Ask Christopher West

How can a Catholic artist include their faith in their work? How do we help children in the process of exploring their bodies? What kind of faith formation experiences are out there for older people? How do we best go about making sure our marriage is based on love, not lust? If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening! 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: Hello, I am a Catholic artist and student (painter and sculptor) struggling with how to glorify God with my work in the context of the contemporary art world (which seems to me to be ridden with ugliness). How can Catholic artists today stay relevant and not copy the past, but draw on the past and effect change now? Also, more personally, how can I live out my faith truly at a Fine Arts College? I feel that if my peers knew I was Catholic they'd surely treat me differently. Q2: I was listening to "Beyond the talk" about the mother telling her little girl in the bathtub to not touch herself its dirty. What do we say to our children when they are touching themselves? I have two boys and two girls, all under the age of 6. Will it differ what I say from my girls to my boys? Q3: My husband and I recently had one of our kids go to SEEK2019 and my husband mentioned that it seems that so much of the messages of our Church is aimed at the younger generations. Are there programs for us older folks who aren't 19 to help us continue to grow our faith? Q4: Is it possible for sin to be involved during sexual intercourse if the following criteria are met? 1) The couple is legitimately married 2) niether feels coerced or pressured to have sex 3) they are open to life 4) each is considerate towards the other’s mounting pleasure and not simply trying to gratify themselves at the expense of the other. I am currently engaged to be married and my fiancé and I have discussed this topic out of a desire to one day begin our sexual relationship not with a fear of lust but with total freedom to love. Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: TOB Courses/Resources TOB Institute Head and Heart Immersion Course (TOB1) Trailer TOB Institute Way of Beauty Course NFP Discussion in Ask Christopher West 16 Beyond the Talk: Sharing God’s plan for Sexuality with Your Children The Good News about Sex and Marriage Catholic Resources for Adults Ascension Press Augustine Institute Word on Fire 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.

How do I address a verbally abusive husband? What does the Church teach on the vocation of singlehood, both as a permanent and temporary state? Is it okay for a woman to wear a bikini? Christopher and Wendy share stories from their life together as they answer these questions and more. 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: How can I live out the TOB when my husband is very hostile to the Catholic faith and often abusive? Q2: What does the church teach on the vocation of singlehood? I have many friends of different ages who have discussions with me about a perceived vocation to be single for the rest of their life. I have heard a lot about consecrated single hood, but does there exist a vocation to being single without this? Q3: I read in Karol Wojtylas Love and Responsibility that an outfit can be modest if used with its intended function. I assume that this means its okay for a woman to wear a bikini to the beach or pool? I also saw a photo online of a woman online performing at the Vatican, wearing a bikini. Is this okay? Is it okay on a show, at the beach? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: Catechism of the Catholic Church John Paul II's Familiaris Consortio 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.

I understand mentally how important Jesus is, but how do I cultivate a real relationship with him? Why does St. Paul speak so negatively about marriage and sexuality? What's all this about the eyes of Our Lady of Guadalupe? What's the difference between "soul" and "spirit"? Wendy and Christopher dive into these questions and more on this episode of Ask Christopher West. 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: As someone who has been raised Catholic but is feeling kind of stagnant and shallow in his faith, how would you DISCOVER a passionate love for Jesus? I don't think I've ever had this. I often wish I had the passion that many converts had, but I find myself struggling to bridge what my mind knows to what my heart feels. Q2: Why does St. Paul speak so negatively about marriage and sexuality? Q3: I just watched your 4 part video series of "The Theology of Mary's Body: Hidden Mysteries of Our Lady of Guadalupe" and it was wonderful. My question for you is if you could share your perspective on the symbolism of Our Lady of Guadalupe's eyes? I know this is a new discovery with modern technology, but I haven't been able to find out very much about it and would love to hear your thoughts since this seems to be a very important message about the family for our current times. Q4: What is the difference between our soul and our spirit? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: TOB Pilgrimage to Mexico City 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.

How do I know if the girl I am dating is "The One"? I have experienced a lot of spiritual growth since entering into my marriage, but my husband is not. He is not interested in living as the Church calls us to live. Do you have any advice for this situation? How do I help my friend who has committed adultery and left his wife? Christopher and Wendy share their advice on these situations, and share experiences of their marriage, parenting their young children, and Wendy's most memorable granola-related misfortune. This week’s questions: Q1: How do I know if the girl I'm dating is "The One"? Do you have any thoughts on the best way to propose? Q2: How can I live TOB if my husband doesn't know the church teaching on marriage, doesn't care to learn and holds most of the popular prejudices against the church of our times. I want to clarify: when we married, I had the same views he has now. I came into the church because of our marriage crisis. We are doing a bit better, but not living up to what God wants for marriage and families. We lived a partying lifestyle and began our marriage in the common disordered way of today. Do you have any advice? Q3: I have a dear friend who comitted adultery and left his wife. It's very sad because we share a lot in the faith, and have been friends for almost 10 years. How can I help? 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. Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: Introductory information on the Theology of the Body 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! Produced by Sounder and Key.

