari 2022 | 46 min

Turn On Your Heart Light | ACW 161

31 januari 2022 | 46 min

The Blessed Vision | ACW160

24 januari 2022 | 43 min

Intimacy in Abstinence | ACW159

17 januari 2022 | 49 min

Be Not Afraid to Dream | ACW158

10 januari 2022 | 42 min

Treasure His Promises | ACW157

3 januari 2022 | 44 min

It's A Journey | ACW156

27 december 2021 | 51 min

He Wept with Her | ACW155

20 december 2021 | 43 min

Passion vs. Intimacy | ACW154

13 december 2021 | 41 min

Are Adam and Eve saints? When does desiring a romantic relationship become lustful, especially when using dating apps? What do you recommend for the healing and increase of desire for marital intimacy?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Are Adam and Eve saints? What about Cain, Abel, and Seth?

If they are saints, was their gaining death in the garden merely the loss of the supernatural gift of immortality, or also a rupture in their relationship with God they later had to repent of to mend their relationship with God so they could die in his grace?

Question 2:
Dear Christopher and Wendy, I, a 25-year-old male, ended a long-term relationship just over a year ago and a significant reason was my former girlfriend's intent on using contraception in marriage. Shortly after, I came to this podcast for strength, education, and support and I’m confident in that decision. Thank you for your work and passionate responses to all of us listeners.

My question comes about dating apps. In short, do you think it's a good idea? Long version, I recently downloaded a dating app after being against them for so long, and it's the first time it's lasted on my phone for more than 24 hours. I am ready to date again, and I want to find a future spouse. But when does it become lustful in wanting a girlfriend? I find myself giving in to temptation, and sometimes the desire of having a new relationship and the experiences that come with that seem lustful to me. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

Qestion 3:
Christopher and Wendy, we love you! God bless you guys with a most special blessing. You guys have been a great blessing in our life and in our marriage. My wife and I have been married for 4 years. We feel we have a very strong marriage. We’re happy, strong in our Catholic faith, raising 3 kids together.

We want to grow in all areas continually but the one area we feel that is lacking is "her intimacy." She, my wife, wants her sexual desire towards me to be stronger and wants to be more loving during sex. We have revealed everything to each other about our past sexual experiences because we wanted to hold nothing back from each other before we got married. (When I heard you say this on the podcast I was so glad to hear that I did the right thing to expose my past self). Her first sexual experience was not a good one. She was also 14 at the time and there were other sexual partners after that also. She says the times she experienced sexual desire was at the beginning of a relationship with someone new. I feel that in our marriage she “does it to please me." We’ve been reading Theology of the Body and listening to your podcasts. I long for her intimacy and more of her presence during our love making. We talk about it together rather often now and she is open to ways to help or resolve whatever the issue may be.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Check out the John Paul II Healing Center

Be Restored: Healing Our Sexual Wounds through Jesus’ Merciful Love by Dr. Bob Schuchts

Naked Surrender: Coming Home to Our True Sexuality by Andrew Comiskey

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Love Matures | ACW153

6 december 2021 | 37 min

Do you have any encouragement for bringing Theology of the Body to the Anglican Church? How should I respond, as a teacher, to one of my highschool girls who thinks she is a boy? What is the Catholic view on arranged marriages?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Hello Christopher and Wendy! First I would like to say thank you and bless you for your wisdom and vulnerable honesty that you share on the podcast. I pray for you both and for the Institute for continued blessing and for protection from the enemy who would want to trip up your good work.
I like to listen to episodes of ACW on a bike ride out in the country side here in the north of England or on nice long walk with the dog. I want you to know that the way you articulate Theology of the Body is such a blessing to me. It’s getting into my bones. It’s also getting into my PhD thesis. My research on mystagogy in the early church and listening to you guys express again and again how God wants to unite with us and how deeply that’s written into the order of our bodies is truly helping me to understand the Church Fathers and to write what I need to say in my own work.
I’m an anglican and I’m married to a wonderful, faithful man who has recently bee ordained in the Church of England. We both are drawn towards Theology of the Body and feel like it articulates the precious truth about our humanity, sex and gender, and our calling to union with God. I think the Anglican Church is in desperate need of this theology and across the western world, our denomination is, in my opinion, floundering catastrophically in our understanding of sexuality and gender. Though we’ve both felt drawn towards the Catholic tradition and also the Orthodox tradition, throughout our walk with the Lord my husband has felt called to the Anglican Church and to the priesthood in it. And, I’m called to be his wife. Do you have any words of encouragement or exhortation for us who want to be faithful and forthright and bring the healing truth of God in a context that often feels like a house on fire?

Question 2:
Hello Christopher and Wendy. I thank you for these podcasts. I don’t know why I was always interested in the way the Church sees sexuality. As a teenager, I always wanted to explain to my friends why it was important to wait until marriage for sexual relationships but I didn’t have any arguments or knowledge. Now, I understand a lot of things and I see that the most important is the love and mercy God has for us. I don’t know if I can help others, but in the mean time, I’ve discovered this is helping me a lot. But here’s my question: I’m a high school teacher. I have a 17-year-old student. Her name is Anna, but she says she wants to become a man. In the school, she wants to be “called like a boy” and she is really serious about it. She says her family doesn’t agree with this idea. She feels they don’t understand her. I think I’m the only teacher that doesn’t want to call and treat her like a boy. Some teachers think we don’t have to say “she feels like a boy.” They think she actually is a boy in a girl’s body; she is a he, and all this gender ideology. They really think they’re helping her. I think she suffers and she feels hurt and she doesn’t really know what she wants. I don’t know how to help her or how to talk to her without her feeling rejected. I like what you always say, “become what you are,” but in today’s world, this may mean an other thing. What would you do in this situation?

Qestion 3:
What is the Catholic view on arranged marriages, assuming free will and consent of both parties? This has been the norm for marriages throughout history, including in the Bible itself, and still common in many eastern cultures. And one could argue that marriages focused on "romantic love" is a modern phenomena.

Does the implicit transactional aspect of such an arrangement make it sinful? Does it make the union less a gift of self, since the couple may not have grown in love yet? Or is romantic love not necessary for a holy marriage, and it's precisely therefore it becomes a true gift of self?

Surely, since it's been the norm through history, the Catholic church must have blessed such unions?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Good News About Sex & Marriage by Christopher West

When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment by Ryan T. Anderson

Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Good Eros | ACW152

29 november 2021 | 40 min

For some reason, my wife alwasy feels depressed on Sundays. . . any advice? Is masturbation permissible to obtain a semen sample for medical testing? How do I overcome lustful thoughts in marriage?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I can't thank you enough for this podcast and the work you do with TOB Institute. Supporting you as a patron, the only organization my wife and I have ever supported in this way, was the easiest decision we've made financially. We have already made plans to attend the TOB I course/retreat in person together in the summer of 2022.

My question: For some reason, on Sundays, my wife and I get this depressed feeling, like we should be doing something besides just Mass, and the only option we can think of is to clean the house and get ready for another crazy week with our four kids. Just last Sunday, I remembered what you said about pursuing good eros, so I turned on music I loved, danced with my kids, and seemed to have been lifted from that feeling, but my wife still felt "depressed." I tried to tell her about "good eros" and think of something she loves to do, but she didn't understand it nor could she think of something to do. Our youngest is 7-months-old and takes a lot of her time and energy. My response is usually to take her on a date, which helps, but I feel there should be more she can do for her. What kind of advice can you give to my wife and me who regularly experience this "depressed" feeling, specifically on Sundays. And does the pursuit of good eros play a role here?

Question 2:
Hi Christopher and Wendy!
We're engaged and very soon to be united in the Holy Matrimony. We feel very fortunate to have learned of the great gift of Theology of the Body through your presentations in both Denmark and Brazil. We thank God for your life and your marriage, and pray for more lives to be touched by this truth.
About our question:
Recently we discovered a medical condition that can be a cause of male sterility. To study it properly the doctors asked for a semen test. We know how the sample is obtained for this test. We want to know in this case, if The Church allows this. We would be very happy to welcome children in our marriage, but also, don't want to go against God's plan for our lives and our bodies.

Qestion 3:
I have a question about lustful thoughts within marriage. I am 19 years old and right now I am dating. My boyfriend and I are waiting for marriage in order to be faithful to the Lord, and although this is hard, it isn't as hard as battling lustful thoughts. In this stage of life I push these thoughts away and focus on better things rather than lusting, but I cannot help but wonder, how does this work once you are married? With memories of past sexual encounters and fantasies for the future it seems like this is something that would cross a married couples mind. I always thought that it was okay to think about these kinds of things when you were married, but I want to know for sure. Would this be considered a sin within the context of marriage, or is it okay?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Check out Restore the Glory Podcast and listen to Episode 42 and Episode 43 featuring Christopher West.

Saint Paul VI Institute

The Cantata of Love: A Verse by Verse Reading of the Song of Songs

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Blessing and The Curse | ACW151

22 november 2021 | 34 min

What is the morality of embryo adoption? How do you overcome sexual sin in a dating relationship? Why does God permit the blessing of chidren to come from sinful acts?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Hi Christopher! Thank you so much for the work you do. As a young, Protestant, mother-of-two, I've learned so much from the resources you provide. It has deepened my faith as I have come to a better understanding of how I, as a Christian, am to live both body and soul together. My husband and I are looking for clarity in how to approach embryo adoption. We've noticed in our circles a trend in which a wife will feel passionately about embryo adoption and desire to help the babies that have been frozen as the result of IVF, but their husbands are not on board. Such has been our own case. My initial thought was that embryo adoption can be a way to alleviate the suffering that IVF has caused and since it is an adoption, the baby placed in the womb already belongs to the adoptive parents. My husband views this similarly to surrogacy since it separates pregnancy from the sexual act. It seems that the discomfort he and other men share is the idea that their wife would be pregnant with someone else's child. We have tried more than once to find succinct justification for embryo adoption that doesn't simplify it to an "ends justifies the means" argument, but have found nothing. It just grieves me to think that there might not be a solution for these babies that are in such a state of helplessness and abandonment. How can we think through this biblically?

Question 2:
Thank you for the light you have shared through your work – I’ve been fundamentally changed by your work. I am having a lot of trouble practicing chastity with my boyfriend. Both of us keep repeating sexual sins and confessing and doing it over and over again. We know the gravity of what we are doing and we debrief every time to try and work harder and do better as we discern our possible marriage to one another. I am asking for practical advice on how to really avoid non-marital sex and how to renew in hope after confession. I am always moved and healed by God’s forgiveness but I feel a sense of despair and hopelessness in our continued failure to respect each other’s bodies. I would also like to know if you have any advice for those struggling to persevere in prayer in moments of temptation, and any advice for how to continue practicing chastity in a relationship after failing so many times.

Qestion 3:
I know that the sins we commit come with consequences. Almost every sin I can think of has a negative consequence, but when it comes to fornication (well, obviously sometimes the consequences can be negative in terms of AIDS and other STDs) but sometimes God’s will is to give the couple who engaged in fornication a child, which I believe is always a blessing no matter the circumstances in which the child was conceived. Why do you think God would intend this, to bless people with children while all other sins have negative consequences? I can’t think of any other sin that has the possibility of giving us a blessing.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

We Need Touch! | ACW150

14 november 2021 | 35 min

Can our desires reveal God's will for us? I was a sperm donor before my conversion: what should I do? Is it wrong to ask for physicaly affection when dating?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Hello, first I would like to say thank you for your podcast. Recently I asked the man I hope I will one day be married to a question. I asked if he could see us together in the future, raising children and living for God together. We’ve been together for 3 years. We started our relationship in a carnal way and have both grown more in the Catholic faith. His response was that he doesn’t know. He said he doesn’t know what God's will is for us and he doesn’t want to say if he can see us together. So my question is, can our desires show us God's will? Can God use what we want for good?

Question 2:
I was a sperm donor as a younger man before I came to faith, and now follow the Church's teaching on sexual ethics. The clinic where I made my donations still has some of my “material” left over in order to be able to provide fully-related siblings if any of the women who have already received my material wish for further children from the same father. It goes without saying I won't be providing any further material, and I'm strongly inclined to tell them to dispose of whatever remains. I haven’t done it yet because I feel awful that I'll potentially be creating further fractures in families already formed outside of God's will. Any advice or comments would be hugely appreciated.

Qestion 3:
If affection, especially in dating, is meant to be given only to affirm the goodness of the other and not for yourself, is it wrong when you are in need of comfort to ask for a hug or some other affection?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

There's still time to register! Join our Pilgrimage to Mexico City December 2-7, 2021.

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Fourth Ring | ACW149

8 november 2021 | 46 min

How can I pursue Theology of the Body when my husband isn't on board? Will we still be male and female after the resurrection of the body? Is marriage worth fighting for?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Get a copy of God Is Beauty, A Retreat on the Gospel and Art by Karoly Wojtyla/John Paul II. Available now for the first time in English.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
While I was baptized Catholic and received the Sacraments, I was not raised in a family that practiced the faith. I’m a married mother of 3 children but felt that something was missing in my life. I had a profound conversion while attending a Cursillo weekend 3 years ago. Since then, my husband has grown further and further away from me because he says, "I have changed." We have tried 4 different marriage therapists, the last 2 being Catholic (one was from Dr. Popcak's group), but when it comes to him making changes and really putting in effort he quits going and says he doesn't need to change anything. If I go to him and tell him I want to pursue not only learning Theology of the Body but also living it out in our marriage, it may be the last straw for him. So my question is, how can I pursue this without him on board? How can I teach this to my children if they don't see it at work in their own home?

Question 2:
In a recent conversation about the resurrection of the body, a friend of mine told me that she doesn't believe our resurrected bodies will be male or female in heaven. Her reasoning is that, because the Bible says we are neither "married nor given in marriage" in heaven, then the sexual difference is no longer necessary in eternity. Also, since we're made in the image of God (who is pure spirit and therefore neither male nor female), she thinks that our glorified bodies will more "perfectly" image God by becoming gender neutral.

In light of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body, what is the proper response to my friend's ideas? Does the Catholic Church have any official teaching on this, and if so, is there anything in the Catechism or the Bible about it?

Qestion 3:
Thank you so much for your podcast.
My husband is suffering from a mental health issue and lately it has made our lives difficult. I have never had any issue with fidelity in the past but the last months it has become a daily inner-fight. Could you please remind me what I am fighting for?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

I Choose You | ACW148

1 november 2021 | 45 min

What resources would you recommend for women longing to be married who cannot find a man? What are some good reasons to stop having kids? What is the best way to help a friend who is repeatedly falling into sexual sin?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Comment
Hi! This is actually not a question, rather I just want to tell you how much I appreciate the work that you do. And I just want to share that I am so happy to be a part of this community. I’ve been watching your YouTube channel and listening to your podcast for months now. And this month I have finally become a Patron! This is actually my birthday gift to myself :) God is so amazing; He provided me resources to be able to pay for the subscription. God bless you Christopher and Wendy and the whole team behind this community.

Patron Question:
Dear Christopher and Wendy,
A situation I often face in my ministry is that of a woman wishing to get married and have a family, but not finding a man. I’ll see this person as years pass and realize how far away I am, as a man, from really understanding the depths of this suffering; that these women are somehow facing a countdown.
I’m actually hoping you can recommend some Theology of the Body resources for a woman in such a situation. Any suggestions?

Question 2:
I am discerning marriage with a strong Catholic woman, and we are trying to be really practical with our conversations about children. I have always been so moved by the call to be fruitful in marriage. I find it so close to the heart of God and how he wants to teach us about his creative love. It’s really hard for me to consider anything other than continuing to try over the course of our marriage, every couple years, until menopause. She is more specific in her thinking than I am, and anticipates that between her body and capacity to love her kids and spouse, she really doesn’t expect to be able to handle more than 4 (which is reasonable, she’s 31 years old). I know we can’t predict if we will even be able to have kids, but there is something that just doesn’t sit right with me about projecting limits. I honestly believe that we can pull off whatever we need to financially, and I want to lay down my life down for her and as many kids come our way. It makes me sad to anticipate that putting her needs above my own might include stopping having kids when we could have more. I don’t know how I could ask my wife to throw out her back or have more kids if I’m really laying my life down for her, but I’m so moved by the thought of continual openness to sacrifice to have more children, in love. Perhaps the question is, what are some good reasons to stop having kids?

Qestion 3:
Hi Christopher and Wendy! I want to briefly say thank you to Wendy, for extending your motherly warmth and compassion to all of us during this podcast, it has been so healing for me. My question is, how do you help a friend who was raised Catholic and intellectually knows the church’s teachings and even desires to live them and be in relationship with the Lord. . . how do I help them when they keep falling into sexual sin, go to confession, and continue to fall in the same way? I don’t know how to best lead them to the merciful love of the Father.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

National Catholic Singles Conference

Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Grace Goes Deeper | ACW147

25 oktober 2021 | 41 min

Did the Holocaust influence St. John Paul II's writing? My parents are on the brink of divorce because of my father's pornography addiction. . . what can I do? Why did God make me this way if He knew I would hate it so much?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I am a college student taking a class on the Holocaust, and I have been struck not only by the horror of the atrocities against human life but also the overall idea of personhood specifically in the forced sterilizations of the so- called "feeble minded." There was a book written in 1920 called "Allowing the Destruction of Life Unworthy of Life." Just that title breaks my heart.

I can see how Theology of the Body speaks so much into this topic, and I am wondering if the events of the Jolocaust and eugenics movement had any impact on Pope John Paul II. I know he played a role in healing after WWII, but is there anything in his writings that would suggest the holocaust might have played a role in his talks on the Theology of the Body?

Question 2:
This is urgent.

My parents have been married for 32 years and just recently my dad finally told my mom that he has had a porn addiction and has been masturbating for over 20 years. His admission has set off a huge destructive bomb in their relationship.
My dad went to confession and they had the priest from our hometown come over and meet with both of them. My dad is going to be getting counseling but at this point, I still really do not know what is going to happen.
I am so deeply worried and concerned that my parents are going to get a divorce. My mom says she doesn't know if she can ever recover from this damage. I know I cannot do anything about it other than pray because this is not really my issue. It is greatly impacting me, though. Despite what my dad has done, I still love him. I want to offer him mercy because he seems like he wants to get help to overcome his addiction now. I gave my dad a couple books to read. One of them was your book "Theology of the Body for Beginners" and the other one was the 33 day consecration to St. Joseph written by Fr. Calloway. I want to believe that my dad can find healing and recovery from his addictions.
Is there any way that you can help me? I am 23 years old and I am so hurt by this and I have no idea what to do.

Qestion 3:
I have hated my body for about half of my life now. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get over the idea that I need to be stick-skinny or else I’m ugly. I wish desperately I could see myself how God sees me. I just don’t know why He made me like this if He knew I would hate it so much.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Join us on our Pilgrimage to Mexico December 2-7, 2021

Hope's Garden Ministry

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

He's Back | ACW146

18 oktober 2021 | 43 min

How do we ensure our marital embrace is still open to the Holy Spirit if conception is not possible? Do you have any recommendations for healing from father wounds? How can my fiance and I prepare for a marriage free from lust?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Dear Christopher and Wendy, God bless you. I am writing to you from Colombia in South America. My wife Marta and I proudly belong to the first TOB1 online class. What a blessing for our Christian and married life. We have already registered, as a refreshment, for the coming TOB1 online course in October. We strongly encourage those all and new podcast listeners to take part in the course. This beautiful truth about what it means to be human and how to live our lives in a way that we experience true happiness is what our spirits and our hearts need to hear.
Now to my question. Marta and I have been married over 26 years and since the beginning of our marriage we did NFP. We have two children ages 24 and 23. We also had a loss 22 years ago and after that Marta´s womb needed to be removed for health reasons. Since in our marital embrace we have no more the ability to give life, how can we be sure every time we are together that we still have fully communion with the Trinity and that we are not putting aside the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life?

