As a single person in my thirties, how do I cope with the desire to be married? As a happily married man, how do I ensure that my sexual desire for my wife is expressed in love and not lust? How can couples develop a deeper practice of marital prayer? Christopher and Wendy draw from their own experiences of marriage in this episode of Ask Christopher West. Also, Christopher quacks. Really.

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: What do you do if you are single and you've been single for years? I’m in my thirties and I want to get married, but God has not put that person in your life yet. How do I reconcile this ache and longing for communion?

Q2: As a happily married man, I often struggle with my own sexual desire for my wife and distinguishing whether this desire (and how I express it) is right or wrong. We're firmly planted in the Church's teachings concerning sexual ethics but even within those boundaries my experience has been one of guilt over whether I am truly being loving or lustful toward my wife. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

Q3: Do you pray together as a couple? What does that look like for you? As a spiritual director (and celibate woman, consecrated with vows), I encourage spouses to have and develop marital prayer. Often times I get surprised with the response: “that’s awkward”! I am aware that one’s spiritual life is quite intimate, but I imagine it could deepen other levels of intimacy in marriage, including physical intimacy. Would you mind sharing this intimate topic with us, your beloved audience ;)

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

For more by Christopher West on Marriage, check out The Good News about Sex and Marriage.

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Produced by Sounder and Key.