Ask Christopher West

• Heartbreak and God's Plan, Morality of Body Hair and Medical Ethics, and Understanding Foreplay in Marriage | ACW323

  Questions answered this episode: 1. I'm a 25-year-old man, called by God to marriage. Two years ago, I met a girl who helped in the same parish as me, and I fell in love with her. After a few months, we spoke about it, but she kindly rejected me. We lost contact, and I went through a deep crisis of faith. I felt abandoned, extremely and hopelessly alone. After a time, I came back to her city, and we served again together in the same parish. Shortly after, she broke up with her boyfriend and asked me to continue our friendship. She made it clear that although she was open to us having a romantic relationship, I should not expect any concrete outcome to the friendship. I accepted the challenge, and for a year, we struggled to learn to love each other as close, tender friends, embracing with all our hearts whatever God would want from us. Together, we tried to follow the example of Francis and Clare of Assisi. Recently, she told me that she felt the call to consecrated virginity and decided to go to another country to discern this more intensely. My heart reacted to this news with immense joy. I experienced my friend’s happiness as my own and felt the grace of God flowing from her heart. This friendship has healed the wound of that hopeless loneliness I felt when she first rejected me. My deepest desire is her happiness, and I know she will find it—whether with Christ or even with another man. But somehow, the secondary desire remains—that she would be the mother of my children and the companion of my dreams. I know we’ve experienced something rare and wonderful, yet I ask myself if any woman will ever fall erotically in love with me. What would your advice be to heal this wound? 2. Is there any Catholic teaching concerning body hair? Is it immoral to be waxed in certain places, considering that it involves exposing oneself to the person doing the waxing? Secondly, I'm in law school and learning about criminal procedure. One of my classes was discussing a rape case and having to collect semen samples from several different suspects. That led to me pondering the morality of collecting semen samples, also like for medical purposes, and what a Catholic approach to that would be in light of our teachings. 3. My husband and I have been married for 20 years, have four kids, and have always used natural family planning. I recently heard on a Catholic podcast that any type of making out is sinful unless it is meant as foreplay and must end in intercourse. I always thought foreplay was morally permissible as long as it does not lead to climax by either person or incomplete sexual intercourse. Could you please clarify? I would hate to think we've been offending God our whole marriage but would rather be corrected now than never. 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 (https://www.tobforfree.com) 📕 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 (https://tobpatron.com)! Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: COURSE SCHEDULE (https://tobinstitute.org/programs/tobi-schedule/) JPII Legacy Foundation Website (https://www.jp2legacy.org/) Good News About Sex & Marriage (https://shop.corproject.com/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) 🎥 Check out our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TheologyoftheBodyInstitute) 📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE (https://tobinstitute.org/programs/tobi-schedule/) to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON! 📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE (https://shop.corproject.com/collections/best-sellers/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies. ⛷️ Join Christopher on a ski trip to Utah Click here (https://jp2trails.com/trip/utah-ski-retreat/) 🏔️ Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here (http://tobpilgrimages.com/) 🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/ (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 (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). 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 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/11GI1XK7viPMV36eBBNjxoKqzCENSRVyR1IoLpX6lqrw/edit?usp=sharing). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/).

  --------  

  52:25
• Healing After Birth, Overcoming P*rn Shame in Marriage, and Making Theology of the Body Accessible | ACW322