Question 2:
Our oldest son who is 26 has recently admitted he struggles with depression. He lives in another state so we don’t get to see each other very often but we do talk regularly. He is not practicing the Catholic faith and he has deep father wounds. My husband, in the last few years, has been actively dealing with his porn addiction and his own father wounds and has come very far in his recovery journey. This has helped our marriage immensely. But the fallout has been with our seven children. They all have been affected to varying degrees by their father’s very rigid and sometimes harsh behavior while growing up. Can you recommend some suggestions for helping our oldest son deal with these issues?

Qestion 3:
Hello Christopher and Wendy. My fiancé and I have been growing more and more in love with the Theology of the Body both through this podcast and our own personal reading. I come from a background that looks very negatively on sex and so I have always lived on the "starvation diet" believing that I was practicing chastity. My fiancé on the other hand has struggled with porn for much of his life. Praise be to God, he has found freedom in that area within the last year after a four-year long fight against it. However, after being on the "fast food" diet for so long, he has now gone to the other extreme in order to avoid the temptations that could arise. My question then, is this: how can we both overcome our intense fears of lust and set our desires free in order to partake of the banquet? I don't ever want to put myself in a position where I could hurt him through lust. How can we overcome this obstacle?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Consecrated Virginity (with Jen Settle) | ACW145

11 oktober 2021 | 34 min

Freedom is Real! | ACW144

4 oktober 2021 | 46 min

How do I process and release feelings of resentment about my fiance's sexual past? How can I help my husband who does not agree with the Church's teaching on chastity in marriage?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Pre-Order God Is Beauty by Saint John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla)!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Hello Christopher and Wendy, thank you both for all the work you do. Your ministry is truly amazing!
My question is this: How do I process and release feelings of resentment about my fiance's sexual past? I am ashamed that I feel so upset about something that happened before we even met each other, especially because, for many years now, he's been a beautiful example of virtue and selflessness. I know I need to let this go, but I just can't release these feelings of self-consciousness, pain, and betrayal when I think about how I waited for him, but he didn't wait for me. Please help.

Question 2:
Thank you so much for your beautiful insight into marriage, NFP, and Theology of the Body.
My husband and I are practicing Catholics, married in the church. We have 4 beautiful children here on earth and 4 children that we miscarried waiting in Heaven. We are reluctantly practicing NFP. I say reluctantly because my husband does not fully agree with the churches teachings on NFP and Chastity within marriage. He does not understand why (when we have decided that more children are not a good idea right now) we can’t be together in other ways during fertile times. I feel like I have exhausted all avenues in trying to help him understand, he is completely closed off to seeking out answers for himself. He seems set in his ways and I know only God can change his heart. My rosary intention every day is that he will accept chastity in marriage. I guess my question is, what can I do in the meantime, without falling into sin, while I’m waiting for his heart to be softened by God. I know he resents me during times of abstaining and during those times it feels as though our marriage is crumbling and not growing. I should also add that I am open to more children, but he feels that we are not ready for more. So to respect that, I feel like I am always having to say no even though I would be willing. Thank you for any advice at all.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

The Two Faces of Love: Eros and Agape

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

God Is Beauty | ACW143

27 september 2021 | 37 min

Is there such a thing as being a "gay Christian"? What resources do recommend for addressing the issue of homosexuality? Does the age gap matter when it comes to dating?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Pre-Order God Is Beauty by Saint John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla)!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Dear Christopher and Wendy, I've been an avid listener of your exceptional offerings to the body of Christ. God continues to use you in the way I think, believe and trust in Jesus. Thank you! I've come out of a gay identity that defined me for over two decades, which intersected with my marriage. Back in 1995 I confessed to my wife of 7 years that I was unfaithful to her for most of our marriage at that time. My struggle was inward and silent, yet with very destructive and sinful behaviors. After confessing to her I soon began walking the narrow path of healing with the help of Desert Stream/Living Waters. God has done miraculous work in me and my marriage: now 32 years and counting with 4 amazing children. Praise God! I offer this background for context of my question. There is a relatively new movement within the Catholic and Protestant church that offers a place for those struggling with same-sex-attraction to be labeled or identified as "gay Christian celibates." These ones want to follow Jesus and the orthodox teachings on marriage, yet they remain resolute in their belief that they are gay. Can you speak to two things: 1. Is celibacy an avenue to NOT pursue an integrated anthropology rooted in our creation as God's image bearers? What are your thoughts on being a "gay Christian?"

Question 2:
I have listened to your audiobook on OUR BODIES TELL GOD'S STORY, it's really good. Could you please direct me to some of your material or podcasts that address the current worldview on what I think is misguided reality in discussing sexuality and gender identity. With the books out there like TORN or GOD AND THE GAY CHRISTIAN, they don't even come close to describing how or what God designed our sexuality to be. What can you recommend that addresses these issues?

Qestion 3:
Hi Christopher and Wendy. First, thank you for the gift of your podcast and insight, the Lord has used you as a platform to speak truth to me. My question is in relation to dating. I am a 27 year old woman and consider myself devoted to the Catholic faith. I recently met a man at my church who, through talking with him, how he speaks of his faith experience and seeing him at daily mass, is also "on fire" for the faith. He is 39 years old. Given our conversations and friendship which is very solidified in our shared devotion to the Lord, I can tell that he is interested in potentially pursuing something more with me beyond just friendship. I have been praying to God for a holy, Catholic man who challenges me personally and in the faith, which I feel this man has done so far as my friend. My only hesitation is the age difference. I don't know if the Lord is calling me to date this person and I worry that my rumination on the age difference of 12 years is clouding my ability to truly discern what the Lord is trying to speak to me. I my biggest concern is what others think, which I know sounds silly and I am praying that the Lord releases me of this anxiety. Could you offer any insight about dating somebody who is this much older ? Does age difference truly matter in dating if both are bringing each other closer to the Lord? Thank you again.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Pre-Order God Is Beauty by Saint John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla)!

Register for Sexual Integration & Redemption offered by Theology of the Body Institute and Desert Stream

Check out more from Desert Stream Ministries

Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by Saint John Paul II

Theology of the Body Explained by Christopher West

Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West

Fill These Hearts by Christopher West

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Bridegroom in the Garden | ACW142

21 september 2021 | 49 min

I had a very good family growing up – why do I feel so wounded? Are all sexual sins mortal?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I grew up in a relatively good home. I did lose my mother when I was 9-years-old to ovarian cancer which certainly had an impact on my life. But, otherwise, there weren’t any alarming markers of major dysfunction. That being said, I am so hurt and broken. Much of my pain comes from seemingly small childhood wounds and current wounds within my familial relationships. I used to blame it on my sensitivity; that I was hurt too easily. My question is, is it wrong to think that perhaps my pain and woundedness seems more than it ought to be because even a “relatively good home” is still far from what God intends family to be? I was listening to Dr. Bob Schutes talk about wounds and just became overwhelmed at the amount of pain and brokenness even people from good homes may harbor. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Question 2:
Thank you so much for this podcast and all you do at the Theology of the Body Institute. My question has been troubling my mind and heart for quite some time now. In various Catholic materials I’ve read, for example guides to an examination of conscience, I’ve been told that “every sexual sin” is a mortal sin or at least a grave matter. I can never get a straight answer on whether this statement is theologically accurate. If it’s true, then I fear that each and every sexual union with my spouse, if God calls me to marriage, would be a near occasion of sin instead of an opportunity for grace. I’m worried that if I enter the embrace with even a tiny shred of lust or selfishness I will be committing a mortal sin. Do you have any thoughts or clarifications on the dilemma of mine? If I never get to a state where I am 100% lust free, is it better not to marry at all?

Qestion 3:
In the Theology of the Body Institute Store, there are some beautiful art pieces by Beth West. Is this Beth your daughter? Could we hear from her what inspired her to paint each of these pieces? As a woman in formation, I am particularly interested in “The Bridegroom in the Garden.” The description of the art piece alone contains a whole lecture of Theology of the Body in it. I would love to know how Beth was inspired and what the process of painting it was like for her.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Bridegroom in the Garden by Beth West

Instagram: @beth_rose_art

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Cinnamon Rim | ACW141

13 september 2021 | 34 min

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
My 4-year-old son asked me if the Blessed Mother died. I didn’t know how to answer that so I asked my husband. He told me that I can choose what to believe because she didn’t have to die but she could choose to die like her son, we only know that she went to sleep. What do you think? Did she die or not? Does she already have her glorified body?

Question 2:
How should I respond when someone is speaking about their physical attraction to another person? I always feel unequipped to navigate such conversations. I believe there is goodness to be discovered but am often inclined to cut it short. What do you think is going on in me?

Qestion 3:
Hi Christopher and Wendy!
Could you please define eros and agape? I watched Christopher’s video on YouTube where he says that eros is meant to express agape. I also gathered from the video that eros is the desire for unification and that it is meant to change us. Is that correct? But how do you live eros, this desire for unification, when physical unification is not possible?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Crowning the Bride | ACW140

6 september 2021 | 38 min

What are your insights on tying in Theology of the Body, the Eucharist and the Assumption of Mary? What advice do you have for grieving a miscarriage? What is meant by, "wives submit to your husbands"?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
This year's readings bring us into the Bread of Life discourse, culminating in conjunction with Ephesians 5, the Great Mystery. This year, however, the readings are broken up with the Assumption of Mary. I'm doing teachings on the Eucharist, and plan to bring up the marital component with Ephesians 5. What are your insights on tying in Theology of the Body, the Eucharist and the Assumption of Mary?

Question 2:
Hi Christopher and Wendy. Recently, my husband and I found out at my 20-week ultrasound that our son has a deformity incompatible with life. I will be carrying him however long he survives in the womb or until my due date, and he will die shortly after. We are devastated as this was our first child and the pregnancy up to this point was perfectly normal. I sometimes feel that we’ll never find true joy again in life when such a sorrowful thing is happening to our family. Any advice at all that can help us grieve and get through this time would be appreciated.

Qestion 3:
I saw your video about wives submitting to their husbands: to be submissive to his mission. What if your husband is not Catholic? I don’t want to give up my faith for his mission. Please tell me I don’t have to give up the fullness of my faith.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Difference Between Nude Art and Pornography | ACW139

30 augusti 2021 | 41 min

How do you give someone a chance without leading them on? How do I explain the difference between sacred nude art and pornography

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I am a freelance video producer working mainly with advocacy groups and I recently received an invitation to bid on a project about HIV. I expressed my interest to bid and went on to do my research. In the middle of doing the sample storyboard, I found out that the project was not only about treatment of HIV but also about prevention in the form of daily medicine called PrEP. It's a pill that an HIV-negative person takes along with condoms so he or she can go on with his or her chosen lifestyle. That stopped me for a while. Would this project be good for me? Would I be advocating for same sex activities by doing this? Would I be committing a sin? Thank you so much for reading this and God bless you.

Question 2:
Christopher and Wendy, thanks so much for sharing your wisdom and helping us understand the world and our relationships in the light of God's Word! I’m wondering, what is the role of attraction in a romantic relationship? I certainly believe that faith and character are more important in a potential spouse than looks or personality. When I am pursued by a man with excellent character, I'll give him a chance even if I'm not initially attracted to him. If that attraction never develops and I find myself dreading spending time with him, I'll end things. But then he'll be upset and say I led him on. I feel guilty for hurting him, and I feel selfish for giving up on someone who is godly and maybe would even make a great husband and father. Is it selfish to value personality, interests, and looks in a potential spouse? And how do you give someone a chance without unintentionally deceiving or hurting them?

Qestion 3:
How do I explain to someone the difference between looking at art, say in the Sistine Chapel, of the naked body versus a playboy centerfold? They feel there is no logic to one being good, and one being bad. How do I show them the difference? How do I give them an answer that is logical?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Dustin Hoffman on Tootsie

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Does God Have a Plan for Our Bodies? | ACW138

23 augusti 2021 | 45 min

How can NFP bring healing in marriage? What can I say in a short conversation to introduce people to TOB?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Christopher and Wendy, Thank you for all the work you put into this podcast. I always learn so much from you both and frequently recommend your show to others. I have returned to my faith within the last five years, and have a dark sexual past that I am still struggling to heal from. Thanks be to God, I was recently engaged to a wonderful, holy man that has shown me so much about the love of Christ in our relationship. Something that has brought me a lot of distress lately is trying to implement Natural Family Planning as my fiancé and I prepare for marriage. A lot of the responsibility of NFP falls on women since they are the ones tracking their fertility signs, and this greater amount of responsibility scares me and makes me feel resentful. It reminds of times where I had to take control of my fertility to protect myself from men who used and discarded me. I know my fiancé has the best intentions with our family life, but I am struggling to see how NFP can bring cohesion in marriage as I feel it creating confusion, isolation, and disconnection in my life based on m y past wounds.

Question 2:
I’m a new listener to your podcast and I am devouring it. I have been on a journey over the last four years trying to understand the churches teaching on sexuality and marriage after my oldest daughter announced to me that she was in love with a woman and is actively in a gay relationship. I finally found the courage last December to stand firm in front of my daughter and share with her my belief that sex is intended by God to be sacred conduct between a man and a woman in a marriage. It was the hardest conversation I’ve ever had in my life. Since then, I found that not all Catholics believe the Church’s teaching on marriage and chastity. What can I say in a short conversation to get these Catholics thinking? I feel I can’t remain silent on this beautiful teaching of the Church. I want all Catholics to understand it and see it for its beauty.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Define: Masculinity and Femininity | ACW137

16 augusti 2021 | 42 min

Do you have any resources to recommend for approaching body image and an eating disordered past with Theology of the Body? What is the definition of masculinity and femininity?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Dear Christopher and Dear Wendy, thank you for the wonderful work you do. I love to listen to you two while driving; I feel you are part of my family. My husband and I are practicing catholics and saved ourelves from sex until we were married. My husband is a holy man, I think of St. Joseph when I see him. He is always giving his life for me and our children through loving sacrifice and gift of himself. This is why I want to make him happy and I struggle with the following situation. During our marital embrace, my husband has never felt his own climax even though he ejaculates, he cannot feel anything. I often suggest to him that we look for help to figure out what is wrong, but he insists he accepts this as a mortification, that helps him not focus on the pleasure but on the love he has for me. I know the end of the sexual embrace is not the pleasure, but God wanted that pleasure to be there for a reason. Should we look for help? Should we accept it and let it be? Is it wrong to let it be? Thank you and God bless you.

Question 2:
Do you have any resources to recommend for approaching body image and an eating disordered past with Theology of the Body? Although I do not have an eating disorder any more, praise God, I still have wounds from my past in these areas and after praying about this for some time and listening to your podcast, I am certain that Theology of the Body and the healing of Jesus in the Eucharist are a necessary part of the healing process. I would love some guidance on where to start with this. Thank you so much for considering my question and God bless you.

Qestion 3:
My question is this: What is masculinity and femininity? a definition perhaps? What does the Church say? Are they complete binaries only found within their corresponding gender? I have often observed that sometimes a man may seemingly possess more feminine characteristics than other men and that some women seem more masculine than other women, not just on a superficial level but more so in their character. Why might this be? If both masculinity and femininity come from God would it make sense to find aspects of each "intertwined" within one person regardless of gender? Lastly, does masculinity and femininity become more pure the holier we become? I have a feeling that my understanding of these concepts is a little mixed up and I would love to hear your thoughts on these mysteries.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Healing from Pornography in Marriage | ACW136

9 augusti 2021 | 39 min

How do you advise we teach our children the solid and clear truth about same sex attraction with mercy? How do I heal from my husband's pornography addiction? Is it immoral for someone to take birth control as hormone therapy if she is naturally infertile?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I'm one of the lucky people that attended the Theology of the Body 1 course in Madrid. It was both a blessing and a dream came true being there with you. I have a work coleague with same sex attraction, who has become a father through a surrogate pregnancy. Being honest, I don’t feel comfortable having him and his child visiting with my children, as I find his way of life wrong and can confuse my kids, but at the same time, I also think this is not merciful. He and his child are dearly loved by God. The children are not guilty of the sins of their parents. How do you advise we teach our children solid and clear truth with mercy so they can learn to deal with these people.

Question 2:
I've been looking for resources to recover from the porn addiction of my husband. I found good psychological resources that helped a little but I'm in need of something more. I have trauma because of my husband's acting out and it brings a lot of trouble into the relationship because my husband is unable to help me and support me. The psychological resources have a lot of ''focus on you first'' kind of approach. Boundaries, self-care, expectations of what a betraying husband should do to repair the damage done etc... As time goes by I feel more and more that I will need a ''sacrificial love'' kind of approach but it is not taught anywhere. I'm a little afraid of the future. I feel that I can't trust him and never will. I want communion with him. I want the marriage that God wants for us but I'm not sure that my husband thinks this deep. Aside from focusing on me and taking care of me, what should I do to heal, or at least be able to give myself the most I can even if my hurt is never healed?

Qestion 3:
Hi Christopher and Wendy! Thank you for your diligent work applying the Theology of the Body to Christian life. It has been such a blessing to me! My sister has a genetic disorder called Turner's Syndrome. It means that she’s missing the full genetic material for her second sex chromosome. Because she was born with this disease, she is naturally infertile and will never have biological children. As a part of her treatment, she has begun hormone therapy using birth control. Her doctors say this treatment is necessary, otherwise she could have more serious health problems from not having a menstrual cycle each month.

Here are my questions: Since she is already infertile and is not intentionally intervening with her fertility, is there a moral wrong with her being on birth control as a hormone treatment? I have talked many times with my mother about church teachings on contraception and my personal skepticism of the effectiveness of this sort of treatment. Do you know of any resources I could share with my mother and sister on alternative hormone treatments?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Matt Fradd

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE

Dr. Bob Schutes

[Pope Paul VI Institute](www.popepaulvi.com)

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Healing From Sexual Trauma | ACW135

2 augusti 2021 | 46 min

How can sex be unitive when it's used so often as a weapon? Is there and real freedom from sexual sin outside of death? How can marriage be a path to holiness?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
After six years in a sexually and emotionally abusive relationship, full of porn, manipulation, and rape, I struggle with the concept of sex as a unitive act. The procreative part makes sense, but I cannot see sex as unitive. I am getting married (not to the abuser) soon and I am terrified I will disappoint him by failing to give him a meaningful experience, but I just don't see how it can be meaningful. My question is, why and how is sex unitive? How can couples call it "the most profound form of communication"? I see praying together as a far higher form of communication, intimacy, and bonding than anything sexual. How does one make an act that is so easily used as a weapon a means of love, intimacy, and unity?

Question 2:
Hi Christopher and Wendy, I had a weird thought: I think that because I have masturbated in the past I cannot say for sure that I have stopped it forever. I'm trying to control myself and with God's grace and mercy I'm sort of controlling myself but still I think that the only way to come out of it is to die. Am I wrong?

Qestion 3:
Hi Christopher and Wendy, gosh I can’t begin to thank you for how you have impacted my spiritual journey. What a blessing! Here is my question: Sometimes when I think about marriage, it seems hard that it unlocks some kind of mystery or provides a language to speak of how I am destined to be in complete union with God. It seems that a marriage would shift my focus from this ultimate goal to providing what seems like unnecessary attention to my spouse. I understand that loving others is a form of loving God but I worry that if I am called to marriage, it would be more of a distraction from the ultimate goal rather than being an aid in getting there. How have you worked through this question?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

[Hope's Garden](www.hopesgarden.com)

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Marriage, Annulment, and Old Age | ACW134

26 juli 2021 | 44 min

Can a Catholic marry a Muslim? Is it possibly to cohabitate chastely? What light can Theology of the Body shine on aging?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Can a Catholic marry a Muslim? If so, how? And if not, why not?

Question 2:
I have two questions. The first is in regards to chaste cohabitation and whether this is permissible or not.
For context, my partner and I converted and came to faith last August (in 2020). At the end of September we made the decision to live chastely and hope to marry. I homeschool my children from a previous relationship and do not work. We plan to get married, but my partner was in a civil marriage and he’s in the process of divorce. So for us to live separately would mean me stopping my kids’ homeschool program and going back to work.
My second question is whether this civil union still needs to be annulled?