I've been married before; can I be a consecrated virgin? What does chastity look like for engaged couples? How do I help couples who are struggling with practicing NFP? Christopher and Wendy dive into these questions on this episode of Ask Christopher West! 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: I have been told that only virgins, meaning never had sexual relations, can be consecrated to God. So, am I just a hopeless cause since I have been married before, and annulled. I consecrated myself to God with Scripture I was given by a Rabbi, since I couldn’t get an appointment with a priest. Is it valid? Q2: Could you please address what chastity ought to look like in an engaged couple? The commitment level is certainly increased, so it feels as though physical intimacy ought to follow. I realize a couple is not fully committed until "I do" but I still am curious how chastity rules might change as your relationship changes. Q3: First of all, thank you both for your service and ministry! I love yall! Learning about TOB honestly changed the course of my life so thank you from the bottom of my heart! I am an NFP teacher and love the Church's teaching on marriage and sex; however, I know these teachings are difficult to grasp for many people. I know many couples who use NFP, who deeply struggle with it and are almost resentful because they feel its not fair due to long periods of abstinence or loss of libido for some women during the second half of her menstrual cycle, or etc. My question is how do I support and encourage these couples? What can I do to help others see the joy in living this out while understanding that it does require sacrificial love? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: Chapter 4 of The Good News about Sex and Marriage Original Netflix Series Cooked 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! Produced by Sounder and Key.

This episode contains subject matter of an intimate marital nature. How do I deal with post-graduation life outside the "Catholic bubble"? Do you have any advice for a couple struggling to bring the wife to climax during intercourse? Or for a couple in their later years, dealing with erectile dysfunction? Christopher and Wendy dive into these questions, sharing from their own experience. 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: I am graduating from a Catholic college, and preparing to go out into the world. What advice do you have for students who may be leaving the "Catholic bubble"? Q2: My husband and I have had difficulty with bringing me to climax during sexual intercourse. How do I maintain an "other-centric" perspective on marital intimacy while dealing so closely with my own experience of the sexual act? Q3: My husband and I have been married for 31 years. Recently, we have experienced erectile dysfunction, and have determined that we don't want to use a medication to address the issue. Do you have any advice on this situation? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: Amoris Laetitia - Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis Holy Sex 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! Produced by Sounder and Key.

What can TOB teach us about work? My wife wants to contracept, but I don’t. How would you recommend I handle this situation? Do you have any specific songs that speak to your love one another? Christopher and Wendy dive into their own stories to cast light on these questions. Also, does anybody see a duck? 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: I was wondering if TOB can teach us something about work. Work, like sex, is an area of life where human beings often use one another. And yet many have experienced huge blessings by giving of themselves in a labor of love. How can TOB help someone stuck in a dead-end job? What can TOB teach us about work? Q2: My wife wants to contracept, but I do not. I feel an increasing trust in God’s providence in regards to our sexuality, but my wife has threatened to leave our marriage over this issue. Do you have any thoughts? Q3: Do you have any specific songs that speak to your love of one another? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: Vademecum for Confessors Concerning Some Aspects of the Morality of Conjugal Life I Choose You - Sara Bareilles Army of Angels - The Script 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! Produced by Sounder and Key.

As a couple in the perimenopausal stage of life, how should we handle issues surrounding NFP, irregular cycles, and prolonged periods of abstinence? As a husband, I feel that my wife is often only ever interested in sexual union from the physical side. How do I deal with this? How do I create space in my prayer time for me to hear the Lord speaking? 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: My husband and I are entering into the perimenopausal stage of life. My cycles are very irregular, making practicing NFP difficult, and we have strong reason to avoid a pregnancy at this time. We are concerned about how practicing total abstinence will affect our marriage. Do you have any advice for this situation? Q2: My wife seems to have less interest in sex than me, generally, and when she is interested, she seems more interested in just the physical act than the spiritual/emotional dimension. I am worried this is harming my marriage. What should I do? Q3: In prayer, I find myself doing a lot of talking. How should I so listen so that I can hear God speaking? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: Catechism of the Catholic Church - 2342 Marriage Counseling Resources: Pastoral Solutions Institute CatholicPsych Institute Dr. Peter Damgaard-Hansen 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! Produced by Sounder and Key.

How do I live my single-ness while in the process of an annulment? If you had only 30 minutes to talk to an RCIA class on Theology of the Body, what would you say? My husband is suffering from a pornography addiction; what should I do? Christopher and Wendy dive into these questions (and Christopher raps) on today's episode. 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: I am a married woman going through the annulment process. I have been successful in remaining chaste, despite sometimes desiring otherwise. Do you have any advice for how best to live this time in my life? Q2: If you had only 30 minutes to speak to an RCIA class on the Theology of the Body, what would you say? Q3: My husband is suffering from heavy depression and a pornography addiction. What should I do to be a faithful wife in this difficult time? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: Made for More Parish Event 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! Produced by Sounder and Key.

As a newlywed, how can my spouse and I live out the TOB message in our parish community? What do we do when our first year of marriage doesn't feel like a "honeymoon year"? Where should unmarried couples draw the line at physical intimacy? Christopher and Wendy share some stories from their own 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: As a newlywed, what are your thoughts on how my husband and I can best live out the TOB message in our parish community, beyond living it out in our own lives? Q2: Even though we were well-prepared and devout Catholics, the first year of our marriage has been difficult. The fact that it should be a “honeymoon year” is very discouraging. It seems like we are having a harder time than most other couples we know. What is your advice? Q3: In ACW3, you talked about how married couples can be intimate but abstain from sexual acts during periods of fertility. How should unmarried couples go about deciding where to draw the line with sexual intimacy? Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com. Resources mentioned this week: The Good News about Sex and Marriage (Christopher referenced Chapter 4 in this podcast) Made for More Parish Event The Couple to Couple League's Live the Love Blog 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! Produced by Sounder and Key.