logo
episode-header-image
Jul 28
55m 26s

Sexual arousal in prayer, Did the Holy S...

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY INSTITUTE
About this episode

Questions answered this episode:

  1. I’ve broken free from porn and masturbation since returning to the Church, but now I experience arousal during deep prayer. It distracts and disturbs me—how can I pray through it without shame or confusion?
  2. My kids ask: If Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, did the Spirit become physical—like a sperm? How do I explain this?
  3. As a virgin in an art class drawing nude figures, I feel shame, fear, and temptation. How can I see the body with purity and maturity without falling into lust or fantasy?


Resources:

⁠⁠COURSE SCHEDULE⁠⁠

JPII Legacy Foundation Website

What to Do With Your Sexual Needs YouTube Video

Sexual Needs Into Prayer YouTube Video


---


Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President 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.


---


🔥 ⁠⁠⁠Get 3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on Theology of the Body⁠⁠⁠


📕 ⁠⁠⁠Get a copy of Christopher's Eating the Sunrise: Meditations on the Liturgy & Our Hunger for Beauty⁠⁠⁠


⚡️ Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute and have a better chance of us answering your question? ⁠⁠⁠Join our Patron Community!⁠⁠⁠


---


Submit you question here!


---


🎥 Check out our ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠


📚 View our ⁠⁠COURSE SCHEDULE⁠⁠ to register for a course, ONLINE or IN-PERSON!


📘 ⁠⁠GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEX & MARRIAGE⁠⁠ by Christopher West. Use discount code MARRIAGE during checkout for 20% off one or multiple copies.


🏔️ ⁠⁠Join us on one of our pilgrimages!⁠⁠


If you are in financial need and honestly cannot afford a book or resource recommended on this podcast, contact: ⁠⁠michele@tobinstitute.org⁠⁠

⁠List of trusted counselors & psychologists⁠

Up next
Aug 18
When God Feels Silent, When Nudity Tests Purity, When Climax Comes Unexpectedly | ACW346
Questions answered this episode:You often say to bring desires to Jesus or Mary, but when I do, nothing happens. Prayer, stillness, and adoration haven’t helped. Years of silence have made me see Jesus less as a loving bridegroom and more as someone withholding, disappearing at m ... Show More
58m 41s
Aug 12
Helping kids stay rooted in faith after divorce, Is God sexual?, Overcoming degrading fantasies in marriage| ACW345
Questions answered this episode:After divorcing my husband over his unhealed pornography addiction, my sons now stay with him and his civil wife. I’m seeking guidance on how to protect and mentor them spiritually amid confusing messages from their father.If God made us sexual and ... Show More
46m 25s
Aug 4
Apophatic prayer, Longing for a same sex person from my past, Husband with a closed heart after porn addiction | ACW344
Questions answered this episode:How does Theology of the Body relate to the apophatic tradition of imageless, silent prayer? If we're meant to go beyond concepts and detach even from meditation, how can a theology so rooted in the body inform contemplative prayer?Though I'm happi ... Show More
57m 35s
Recommended Episodes
May 2021
Christopher West on Sex, God, Beauty, and the Theology of the Body | Ep. 269
In this episode, Christopher West of the Theology of the Body Institute comes on the show to chat about Pope St. John Paul II's "Theology of the Body," and a whole lot more — from Descartes to coffee addictions. We sit back and let the conversation flow about all kinds of things, ... Show More
3h 16m
Oct 2024
205: Why Don't Churches Talk About Sex, Can I Separate Due To My Spouse's Porn Addiction, Does Premarital Sex Disqualify Me From Ministry, and More! Ask A Pastor Q&A With Pastor Chris de Monye Part 2
Tune into this incredible PART TWO episode of “Ask A Pastor”! The KS team had the pleasure of interviewing Pastor Chris de Monye and asking him all of the questions you sent in on Instagram! Don’t miss it.   Links from today’s episode: Dwellbible.com/kingdom chris@thisisvillagech ... Show More
51m 22s
Feb 2024
How To Be Physically Intimate In Dating Without Sinning
Elizabeth gets into the details of how to be physically intimate in a dating relationship without sinning. She proposes a refreshing approach to sin that will give you a more freeing perspective on the issue. Elizabeth also provides practical tips and suggestions to navigate the ... Show More
9m 11s
Oct 2024
204: How To Talk About Fantasies, Have Enough Energy For Sex, and More! Ask A Pastor Q&A with Pastor Chris de Monye Part 1
Tune into this incredible PART ONE episode of “Ask A Pastor”! The KS team had the pleasure of interviewing Pastor Chris de Monye and asking him all of the questions you sent in on Instagram! Don’t miss it.   Links from today’s episode: Intimacy Through Grief Episode chris@thisisv ... Show More
37m 24s
Aug 2024
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
We look now at the peak verse of the most famous biblical passage on marriage. It’s Ephesians 5:32, where Paul says, “This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” He says everything he’s said about marriage has also been about Christ and the church. T ... Show More
48m 40s
Aug 2024
lust, sex, and dating before marriage
Hey y'all ! Welcome to another Friday with CWCOI and to the start of season FOUR !!! We are so happy to be back and are excited for all the ways the Lord is going to show up in these upcoming episodes. In this week's episode our host, Ally Yost, talks about the importance of shar ... Show More
50m 16s
Jul 14
Love, Lust and Liberation
On the surface, one of the most unattractive things about Christianity to our culture today is its view of sex; but if you look underneath the surface and get a better grasp on what is really taught, the Christian view of sex is one of the most attractive things about it. In othe ... Show More
45m 29s
Jan 2025
How Do I Feel and What Do I Need?
Have you ever acted out sexually or given in to temptation and wondered, ‘Why did I do that?’ In this episode, we’re diving into the powerful connection between emotions, needs, and the choices we make. We’ll unpack why understanding your feelings and expressing your needs is ess ... Show More
26m 50s
Feb 2025
Reproductive Health - with Dr. Wickert
The topic of conceiving and bearing children can often feel difficult to discuss - but it doesn't have to be. What does scripture say about our desire to build families? This week Janet and Jocelyn welcome Dr. Dan Wickert, an OB-GYN and chairman of the hospital board for the West ... Show More
47m 57s
May 2024
Your Burning Questions About Sex, Dating, and Boundaries - ft/Daniel & Elles Maddry
We asked you your most pressing questions you wanted to know about sexuality. We've got your raw unfiltered questions live on our podcast. Here's the top questions you asked: 👉 Can we have sex if we’re legally married? 👉 Is masturbation a sin? 👉 Is it possible to overcome porn ... Show More
38m 14s