Qestion 3:
Thank you Christopher and Wendy, for sharing this Good News so beautifully with all of us. I wonder if you could share some of your reflections on the theology of the aging body. I work as a primary care provider in the medical field and spend a lot of my time with the elderly, many of whom are struggling with the aging process and the pain and suffering that often accompanies old age. Dementia is particularly difficult on the person and loved ones as the person seems to become almost a shell of their former self, in some way. I Would appreciate any reflections on what light the Theology of the Body can shine on this issue.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Is He "The One"? | ACW133

19 juli 2021 | 34 min

Everytime I meet a guy, I can't help wondering if he's "the one." What's wrong with me? If a woman takes the pill for health reasons, is it immoral? Can you shed some light on grieving through the lens of Theology of the Boday

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Dear Christopher and Wendy, I started praying about my future and asking God what he wants for my life. I feel like I’m called to marriage. The thing is, since realising that marriage is my vocation, I’m incapable of seeing members of the other sex primarily as a beautiful human being made in the image of God. When I meet a guy I think, “God, is this him?”
I feel like I should be able to control my thoughts better. What should I do?

Question 2:
Many doctors prescribe the birth control pill to women as a treatment for irregular periods, hormone imbalance, and acne. If a woman takes these pills as prescribed for health reasons, is it a sin? Would it depend whether she is a single woman or a married woman?

Qestion 3:
My grandfather recently passed away and the grieving process has been hard for all of us, especially for my grandmother who has been married to him for over 60 years. I know from the Theology of the Body that death is a rupture between body and soul, but that we have hope in the resurrection of the body. There’s been conversation among the members of the family that visiting the grave doesn’t make sense because he’s not “really there,” he’s in heaven. After listening to you recently I’m thinking it would be proper to mourn his body at the grave because the body is not just a shell that held his soul. Can you shed some light on the proper understanding and response to grieving and feeling our loved one’s presence during this time of unnatural separation in the light of Theology of the Body?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Pope Paul VI Institute

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Plan B | ACW132

12 juli 2021 | 33 min

Was the Incarnation plan B? Did God know we would sin? How do I talk to my 5-year-old who has been exposed to the LGBTQ ideology?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I'm confused about God’s original plan and you saying that the Word made flesh wasn't God’s secondary plan after the original sin. What does this mean? Why would God send His son if there was no sin?

Question 2:
Did God know that human beings were going to sin and was original sin in his plan?

Qestion 3:
My oldest daughter attended a Catholic preschool and kindergarten at a charter school. The reason I share this is because I thought she would be protected from LGBTQ issues there, more than if she were to attend public school. I must be naive. In preschool, my daughter was told by a peer that her mother told her “girls can marry girls and boys can marry boys.” After the first week of kindergarten, my daughter overheard a teacher telling students that she grew up with two dads. Even though I have a deep passion for John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, I feel unprepared to address these issues at such a young age. Do you have advice for how to answer questions like these from my 5-year-old?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Pull Yourself Up By Your Booty Boot Straps by Troy B. Norman (Author) and Beth R. West (Illustrator)

Beyond the Birds and the Bees by Greg and Lisa Popcak

THE TRUTH AND MEANING OF HUMAN SEXUALITY

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Wandering Eyes | ACW131

5 juli 2021 | 32 min

How do I help a loved one who has been sexually abused? Is it still wrong to have premarital sex if we know we want to be with each other forever? Is it sinful if my eyes are drawn to those parts of the body that reveal fertility?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
A friend of mine who was abused in her childhood recently told me, “If God would ask me, I would ask to be non-binary, because beeing a woman is too dangerous and I don‘t want to be a man either.” How can I help her? She is already trying to read Theology of the Body for Beginners.

Question 2:
If I have premarital sex with my boyfriend whom I love but we just don’t want to get married yet because of the economy but I love him and we’re sure we both want to be together forever, is it still wrong?

Qestion 3:
Hi Wendy! Hi Christopher! I thank both of you for the blessing you have been in my life. My question is about someone who has already experienced a significant degree of sexual redemption. I would consider myself to be a part of that group, but when I go for a walk, or shopping my eyes are still often drawn to the female body parts that reveal their fertility. I don't really have lustful thoughts after them, and I always try to see the whole person, and thank God for all the beauty he created around me, but the fact remains, that this is what catches my eye, and I partly ascribe that to my sexual past. Should I overcome this? What would be the most dignifying way to look at the women around me?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

**Our Sponsor: **We can't say enough about Rose Sweet and her ministry! Be sure to learn more about her work by clicking the link.

Titles by Rose Sweet

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

For Nolan | ACW130

28 juni 2021 | 44 min

Are wet dreams sinful? Are there any exceptions in which getting a vasectomy would be permitted?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I submitted a question to you a few weeks ago but I HAD to thank you for recommending John Paul IIs "Jewelers Shop." It has changed me, maybe forever. Utterly. Also, your beautiful words regarding Elisabeth Leseur: I was aware of her but it was wonderful to hear. She is one of my “special saints.” Finally, I'm doing a doctorate on spirituality, embodiment, and dementia. I see so much in Theology of the Body that relates. Maybe I can someday work with you on issues related to aging. It’s a challenging field, dementia and TOB. God bless! I Adore you both!

Question 2:
Christopher, how would you approach the topic of wet dreams? To me they seem involuntary or uncontrolled, and the sometimes very lustful content of them shocks me. Since I don't masturbate or watch porn anymore, and desire to live chastely. I have them about once a week, and when I wake up, I'm usually a little bit confused about my body and my mind.

Qestion 3:
I just listened to Matt Fradd's latest interview with you and found it beautiful. I'm a father of four who's just coming up on forty this year and was really struck by your reflections on parenting, growing older, and God's Grace throughout it all. My wife and I both really enjoyed it.

Speaking of my wife, we have been married for almost twelve years and have four beautiful children. We met in church and were, right out of the gate, practitioners of and advocates for the Theology of the Body and Natural Family Planning. Yet now, I find myself waiting for a urologist consultation to get a vasectomy.

I'm in a position where it is unsafe for my wife to become pregnant. In fact, my doctor said he normally dissuades young men from getting them but is making an exception because of my wife's situation.

Being married for over a decade and being around other long-lasting marriages has revealed a lot of otherwise conservative Catholic couples with lots of kids who use contraception. I cannot see any demonstrable reason why it's bad, in an otherwise healthy marriage, unlike abuses like porn or alcohol addiction.

So, between our medical situation and my lived experience, I'm struggling. I understand there's Natural Family Planning, but we’ve experienced two surprise pregnancies and we honestly view it now with suspicion.

That's where I'm at. I've talked to priests about this and other strong Catholics. Their advice always is, "The Church's teaching is clear but you are right to protect your wife." Again, it was a wonderful talk with Matt Fradd and I'm sure God led us to it for multiple reasons. I hope you can give me some clarity to square my conscience with Church teaching.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

**Our Sponsor: **We can't say enough about Rose Sweet and her ministry! Be sure to learn more about her work by clicking the link.

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Christmas Cards in July | ACW129

21 juni 2021 | 38 min

If a married couple is able to have children of their own, is it morally wrong to adopt children instead? Is having had a hysterectomy an imprediment to marriage? Why is Natural Family Planning permitted by the Catholic Church but contraceptive birth control is not?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
If a married couple is able to have children of their own, is it morally wrong to choose to adopt children instead?

Question 2:
Hi Christopher and Wendy,
Years ago, I attended a Theology of the Body conference, and have recently discovered your podcast and love listening to you both! During your May 3rd podcast, in response to a sensitive question, you responded, in part, that, “The man’s seed only belongs in the garden.” This is where my sensitive question comes in. What if the woman no longer has her “garden?” Would it be an impediment to marriage if the wife no longer has her garden where her husband can plant his seed?

Qestion 3:
I am considering Catholicism from a Lutheran background but there is an issue that I have not been able to come to terms with as a young married mother of 3 children who are 3 and under. Why is Natural Family Planning allowed and not contraceptive birth control that does not abort? What is the difference other than a technicality? Both are being used to prevent life at that time; both are (somewhat) effective. It would be easier for me to swallow that there should be no family planning than, “NFP is fine but birth control is not.” Also, why in Theology of the Body do I keep hearing that sex is never separated from procreation? By nature, much of a woman’s cycle makes her not capable of procreating. Should we then only have sex during the fertile time? Help!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

**Our Sponsor: **We can't say enough about Rose Sweet and her ministry! Be sure to learn more about her work by clicking the link.

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Sweet As a Rose | ACW128

14 juni 2021 | 29 min

Does God will the circumstances that allow illegitimate children to be born? How does one deal with not hearing God’s voice when struggling with abandonment? How do I test my heart without falling into lust?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I know the Church teaches that some marriages aren’t true marriages because of something that was wrong from the very beginning. Yet sometimes these couples have children together. I’m struggling to understand whether God actually willed for these people to “get married” so that there children could exist.

Question 2:
When I was a child, my father abandoned us. I have fallen many times by wanting to feel the physical love and embrace of someone, even knowing that it is a sin to fornicate. When I go to God with my wounds, I hear no voice and feel no physical embrace. That makes it very difficult to not look for it elsewhere. How does one deal with not hearing God’s voice or feeling His embrace when He is our Father?

Qestion 3:
I have been a sex addict for many years in my life and God has healed me. I do not have temptations to look at women anymore, but I do turn away when I see immodestly dressed women because I want to protect myself. I have heard you say that this is not the end of the road; we should be able to look in a different way. How are we supposed to test our heart? I don't want to fall back into lust by looking at women to see if I can look at them purely. How can I grow in this?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

**Our Sponsor: **We can't say enough about Rose Sweet and her ministry! Be sure to learn more about her work by clicking the link.

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Staying in the Ache | ACW127

7 juni 2021 | 41 min

How do you handle it when your spouse's words or actions hurt you? If sexual desire points to a desire for God, what do we do with the tension we feel while waiting for Him?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Thank you for your beautiful ministry, my parents divorced when I was a teenager. I’m still surrendering those wounds to Jesus. In my brokenness, I realize how desperately I’d like to have an earthly marriage model to look up to. I’m thankful to both of you for sharing and modeling that to me.
Wendy, Christopher makes it sound as if it’s so natural for you (even in your friendship) to love him unconditionally. That makes me wonder how you do it! How do you handle when his words or actions hurt you? Do you struggle too, because I am struggling? My mother’s advice is full of negativity towards men. I guess I’m just yearning for some healthy motherly advice.

Question 2:
I have a lot of questions. If sexual desire points to a desire for God, then what do you do with the sexual energy and tension while waiting for Jesus without falling into gnosticism? If we ask God to be mystically married to Jesus like the saints will He then have to answer our request? And what does God do with the heartbreak we feel if we yearn for people we cannot be with because of the circumstances of this world?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Cinnabon and the Beatific Vision | ACW126

31 maj 2021 | 29 min

Can a woman morally learn to pole dance if her intentions are good? When is using NFP to avoid pregnancy licit, and when is it being used with a contraceptive attitude? How is the body the only thing capable of making visible what is invisible?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
There is a documentary that was recently added to Netflix called, "Strip Down, Rise Up." I have not seen it, but from the description and the reviews I have read, it is about a group of women who take an intensive class on pole dancing to "reclaim their sexuality" and to help them use their bodies as an art form to heal from wounds of their past that are related to their bodies and minds. Can a woman morally learn to pole dance if her intentions are good?

Question 2:
When is using NFP to avoid pregnancy licit, and when is it being used with a contraceptive attitude? It seems there is no clear answer. Some Catholics say it must be a grave situation (such as losing your job, or medical reason), while some say it's fine to use NFP to avoid pregnancy for the first few years of marriage to enjoy your time together before having kids, or simply to space children out to the ideal 2-3 years. I imagine the answer is somewhere in the middle, but where exactly do we draw the line?

Qestion 3:
I don't understand the thesis statement of Theology of the Body. How is the body the only thing capable of making visible what is invisible? Christopher always talks about how other things (i.e. a Cinnabon, a good beer) are sacraments of invisible realities, or foretastes of the beatific vision. Can you please explain how the body is the only thing capable of making visible invisible divine realities?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Bugzooka | ACW125

24 maj 2021 | 27 min

As an adult convert to the faith with an atheist husband, can I have a meaningful marriage? Should couples beyond their fertile years no longer engage in the sexual embrace since there isn't a possibility of children?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Thank you both for your beautiful witness! I am blown away by TOB but also really struggling. As an adult convert to the faith, with an atheist husband, I often feel lonely. I have friendships with men who are believers and love the chance to talk to other men about our shared beliefs. My second issue is intimacy - I have very sisterly feelings towards my husband - and for various reasons I can’t see that changing, trust me on that. So my question - can I have a meaningful marriage when I feel lonely both spiritually and sexually and I’m drawn to others? Thank you and God Bless!

Question 2:
Should couples beyond their fertile years no longer engage in the sexual embrace since there isn't a possibility of children?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Real Humility | ACW124

17 maj 2021 | 42 min

How can I heal from pornography before entering into marriage? Do you have any advice for healing from a break up? How does Theology of the Body relate to the washing of the feet?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Thank you for your podcast. I listen to your podcast weekly while I go on a run and it makes the miles fly by!
My fiance and I are getting married very soon. We have both saved sex for marriage however there is a history of pornography use before we were dating. What advice do you have for us to have a pure, holy and lust-free experience? We have both read about theology of the body and listen to your podcast but knowing and living can be very different.

Question 2:
Hi Christopher and Wendy! I LOVE your show. Listening to the way you two interact with each other is so life-giving. I started listening last year after attending the TOB virtual conference and my goal is to listen to every episode! Here's my question: what light might TOB shed on healing from a breakup? Especially if you are the one who made the choice to end it? I chose to end an almost three-year dating relationship and while I believe what I did was best for myself and him in the long run, I find myself consistently wracked with guilt and shame for how I've hurt my ex. I don't know how to let go of the fact that I've caused him a wound and even though it's been almost a year. I haven't figured out how to forgive myself. Any advice?

Qestion 3:
This year I attended Holy Thursday Mass for the first time wearing my “TOB glasses.” The Mass was so much richer! Does the Theology of the Body tie into the washing of feet?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Getting into the Weeds | ACW123

10 maj 2021 | 38 min

What does the Church teach about cremation? How do we protect our children from the cultural gender ideology? How do I know I'm not getting married just to have sex?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I have heard the Catholic Church does not approve of cremated ashes being scattered or divided. If this is the case, why do we as Catholics have saints’ body parts as relics sometimes divided across the world in different locations. What is the difference here? Does the physical location of our dead body parts have anything to do with the resurrection of our bodies in the end?

Question 2:
What are we to make of all these differenct sexuality options that are apearing? How are we to react in love to people who present themselves to us with these different forms of sexual orientation? How do we teach our children in order to protect them from being confused?

Qestion 3:
Hello Christopher and Wendy! Thank you so much for your podcast. I listen to it every morning before my teaching assistant job, and you have very much inspired my desire to be a theology teacher! Having had a recent and intense reversion back into my Catholic faith, the Holy Spirit (with the help of your podcast) has convicted me to wait until marriage to have sex! Although I am confident in this conviction, having previously had pre-martial sex, the secular argument is still pervading in my mind. Which is, “How do you know you aren’t just marrying him just to have sex?” This bothers me! How do you recommend discerning a husband or wife without confusing lust with love? I’m worried about getting into the weeds here. Thank you again!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Good News about Sex and Marriage

The Eclipse of Sex by the Rise of Gender by Abigail Favale

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Here's the Deal | ACW122

3 maj 2021 | 41 min

How can I reclaim purity after falling? How can a friendship become a romantic relationship?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
Hi Christopher and Wendy. I’ve been listening to your podcast for a little over a year. I grew up, (thankfully!) with a very wholesome understanding of sexuality. I know that is rare. Despite the best efforts of my parents though, there were many needs in my heart for love and understanding, beauty and respect that went unmet. . . as I matured, these “holes” in my heart made me very vulnerable to the desires of other women my age who saw me as an opportunity to have their “needs” met. There’s a lot said in Christian circles about the lusts of men, but very little about the ways women use men so I think I was unprepared for this. I am very deeply empathetic, and am often told that I am very handsome. . . I share this because I think it explains why so many women have ended up using me to gratify their desires. Over time I began using these women back in different ways and eventually lost my resolve to save myself for marriage. Now, I feel so sick. I am exposing these wounds and needs to the blessed mother in prayer, but still every time thoughts of sexuality come to my mind, I feel a twisting in my stomach instead of the awe and wonder I had when I was much younger. What do I do? I feel like I have been compromised in the worst way.

Question 2:
Christopher, I know you’ve told this story a lot but here is the deal: my female best friend is attracted to me. Honestly, she is smart, very beautiful, very very funny and I know I can count on her anytime, she is simply the best. . . But, I just can’t see her as anything more than a friend right now. Christopher and Wendy, I want what you have, and I really want the best for her but I don’t know if I’m the best for her. Christopher, how did you turn your friendship with Wendy into romantic love?

Qestion 3:
My wife and I have been married for over 30 years. As we’ve gotten older, we’ve had to adjust our physical relationship because of health issues. I know this is a sensitive question, but I want to know what is permissible for couples who are able to experience sexual climax but cannot comfortably have penetration.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

Get a PREMIUM Pass for the 2nd Annual Theology of the Body Virtual Conference!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Intercede for Her | ACW121

26 april 2021 | 42 min

My wife scheduled an abortion - what can I do?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

REGISTER FOR FREE for the 2nd Annual Theology of the Body Virtual Conference! (April 30-May 2, 2021)

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
My wife just broke the news that she is pregnant with our first child. She’s so scared of childbirth that she scheduled an abortion. What can I do? I want to be a father.

Question 2:
Hi Christopher and Wendy,
Thank you so much for all you do to spread the GOOD NEWS of Theology of the Body! Christopher's books were my introduction to JP2's wisdom on human sexuality, and I am not exaggerating when I say it completely changed my faith for the better.
To varying degrees throughout my life, I've struggled with mental health issues, such as depression, scrupulosity, OCD, and negative body image. I find myself hoping for a future husband who doesn't share the same struggles as I do, someone who can help keep me grounded in reality. In theory, I could see how meeting someone with the same experiences could foster understanding and compassion in the relationship, but mainly I fear that such a marriage would fall apart if both spouses are mentally and emotionally unstable. Am I a hypocrite for wanting a man who will accept and patiently bear my crosses and weaknesses, but for whom I wouldn't want to do the same? If so, do you have any advice?

Qestion 3:
Why do people say that pornography is adultery? I struggled with it, but I never slept with anyone else. I love my wife and I did not give my heart to anybody but her. She is the only woman in my life.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Nitty Gritties of Love | ACW120

19 april 2021 | 36 min

How to share Theology of the Body with young children, how to discuss Catholic teaching on gender with children, and the best steps for education yourself on Theology of the Body.

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

REGISTER FOR FREE for the 2nd Annual Theology of the Body Virtual Conference! (April 30-May 2, 2021)

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
My husband and I are Natural Family Planning teachers with the Billings method. We believe that using NFP has brought us closer to God. We know Theology of the Body is the foundation for our closeness. Do you have any thoughts about how we can begin to share this amazing gift with our young children, ages 5, 4, and 2?

Question 2:
Hi! My question is in regards to gender dysphoria, specifically how to address and discuss Catholic teachings and gender change to children and to other non-Catholic friends.
I very recently made the decision to take my children out of public school. There were numerous issues including the introduction of condom use and where to get them to my 11 year old but my question is in regards to my 10 year old daughter. Her friend has come out to the classroom as changing genders. They watched videos on the subject and essentially were told everyone has the freedom to choose their sex and gender doesn't equal biology essentially.
I have read your book of Theology of the Body for Beginners and it was amazing, but can you give me some "go to" compassionate conversation to spread to my children as well as non-Catholic friends who are asking about my decision to homeschool and the lgbtq movement?