  Questions answered this episode: 1. I recently gave birth to our first baby. My plan going in was to have a natural, unmedicated birth. There's something beautiful, especially from a Catholic perspective, about the pain of childbirth that brings new life into the world, a reflection of Christ's suffering on the cross. Many of my Catholic friends have had this type of birth, and I came across a lot of women on social media who advocate for this type of birth, saying, "Your body was made for this." This was my plan, but of course, nothing goes according to plan, especially when it comes to labor. I ended up getting an epidural and going on Pitocin after a stalled 24-hour labor. I was really disappointed, and when I tell others about my labor and how I got an epidural, I feel a sense of shame and guilt that I took the easy way out, that I couldn't do it without medication, that I did something wrong in not allowing my body to birth on its own. Now I'm one of those moms who had a hospital medicated birth and not a natural birth. Can theology of the body help me come to terms with my medicated birth and see the beauty of my body and what it can do even in this type of birth? 2. If you read this, I am desperate. My wife is so hurt, and I do not know what to do because I'm the one who hurt her. Years of pornography use coming out, facing up to it. We're trying to heal, but I just don't know what to do. I don't know who to talk to about this in my real life. I'm incredibly angry with my parents for not helping me when I was younger. I'm angry with myself for not fessing up to it sooner and being afraid to face it. I stopped masturbation years ago, but it was only more recently that I truly began to be honest with my wife about what was going on in the past. And the hurt is so painful. We have a 2-year-old and another on the way. Please pray for our family. Bless you. 3. My sister purchased your TOB intro video series and has since facilitated the course, bringing it to over 100 people. I've started reading all about John Paul II. He's amazing, and we'd both love to learn theology of the body in more depth and continue to spread it to others. I purchased a few TOB books to circulate among friends. However, it's quite pricey to buy books and to seek studying TOB courses ourselves. So I'm wondering whether you ever have sponsorship available for study or discounts for buying bulk resources such as books. I'm especially thinking about my sister as she's very intelligent and passionate about TOB, as well as being a gifted coordinator. I think she's seriously considering and praying about getting involved in TOB ministry for the future. This year she'll be busy completing her theology bachelor's degree. I know she'd love to hear if you have any advice on where she should complete future study, or if there are any courses which are on the cheaper side of things she could fundraise for. If nothing else, be encouraged by the ripple effects of your ministry. God's brought it all the way to us in New Zealand, and a large group of Protestants and cradle Catholics are captivated by the beauty of TOB, catalyzing them to seek out the Catholic faith with a genuine excitement to know the good news. 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 (https://www.tobforfree.com) 📕 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 (https://tobpatron.com)! Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: Join Christopher on a ski trip to Utah Click here (https://jp2trails.com/trip/utah-ski-retreat/) List of trusted counselors & psychologists (https://docs.google.com/document/d/11GI1XK7viPMV36eBBNjxoKqzCENSRVyR1IoLpX6lqrw/edit?usp=sharing) The Alexander House (https://www.thealexanderhouse.org/) Marriage Missionaries (https://marriagemissionaries.org/) JPII Legacy Foundation Website (https://www.jp2legacy.org/) Hannah’s contact ([email protected]) Mike Mangione, director of events contact ([email protected]) 🎥 Check out our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TheologyoftheBodyInstitute) 📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE (https://tobinstitute.org/programs/tobi-schedule/) to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON! 📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE (https://shop.corproject.com/collections/best-sellers/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies. ⛷️ Join Christopher on a ski trip to Utah Click here (https://jp2trails.com/trip/utah-ski-retreat/) 🏔️ Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here (http://tobpilgrimages.com/) 🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/ (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 (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). 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 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/11GI1XK7viPMV36eBBNjxoKqzCENSRVyR1IoLpX6lqrw/edit?usp=sharing). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/).

  --------  

  49:53
• Fantasies in the Marriage Bed, Finding God in Ice Cream, and Redeeming of Arousal | ACW321

