Ask Christopher West

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

October 23rd, 2023  |  42 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 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?

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

October 16th, 2023  |  54 mins 33 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

• 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?

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

October 9th, 2023  |  55 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

• 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?

Reading TOB, NFP Struggles & Old Loves | ACW248

October 2nd, 2023  |  46 mins 35 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 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?

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

September 25th, 2023  |  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

• 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?

Cohabitation, Scarred Sexuality and Alzheimer's | ACW246

September 18th, 2023  |  39 mins 11 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 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?
  

Lingerie in Marriage | ACW245

September 12th, 2023  |  48 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 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?

The Horrors that Christ Endured | ACW244

September 4th, 2023  |  48 mins 12 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

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?

How To Heal a Stoic Heart | ACW243

August 28th, 2023  |  50 mins 42 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

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?

Intimacy In Dating | ACW242

August 21st, 2023  |  42 mins 53 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 has doing this podcast together impacted you as a couple?
• How can I balance intimacy in the context of dating without adopting a mentality of how far can we go?
• Should hormonal birth control always be avoided?

Betrayed By My Body | ACW241

August 14th, 2023  |  50 mins 27 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 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?

You Cannot Give What You Don't Have | ACW240

August 7th, 2023  |  50 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

• 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 but whenever I bring these things up, she shuts down. Can you help me?