Qestion 3:
Hello Christopher and Wendy!
I was introduced to TOB through Dr. Juli Slattery's ministry, Authentic Intimacy. I have just finished reading Our Bodies Tell God's Story and I have been profoundly impacted and moved by TOB. I would say Our Bodies Tell God's Story is one of my favourite books ever! I have also been learning a lot from your podcast. Thank you for modeling a loving marriage together in your podcast!
As a married woman I have questions about what sexual behaviors are honoring in the bedroom. Can you direct me to where I can have questions about this answered?
I’m also wondering in what order I should read your books and resources? What are the next steps in educating myself about TOB.
Thank you again for your ministry and for sharing your marriage through the podcast!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

View our COURSE SCHEDULE to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!

THE TRUTH AND MEANING OF HUMAN SEXUALITY: Guidelines for Education within the Family

Beyond the Birds and the Bees: Raising Sexually Whole and Holy Kids

HEAVEN'S SONG: SEXUAL LOVE AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE

When Harry Became Sally

THE LOVE THAT SATISFIES

LOVE IS PATIENT, BUT I’M NOT: CONFESSIONS OF A RECOVERING PERFECTIONIST

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY EXPLAINED

AT THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

A Promise of Immortality | ACW119

12 april 2021 | 36 min

Why in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination are sinful. How to overcome fears of sexual intimacy. Where to find an integrated understanding of chastity.

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Patron Question:
I’ve been thinking about infertility. I know the Church teaches that some ways of achieving a pregnancy like sperm or egg donors are sinful, but I don’t fully understand why.

Question 2:
Dear Christopher and Wendy, I’ve just discovered your podcast and all your work. I have so much to learn and know that God wants to enlighten so many things for me, but I’ve never had a boyfriend. Now that I’m 24 and I am looking to see if God wants me to get married , I do get scared at the thought of sex. Sadly, I grew up thinking that sex was a forbidden thing, and I find myself afraid thinking about my wedding night. I know it’s a gift and it’s a donation, but I can’t help being afraid. I don’t know the male body and feel so insecure in so many ways. I have the desire to fulfill my vocation and mission as a woman to give my life and to bring to the world children that may love God above everything, but I’m so human and afraid. What should I do to prepare myself in this time, to heal from these thoughts even while I’m still single?

Qestion 3:
Hi. I am an occupational therapist, and a health/life coach who wants to help people with mental health issues to be more integrated in their bodies and with God. I am looking for a more thorough understanding of integration and chastity. What do you recommend?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for the 2nd Annual Theology of the Body Virtual Conference! (April 30-May 2, 2021)

Register for online or in-person courses with the Theology of the Body Institute!

Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love: Practical Insights from John Paul II’s Love and Responsibility

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Cry of Agony | ACW118

5 april 2021 | 38 min

How we got started in ministry. Healing from sexual abuse. How true art can heal the wounds of pornography.

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

*Patron Question: *
I’m interested in getting involved in pro life ministry. Would you please share how you got started in ministry work?

Q2: Hi! I am a 25 year old practicing Catholic. I have been really struggling recently with my image of God the Father and Jesus. I was sexually assaulted, physically, and mentally abused by my own father which has altered the way I perceive older men and especially Jesus now as an adult. I would say that I have a good prayer life. I receive sacraments regularly; but in the depths of my soul, there is a part of me that has been corrupted in regards to all things having to do with fatherhood It's like I know the difference in my mind; I even gave Theology of the Body talks to other students in my college campus ministry, but in my heart and memory, there is still an inner struggle with believing and understanding what a good father is.

Q3: Hi Christopher and Wendy. I’ve been struggling with pornography for a long time, and have been praying for the Lord to help me overcome it. I’m also struggling with depression and hopelessness due to this problem and other things. I am currently studying classical art in an institute were we work with nude models all day long. I’ve found myself tempted quite often, and there have been times I’ve had to avoid class because of the struggle not to objectify the woman posing. Even though I know it is not intrinsically evil, do you think it would be wise for me to stay away while I find healing?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for the 2nd Annual Theology of the Body Virtual Conference! (April 30-May 2, 2021)

Register for online or in-person courses with the Theology of the Body Institute!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Forgiven and Repaired | ACW117

29 mars 2021 | 39 min

If we are redeemed, why must our bodies die? How do you deal with lustful thoughts as a woman? Is it sinful to be intimate with my husband after he has had a vasectomy?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: I am really grateful for this teaching on Theology of the Body and for your ministry. You’re spreading very good news and everything’s starting to make sense in my life.
If we are reborn, redeemed, regenerated, why must our bodies die? What is the theology of our dead bodies?

Q2: I'm struggling to know how long to hold onto lustful thoughts. I’ve realized, through listening to other women's stories, that I have quite a high sex drive for a woman, and thoughts about intimacy pop into my head daily. I'm single but dating someone I'm very interested in, and my attraction to him as a whole person intensifies my imagination. While I used to hate myself every time this craving for intimacy would pop into my head, I've learned from your podcast that it's okay to have space for that and look for the deeper, good need behind it.
I also notice that I sometimes spend a lot of time dwelling on this, and then I worry that I'm engaging sinfully I should be doing away with it. Where is the place of balance?

Q3: In my country it is very common for people to decide how many kids you want and then get sterilized once you have them. I thought we were doing great with NFP, but after a scary pregnancy with our fourth baby, we felt so tired, scared, and overwhelmed without family close to help. We decided my husband would have a vasectomy. Everybody does it, we thought. As time passes, and I learn more about Theology of the Body, I regret this decision.I know marriage, sex and babies go together, but now we can’t have babies. I feel that maybe we are doing something wrong when my husband wants to be intimate with me. Is it wrong to be intimate now?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for the 2nd Annual Theology of the Body Virtual Conference! (April 30-May 2, 2021)

Register for online or in-person courses with the Theology of the Body Institute!

Vasectomy Reversals at Cost

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

There Is A Path Before Us | ACW116

22 mars 2021 | 33 min

What is an emotional affair? How can people who have been educated by pornography trust their hearts?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: We talk a lot about lust and the degrading of a person through a physical sexual act but I am often hearing about emotional affairs but what if a wife or girlfriend were to be seeking and desiring emotional companionship with someone other than her husband or boyfriend?

Q2: How can people who have been educated on sexuality through pornography learn what is good and what is not? Even some catholics authors are vague on the acceptable behaviors. I even read some that encourage many kinds of behaviors that are found in pornography. But how can a generation who has been educated by porn learn to trust their heart?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for the 2nd Annual Theology of the Body Virtual Conference!

Register for online or in-person courses.

Good News About Sex and Marriage

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The One Line Hook | ACW115

15 mars 2021 | 41 min

How can I explain that living together before marriage is not a part of God's plan without having to explain hours of TOB? Do I need to tell my husband about my sexual past? Why is Mary called "Mother Undefiled"?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and receive ongoing formation? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: I have several nieces and nephews who are cohabitating with their significant others. They have a completely secular view about their sexuality. How can I explain that living together before marriage is not a part of God's plan without having to explain hours of TOB right off the bat? I need to hook them with something so that they'll belive me and I can chip away with TOB slowly.

Q2: I am a wife and mother, and a fairly new convert to the faith. I’ve been deeply grieved by the sin of my past, even though I understand that through the sacramental graces of confession I am forgiven, I fear I must also seek forgiveness from my husband. In our courtship, I failed to confess to him my sexual past. These were things I had never spoken of to anyone until my confessor. And although I know I am forgiven, I am still deeply ashamed. The encounters I had left me with emotional scarring and pain. My question is an earnest plea for spiritual guidance on what to do when I have brought my sins to my confessor, but am unsure of whether or not I must also confess these to my spouse?

Q3: Hello Christopher and Wendy, thank you so much for your podcast! It has helped me greatly with understanding and accepting my body and God's plan for it. I have noticed that a lot of times sex is spoken of as a bad thing, for example one of the titles of Mary is “Mother Undefiled.” This really confuses me because if sex is a good thing why would it be referred to as being defiled? Could you please explain this to me?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

The 2nd Annual FREE Theology of the Body Virtual Conference (April 30 - May 2, 2021)

Course Calendar

Theology of the Body at the Movies

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Incontheivable Teachings | ACW114

8 mars 2021 | 38 min

What is your advice to someone who feels thrown away? Why is it a sin for me to cut myself but ok for St. Francis to flog himself? What hope can Theology of the Body give for my daughter who struggles with same sex attraction?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and receive ongoing formation? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: Thank you for all your amazing work on the podcast! I have heard Christopher talk about the dangers of Manicheism and Puritanism. I understand that we should never blame the good things that God created for our misuse of them. Which brings me to my dilemma. I think that my boyfriend broke up with me because he was too attracted to me. He is a devout Catholic and seems to avoid many things that could lead him to the near occasion of sin. Although he cited a different reason for breaking up (not enough time for a relationship), I suspect that he broke up because he could not control his desires around me. We broke our physical boundaries twice during the relationship. What is your advice to someone who feels thrown away? How should I learn from this experience, pray for him, or what else would you suggest?

Q2: I’ve been told by a few priests that to cut or self-injure is a sin and even a grave one and reframing the struggle that way has helped me to resist the temptation with more success. But. . . I was wondering if you could speak to why it is a sin for me to cut myself but ok for say St Francis to flog himself? Like, what is the difference and does the Theology of the Body speak to this?

Q3: Our 17 year old daughter thinks she may be "gay" and I know the better term is "same sex attraction." She didn't tell me this but told my husband. I am not sure why she thinks that so I don't know if she really has same sex attraction or if she is afraid of getting close to guys because of father wounds. She says "she knows she is a girl" when there is all this talk everywhere about transgender people. She also thinks the Catholic Church doesn't like gay people but I have told her it's not the inclination or the person but the acting on it that is wrong. I have said all of us are called to be chaste. I love the Theology of the Body teachings and try to get her to read the books. I have many fears now for her and I am asking whether there is hope for her and what can you share of the teachings of the Theology of the Body that can give her and me hope?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

The Heart of Female Same-Sex Attraction by Janelle Hallman

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Nitty Gritties of Discernment | ACW113

1 mars 2021 | 30 min

How should I counsel someone who wants to follow the Church's teaching while his wife wants to use contraception? Should I break up with my girlfriend since we've been falling to sexual sin? How can I discern between cellibacy and marriage when those around me are convinced of my path?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and receive ongoing formation? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: As a priest, I have been trying to help someone who is struggling within his marriage about contraception – specifically, he wants to follow the Church's teaching, but his wife does not. What advice can you give me about how to counsel him?

Q2: My girlfriend and I have been struggling to live out the church's teaching on pre-marital sex and have fallen into sin a few times. Sometimes this leads to arguments between us where I voice how I feel like I have to choose between her and God when we sin. However, I also recognise our relationship isn't just about our struggles with sexual sin and she does inspire me in many other ways to grow closer in my relationship with the Lord. I'm unsure whether it's God's will for me to break up with her or continue to struggle to be chaste with her.

Q3: Hello Christopher and Wendy! First, thank you so much for the joy and witness you bring as a married couple. Your example has brought so much healing to my view of marriage so from the bottom of my heart thank you. For my question: I had been discerning religious life for a long time but recently felt the call to start discerning marriage instead. Whenever I tell my friends this, they typically say something along the lines of, "Well, God is probably just calling you to marriage with Him." This language has truly been so painful because I feel like I can no longer even read about the beauty of what marriage can be because I am constantly told it's not for me. Could you please speak to this?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body Institute Course Schedule

TOB Virtual Conference

VADEMECUM FOR CONFESSORS CONCERNING SOME ASPECTS OF THE MORALITY OF CONJUGAL LIFE

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Married to Mary-Wendy? | ACW112

22 februari 2021 | 26 min

Should I think of Mary when I kiss my wife? What's the difference between repressing something and the self-discipline? What books on TOB should I recommend to my young-adult daughters?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and receive ongoing formation? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: Last November, a priest suggested me to intensify my love to our Mother Blessed Virgin Mary. The idea that came up to my mind is: each time I kiss my wife, consider that I am kissing Mary, and receive her kisses like Saint Joseph. It really works but sometimes I feel kind of embarrassed, and I am not sure if this idea is good or not.

Q2: I don't understand the difference between repressing something and the self-discipline which our faith encourages us to practice. Can you please explain? Thank you both immensely for the show!

Q3: I have two daughters, age 22 and 24, who both have boyfriends. I was recently introduced to TOB and find that had I known certain truths, my marriage may not have suffered the way it did. I'm wondering which book of yours would be best for me to give them. You are truly gifted & blessed with the TOB knowledge and I am interested to get to know more myself.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity by Carrie Gress, PhD

A Meditation on Givenness by Pope John Paul II

Theology of the Body Institute Course Schedule

The Cry of the Heart

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Discernment, Beauty, and Infertility | ACW111

15 februari 2021 | 39 min

I believe God is calling me to marry a man whom I dated this summer but he has discerned that it is not the right time for him to have a relationship. What would you advise me to do? Does God delight in a person's beautiful outward appearance? If so, what if you don't have good looks? My husband I learned that we are infertile and the grief is hitting us hard. Could you speak some life into this darkness?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and receive ongoing formation? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: I believe God is calling me to marry a man whom I dated this summer and fall. He has discerned that it is not the right time for him to have a relationship, and now we only see each other in groups. He is a devout Catholic and says he wants to focus on his work as a religious education director right now. God keeps giving me little hints that maybe I should not give up hope for this relationship to happen in the future.
You have previously shared that Wendy hoped to marry Christopher for 3 years even while he was interested in someone else. What would you advise me to do? How do I pray for his best interest - it is really hard! I don't want to give up hope, but I also want to stay open to any other possibilities God has for me.

Q2: I have a question about exterior beauty. God is beauty itself, and he delights in it. And I know beauty goes way beyond just outer appearance, but there is something to be said for a beautiful looking man or woman. And it's pretty obvious that some people are simply better looking than others. People are drawn to good looking people in a certain way. So my question is, does God delight in a person's beautiful outward appearance, and if so, what if you don't have good looks? Did God just not want you to have outer beauty?

Q3: Hi Christopher and Wendy!
About a year and a half into our marriage, we went to see a wonderful Catholic doctor to find answers for our experience of infertility. All the tests and follow ups told us that my husband is not making sperm, and there is absolutely nothing that can be done. This news is hitting us both very hard. I have read that the grief of infertility is as if one has been handed a terminal diagnosis. It has felt like a death in so many ways.
Before we can move into whatever God has for us next, I want to understand our bodies deeper. I feel like God is taking us into the emptiness; empty testicles and empty womb. Can you help us understand who we are in this? Could you speak some life into this darkness?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for TOB2 Online (March 1-12, 2021)

Theology of the Body Institute Course Schedule

Register for the TOB Patron Virtual Retreat (February 27, 2021)

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Discerning the Weeds | ACW110

8 februari 2021 | 32 min

How can a painful past become a source of love and bonding? Can the Catholic faith be reconciled with the theories of evolution? Should we reject Bruce Springsteen for blasphemy?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and receive ongoing formation? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: I am 33 and waiting for responsible love and marriage. My boyfriend, a practicing Catholic, recently disclosed his past to me — and it is very overwhelming. He has caused and experienced so much pain and suffering that I feel no longer physically attracted to him at this moment. I have forgiven him, but somehow my natural attraction to him has faded. Do you think this feeling will pass? How can a painful past become a source of strength, healing and somehow mysteriously, love and bonding?

Q2: I love the endless depth of Genesis, especially through the lens of Theology of the Body. Could you share a bit about how you reconcile the deep truths found in Genesis with the science of evolution? I know Genesis isn't intended literally so it's not quite that I'm asking. I'm more wondering things like - did humanity evolve to a certain point as animals without souls and then God breathed his life into Adam and Eve, making them human?

Q3: In one of your recent podcasts you spoke of your affinity for the music of Bruce Springsteen. Like you, I am a big fan and even though I do not have one musical fiber in me, I greatly enjoy his art and am very grateful that he has shared his talent with the entire world. He has a song called, “If I Were a Priest” that was written long ago but recently released. In this song, he seemingly blasphemes the Blessed Mother and the Holy Spirit. I say “seemingly” because different people will interpret these words and the entire song differently, but it sure seems very irreverent to me. The 1st Saturday devotion was established by Jesus and Mary to counter attacks against her Immaculate Heart. In support of this devotion, it seems that we should reject the attacker (no matter how talented he is) in some way. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body II: Into the Deep (Online, March 1-12, 2021)

Theology of the Body Institute Course Schedule

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

We Live Ruptured Lives | ACW109

1 februari 2021 | 39 min

Can experiences of sexual desire be an invitation to intercession? My wife and I recently had a miscarriage and I feel that I lost my purpose as a father. Do you know of something that I could do to help with this struggle? Am I wrong to believe that anyone with same-sex attraction can reorder their eros if they truly want to?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Free Word Made Flesh Lenten Sunday Mass Companion!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and receive ongoing formation? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: In one episode, you mentioned that spouses sometimes physically feel what one another is struggling with that day as a type of intercession or signal that they should pray for their spouse in a certain area. I am an unmarried woman, but I have recently experienced intense feelings of increased sexual desire for no reason, before seeing a friend of mine who I believe struggles with lust. Could this be an invitation to pray for him? How can I cope with these desires that I never had to deal with before?

Q2: My wife and I have recently experienced a miscarriage of our second child at 12 weeks after conception. We named her Amelia. We had a funeral and burial service for her and believe she is with the Lord. Even knowing this I struggle with her loss. I feel as though I lost my purpose as a father as I was not able to take care of her the way that I take care of my son and my wife. I was not able to sacrifice myself f or her. Do you know of something that I could do to help me with my struggle?

Q3: Am I wrong to believe that anyone with same-sex attraction can reorder their eros if they truly want to?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Snowflake close up

TOBI Course Schedule

The Third Way: Homosexuality and the Catholic Church

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Soul of Woman | ACW108

25 januari 2021 | 44 min

Can you give some encouragement and advice for men like me trying their best to practice chastity to not fall into self disgust and feelings of uselessness? Are women inherently more integrated than men? What advice can you give to those of us trying to have holy marriages but are really struggling with our own spouse

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and receive ongoing formation? Join our Patron Community!

Q1: I have really felt God speaking to me through this podcast and it has been such a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.
I am 24 years old and am currently in a serious relationship. My girlfriend is amazing. We’ve been making our way through Love and Responsibility together and I’ve been struggling not to fall into self disgust for myself as a man. I have been growing in chastity over this past year and it has been such a journey that I can only thank God for the Grace He has given me. But I’ve found myself doubting the purpose of the male body. Women seem to have an easier time controlling their thoughts and bodies when it comes to physical desire and sensuality. As a man, it has always been hard. I still get thoughts which I try not to entertain. Is there a purpose to these? Can you give some encouragement and advice for men like me trying their best to practice chastity to not fall into self disgust and feelings of uselessness? How can my sensual desires be a gift rather than just a hindrance?

Q2: Could you explain this quote from Saint Edith Stein?
"The relationship of soul and body is not completely similar in man and woman; with woman, the soul's union with the body is naturally more intimately emphasized... woman's soul is present and lives more intensely in all parts of the body, and it is inwardly affected by that which happens to the body."

Q3: I love your marriage and the way the two of you interact and look at each other. What steps have you both taken to have the marriage you have today? What did you do when you were really struggling (individually and/or together)? What advice can you give to those of us trying to have holy marriages but are really struggling with our own spouse - maybe deep wounds from the past they don't address (and possibly don't want to address with you)?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Heaven's Song: Sexual Love as It Was Meant to Be

Discovering the Human Person: In Conversation with John Paul II

The Cry of The Heart - YouTube Video

Theology of the Body Virtual Conference 2020

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The Prophet Forrest Gump | ACW107

18 januari 2021 | 35 min

Why Do You Call Me Good? | ACW106

11 januari 2021 | 35 min

Do all good people go to heaven? How do I know God's will for my life? Why do Catholics pray to saints?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I understand that salvation comes through the Church but I cannot accept the idea that there are so many good people being damned because they are not a part of the body of Christ. How does this work with God’s mercy? Shouldn’t all good people go to heaven? Please explain if there’s theology I don’t understand.