  Questions answered this episode: 1. I’m a woman in my 40’s and I’ve found it difficult to get in the mood with my husband unless I create fantasies in my head. These fantasies are usually of sexual situations I create that don’t involve my husband or in many cases even me. I’ll picture two nameless people in an intimate act. Sometimes one party is using another party or the other party is cheating on his wife with a beautiful young woman. Before I was serious about my faith I had looked at porn although it was rare, and my sexual history was not good; multiple parters out of wedlock, using and being used, contraception, and other things. I hate that I have these fantasies because I want the union with my husband to be holy. However, either I create the fantasies to get in the mood or if I push those fantasies away I find sex boring and just another item on my to do list. I don’t know what I’m supposed to think about when in the marital embrace. I feel like my mind has been so warped by the culture that it is hard to move forward. Can you help my mind and these fantasies during the marital embrace? What should I be thinking about? 2. I’ve heard you say that it’s important not to stop at the window. Meaning not to let the icons in our lives become idols where we expect from them what only God can be for us. I love the emphasis on finding windows to the divine in our life and how many of these can lead us towards rather than detract us from our relationship with God. How can this be applied on a practical day to day basis? 3. For most of my life I’ve had a warped view of the natural experience of erections. I’ve been told that it’s meant to be immediately relieved, that it’s meant to be pleasurable, but most of all that it’s shameful and dirty. As I’ve gotten deep into my faith and discovered TOB I’ve wrestled with what new redeemed definition this experience could have. Could it be that this rising of my body could be the desire of my heart and soul to rise to the occasion of loving well and the desire to physically give myself to someone else? 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 (https://www.tobforfree.com) 📕 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 (https://tobpatron.com)! Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: Join Christopher on a ski trip to Utah Click here (https://jp2trails.com/trip/utah-ski- retreat/) TOBI COURSE SCHEDULE (https://tobinstitute.org/programs/tobi-schedule/) List of trusted professionals (https://tobinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/TOBI-Recommended-Psychologists-Updated-6-8-20.pdf). 🎥 Check out our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TheologyoftheBodyInstitute) 📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE (https://tobinstitute.org/programs/tobi-schedule/) to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON! 📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE (https://shop.corproject.com/collections/best-sellers/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies. ⛷️ Join Christopher on a ski trip to Utah Click here (https://jp2trails.com/trip/utah-ski-retreat/) 🏔️ Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here (http://tobpilgrimages.com/) 🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/ (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 (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). 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 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/11GI1XK7viPMV36eBBNjxoKqzCENSRVyR1IoLpX6lqrw/edit?usp=sharing). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/).

  --------  

  54:57
• Love in an Abusive Marriage, Confessing Lust as a Woman, and “Same-Sex Vocation” | ACW320

  Questions answered this episode: 1. My husband and I have been married for almost 3 years. Shortly after we got married, my husband became verbally and physically abusive. There’s such a disconnected between his professed love for me and the lived reality of our marriage. As his abusive behavior has continued, I’ve found myself walling off my heart more and more. Intellectually I know that a covenantal relationship with God is different and I need to remain open but it feels like my heart has stopped believing it. Many days I feel like if marriage reflects how God loves us then I’m sick of “being loved”. How can I stay open to the beautiful promises of the eternal wedding feast when its early foretaste is ugly and painful? 2. Recently I was in confession and I said that at times I am “lustful”. The priest asked me to be more specific and as a woman I felt very uncomfortable being more specific. After confession I was reflecting on it more and realized maybe I do need to be more specific so the priest understands what exactly I’m confessing. Typically how I feel when I engage in this sin is when I see an attractive man that’s not my husband, I may find myself aroused by him and let myself entertain the idea of him to much. Also at times I see my intentions for coming together with my husband are not fully pure and there might be some selfish, lustful desires there. Many times I stop myself and do not suggest coming together with my husband to avoid using him. Is there a more concise yet specific way of confessing these sins without giving all these details? Is there a name for these sins? I want to be accountable but understand that priests are fallen men too and I want to be prudent especially because I’m a young woman. 3. What would your advice be for two catholics with same sex attraction who want to adhere to the teachings of the Church who believe it is their vocation to be life partners romantically but not sexually? 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 (https://www.tobforfree.com) 📕 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 (https://tobpatron.com)! Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: Jameis Winston Video (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Jkz6xlfb89s?si=sgenYc8iOfnWQCtm) Join Christopher on a ski trip to Utah Click here (https://jp2trails.com/trip/utah-ski-retreat/) TOBI Event Calendar (https://tobinstitute.org/live-events/) Hope’s Garden (https://hopesgarden.com/) Desert Stream Ministries (https://www.desertstream.org/) 🎥 Check out our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TheologyoftheBodyInstitute) 📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE (https://tobinstitute.org/programs/tobi-schedule/) to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON! 📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE (https://shop.corproject.com/collections/best-sellers/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies. ⛷️ Join Christopher on a ski trip to Utah Click here (https://jp2trails.com/trip/utah-ski-retreat/) 🏔️ Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here (http://tobpilgrimages.com/) 🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/ (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 (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). 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 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/11GI1XK7viPMV36eBBNjxoKqzCENSRVyR1IoLpX6lqrw/edit?usp=sharing). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/).

