Ask Christopher West

Christopher and Wendy West answer questions about faith, life, love, and sexuality, in light of John Paul II's Theology of the Body.

About the show

Since the early 90's, author and speaker Christopher West has devoted his life to spreading John Paul II's revolutionary teaching on human life, love, and sexuality: The Theology of the Body. His beloved wife Wendy, mother of their five children, has served as his confidante, friend, and support through these long years of ministry. In this podcast, Christopher and Wendy combine their wisdom to tackle the toughest questions dealing with vocation, sexuality, marriage, and the Catholic faith.

Support the mission of Christopher and Theology of the Body Institute by becoming a Patron! Join our Patron Community at TOBPatron.com.

Ask Christopher West on social media

Episodes

  • "True Femininity", "Advice for Single Catholics" & "Trusting Jesus"

    March 18th, 2024  |  52 mins 29 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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?
  • "Excretory Functions In Heaven", "My Husband Won't Reverse His Vasectomy" and " the Marital Embrace Before Original Sin"

    March 11th, 2024  |  46 mins 14 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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?
  • Difficulty Holding On, Surgery for the Sake of Openness to Life & Hellish Comparison.

    March 4th, 2024  |  50 mins 6 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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?
  • Open Bathroom Policy, Stopping Birth Control "Cold Turkey" & Idolizing One's Spouse

    February 26th, 2024  |  50 mins 13 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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?
  • "Remain", Contraception & the Sacrifice of Motherhood

    February 19th, 2024  |  38 mins 37 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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?
  • Resurrection & Final Judgement, Anesthetized to Beauty and Call to Single Life

    February 12th, 2024  |  57 mins 25 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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?
  • God Liking Us, Dating Wounds In Newly Weds & Fishing for Compliments

    February 5th, 2024  |  47 mins 44 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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?
  • Letting My Future Husband Love My Body, Medical Infertility & TOB for 7th Graders

    January 29th, 2024  |  40 mins 31 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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?
  • Subjective Beauty, Abstinence from Sexual Intimacy & Unwanted Pregnancy.

    January 22nd, 2024  |  40 mins 17 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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 undesired pregnancy?
  • Makeup, Prescribing Contraception & NFP as Openness to Life

    January 15th, 2024  |  33 mins 6 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • 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?
  • Fertility Body Fluids, M*sturbation & Healing of Sexual Past

    January 8th, 2024  |  42 mins 2 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • How do we reorient what we find gross about the bodily functions?
    • What is m*sturbation?
    • As a pre-engaged couple, how do we heal from our sexual past?
  • Getting Over First Love, Same Sex Attraction & Wedding Ceremony

    January 2nd, 2024  |  45 mins 58 secs
    catholic, catholic answers, catholic podcast, catholic questions, christian, christopher west, faith formation, faith questions, john paul ii, jpii, theology of the body, theology of the body institute
    • Will I ever get over my first love? Is it okay date others while still attached to another?
    • What story does the body of a person with same sex attraction tell?
    • Why does the bride come in after the priest at a wedding?