Ask Christopher West

← Ask Christopher West28 sep · 48 min

I’m Confused About What It Means to Be Holy, I’m Single at 35 and Losing Hope for a Family, & I’m Afraid My Love for Priests Is Becoming Disordered | ACW404

I’m Confused About What It Means to Be Holy, I’m Single at 35 and Losing Hope for a Family, & I’m Afraid My Love for Priests Is Becoming Disordered | ACW40428 sep48 min

<p>Questions answered this episode:</p><ol><li>Learning to see the world through TOB lenses has given me such clarity and rest. My question today is about holiness. Could you explain what holiness actually is? I come from a Protestant background, and growing up, the word holy was reserved for God alone. It seemed using that word to describe other people, like Mary and the saints, in some way was an attempt to put them on the same level as God. Could you help me understand what it means to call someone holy and how that differs from God&#39;s holiness?</li><li>I&#39;m a 35-year-old woman. I&#39;m single and really have no prospects for dating. I have a fear that I&#39;m running out of time to have children. This makes me very sad. Any advice for having trust in the Lord&#39;s plan for my life?</li><li>How does one separate a priest from Christ and from the graces we receive through the priest? When I have received a grace through a priest, I&#39;ve found something in me grasping. I am happily married and love the priesthood, but on one level, it moves me to a greater love for our Eucharistic Lord, while on the other hand, there&#39;s perhaps something disordered in me that clings to the priest. This is further complicated by an experience where I wounded a priest due to lack of discretion. Now, when I have experiences of grace linked to a priest, I spend too much time examining my motivations and fearing self-deception, hoping you might shine some light.</li></ol><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://tobinstitute.org/thetruthandthelie/">Truth &amp; the Lie October 9 Launch</a></p><p><a href="https://tobinstitute.org/our-schedule/#course-schedule">Course Schedule</a> <a href="https://jp2trails.com/trip/t-o-b-ski-retreat/">UTAH Ski Trip with Christopher West April 5-9, 2026</a></p><p><a href="https://tobinstitute.kartra.com/page/ignitehope2026">Ignite Hope Discerning Marriage Retreat Info</a></p><p><a href="https://sophiainstitute.com/product/litanies-of-the-heart/?srsltid=AfmBOopxDgzfhVl5kUTsh2uh9eSnJM3E7i04JWSMjMYY3x6vtRpfq7h3">Litanies of the Heart by Dr. Gerry Crete</a></p><p><br></p><p>---</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>---</p>