Q2: I’m really struggling to discern God’s will for my life. Vocational decisions feel so complicated and there are so many conflicting desires and voices. . . I don’t know how to know the right path. I feel like there should be a simple answer but life is messy. How do you discern God’s will in your life?

Q3: Okay, so my question is about why Catholics pray to saints. It seems to me that this could be a violation of the first commandment: “I Am the Lord your God, you shall have no gods before Me.” Can you please explain why Catholics do this?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Misconceptions of St. Joseph | ACW105

4 januari 2021 | 41 min

What is the reason for confession if Jesus has already forgiven our sins? What misconceptions about St. Joseph would you like to see cleared up during this year? What is the relevance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the modern world?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: What is the benefit or reason of confessing sins to a priest when Jesus has already forgiven our sins “once and for all”?? Is this based in scripture? There must be something I’m missing. . .

Q2: Pope Francis just announced the Year of St. Joseph. What misconceptions about this amazing saint would you like to see cleared up during this year?

Q3: Hello Wests! Christopher, I’ve heard you speak about the mysteries of Our Lady of Guadalupe in talks but I am curious if you could give a recap of this miracle and it’s relevance to TOB and to our current world? Thanks!

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body I: Head & Heart Immersion Course (Online) January 18-29, 2021

[Theology of the Body I: Head and Heart Immersion (Winter Park, Florida) February 7-12, 2021

REDEMPTORIS CUSTOS - St. John Paul II

PATRIS CORDE - Pope Francis

Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Quotes on Joseph:

Although Christ “is born from her like every man ... still Mary’s motherhood was virginal; and to this virginal motherhood corresponded the virginal mystery of Joseph” (TOB 75:2). “In this family, Joseph is the father: his fatherhood is not one that derives from begetting offspring; but neither is it an ‘apparent’ or merely ‘substitute’ fatherhood. Rather, it is one that fully shares in authentic human fatherhood” (John Paul II, Redemptoris Custos 21).
“In taking Mary to his home … Joseph participated in the maternity of his spouse in the measure in which he was vowed to her virginity.… Jesus was truly the issue of their marriage; their virginity was fruitful, their flesh exultant and at peace, in the super-eminent realization of the life-bearing impulse” (Fr. Maurice Zundel, Our Lady of Wisdom).
“The difficulty of accepting the sublime mystery of their spousal communion has led some, since the second century, to think of Joseph as advanced in age and to consider him Mary’s guardian more than her husband. It is instead a case of supposing that he was not an elderly man at the time, but that his interior perfection, the fruit of grace, led him to live his spousal relationship with Mary with virginal affection” (John Paul II, Theotokos, p. 128).
“When one searches for the reasons why Christian art should have pictured Joseph as aged, we discover that it was in order to better safeguard the virginity of Mary. Somehow, the assumption had crept in that senility was a better protector of virginity than adolescence. Art thus unconsciously made Joseph a spouse chaste and pure by age rather than virtue.... To make Joseph appear pure only because his flesh had aged is like glorifying a mountain stream that has dried. The Church will not ordain a man to the priesthood who has not his vital powers. She wants men who have something to tame, rather than those who are tame because they have no energy to be wild. It should be no different with God.... Instead of being a man incapable of love, he must have been on fire with love…. Instead, then, of being dried fruit to be served on the table of the king, he was rather a blossom filled with promise and power. He was not in the evening of life, but in its morning, bubbling over with energy, strength, and controlled passion” (Sheen, The World’s First Love, p. 92).
“Joseph had no suspicion of adultery because he knew the modesty and chastity of Mary. Moreover, he had read in Scripture that the virgin would conceive…. Thus it was easier for him to believe that Isaiah’s prophecy had been accomplished in her than to think that she could have let herself descend into debauchery” (St. Thomas, Commentary on Matthew, I, 117).
“Joseph wanted to leave her for the same reason Peter begged the Lord to leave him, when he said: ‘Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man.’ …He saw with fear and trembling that she bore the surest signs of the divine presence, and, … as a human being, was afraid of … the profundity of the mystery, and so he decided to leave her quietly” (St. Bernard, In Laudibus Virginis Matris, Sermo II).

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Honor the Temple | ACW104

28 december 2020 | 36 min

How did you know they were "the one"? What is a normal age to start dating? Why do Catholics place such an emphasis on Mary?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Hi there! I have a personal question for you. Can you each tell the story of how you knew each other was “the one”? You have a beautiful marriage and I love listening to your podcast!!

Q2: Hi Wendy and Christopher! In your opinion, what is a normal age to start dating? I am wondering because I think many people rush into relationships when they’re too immature to be discerning marriage but sometimes it is important to have learning experiences and allow feelings to be expressed, especially when you’re young. I don’t want to be set up for heartbreak but I also don’t want to live in fear! What are your thoughts on this?

Q3: Hello Christopher and Wendy. I was raised with a very negative view of Catholics, but your podcast has opened my mind. Can you explain to me, a Protestant, why Catholics place such an emphasis on Mary? Why do you pray to her and not just Jesus? - it seems very odd (and somewhat pagan).

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body I: Head & Heart Immersion Course (Online) January 18-29, 2021

[Theology of the Body I: Head and Heart Immersion (Winter Park, Florida) February 7-12, 2021

Fill These Hearts

Love is Patient but I'm Not

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Don't Treat Me Like a Toaster | ACW103

21 december 2020 | 42 min

Why do Catholics have images in church? Can you give a non-religious argument for waiting until marriage for sexual intimacy? How should I pray for my future spouse?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Hi Christopher and Wendy! Thank you so much for your work on the podcast. I’ve heard you talk about our bodies as icons of God’s love and you’ve also discussed terms like idolatry and iconoclasm. . . It seems Protestants tend to strip imagery from churches while some Catholics go above and beyond images. Could you give an overview of the proper understanding of sacred imagery in churches as it relates to Theology of the Body and a broader Catholic understanding?

Q2: Hello, I have a question about waiting for marriage. I’ve been blessed by TOB as it has given me a deep understanding of our dignity and why sexual acts communicate lifelong commitment and should be saved for marriage. I never had this growing up and it has changed my life! I am wondering though, could you give a non-religious explanation of this? Perhaps an appeal to natural law or reasoning that is accessible to secular people? I have many friends who are not receptive to the idea because of what our culture teaches and I want to share with them.

Q3: Hello! I am a young, single woman longing to be married and have children someday! I have been praying for a future spouse since I was little but am afraid I’m going about it all wrong. I want to be open to who God has for me without getting carried away in a fantasy. . . do you have any advice on how to pray for my future spouse and keep my desire open to the Lord and trusting in Him? I’d love to hear both of your thoughts.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB1 Online: January 18-29, 2021

At the Heart of the Gospel

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary: Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah

Discerning Marriage Hosted by Elizabeth Busby

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

It's Better than the Movies | ACW102

14 december 2020 | 34 min

Do you have any advice for coping with the idea of of friends having a baby outside of marriage? I want to show my love and fidelity to my wife and children but I keep falling into the sin of pornography use after struggling for 10 years. What do I do? Is the pleasure of the climax more in God's plan for men than for women?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I have Protestant friends who have been cohabitating during their engagement and recently announced they are pregnant. I have felt myself falling into the sin of judging them without kindness ever since. I hate feeling this judgement in myself, especially in reaction to the news of a new and Good life! Do you have any advice for coping with the idea of a new and good baby who is born outside of marriage?

Q2: I live in Scotland UK, I’ve been following your podcast for sometime now and I am always amazed at how gentle and respectful you are to each other. It is inspiring and something which is missing in my marriage. I have been addicted to pornography from my teens. The only time I realized the seriousness of my sin was when I met my wife and the desire God put on my heart to be a good husband and good father to my children. I wanted to stop but 10 years later and I still fall back into this sin. I want to love my wife the way God has called me to, to be the hero in her life. I feel the heavy burden to make her feel loved and I know I can’t make her feel loved while I am choosing other women or images. Where do I start?

Q3: Can you tell me why the pleasure of the climax seems more in God's plan for men than for women? It is necessary for procreation for men to have orgasm, but not for women. It is wonderful of men to be virtuous like JP2 said, and give pleasure to their wife, but why would God leave the pleasure of women to the virtue of men, and not vice versa?

Resources mentioned this week:

Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing

Matt Fradd's Program: Strive 21

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Our Bodies Are Holy! | ACW101

7 december 2020 | 36 min

Can you talk about the quote from St. Augustine: "You have made us for yourself oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you"? I can't get it out of my head that pictures from pornography that my husband has looked at can arouse him more than I can. Why does lust feel so much more powerful than the desire to be in communion and make the gift of self? My 3-year-old is in a habit of self-stimulation – what should we say or do, in your opinion? Could you describe the role of "main intercessor" that you mentioned in a podcast?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Hello Christopher and Wendy, thank you so much for all the work that you two do with TOB and this podcast. It has brought me closer to God, just listening to you two talk about all these topics! I'm going to start reading TOB for Beginners this week, and I am pretty excited! In one of your podcasts Christopher had a quote from St. Augustine I believe, "You have made us for yourself oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." That is a super awesome quote and made my heart happy! Where does that quote come from, so I can maybe look more into St. Augustine and his writings?

Q2: I have been hurt by pornography recently. Sometimes, when my husband and I want to be intimate, but are very tired, it is harder for him to get ready. I really understand all the physical factors that cause this, including age, and I respect it totally, but I can't get out of my head the thought that pictures from pornography that he looked at would be able to arouse him and I, despite my efforts, have great difficulty arousing him. I would like to heal this issue in my heart that leads to this hurtful certitude. Lust feels so much more powerful than the desire to be in communion and make the gift of self.

Q3: My 3-year-old is in a habit of self-stimulation. I understand this is not necessarily a moral issue at his age, but I did the same in childhood and have had to work through some negative effects because no one helped walk me through it when I was young. Then, when I was older, I was told that masturbation is completely normal, even expected. His pediatrician has told me to just tell him to do it in private. I want to know how to protect him, how to talk with him in an age-appropriate way about his body, and how to set him up for a beautiful understanding of the fullness of God's creation later on in life. My husband and I typically just gently redirect him by saying, "Your body is good! You need to respect your body." What should we say/do in your opinion?

Q4: Could you describe the role of "main intercessor" that you mentioned in a podcast? What does it mean and how to be a the main intercessor for our spouse?

Any help would be super great! I will keep you two in my prayers. Stay healthy and God bless!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for The Way of Beauty with Bill Donaghy, January 3 - 8, 2021

Register for Theology of the Body I: Head and Heart Immersion (Florida), February 7-12, 2021

Beyond the Birds and the Bees: Raising Sexually Whole and Holy Kids

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

The 100th Episode Celebrity Question Royale | ACW100

30 november 2020 | 49 min

What's a good strategy in the moment of temptation? Why did both Divine Mercy and Theology of the Body come into the world through Saint John Paul II? What is the secret of a good marriage? What's the biblical connection between sexual immorality and idolatry? If you could be the lead singer of any band, which would it be? What is one truth that God has been speaking to your heart recently that you would be excited to share with people? How is Theology of the Body particularly effective in communicating the heart of the kerygma? If you were to have any of Jesus's diciples at one of your courses, which one would you want it to be?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Jason Evert: What is your favorite ever story in the life of Saint John Paul II? What's a good strategy in the moment of temptation when you experience an attraction or a desire that you can't move forward on, whether that's a young person tempted on the internet, someone experiencing same-sex attraction, or even temptations within marriage?

Father Patrick Schultz: Why did both Divine Mercy and Theology of the Body come into the world, in many ways, through Saint John Paul II? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Sr. Helena Burns: What is the secret of a good marriage? What is the secret of your marriage?

Matt Fradd: Why is it – at least it seems to me as I read Scripture – that after people commit an act of idolatry it usually follows that they're having an orgy, or they're falling into sexual immorality? I have my theories. I'm sure yours are a lot more interesting and accurate so, what do you think?

Mike Mangione: If you could have any musician throughout history at one of your courses for the five-day course, just sitting there and taking it in – any musician – who would it be? If you could be the front man in a current band and it's not weird, it all makes sense in the world, and the music's the same but you're able to infuse TOB into the music to reach the masses, what band would that be? But it cannot be U2 or Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Stacy Mangione: What is one truth that God has been speaking to your heart recently that you would be excited to share with people?

Chris Stefanick: Your passion and mine is sharing the core Gospel message with people, and you do that primarily through Theology of the Body – what's the overlap? How is Theology of the Body particularly effective in communicating the heart of the kerygma?

Jeannie Gaffigan: If you were to have any of Jesus's disciples at one of your courses, which one would you want it to be?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

2020 TOB Congress

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Theology of the Hospitalized Body | ACW99

23 november 2020 | 29 min

Is expressing my love to my husband a way of expressing it to the Lord? Can medical benefits ever justify masturbation? How does Theology of the Body impact healthcare?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: My husband and I have been married for 56 years. My question is that you often refer to your Heavenly Spouse and your earthly one. My husband and I regard our Golden Years as very precious and we are still extremely loving and caring towards each other and love being together, including romantically. We are aware we will not be married in Heaven and I am certainly aware that only the Lord can fulfill our innermost love relationship. Is expressing my love to my husband a way of expressing it to the Lord? How do you see this in your heart?

Q2: I’ve heard that masturbation can be a good thing for a man to do for medical reasons, like that it prevents prostate cancer or erectile dysfunction. What does the Church say about this?

Q3: Does the Theology of the Body give any advice specific to doctors on how to incorporate TOB into healthcare?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Hospitalized Body

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Only the Lord Has Authority | ACW98

16 november 2020 | 40 min

Did Adam and Eve have sex before the fall? When I have crossed a boundary sexually, it is hard not to give up afterwards. I know this is a lie, but it feels like the truth. Even though I believe God forgives me, I still failed. Can you offer advice or resources to help? When a person passes away, we pray for his or her soul, but what about the body?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Did Adam and Eve have sex in Eden? If yes, why does the Bible say that Adam "knew" Eve only after the fall? And their love was fruitful after the fall, not before, in Eden (they did not have children in Eden). Thank you so much and God bless you.

Q2: I am new to TOB but have found what I have experienced of it so far to be very helpful. My question is related to a mindset and heart change when it comes to sexual sins. When I have crossed a boundary sexually, it is hard not to give up afterwards. My mind tells me that I have already failed, so it doesn't matter if I try to be pure in that area of failure in the future. It feels like there is no going back. I know this is a lie, but it feels like the truth. Even though I believe God forgives me, I still failed. Can you offer advice or resources to help?

Q3: Hi Wendy and Christopher, your podcast has blessed me over 1.5 years. I love it!
Here's my question: When a person passes away, we pray for his or her soul, but what about the body?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

2020 TOB Congress

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Modesty, Pornography, and Protestantism | ACW97

9 november 2020 | 38 min

True Sexual Liberation | ACW96

2 november 2020 | 34 min

What determines gender? How do I share Theology of the Body with someone who has same-sex attraction? What are your thoughts on Vatican II?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Are we male or female because of our genitals and chromosomes, or are our genitals and chromosomes just signs of our maleness or femaleness? I guess I'm just trying to understand the larger question of what makes a male a male and a female a female. Is it something deeper than these outward characteristics that we use to see that we are male and female?

Q2: Someone I love very much is struggling greatly with same-sex attraction. He is a born-again Christian. He believes that perhaps to starve the temptations may be the only way to go. I want to bring some very basic TOB concepts to him about opening the yearning instead of starving the desires. Could you help me find the words that may help him reflect and remain hopeful?

Q3: I am reading your book, "Good News about Sex and Marriage." Based off your chapter "Who Says," what do you say/feel about Vatican II? Should this have ever happened or was this a devil in disguise?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Desert Stream Ministries

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Altar-ing the Meaning of Sexuality | ACW95

26 oktober 2020 | 37 min

Consecrated Virginity | ACW94

19 oktober 2020 | 33 min

What is Consecrated Virginity and how does it differ from religous life and other vocations? How does one discern a call to consecrated virginity? Is it possible to explain the truths of Theology of the Body without reference to Christianity?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: What is Consecrated Virginity and how does it differ from religous life and other vocations?

Q2: How does one discern a call to consecrated virginity?

Q3: Thank you for all the work you have done to present JP II's beautiful Theology of the Body. Have you ever been challenged to explain the truths within TOB without using a religious or biblical perspective? Is that even possible? I'm desperate for non-biblical and non-religious resources that still point to the same truths we know from our beautiful Church's teachings.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Discovering the Human Person

Register for the TOB Virtual Congress! Oct. 30 - Nov. 1

TOB1 Online Nov. 2-13

Love and Responsibility

Men, Women and the Mystery of Love: Practical Insights from John Paul II's Love and Responsibility

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Dating, Courtship, & Breakups | ACW93

12 oktober 2020 | 37 min

A Pregnant Man? | ACW92

5 oktober 2020 | 43 min

Why is gender diversity in the work force important from a TOB perspective? I just saw a trailer for TLC's new show, "My Pregnant Husband." I don't even know how to process this; what are your thoughts? Do you have any advice for new parents on raising strong, Catholic men?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Why is gender diversity in the work force important from a TOB perspective?

Q2: TLC has launched a new show called "My Pregnant Husband". I've only seen the trailer for the show (will not be watching the show). Heart wrenching....I don't even know how to process this. What are your thoughts? Can you please help me process this? I am just absolutely at a loss......sickened, saddened, heart broken, and even angry....

Q3: Do you have any advice for new parents on raising strong, Catholic men?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for the TOB Virtual Congress! Oct. 30 - Nov. 1

TOB1 Online Nov. 2-13

Made for More Livestream! Oct 16th, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM EDT

Eastern Icon of the Resurrection

Register for the TOB Congress!

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

A Multimedia Event! | ACW91

28 september 2020 | 41 min

You Are Made for Love | ACW90

21 september 2020 | 42 min

Who's the Captain? | ACW89

14 september 2020 | 38 min

How do you reconcile St. Paul's writings in Romans with Theology of the Body? How do you reconcile the saints' words that say Celibacy is the superior vocation when the Sacrament of Marriage is so beautiful and ordained by God? Is there a video series you would recommend for introducing TOB to my parish?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I've heard you mention that we are not spritual beings stuck in a human body and that the human body is good, but when I read Roman's 7:18, St. Paul says, "Nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh." The more I read Roman's chapter 7, the more I feel like the human body is not good. Can please explain to me what St. Paul meant.

Q2: I am a 21-year-old entering into my senior year at a Catholic University and I have always wanted to be a nun. My parents' marriage is not a healthy one, so growing up, I ran away from the vocation to marriage. That is, until a little while ago when I had what I like to call a "Maria von Trapp" moment where I realized that I had fallen for someone. Because of this, I decided to take a course on Theology of the Body. This led to the healing of my "marriage wounds" and I soon fell in love with the beauty and richness of the vocation to marriage. My question, though, is how can I know for sure if I am meant to pursue the vocation to marriage? What if I have the grace for living Continence for the Kingdom and I choose marriage instead? Is this choosing a lesser good over the greater good? And, how do you reconcile the saints' words that say Celibacy is the superior vocation when the Sacrament of Marriage is so beautiful and ordained by God?

Q3: I would like to introduce TOB to my parish. Is there a video series that you would recommend?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for TOB1 online!

