Ask Christopher West

Latest Episodes:

Grace Is Your Name | ACW24 Jun 17, 2019

Show notes

How can TOB help me heal spiritually from anorexia? Why does the Church teach against contraceptives? Is watching Game of Thrones okay? As a woman who has struggled with pornography, how do I heal?

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’ve been physically and mentally recovering from anorexia for awhile, and I’m realizing that my soul needs healing, too. Is there anything in Theology of the Body that can help me understand self-worth and self-love. Are these things God wants for me?

Q2: I grew up in a church environment where the use of contraceptives was not questioned morally at all. I’d love to hear you explain a little more about how the use of contraceptives relates to TOB both in Christian marriage and in secular culture.

Q3: I’m struggling to decide whether or not to watch the new season of Game of Ghrones. I know that it contains pornographic scenes, and while I skip them, I feel guilty whenever I watch it. I hate telling people I’ve seen it because I feel they’ll be drawn to do the same, and it may cause them to sin.

Q4: As a female who has struggled with pornography, my view on sex has been distorted. While I know that sex is good on a head level, how can I more fully understand this on a heart level?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:
The Heart of Perfection by Colleen Carol Campbell
The Body Reveals God by Katrina Zeno
Theology of the Body in One Hour by Jason Evert

Books by Christopher West:
Theology of the Body for Beginners
Eclipse of the Body
The Good News about Sex and Marriage

TOB1 September Course

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.

Wendy's Work | ACW23 Jun 10, 2019

Show notes

As a single young woman, should I be open to marrying someone who doesn't share my faith? How does Wendy feel about not being able to tour and speak like Christopher? What bible verse has resonated the most with you through life?

We continue taking questions from people who have taken part in TOB Pilgrimages. Check out the upcoming pilgrimages to Mexico and the Holy Land at TOBPilgrimages.com!

This week’s questions:

Q1: As a young single woman whose faith matters deeply to me, should I be open to the possibility of marrying someone who doesn't share my faith?

Q2: Wendy, how hard is it to watch your husband do something that you are also passionate about, when you have to stay home and do everything else?

Q3: Which bible verse or passage has resonated with you the most through life, individually or as a couple?

Also in this episode: the follow-up to "Cake or Pie", Christopher answers "Ketchup or Mustard!"

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Apocalypto -- Christopher recommends this film as part of the last questions of the episode, but please be advised that its content are not suitable for all ages.

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!

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Cheese and the Sacred Heart | ACW22 Jun 03, 2019

Show notes

Any recommendations for a couple that is dating who wants to include TOB in their relationship? Do you think the "Culture of Death" that we currently live in can be overcome? Do you have any tips for overcoming jet lag? Christopher and Wendy dive into these questions, while finding time to muse on Cheese Whiz as a valid cheesesteak component.

This week’s questions:

Q1: As someone who travels a lot, do you have any recommendations on how to deal with jet lag?

Q2: Do you have any recommendations with TOB for a couple that is dating? I’m currently dating a Christian (Non-Catholic) and is interested in TOB. I’m trying to figure out a way to bring it into the conversation while our relationship is young.

Q3: After going on the 2016 TOB Pilgrimage to Mexico, and seeing how Our Lady of Guadalupe was able to turn a culture of death into a culture of life, I am hopeful that the same can happen in our own culture. Do you think this is a reasonable hope?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Our Lady of Guadalupe Youtube Series by Christopher | Part 1
Mike Mangione's Music Our theme song is "Lay Down"!

Theology of the Body for Beginners
Fill These Hearts

Cooked on Netflix Christopher recommends Episode 4!

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!

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Questions from Confirmation | ACW21 May 27, 2019

Show notes

Confirmation students from St. James Catholic Church in Charles Town, WV submit their questions to Christopher and Wendy! How do I talk to my non-Catholic friends about hot-button issues? How do you know if the love between a husband and life is real? As Catholics, how do we relate to people struggling with matters of sexual identity?

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

This week’s questions:

Q1: What can you do if your friends aren’t Catholic, and they believe different things, and they start to talk about difficult topics around you? Abortion, for example. What can you say to them

Q2: How do you know if the love between a husband and wife is real?

Q3: Where exactly in the Bible does it say that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are bad?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

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!

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Christopher's Car Goes for a Ride | ACW20 May 20, 2019

Show notes

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!

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!

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

I've Got the Power | ACW19 May 13, 2019

Show notes

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.

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!

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Become Who You Are | ACW18 May 06, 2019

Show notes

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.

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!

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Wendy and the Granola Avalanche | ACW17 Apr 29, 2019

Show notes

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?

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.

Skydiving with Christopher | ACW16 Apr 22, 2019

Show notes

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!

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.

Working at Wendy's | ACW15 Apr 15, 2019

Show notes

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.

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.