  --------  

  48:00
• Bodily Functions in Eden, Navigating Endometriosis, and Finding Confidence in Disability and Masculinity | ACW319

  Questions answered this episode: 1. In the state of original innocence did Adam & Eve experience bodily functions like defecation and urination? If so, how would these have aligned with their original harmony and the perfection of creation. Sometimes these functions are uncomfortable or even painful. 2. For almost a year now I’ve been in a beautiful catholic relationship. We both love God and our faith and want to follow the Church’s teaching in our relationship. We’re discerning marriage at the moment and we’re navigating through the obstacles. I’m 21 now and since I was 13 I’ve had endometriosis with heavy symptoms. I’ve tried many treatments over the years with little success. One year ago, after a lot of inner battles I started taking a birth control pill. Since them I’m almost symptom free. If we were to get married in the next year, it wouldn’t be responsible for us to have children right away because we’re both still in college for at least 2 and a half years. If I would stop taking the pill and start NFP that would mean a lot of pain and a great burden for my daily life. I’m extremely afraid of this scenario. Could you shed some light into this confusion? 3. I have a physical disability that prevents me from driving and being handy and limits my ability to provide physical protection. I hear so often about how women want men with these traits so they feel safe to express their femininity. I want to trust that God will help me find someone but I get discouraged thinking about how my disability limits me in fulfilling natural female desires. How should I make myself worthy of a kind, affectionate and loyal woman given my disability. 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 (https://www.tobforfree.com) 📕 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 (https://tobpatron.com)! Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com (http://www.askchristopherwest.com). Resources mentioned this week: Paul VI Institute (https://popepaulvi.com/) NAPRO Technology (https://naprotechnology.com/) Good News About Sex & Marriage (https://shop.corproject.com/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) 🎥 Check out our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TheologyoftheBodyInstitute) 📚 View our COURSE SCHEDULE (https://tobinstitute.org/programs/tobi-schedule/) to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON! 📘 GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE (https://shop.corproject.com/collections/best-sellers/products/good-news-about-sex-and-marriage) by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies. ⛷️ Join Christopher on a ski trip to Utah Click here (https://jp2trails.com/trip/utah-ski-retreat/) 🏔️ Want to join us on one of our pilgrimages? Click here (http://tobpilgrimages.com/) 🌟 For professional Catholic Life Coaching, including Porn Recovery: https://www.stevemotylcoaching.com/ (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 (http://www.facebook.com/cwestofficial) and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/cwestofficial). Discover the Theology of the Body Institute (http://www.tobinstitute.org). If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-christopher-west/id1448699486). 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 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/11GI1XK7viPMV36eBBNjxoKqzCENSRVyR1IoLpX6lqrw/edit?usp=sharing). Featuring music by Mike Mangione (https://www.mikemangione.com/).

  --------  

  44:19

Más podcasts de Religión y espiritualidad

Podcasts a la moda de Religión y espiritualidad

Acerca de Ask Christopher West

Ask Christopher West: Podcasts del grupo