FULFILLED SERIES 3-DVD SET + 1 STUDY GUIDE

FULFILLED GROUP STUDY KIT (3-DVD SET + 10 STUDY GUIDES)

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

We Are All Beloved | ACW88

7 september 2020 | 38 min

Do you have any advice for healing from my boyfriend's sexual past? If Peter is the rock upon which the Church is built, why is Mary given to John at the foot of the cross? My fiancé wants to use contraception. Do you have any advice?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I have been dating my boyfriend for 2 years now. He is a Catholic missionary and we met through our church. When he was in college however, he wasn’t living out his faith. He was indulging in things like drunkenness and hooking up with girls on a regular basis. He had a major conversion his senior year of college and now is an incredible man of God who passionately lives out his faith. I have been saving myself for marriage and when I found out he didn’t and has been with many women, it broke my heart. This is something I struggle with to this day. I see a Catholic counselor to try to deal with it, and the emotional pain has gotten better, but isn’t completely healed and is sometimes still a real struggle. I was wondering if you had any advice for me and if there’s hope that I can actually find full emotional healing from this.

Q2: I'm in a TOB study group. One of the questions that we are intrigued by is that according to the spousal analogy there is a man on the cross and a woman at the foot of the cross. It explains that our Lord is the new Adam and that Mary, the new Eve, is at the foot of the cross and that from these nuptials "women, there is your son" is the beginning of the Church. In this passage of the bible the son is John. Nevertheless, the apostle that God gives the Church to is Peter. Our question then is, based on Archbishop Fulton Sheen and this analogy if John is representing the Church in the cross, then why is Peter the founder of the Church?

Q3: I am currently deployed In a combat zone overseas and have been gone for over a year now. My fiance and I are getting married in January. She is a practicing Lutheran (NALC) and wants to be on contraception for the first year or two of our marriage as she is still in college and wishes to finish school before potentially getting pregnant. What resources would you recommend that her and I can study together to make decisions in our sex lives as a married couple?
Lastly, our honeymoon will potentially fall on a week of ovulating. What would you recommend for people who are trying to do NFP but find themselves in situations like this?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Desert Stream Ministries

Theology of the Body Congress

TOB 1 Online, Nov 2-13

Word Made Flesh - Full Set

Word Made Flesh - Cycle B

Word Made Flesh - Full Set

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Catechism, Ar Ar | ACW87

31 augusti 2020 | 39 min

What factors are in play when discerning openness to children in marriage? How does Theology of the Body relate to the Catechism? If God's going to be merciful anyway, why keep trying to do His will?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Could you share thoughts or experiences about the factors in play when discerning openness to children in marriage? Things like responsibility, God's providence, different cultural expectations, etc.

Q2: I just read you teach on studying the Catechism with an emphasis on TOB. Can you tell me more about that, please?

Q3: I often get deeply dispaired and lose hope in humanity when I see all the news about pedofilia, Catholics being advocates of the LGBT movement, my brothers having premarital relations with their girlfriends, having to plead with them to watch the mass on Sundays, etc. It seems as If there are no consequences. And, anyhow, God's going to be merciful. So, why keep on trying to do God's will?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for the TOB Congress taking place virtually Oct. 30-Nov. 1

Fullfilled Series

Catechism Paragraphs 2605 and 2606

Eclipse of the Body

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Cheese Cake Soul Mate | ACW86

24 augusti 2020 | 34 min

Isn't the phrase "Natural Family Planning" somewhat misleading? What are your thoughts on a single woman fostering and perhaps adopting children? Can I expect God to communicate to me through "signs"?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Dear Christopher and Wendy, I thank you wholeheartedly! I started listening to the podcast to learn more about TOB for my ministry, but the Lord was waiting for me there mainly to help me personally and heal my wounds. I’m a missionary priest and I have eleven brothers and sisters, now all of us in their thirties and twenties. I know we are the fruit of my parent’s daily challenge to discover and accept God’s will, needing His grace day by day anew.
I have some reservations about the expression “(Natural) Family Planning” - not about its real meaning but isn't it somehow confusing? Don’t you see a contrast between Christian spouses discerning continuously God’s will for their Family and the way most people in the world understand “family planning”. Did JPII use this expression? What do you think about it?

Q2: I am a 40 year old single woman who wished to have been married, but it seems that time may be past. I have come to acceptance of this and look forward to what God may have in store for me for the rest of my life, even if it may lead back to marriage. My question is: my heart has always gone out to foster children and I have this intense desire to give them a loving home. This comes up from time to time. But I hesitate, as I understand they may even more desperately need a male role model in their lives, and I wouldn’t have that in place. What are your thoughts on a single woman fostering and perhaps adopting children? Would this even be a wise thing to do?

Q3: Hello, Christopher and Wendy! I want to know your opinion about asking the Holy Spirit for signs and when I say signs I mean like: “If today I see a guy with a blue shirt holding a cheesecake, You're telling me that he is my soulmate.” I exaggerated but I guess you get it. In the old testament there are examples of God using signs. Sometimes He says what the sign will be; sometimes a specific sign is requested from Him. Can I ask or expect God to communicate to me this way?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Register for TOB1 in person with Bill Donaghy: November 15-20, 2020

Word Made Flesh - Cycle B

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Freedom from the Law | ACW85

17 augusti 2020 | 39 min

How does taking testosterone as a man differ from a woman taking hormonal birth control or a person who identifies as transgender using hormone injections to “transition” into the opposite sex? How are we to be selfless while maintaining our dignity as persons? Can you explain more about "the new ethos" mentioned in your book "Our Bodies Tell God's Story"?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: My boyfriend just shared with me that he recently began taking testosterone injections. His reasons for wanting to take them include wanting an increase in energy, an improved mood, and to feel better overall physically. He assures me that it is safe, and his doctor has assured him it is safe as well. However, I can’t help but feel a bit off-put by his decision to take them, since his bloodwork indicated his testosterone levels were completely normal prior to the injections. He is only 25 years old, and in great shape physically. I feel that he does not need the injections. The thought keeps resounding in my mind that he is on steroids, and it does not sit right with me. Would you please share your perspective on this through the lens of Theology of the Body? How is this different from a woman taking hormonal birth control or a person who identifies as transgender who uses hormone injections to “transition” into the opposite sex?

Q2: Recently I heard of someone talking about the characteristic of being "selfless" and how this may not in fact be something praise worthy to the point that we are denying our goodness as a person/personhood by saying this. I cant remember where I heard it and thought it was maybe your podcast. But could you comment on this in light of TOB and how by growing in relationship to God we are to become more fully ourselves and fully alive. Are the two congruent?

Q3: Hello! I’m reading your book “Our bodies tell God’s story” and I would love to hear you speak more about “the new ethos.” Is this like a much powerful way of discernment?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Our Bodies Tell God's Story

Theology of the Body Explained

Man and Woman He Created Them

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Within the Strike Zone | ACW84

10 augusti 2020 | 38 min

When it comes to praying for a spouse, to what degree should I expect God to fulfill my checklist? I read in a protestant book for women that we have no right to expect our husband to stay sexually pure if we constantly pull away. Can you give a TOB perspective on this?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: When it comes to praying for a spouse after discerning the call to marriage, to what extent should I expect God to consider my inner desires for physical beauty, age similarity and personality traits? I'm afraid to seek dates/courtship because of the possibility that God might expect me to be open to someone who doesn't meet my inner checklist.
I want to avoid the trap of thinking that "I" can ultimately satisfy my deepest desires, especially during the ache of singlehood. Is it wishful thinking to believe that "God doesn't show you gold and then give you silver" in the dating context?

Q2: In a Protestant book to help wives recover from the porn addiction of their husband, I read this: "While we're quick to expect our husbands to tow God's line of sexual purity, we're often slow to tow HIs other line and admit that our bodies aren't our own. We have no right to expect our husband to stay sexually pure if we constantly pull away. We're his sole vessel of sexual satisfaction and guys need regular sexual fulfillment, two to three times a week." I need the TOB point of view on this in my journey to heal.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body Virtual Conference

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Prophetic Underpants | ACW83

3 augusti 2020 | 34 min

Is it immoral to cohabitate with your fiance due to COVID if you are not engaging in intercourse and taking measures to avoid scandal? Do you have any wisdom for overcoming the struggle with pornography after a relapse? How do we know John “leapt for joy” in the womb?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I had a question about a very unique cohabitation situation. One of my friends (say Bob) is cohabitating with his fiance because of COVID. They decided that it was healthier that they live together since she would be in an unhealthy family situation at home with no job. Bob is a very devout Catholic and is very aware on the churches teachings (he's read some of your books), and in an effort to reduce scandal his brother is living in his apartment as well. Bob is hoping that his fiance can move out soon, but it has been over a month and the deadline only keeps getting extended for quarantine. The question: If they are not engaging in sex and believe that they are not committing scandal, is this still contrary to the church's teaching? He is one of my best friends so I'm very concerned for his spiritual welfare and helping him avoid scandal.

Q2: I am having trouble overcoming my attachment to pornography. I have struggled with it since I was 7 years old. I had a major conversion when I was 20 years old and I stopped watching pornography for 4 years after that. I am now 25 and the past year the problem has resurfaced and I am struggling again and I do not know why. I thought I had the problem under control. Do you have any spiritual or practical wisdom that you can impart?

Q3: How do we know John “leapt for joy” in the womb? I mean how do we discern between that and just a swift kick in the rib or evening calisthenics?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Interrior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe

Join Matt Fradd and discover the keys to a life of freedom
through the [STRIVE 21-Day Challenge](www.strive21.com)

If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recomended on this podcast, contact: [email protected]

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Sadness in Heaven? | ACW82

27 juli 2020 | 38 min

If we won't be married in heaven, will we still be together as a family? How does God's command to "be fruitful and multiply" apply to us today?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Access the 2020 Theology of the Body Virtual Conference with a Premium Pass!

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I really enjoy Theology of the Body and its insights really help me to love my faith more. The one thing that I struggle with is how we will not be married in heaven. I understand that marriage is only a sign of what is to come, but it makes me sad that think that our families will not be the same in heaven. Will we still be together as a family in heaven? If you are able, could you explain this mystery a little more?

Q2: Can you talk about how God's command to Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and multiply" relates to us today? This command came before they had sinned. Also, a church leader said that having children in Jewish families in the Old Testament was so vital and esteemed because they were expecting the Messiah (and thus that having babies after He was born was not as vital). How do children hold a special place in God's plan today? So many people are convinced that having less children is an essential part of the solution of climate change.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Mary Precedes the Patriarchy | ACW81

20 juli 2020 | 37 min

Inviting God into the Bedroom | ACW80

13 juli 2020 | 36 min

Is the Woman to Blame? | ACW79

6 juli 2020 | 35 min

What is your opinion on the negative impact popular music has on the way men treat women? Are women responsible for presenting themselves in a way that does not arouse lust? My husband refuses to be intimate with me because of my dedication to the faith. What should I do?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Frist, I want to thank you for your podcast. It has helped me a lot in my life. I am currently finishing my last year of college studying psychology in Mexico and for me to graduate, I have to do a thesis. The topic I'm investigating is the impact popular music has on male college students to the way they see women – how listening to some types of music affects men in the objectification of women. I know Christopher is a big fan of music, so I wanted to hear your opinion on the negative impact popular music, especially rap and hip-hop genre, could have on men in the way they see and treat women.

Q2: I recently listened to Jason Evert interview Christopher West for the Love Life Conference. I had a question about something in the beginning when they spoke of jewels not being the cause of theft and the beauty of woman not being the cause of lust. I understand that, but is there some responsibility on the part of the woman to present herself in a wholesome way? I'm not saying we need to wear burlap sacks around but is there some sort of line that's crossed between wholesome beauty and something else? I remember a girl in highschool wanted to go to school in a t-shirt with no bra because she said, "It's my body. I'm not ashamed." Well that's not wrong; it's good not to be ashamed of our bodies, but we also need to respect others in how we present ourselves. I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

Q3: About seven years ago I had a radical reversion to our faith. I have fallen completely in love with our Lord and the beautiful faith that He left us. I just can't get enough of Theology of the Body. The problem is that only I feel this way. My husband has no interest in the beautiful teaching's of our faith and is quite hostile about TOB. He says I have changed in the way we're intimate together and perhaps I have because I have such profound reverence for the gift of the marital embrace. I love my husband very much and I long to be close to him, but he says that as long as I quote "love my faith more than him" then sex can't be what it used to be. He says that he is very sad and there is nothing to be done for it. He isn't open to counseling. He often expresses resentment that I love our Lord more than Him. I honestly just don't know what to do with this. I want to have a loving, healthy marriage but my husband has shut down nearly all intimacy.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

It's in the New Testament Somewhere | ACW78

29 juni 2020 | 36 min

How do I help my sister who feels she is pansexual and struggles with suicidal thoughts? Is it wrong to marvel at the beauty of someone's sexuality? Does sickness in the body relate to anything spiritually?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I learned a few months ago that my younger sister has contemplated suicide. Today, I accidentally found a letter she wrote to our mom saying she believes she is pansexual. I feel like she's confusing the friendship love she has for her best friend who is a girl with romantic love. In her letter she used phrases like, "It's not the gender/sex that makes me attracted to someone, but who they are as a person," and other phrases that sound like things I've heard on the internet. I feel like she's choosing to put this label on herself because it's what she's being told to label herself as. She's only fourteen. I'm scared for her and don't know how to help her through this.

Q2: Thank you so much for entering into the pain of the human heart with everyone who God. places before youu on the podcast. I've been loving your podcasts because they've been teaching me just how much my creator loves me. It's also inpiring how receptive you are to each other's love! And now, the topic at hand: I used to have scrupals and I thought that thinking about sexuality was wrong. But more recently I've been wondering if maybe there is a time to marvel at the beauty of a person's sexuality. So my question is, is it always wrong to think about a person's sexuality? How do I marvel at the body's beauty?

Q3: Does sickness in the body relate to anything spiritually?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body I: Head & Heart Immersion Course (Online)

Professor of Rock - Neil Diamond

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Do We Have a Perfect Marriage? | ACW77

22 juni 2020 | 35 min

Seeing Through the Window | ACW76

15 juni 2020 | 40 min

How do I forgive my perpetually dysfunctional family? What do you think about the Latin Mass? How do I understand the part of the Litany of Humility that says "from the desire of being loved, deliver me, O Jesus"? Aren't we made for love?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: My question is about forgiveness. I live in a family with 5 adult kids and there are many dysfunctional patterns of expressing emotion and dealing with conflict. Many of my family members, myself included, have a difficult time forgiving. I know as Catholics, we are called to forgive the way Jesus forgave us; but I don't understand the difference between forgiveness and living in dysfunction. I feel that the dysfunction has to be solved before I can say, "I forgive you" and let things go; but that often leads to holding grudges and resentment, often for days on end. I don't know how to forgive while still addressing dysfunctional dynamics and not becoming a door mat.

Q2: I wanted to know your thoughts on the Traditional Latin mass? Do you believe it was necessary to change the mass in Vatican II? I believe so much of TOB aligns with the traditional Latin mass. I’m drawn to it and the reverence of it, what do you think and have you ever gone to the Latin mass regularly? Thank you for all you do!

Q3: I recently came across the Litany of Humility and I am wondering about how to reconcile this line “from the desire of being loved, deliver me, O Jesus” with marriage. My understanding is that the love of God is sufficient; however, if a marriage is a reflection of the marriage we will have with God in heaven (hopefully), then shouldn’t we desire our spouse to love us? Also, we were created to love and be loved; therefore, why should I pray to not desire love when that’s precisely what I was created for? Only God’s love?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

The Chosen TV Series

The Catholic Marriage Summit 2020

Love is Patient but I'm Not by Christopher West

Spirit of the Liturgy by Cardinal Ratzinger

TOB Institute Virtual Conference en Español

TOB Institute Virtual Conference - Premium Pass

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

The Cookie Analogy | ACW75

8 juni 2020 | 29 min

My wife works for Planned Parenthood; how do I talk to her about this? Is it possible to get too "into" books, movies, and music? How did the Fall happen if we already experienced the supreme love of God?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: My wife works for Planned Parenthood. I keep telling her to quit her job because it's the worst place on the planet to work. How do I handle this?

Q2: I've been a follower of this podcast and many of Christopher's talks for a while now, and one aspect I've appreciated is your appreciation for movies and songs, even ones that are pop culture or not seemingly religious at face value. I, too, find myself drawn into certain songs or movies, and feel deep emotions toward them. However, I have noticed that I can be almost too engrossed in a compelling book or movie, particularly series such as Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, in which I feel a connection with the characters and their story, and feel almost devastated when the series is over. I have to remind myself that these fantasy series aren't real. What insight do you have regarding my attachment to these stories?

Q3: Hello Christopher & Wendy! I'm reading "TOB for Beginners", but I'm very confused about something. You write, "Before sin, the human heart conformed totally to God's will," and "In the beginning, man and woman were infused with grace; they were drunk on God's wine." I don't understand how we could have distrusted God's love for us when it seems we already had "the cookie" in our hands. Hoping you can shed some light! Thank you immensely for your ministry.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Catholic Marriage Summit - June 11-13 - Featuring Christopher and Wendy West

VIrtual Eucharistic Conference - June 12-14 - Featuring Christopher West

TOB Spanish Virtual Conference - June 26-28 - Featuring Christopher West

Theology of the Body for Beginners book

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

Discover Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

A Beautiful Challenge | ACW74

1 juni 2020 | 38 min

Are humans fundamentally "not good"? My husband needs to be intimate to feel close, and I need to feel close to be intimate. How do we resolve this disparity in our marriage?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Recently I attended a Lutheran Free service with my parents. Their pastor, a very scholarly man who knows his Bible well, mentioned 3-4 times in his sermon that after the fall God sees us as 'not good'. How can I explain the Truth (Catholic teaching) to him in love?

Q2: My husband often needs to BE intimate to feel close, where I need to FEEL close to be intimate. The way we express and receive our love is just different. But for me, I am on guard about "always to love never to use" almost to a fault. I'm hesitant to give myself until we FEEL close (and I know that would be ideal), but with young kids we just don't realistically always have the time or energy to reach that point emotionally, and so therefore seldom reach the ability to be intimate physically either.

How can I shift my mindset to be open to intimacy even when I may not FEEL it, knowing that it ultimately is a way I AM showing my husband love in the way he can receive it? I don't want to be afraid that the act is somehow "letting myself be used" just because I may not 100% emotionally FEEL it in the moment. (Worth noting, my husband is also very on guard to "never use" so it's not like he is demanding sex, it just is his love language. )

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB Institute Courses - Including October's course centering on Mary

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Fertility in Suffering | ACW73

25 maj 2020 | 38 min

What is the difference between attraction and lust? My friend is considering using IVF to try to conceive. How can I help her? My son is going through marriage prep and has asked me for reading recommendations. What do you recommend?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Check out all the great content of our [online conference](tobvirtualconference.com).

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I was recently reading a novel written from a Christian perspective with Christian characters. One of the characters mentions that his growing attraction for the girl "had only started with lust." This line was jarring to me and brought to my attention that many Christians have a mistaken idea that any attraction that is not immediately and obviously spousal must be sinful.

Q2: I'm writing because I found out my best friend (who is Catholic, mind you) is planning on turning to IVF after years of trying to conceive. She has had several miscarriages as well. What can I say to her that will encourage her that IVF is not the answer to the future full of hope that she is seeking?

Q3: My son is getting married in the fall. Both he and his fiance are Catholic. He recently asked me if I had any reading recommendations to supplement his marriage prep. I am looking at several of your books and looking for your guidance. I'm considering "Good News About Sex and Marriage" or "Theology of the Body for Beginners". Thoughts?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB Virtual Conference - Premium passes are still available, also check our our offerings in Spanish.

