Healing the Martial Embrace If I Experienced Sexual Abuse, Looking Away from Immodest Women, Receptivity as a Man | ACW308

Questions answered this episode:

1. I’m familiar with what the TOB teaches about the marital embrace and the mutual self giving that occurs there. It’s difficult to understand this in my heart. Prior to marriage I experienced multiple episodes of sexual abuse. I engage in relations with my husband to be a gift to him. I know it is important to love him in that way. However, in my heart it doesn’t feel like a gift to me. It’s only a reminder of how my body has been used by other people. When people talk about this being a pleasurable experience, their words sound non-sensical to me. Then I feel guilt and shame because I don’t experience these as I “should”. Do you have any advice?
2. If a woman is dressed inappropriately, shouldn’t I look away?
3. In the union in one flesh, should the man because of what he represents always be focusing on making his wife feel loved or is it okay sometimes to focus on receiving? Would that distort the sign he’s called to represent?

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.

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Featuring music by Mike Mangione.