Ask Christopher West

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

308 episodes of Ask Christopher West since the first episode, which aired on January 7th, 2019.

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

    June 3rd, 2024  |  47 mins 39 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 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?
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    Satisfied with God But Longing for a Husband, Struggle with M*sturbation as a Woman & Protestant Teaching on Contraception | ACW 282

    May 27th, 2024  |  59 mins 3 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 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?

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

    May 20th, 2024  |  44 mins 51 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 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?

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

    May 13th, 2024  |  43 mins 40 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
    • 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?
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    “International Marriage”, “Disturbing Images In Prayer” & “My Husband Doesn’t Want Intimacy” | ACW279

    May 6th, 2024  |  56 mins 32 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
    • 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?
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    "God & Menopause", "Girlfriend's Sexual Past" & "Infertility from Chemotherapy" | ACW278

    April 29th, 2024  |  58 mins 41 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
    • 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.
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    "Wearing Grandma", "Afraid of Being Alone", & "Intercourse in Pregnancy" | ACW277

    April 22nd, 2024  |  43 mins 23 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 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?
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    "Wanting To Go Back", "Faith Jealousy" & "TOB Resources for Children" | ACW276

    April 15th, 2024  |  34 mins 26 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 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?
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    "Bonding as Adoptive Parents" & "Practical Good Eros" | ACW275

    April 8th, 2024  |  48 mins 59 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
    • 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?

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

    April 1st, 2024  |  46 mins 7 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
    • 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?
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    "Desire & Lust", "Pre-Marital or Non Marital Sex" & "Will Heaven Lack Something?" | ACW273

    March 25th, 2024  |  47 mins 55 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 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?

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

    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?