Into the Deep Retreats

Catholic Marriage Summit

Books by Greg and Lisa Popcak

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Becoming Saintly | ACW72

18 maj 2020 | 39 min

I want to practice the spiritual disciplines of the saints and mystics, but they get in the way of my being a joyful wife and mother. How do I achieve balance here? I take pride in working out, but how do I keep this from straying into vanity?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: For years, I have studied mystical theology and put what I have learned into practice, longing for Union with God. He is so good; I do not doubt that He offers this Union to us all! However, I have bumped into a brick wall. How does one distinguish between scrupulous puritanism and the renouncement of all created things for the love of God? I love God very much and want to love Him more, but when I attempt the bodily mortifications recommended by the Saints in books about Union, I feel less capable of being a joyful wife and mother, less connected to my family in the sharing of a meal or a game or some other fun activity; a beer with my husband, for example. The fruits of these endeavors make me more difficult to live with; not more saintly! I am certain God does not want this, but He does want Union--even more than I do. That's the good news! Is there a separate path to Union for the married than to deny oneself all pleasures but those found in prayer?

Q2: Could you offer any TOB perspective on working out? If I honestly look at my heart as a young husband when I workout - the cultural air I'm breathing has filled it with vanity and ego associated with the increase of my strength. But I do feel a deep good in working out. My mind is just polluted by the culture. How can we maintain a St Joseph heart, while also putting effort into stewarding the masculine body that God gave us?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB Virtual Conference Premium Pass

TOB Virtual Conference in Spanish!

Jason Evert's Virtual Chastity Project Conference

Good News about Sex and Marriage

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Live from the TOB Virtual Conference | ACW71

11 maj 2020 | 45 min

What does the church teach about organ donation? How do I remain faithful to Church teaching on contraception while dealing with sexually abused youth? How do I deal with an abusive and dismissive husband?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I am finishing up a semester to be a certified Spiritual Director at St. Vincent Archabbey Seminary. What books should I read or courses should I take to integrate John Paul II's teaching as a spiritual director?

Q2: How do I help those with same-sex attraction to learn about the Theology of the Body?

Q3: What does the Church teach regarding organ donation and the donation of bodies for scientific research post-mortem?

Q4: What is your advice for avoiding the way of the Stoic?

Q5: I work with youth who live in situations where they face danger of sexual abuse. Contraception is often a topic at issue in these situations. How do I remain faithful to the teaching of the Church in these circumstances?

Q6: My husband says that I must have sex with him every 48 hours. Otherwise, he will fall into masturbation and mortal sin. He says it is my duty to prevent this. What do I do?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body Virtual Conference Premium Pass

At the Heart of the Gospel book

Word Made Flesh: A Companion to the Sunday Readings book

The Writings of Fr. Jacques Philippe

Anna Carter and Eden Invitation

Andrew Comiskey and Desert Stream Ministries

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Beyond Rejection | ACW70

4 maj 2020 | 37 min

I'm very saddened by the loss of the Eucharist in quarantine. What do I do? God created man (male and female) in his own image, but God is not biological. How does this work? How do I deal with deep feelings of rejection after divorce and annulment?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: My question is about quarantine and the Eucharist, and I am sure others can relate. I have recently been falling more in love with the Lord through the Eucharist, but I took it for granted that He would be there at Mass every Sunday, and I didn't take time out of my week to go to daily Mass, which I now regret. I ache deeply to receive Jesus sacramentally and I long for the physical closeness of receiving Him in the Eucharist. I realize that the ache is a good thing, in a way, but often find myself resenting the fact that I cannot now receive Communion, and I tend toward self pity in this, not prayer. How can I recognize the grace God is offering in this time of trial and pray into the ache it is bringing about in my heart?

Q2: So in Genesis 1:27, which I'm sure you're very familiar with, it says "So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them."
So it says that God created them in his image, but he doesn't have a body, so it must be a different kind of image, not a biological one. But he says that he created them in the image of God, then he continues to elaborate by saying that that image is in the gender of Male and female. So my question is, if being in God's image is not meant biologically, how is it shown in the genders of male and female?

Q3: I am currently undergoing the divorce and annulment process. One of the largest reasons for things ending is that she just refused to have a physical relationship with me. After a lot of detailed conversations with priests and my counselor I can accept intellectually that I am not to blame for this, but I am really struggling with deep feelings of rejection and that there must be something wrong with me. Any advice?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB Virtual Conference May 8-10, 2020

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Christopher is a Chronic Melon | ACW69

27 april 2020 | 45 min

I have been waiting for an annulment of my previous marriage for years. Do you have any advice? Is it appropriate to say that for intersex people, God created them that way? Do you ever use the four temperaments to talk about personality and the relationships between people?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Check out the FREE TOB Virtual Conference May 8-10!

Q1: My husband divorced me a few years ago and I have been going through the petition for invalidity. This has been going on for years and I'm still waiting to hear the findings of the Tribunal. I always considered my vocation to be marriage and I am praying for peace to accept God's will. What advice could you give?

Q2: If God did not create individuals to be gay, but it is rather a result of the fall, then what about hermaphrodites? Is it appropriate to say that God did not necessarily "Create" them that way? But rather their condition is another result of man's sin?

Q3: I am fascinated by the four temperaments. Learning about them has greatly helped my self-awareness and relationships. Do you have a perspective on this? Could you discuss why it is especially important in marriage to understand your and your spouse’s temperament?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Free TOB Virtual Conference May 8-10

Is the Coronavirus Pandemic a Judgement from God? | Mary Healy

Introduction to Christianity | Pope Benedict XVI

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Heart and Soul | ACW68

20 april 2020 | 36 min

For a non-Catholic, what is "transubstantiation"? Is my "heart" the same thing as my soul? I'm about to have my sixth Caesarean section. My doctor wants me to undergo a tubal ligation. Is this licit?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I'm a non-Catholic believer. Could you please explain the doctrine of transubstantiation, and why non-Catholics cannot receive the Eucharist?

Q2: Is my "heart" my soul?

Q3: My husband and I were introduced to NFP during our pre-marriage classes. It has helped us to grow in faith over the years. I am pregnant now with our fifth baby, and will have my fifth Caesarean section in November. My doctor asked me if I would like to do a tubal this time, as she strongly advises in her medical opinion that I should not become pregnant a sixth time. She even sugggested I talk with a priest to see if it would ever be permissible for medical reasons. Is it ever permissible to get your tubes tied or is it always a serious sin no matter what the reason?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Scott Hahn's Conversion Story

Jeff Cavins' Conversion Story

TOB 1 Course Online

Register for the FREE Theology of the Body Virtual Conference May 8-10!

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Make Peace with the Journey | ACW67

13 april 2020 | 45 min

Is taking communion spiritually the same as taking communion physically? Can we experience the true communion of persons in Eden here on Earth? As a woman, I struggle with the number of men who watch porn. I feel like I should be more thoughtful about the way I dress as a result. What do you think?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Q1: I've heard a lot of people talking about making an act of spiritual communion. Does this replace taking physical communion?

Q2: Through JPII's perspective, is Christ saying that if we regain our humility and trust in God, we can, in a sense, go back to Eden and experience that true communion of persons? Maybe i'm romanticising it to be a return to the perfected image of God, instead of the best we can be in our broken image of God after The Fall. I can see how we can't necessarily reside in that perfect communion of persons due to our brokeness, but can we experience it even for a moment in this life? What are your thoughts and experience with this? I don't know if i should hold out hope for this, or clarify my understanding. Thanks! Sending my love!

Q3: It makes me so uncomfortable knowing how many men watch porn that I live in constant fear someone will look at me and objectify me or sexualize me. I dress modestly, though I'm almost paralyzed by fear of a random man looking at me a certain way. I have a wonderful boyfriend who loves me and doesn't objectify me, and I'm so comfortable around him and my wonderful Catholic guy friends. I would like to dress femininely and elegantly, but I fear showing the shape of my body. I don't want to hide that I'm female obviously. I don't know what to do. How do I cope with the fear of being sexualized? Thank you for reading! I appreciate all you do and absolutely love TOB!

Resources mentioned this week:

Jesus of Nazareth Mini-Series

Christopher's Youtube Channel

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

In the Family | ACW66

6 april 2020 | 38 min

This week, Christopher and Wendy talk about struggles within families. How do I deal with my dad's pornography use? How do I help my mother be at peace with my upcoming marriage? As a disabled person, how do I find a spouse who loves me for me?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I’m a 24 year old female and I have 5 younger siblings. I currently live at home with my family.
Can you please comment on how pornography use by a father can impact a daughter’s life and her relationship with her father. My father is currently viewing pornography. My mom is trying but she can’t control his behaviour and my dad is trying but I’m not sure he sees it as a problem or he says he’s trying but he says he needs this to cope with stress now. Addiction is tough and I understand sexual addiction and alcohol are tricky to stop and this leads to escalating fights in my family at times. I’m of course going to counselling and trying to reach out for support from friends and pastoral care. I’d really appreciate prayers and input!

Q2: As I prepare for my upcoming marriage, I've found that my family (mostly my mother) has struggled with the idea of me getting married and "leaving her". (Even though she prayed for me to find a spouse for many years and my family approves and loves my fiance.) She has made comments about how I spend more time with his side of the family or worries how we'll handle future holidays/weekends; it seems that she is hurt by it. I should note that I'm also the first one to get married in my family. How do I handle this in the midst of the joyous time of preparing to enter a sacrament with my fiance?

Q3: I’ve been disabled from birth and marriage is something that’s a desire of my heart for sure. My counselor made me aware of the fact that people will sometimes marry disabled people to obtain government disability benefits. I'm afraid of becoming a victim of this ruthless practice. Any words of wisdom?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Strive by Matt Fradd - Resource for addressing pornography use

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Thirsty Hearts | ACW65

30 mars 2020 | 42 min

Trust | ACW64

23 mars 2020 | 42 min

The Ember Beneath the Ash | ACW63

16 mars 2020 | 41 min

My father is divorced from my mother and in a new relationship, and is now receiving the Eucharist. Should I say something? My husband has a form of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. How do I handle this issue within our marriage? In some Christian circles, it's believed that husbands may be justified in cheating if their wives aren't sexually available enough. Where did this mentality come from?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: My parents are divorced, my mom has decided to be by herself for the rest of her life and my dad has a girlfriend. I’ve noticed my mom and dad BOTH take the Eucharist but... you have compared the Eucharist with matrimony so much that I fear they are committing sin. How should I proceed as their daughter?

Q2: I’ve been married to my husband for over twenty difficult years. We recently discovered through both individual and couples therapy that he most likely lives with a form of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. While I have established boundaries that make it clear he is no longer permitted to abuse or threaten me or our children, I still realize that this disorder means he is most likely never going to have a true capacity for self-donative love for me (or anyone). I intend to keep my marriage vows, but what does this mean for the reality of our physically intimate relationship? He has demonstrated time and again that he does not see me as someone to love but as someone to use, and that is unlikely ever to change.

Q3: I grew up in a Protestant household and church and was taught that if a man cheats on his wife because she is not available enough for him sexually, then it is her fault. What I have read of TOB so far has helped me untwist this a bit. But I am curious if you could go deeper into why this is so wrong and how this idea came about?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB Head and Heart Immersion Course

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Called to Life | ACW62

9 mars 2020 | 36 min

My boyfriend is recovering from a pornography addiction, and I'm worried about its effect on our future marriage. Should I be? Do all Catholic weddings have to take place in a Catholic Church? What is the theological/spiritual similarity between life and death?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: My boyfriend and I are preparing for engagement and I do not want that to change. I recently learned that he has struggled with pornography. I know we can work through this and I believe that God's grace can heal us, however, I am scared that I won't believe him when he says he thinks I'm beautiful. I'm worried on our wedding night he will be comparing me to these other women he has seen. I'm scared that I won't want to give myself fully to him and will have a hard time trusting him again.

Q2: Do all Catholics who marry a Catholic have to get married in the Catholic Church?

Q3: I thought you have a million answers, but the last podcast made me think that maybe it is a good idea to respond. It was a long time ago, podcast number 13 that you answerd my question about how to better listen to God! I accepted your challenge, and I found out how much God was already speaking to my heart by music and films...when I didn’t know Him. Still trying to figure out "A Chorus Line". Any idead?

Also, can you can speak about the similarity of birth and death, spiritually/theologically?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Called to Life by Fr. Jacques Philippe

Good News About Sex and Marriage

The Sign of the Dying Body: How the Theology of the Body Helps Us to Die in Love Article by Diane Windley-Daoust

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

The Holy Land | ACW61

2 mars 2020 | 49 min

The Look of Love | ACW60

24 februari 2020 | 43 min

I know I'm made for motherhood, but in the midst of breastfeeding difficulties, postpartum depression, and other difficulties, my body and brain seem to resist it. How can this be? As a future doctor, how do I lovingly care for transgender patients without affirming a falsehood? My husband relies on sexual intercourse for emotional wellbeing, but I don't seem to be enough for him. How can I help him?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I know on an intellectual level that I was made for motherhood, but in a physical sense, it seems like my body has resisted. I have struggled to successfully breastfeed despite great efforts. I've also had intense postpartum anxiety and depression each time. It seems my brain chemistry is stealing my joy in motherhood. It makes me really feel this dichotomy. How can I be made for motherhood when my body and brain seem to resist it so much?

Q2: I am a medical student and I will be going into clinics in a few short months. How should I approach conversation with and documentation of transgender patients? Obviously, these people need to be loved and cared for by their doctors in the same that all patients do, but i suspect that there will be pressure to call them by their preferred pronouns and to refer to them in that way in official documentation of visits. I do not want to cause scandal by affirming a falsehood, but I also do not want to cause them unecessary suffering in a settting wher I may not have time to establish the relationship it takes to unpack confusion.

Q3: I have seen that my husband relies a lot on sexual intercourse for his emotional well-being, but he's never satisfied. He's been going through very difficult times this past year, mostly because of work-related problems. We also have young children who still wake up at night, and I have a very busy work schedule. We definitely need to work out how and when to take some time for us. But seeing as even when we had time, I was not enough, how can I help him?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body at the Movies

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

The Rocky Road to Heaven | ACW59

17 februari 2020 | 39 min

Before understanding TOB, my wife and I underwent sterilization. Can we still teach TOB? As a woman pregnant with her first child, what can TOB say to me? My girlfriend is not Catholic, but respectful of my beliefs, but I feel called to a relationship where we can grow in Christ together. Do you have any advice?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Before I knew anything about TOB, my wife and I committed the sin of sterilization. We’ve since come to understand what a mistake that was. Can I be a proper teach of TOB when I’ve committed such a sin?

Q2: I’m pregnant with my first baby and reading up on childbirth. What have you learned about TOB and the experience of pregnancy and birth?

Q3: I’ve been struggling with my relationship with my girlfriend for quite some time now. We’ve been dating for about 4 years. I’m a devout Catholic, but my girlfriend isn’t. She’s not at all against what I believe and practice, but there’s definitely something more I want from this relationship: growing together in Christ as a couple. Although she knows I dearly want that from our relationship, she seems pretty reluctant and I’m not sure if it will happen. I’m praying for God’s grace and a miracle. What is your advice on this?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB Pilgrimage to Italy with Bill Donaghy and Fr. Leo

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Wendy Doesn't Like Surprises | ACW58

10 februari 2020 | 34 min

Is it a sin to read steamy romance novels? How is it possible for me as a husband to be totally "disinterested" in my gift of self? Shouldn't I be "interested"? How can I integrate Theology of the Body into my priesthood?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Is it a sin to read romance novels if they facilitate my sexual relationship with my husband?

Q2: Hi Wendy and Christopher, thank you very much for your inspiring and faithful testimony to the love of God to us human beings and the assignment He has bestowed upon us that we may learn to love as He loves us! As a Protestant Christian, unfortunately, I was beyond 30 when I discovered JPII's TOB but it has been so inspiring and enriching to my life that I have read all the 129/133 Catechesis.

Anyway, what I wanted to ask or rather ask for your thoughts on is the notion "Gift of Self". I think that you have qualified this gift of self as "disinterested". To be honest I don't like this qualification! I think what it is supposed to mean is that I should not give a gift of self out of selfish motive? But I think that is something else than "disinterested". Christ's gift of self was certainly not in any way disinterested; moreover, He hoped and prayed that we as humans would respond to his gift of self through offering ourselves to him. I think this qualification is important because otherwise you - or at least I - feel that I have to reach towards something utterly unattainable when I want to give a gift of self to somebody else, and especially my wife. In this situation, I'm not disinterested, but highly interested in receiving her gift of self in return. In fact, that is often what I long for more than anything else. Now, of course, a gift of self should be given freely, totally, faithfully and fruitfully, without demanding or expecting a return-gift-of-self, but I most surely does hope and wish for reciprocity in our mutual giving of self. Being totally disinterested seems to negate the relationship between us. Thanks for commenting on this!

Q3: I finally caught up on all 46 episodes of your podcast, TOB has been a blessing to me since high school in my own journey of healing. After reading many TOB texts my question is this: how can I as a newly ordained priest formally and informally preach/teach the TOB, especially for youth and young adults? Are there any homily aids by chance?(Christopher, I hear you about garlic/pores and to read your book Good News! :)

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Word Made Flesh Book Series

TOB Institute Courses

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Put It In The Light | ACW57

3 februari 2020 | 37 min

Can a priest have a deep relationship with a female friend? Similarly, can a married man have a deep relationship with a female friend who is not his spouse? What does the Church teach on circumcision?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: To what extent can a priest go in his relationship with a female friend if they both understand that they have been given a deeper connection and a deep friendship that bears fruit through working together in the apostolate. Are they allowed to live that love and express it through a deep emotional and spiritual friendship or do they have to repress and transform it. What exactly includes a vow of purity?

Q2: Thank you for both of your insight. I am trying to understand boundaries with the opposite sex within my marriage. My husband is a friendly guy and I feel that he does not shield our marriage. We have talked and he is very understanding of my feelings. My question is what insight do you have about relationships with the opposite sex when married? I guess I am not trusting of others or how others might perceive "niceness" in this fallen world, I want to trust and look for the good but am having a hard time.

Q3: What does the Catholic church teach on circumcision?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Springsteen on Broadway on Netflix

TOB Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Thomas Loya

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

The Significance of the Seed | ACW56

27 januari 2020 | 41 min

If masturbation isn't mentioned explicitly as a sin in the Bible, why does the Church teach that it's wrong? If my boyfriend and I feel we aren't ready for children when we get married, can we use NFP with the intention of avoiding pregnancy? I have a minor infection I'm afraid of transmitting to my pregnant wife. Can I use a condom to prevent this?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Q1: I was discussing with my Protestant friend. He says masturbation isn't wrong if you can do it without lust. In the Bible, it doesn't say that masturbation is wrong, unlike clear cut homosexuality or fornication. How would you explain it to someone who doesn't exactly share the same Catholic faith as us?

Q2: Should my boyfriend and I wait to get married until we feel ready for children, or can we get married, use NFP, and simply trust that God will only give us a child when He knows we are ready? We really want to get married and begin that chapter of our lives, but the thought of having a child right now is intimidating!

Q3: We are married and we follow NFP methods. My wife is pregnant and I have a minor infection. Is it possible to use condom during pregnancy in such a situation? Thank you for your enlightenment.

Resources mentioned this week:

Our Bodies Tell God's Story: Discovering the Divine Plane for Love, Sex, and Gender

Feasting on Faith, Food, and Beauty | Italy Pilgrimage | August 9-20, 2020

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

A New Hope | ACW55

21 januari 2020 | 32 min

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood | ACW54

13 januari 2020 | 37 min

The Scandal of the "Hic" | ACW53

6 januari 2020 | 38 min

I had a tubal ligation, have repented, and have been absolved, but I still feel guilt. Can you give me any guidance? Was the Crucifixion God the Father taking out his wrath on God the Son? What advice can you give to someone who is struggling with pornography and masturbation? What about someone in a relationship with such a person?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: My husband and I have 5 children. After 4 C-Sections and tremendous pressure from medics, I agreed to tubal ligation. I prayed about it all through my last pregnancy and decided to have the procedure. I have been left with very debilitating conditions following my c sections and another pregnancy and section would have been extremely risky. I have felt shame and guilt. I've spoken to several priests and I've asked and received forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation. Now I'm at a loss. Priests assure me that I'm not committing sin when my husband and I embrace but now having read your book "TOB for Beginners", I'm once again heartbroken. My husband does not believe in the teachings on contraception but he was loving and supportive when we used NFP. I'm 45. I adore my husband and now Im scared that we are committing terrible sin. I'm also a Eucharistic minister and lector and I just don't know where to go from here.

Q2: Just wondered if I could get the book reference that Christopher made in the Atomic Pumpkin episode from Pope Benedict, regarding not getting off track about the crucifixion on "paying the price"? I was just talking to a friend about the difference between Eastern and Western soteriology (Christus Victor vs. penal substitionary atonement models) and personally think the best approach is our Catholic "both/and". I'd LOVE to read more about what Pope Benedict had to say on this matter! Thanks-- I'm a 38, current theology student at Franciscan University, recent convert to Catholicism (three years), HUGE ToB fangirl, and lifelong lover of Jesus! Love you guys, so thankful for you--I pray for your ministry and family regularly!

Q3: What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with pornography and masturbation, but wouldn't consider himself addicted? And, what advice would you give to someone on the other end of that relationship? Where is the line between being compassionate/understanding and knowing when it's time to walk away?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Ratzinger
Christopher references the 1990 edition, pages 172, 214, 222

Fill These Hearts by Christopher West

TOB Pilgrimage to the Holy Land - February 15-25, 2020

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Be the Love of Christ | ACW52

30 december 2019 | 38 min

Momma, Feed Us | ACW51

23 december 2019 | 45 min

How does one get as knowledgeable about TOB as Christopher West? Is it okay for Catholics to do yoga? As a mother, I often feel conflicted about covering up to breastfeed. What does TOB say about the theology of my body in this regard?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Q1: How does one become as knowledgeable about TOB as Christopher West?

Q2: I enjoyed attending yoga classes and found it had many beneficial effects, but stopped going as I was told it was not compatible with Catholic teachings. My understanding is that yoga has physical and spiritual elements and essentially you are using your body to get into a pose and in doing so opening yourself up to other undesirable forces.

However other Catholics I know are of the opinion that yoga is just a form of exercise. The poses are not inherently bad and you can avoid the [non-Catholic] spiritual & meditative side of it and therefore it is not in conflict with Catholic teachings.

There are different opinions amongst the Catholic community on this and counter arguments to the above and I’m a little confused. From a TOB perspective can you share your views ?

If incompatible with Catholic teaching what are the consequences of practicing yoga?

Q3: Becoming a mother was a very enlightening experience, especially in regard to the Theology of the Body. Breastfeeding in particular is something I often contemplate which led me to a deeper understanding of the Theology of MY Body as a woman and mother. That being said, can you address the over-sexualization of a woman’s breasts? In our culture, if a woman breastfeeds her infant away from home, she often feels morally obligated to cover herself when she does this. While I understand this and do wear a cover, it frustrates me (and my babies). I struggle to understand why breasts, which are clearly designed to nurture infants, are hyper-sexualized and treated like a ”bedroom accessory”.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB Courses

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Love is Only Ever Just Becoming | ACW50

16 december 2019 | 28 min

What does St. Paul mean when he talks about "marital debt" in First Corinthians? I've had a hysterectomy; is this an impediment to marriage? How do I respond to people who believe that large families are harmful to the environment?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Q1: In recent weeks, I’ve heard discussions from other podcasts about the “marital debt” which is taken from Paul’s letter in First Corinthians 7. Could you explain from the perspective of TOB what St. Paul is saying (or not saying) about sex being a “debt” the spouses owe to one another in marriage?

Q2: I’ve had a hysterectomy. It does not seem correct to say that if I cannot conceive, I cannot get married in the church. You’ve said a sterile man cannot get married in the church. Does this apply to me as well?

Q3: How do I respond to people who think that choosing or being open to having a large family is irresponsible due to the environmental impact that humans have, and that this choice is potentially jeopardizing the future sustainability of our planet?

Resources mentioned this week:

Laudato Si: Encyclical by Pope Francis

TOB Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

The Body is a Gift | ACW49

9 december 2019 | 36 min

Being A Person | ACW48

2 december 2019 | 35 min

It's All About the Gravy | ACW47

25 november 2019 | 38 min

Blood and Water | ACW46

18 november 2019 | 34 min

Christopher's Talk in the Sistine Chapel | ACW45 | Bonus Episode

11 november 2019 | 32 min

The Gift of Self | ACW44

4 november 2019 | 35 min

My wife and I spent many years living in a state of serious sexual sin. How do we deal with this now that we have decided to change our lives? As a young woman experiencing same-sex attraction, how am I meant to experience intimacy in life? What should I do when my boyfriend is not ready for marriage, but I very much am?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Love the podcast? Become a patron of the TOB Institute and help make it happen!

This week’s questions:

Q1: Dear Christopher, my brother in Christ Jesus, Praise the Lord! I am a Catholic from Hyderabad, India. We received very liberal teachings (in fact, doctrinally wrong teachings) on birth control, family planning, our sexual lives by our Church here and we've made such horrible mistakes in the bargain, because we got it all wrong. it is our fault. Both me and my beloved wife are ashamed of ourselves. I feel as if I can beg for mercy from the lord, all my life, but I will always carry this burden of guilt and sin. Shat I need to do to tame my body and keep it purified as the temple of the Holy Spirit?

Q2: I am a same-sex attracted woman in my twenties. What level of intimacy can even exist for such a one as I? And what is the gift I can give to the one I’m drawn to unite with? In other words, what kind of intimate relationship is possible for same-sex attracted people?

Q3: I’m struggling very much with being able tcome to terms with my boyfriend not being ready fir engagement and marriage quite yet. I feel. Like I’ve been ready to enter into this vocation, and he and I both want to be together, but for him, just not yet. How do I come to terms with this? Is it a sign that God doesn’t want us to be together because we’re not ready at the same time?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Eden Invitation

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Atomic Pumpkin Glory | ACW43

28 oktober 2019 | 34 min

My husband and I are unable to have physical relations at the moment. How do we maintain our intimacy? Why did we inherit the Original Sin of Adam and Eve if we did not personally commit it? Why did the salvific act of Jesus bring salvation to all of us?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

If you love the work of the TOB Institute, become a patron!

This week’s questions:

Q1: (Continued from last week's episode) My husband and I have been happily married for 30 years. Living our Catholicism as married persons is very important to us. Our history of marital relations has been complicated because of some sexual abuse, body image issues and depression for me and brief period of pornography plus difficulty with emotional intimacy for my husband. We have worked hard to keep working at our relationship. Our marital relations have rarely been easy but we keep trying because we love each other and want to honor our spousal relationship. Most recently I have had some medical issues and surgery which has made having intercourse temporarily not possible. It has been over 6 months since we tried. We have gradually grown less affectionate because I don’t want to unfairly arouse my husband. Sometimes I am relieved but feel guilty about it, to have the medical excuse because the difficulties trying to be intimate are so emotionally painful. We are both so vulnerable and I am concerned our affection and sexual intimacy will never improve. Discouraged. Please advise. Many thanks.

Q2: Hello Wendy and Christopher, thank you so much for this podcast! I absolutely love it! I would like to ask a question very close to my heart. It has haunted me for a strange reason since I was young. ... My question is about the original sin and I guess about the whole meaning of salvation.
Would you explain to me why the responsibility of Adam and Eve's sin is also mine: why did all humanity fall from grace because of the sin of the original couple? And in that same train of thought: I also don't quite get how Jesus brought salvation and forgiveness for all of us.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

The Church is a She | ACW42

21 oktober 2019 | 35 min

Why is the Church referred to as a "She?" What's going on with the JPII Institute in Rome? My health makes it difficult for my husband and I to have marital relations, and I'm concerned. What should I do?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Love the podcast? Become a patron of the TOB Institute!

This week’s questions:

Q1: Why is the church always referred to as a “She”? Obviously, we learned this from Jesus who will Himself marry His bride: the Church. But there must be reasoning beyond this. For instance, a ship is always referred to as a female. Does referring to the church as a "she" somehow refer to a woman’s womb? Like a ship, the womb is a safe dwelling place. Or am I making this all up?

Q2: I've been hearing a lot about trouble with the JPII Institute in Rome? What's going on there?

Q3: My husband and I have been happily married for 30 years. Living our Catholicism as married persons is very important to us. Our history of marital relations has been complicated because of some sexual abuse, body image issues, and depression for me and a brief period of pornography plus difficulty with emotional intimacy for my husband. We have worked hard to keep working at our relationship. Our marital relations have rarely been easy but we keep trying because we love each other and want to honor our spousal relationship. Most recently I have had some medical issues and surgery which has made having intercourse temporarily not possible. It has been over 6 months since we tried. We have gradually grown less affectionate because I don’t want to unfairly arouse my husband. Sometimes I am relieved but feel guilty about it, to have the medical excuse because the difficulties trying to be intimate are so emotionally painful. We are both so vulnerable and I am concerned our affection and sexual intimacy will never improve. Discouraged. Please advise. Many thanks.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

[Prof. Stanislaw Grygiel's Interview on the JPII Institute](eng.pch24.pl/the-twilight-of-the-john-paul-ii-institute--an-interview-with-prof--stanislaw-grygiel,70372,i.html)

The Humanum Series : See Episode 3 for Peter Kreeft on Man and Woman

I Am Legend Movie

Eclipse of the Body by Christopher West

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

The Soul of Christ | ACW41

14 oktober 2019 | 31 min

What does the Anima Christi prayer tell us about TOB? Should I be using NFP to avoid pregnancy? How do I talk to my daughter about transgenderism?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

This week’s questions:

Q1: What light does the Anima Christi prayer shed on the TOB?

Q2: I am 41 years old and my husband and I have been married for 8 years. We have been trying to get pregnant for the last seven years, we have had two miscarriages. I still feel that I would like to become a mother but I am concerned that I will be too old if it happens. I told my husband that there is part of me that wants not to have children anymore and perhaps use NFP to avoid getting pregnant from now on. He said that this would go against the teaching of the church and will be a sin. I would like your opinion on this.

Q3: I need some help with lovingly discussing transgenderism with my 14 year old daughter. This has sadly become quite a popular thing in school and it seems to be viewed as "cool". My daughter has a female friend who says she identifies as a male and has gone so far to have her friends call her by a boy's name. How can I most lovingly admonish this friend's behavior without seeming judgemental or unkind? Whenever I try to steer her away from thinking that this isn't okay she becomes very defensive and says she "just doesn't see anything wrong with it".

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

You: Life, Love, and The Theology of the Body from Ascension Press

Upcoming TOB courses

TOB Pilgrimages

Anima Christi Prayer:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me
and bid me come to you
That with your saints I may praise you
For ever and ever. Amen.

Ode to Wine from Sirach 31

_Let not wine be the proof of your strength
For wine has been the ruin of many
As the furnace tests the work of the smith
So does wine test the heart.

Wine is very life to anyone if taken in moderation.
Does anyone really live who lacks the wine that from the beginning, God created for our Joy?

Joy of heart, good cheer, and delight
Is wine enough drunk at the proper time,
But headache, bitterness, and disgrace
Is wine drunk amid anger and strife.

Wine in excess is a snare for the fool
But do not wrangle with your neighbor when wine is served
Nor despise him while he’s having a good time.
Say no harsh word to him._

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Choose Love | ACW40

7 oktober 2019 | 33 min

The Interior Gaze | ACW39

30 september 2019 | 34 min

The Marriage Business | ACW38

23 september 2019 | 35 min

Receiving His Mercy | ACW37

16 september 2019 | 33 min

How do I help my future potential spouse understand the shameful parts of my sexual past? I have many secular friends, whom I love very much. How do I respond to an invitation to a same-sex wedding from one of them with love and respect? Is there a theology to sexual positions?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Like the podcast? Become a patron of the TOB Institute.

This week’s questions:

Q1: As a 30-something woman who’s made some mistakes in the area of sex and sexuality, I feel immense shame. I hope that there is a holy marriage in the future, and that has always been a deep desire, but I worry about sharing some of these areas of my shameful past, that I may be rejected. Christopher, how did you go about sharing the painful parts of your past, and is it necessary to share all? Wendy, did you have to work through disappoint or concerns related to this? (Part 2)

Q2: So much of my life is secular. I love TOB and all our faith stands for. All my friends know I’,m a devout catholic who stands for everything the church teaches. But being immersed in so many secular circles has led me to knowing and loving many different people in different walks of life. I have not been asked yet, but I am nervous for the day when a friend invites me to a same-sex wedding? What do I say? How can I treat that situation with love and respect.

Q3: Is there a theology to sexual positions? For example, face-to-face versus other positions?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

The Good News About Sex and Marriage

Holy Sex!: A Catholic Guide to Toe-Curling, Mind-Blowing, Infallible Loving by Dr. Greg Popcak

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

In the Womb | ACW36

9 september 2019 | 33 min

My priest instructed women to cover their shoulders at mass. Was this the right call? Why does God give us desires if they seem impossible to attain? How do I deal with the shame I carry over my past?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Enjoy the podcast? Become a patron of the Theology of the Body Institute!

This week’s questions:

Q1: Someone created a post on Twitter in which they asked women to cover their shoulders at Mass, so that they are not distracting men and leading them to sin. It created significant debate. What do you think?

Q2: What advice do you have for a couple where both desire to have traditional roles (the wife at home with children, and the man working full time) and yet that does not seem possible? Why does God give us these desires if it does not seem possible or probable?

Q3: As a 30-something woman who’s made some mistakes in the area of sex and sexuality, I feel immense shame. I hope that there is a holy marriage in the future, and that has always been a deep desire, but I worry about sharing some of these areas of my shameful past, that I may be rejected. Christopher, how did you go about sharing the painful parts of your past, and is it necessary to share all? Wendy, did you have to work through disappoint or concerns related to this?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

The Good News About Sex and Marriage

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

What for Questions | ACW35

2 september 2019 | 34 min

Christopher, Wendy, and the Moon | ACW34

26 augusti 2019 | 35 min

The Ground is Level at the Foot of the Cross | ACW33

19 augusti 2019 | 36 min

Wendy Goes Backpacking | ACW32

12 augusti 2019 | 46 min

If no one is given or received in marriage in heaven, what will be the primary purpose of our bodies? My husband and I were married outside the church, and are seeking an annulment for his previous marriage. We are currently living as brother and sister. Do you have any advice for how best to handle this situation? What's the difference between letting unruly desires die and repression of desire?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

If you love the podcast, become a Patron of Theology of the Body Institute.

This week’s questions:

Q1: At the resurrection we will be reunited with our bodies, but no one will be given or received in marriage. What, then, will be the primary purpose of our bodies? How will we use our bodies to give and receive love?

Q2: My husband and I have been married for 5 years, together about 11. He was previously married, and has two children. I have one daughter, who I had out of wedlock. I was baptized Catholic, but didn't embrace the faith until last year when I had a conversion experience. My husband and I were not married in the Church, and he has no religion. Through this conversion experience (it was through the Cursillo movement), I understood more deeply that I was living out of the state of grace. We began the process of having his previous marriage dissolved, and I've been under the advisement of a priest. He made it clear to me that I do have a choice that allows me to follow God's will - live as brother and sister. After much prayer, I decided I wanted to do that. However, it seemed wrong to make that decision without my husband, and when I brought it to him about two months ago, we was not open to it. Mostly, it seemed, because it angered him that: 1) I agreed with the Church's stance that our marriage was invalid, and 2) That the Church was "withholding" the sacraments from me which was causing me to be upset. Now, though, after more discerning, I've decided to move forward with living as brother and sister, even if my husband is angry about it. Do you have any advice for me on moving forward with this decision? Any words of wisdom on how to address this with my husband? Could you recommend any Bible passages to guide me? And is it really necessary to sleep in separate beds?

Q3: What's the difference between letting unruly desires die and repression of desire?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

The Wounds of Christ | ACW31

5 augusti 2019 | 27 min

I feel that my eating disorder has ruined my body. How is God's glory revealed through MY body, which is so often shameful to me? My brother-in-law has dwarfism, and retains some anger toward God for this. How do I help him? As a new Christian therapist, what are some ways I can include TOB in my practice?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Like the show and the rest of TOB Institute's work? Become a patron and get access to even more content!

This week’s questions:

Q1: I had an eating disorder growing up, and now I weigh about 330lbs, down from nearly 400, and still losing - slowly through a healthy lifestyle. As far as the world is concerned my feminine body is fat and unhealthy and disgusting, a laughingstock. I feel like I ruined the body I was given and no matter how many years I work at it, it's "too late now." When you say, "you don't have a body, you are a body" it sounds horrible, not like a gift. What can I do to see it differently?

Q2: I am a new therapist and I was wondering how a therapist can integrate TOB in a counseling setting?

Q3: How does Theology of the Body deal with permanent physical conditions? I have a brother-in-law who has dwarfisim and struggles to understand God and His plan with his condition.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Embrace - Film on Body Issues

TOB Institute Courses

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Love is Worth It | ACW30

29 juli 2019 | 31 min

What was your dating story? As a divorced person, should I seek an anullment? I have some friends who are seriously discussing polyamory, and whether monogamy is even worth it. What do you think?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

This week’s questions:

Q1: Tell us your dating story!

Q2: I was married for 15 years and have been divorced for 7 years. I haven’t tried to get an annulment. It was an unhappy marriage. My husband was verbally abusive and unfaithful. I wasn’t perfect either. I wasn’t a good wife. I made mistakes and I feel I was selfish when I chose to get divorced, because I wanted happiness. But my life has been anything but happy and our two children were impacted negatively by our divorce. I don’t feel, in my heart, that I deserve an annulment because I was 30 when I got married and knew what I was doing. Should I try and get the annulment, or should I pray that I can be reunited with my ex-husband or should I resign myself to live a single chaste life?

Q3: I once met this girl whose boyfriend cheated on her, and she really was hurt. She told me that in the past when she had a boyfriend, and other men were interested in her, she would cheat, so she would be the one who would be hurting them. Then she began talking about polyamory. A guy she was with began saying that polyamory was the best way to go. Threesome, foursome, it was all fun. I was kind of disgusted by the whole conversation. I was trying to tell them (as a Catholic that I am), that that was wrong, but since I didn't know how to explain that that type of mentality and attitude towards relationship and sex is not fun and is wrong, they began laughing at me. So they asked me this question: "IS MONOGAMY WORTH IT?”.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Become a patron of the Theology of the Body Institute.

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.
Discover the Theology of the Body Institute.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Let the Flowers Grow | ACW29

22 juli 2019 | 36 min

Why does the Church teach against pre-marital sex? Were Adam & Eve unmarried? How do all the difficult parts of marriage fit into the idea that "God wants to marry us"? What advice do you have for an older couple that had a vasectomy done in the early part of their marriage?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

This week’s questions:

Q1: Please explain more on God's plan & call for us to wait until marriage for sexual union. Living together is everywhere. How do we understand that Adam & Eve were married? How does their union differ from people living together in commitment and then (maybe) coming to the Church for a blessing?

Q2: Please explain more on how the sexual union images God? And if marriage is the key to understanding everything, what about marriage and sexual union that is an horrendous thing, ugly & hurtful? What about rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence, broken relationships etc etc? All the hard stuff? How does this fit with 'God wants to marry us'? Some people may well think - well if this is what marriage is like I want nothing to do with God marrying me!

Q3: After 40 years of marriage and 3 children, I have finally read TOB for Beginners. My spouse had a vasectomy when we were both 25. We were ignorant of TOB and Humanae Vitae. We were dreadfully poor and erroneously thought vasectomy was the only way to provide for our 3 children. We feel incredible remorse even though we have confessed our sin in the sacrament of Reconciliation and been forgiven. How do we now live TOB at the age of 59? (We were 19 when we got married.) We still enjoy the nuptial embrace as a means of giving ourselves to each other.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Sterilization Reversal Book from One More Soul

TOB Institute Community