Pre-Cana with the Pope

Send us Fan MailWhat does the Catholic Church actually mean when it says that every marital act must remain “open to life”?Order Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with Your Spousehttps://www.avemariapress.com/products/lovemakingIn Part 1, we started following the footnotes.Now we're going further. Beginning with Catechism paragraph 2366, we follow the Church's citations through Humanae Vitae, Casti Connubii, and Pope Pius XII's 1951 Address to Midwives to answer a controversial question:Does the Church actually teach that sexual activity within marriage must retain its intrinsic relationship to intercourse and procreation—or is that simply one interpretation Catholics have added later?Along the way, we also wrestle with the difficult real-life questions that come with that teaching. What if a couple knows they're infertile? What about pregnancy or menopause? What if you're practicing NFP during an infertile phase? Does every moment of sexual arousal between spouses have to end in intercourse?What if intercourse is painful? And what happens when a teaching of the Church genuinely feels impossible in your marriage?In this episode, we talk about:What Humanae Vitae 11 actually says about marital intimacyWhy sex remains meaningful even when conception is impossiblePregnancy, infertility, menopause, and naturally infertile periodsWhether every moment of arousal between spouses has to end in PIVWhy intention matters when thinking about sexual behaviorThe difference between affection, arousal, and intentionally seeking sexual climaxWhy chastity should create freedom—not fear of physical affection with your spouseWhat the Church means when it says the marital act must retain its “intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life”Why the value of marital intercourse isn't dependent upon actually conceiving a childWhat to do when Catholic sexual teaching feels impossible to liveFollowing Humanae Vitae's footnote to Pope Pius XI's Casti ConnubiiWhat “deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life” meansWhy stopping intercourse because someone is experiencing pain is not the same thing as deliberately frustrating the actWhy nobody should feel obligated to continue intercourse while experiencing painWhy something feeling beneficial to a marriage doesn't automatically settle whether it is morally goodPope Pius XII's teaching on the inherent nature of the marital actWhy difficult circumstances call for accompaniment rather than changing the teaching itselfOne of the most important distinctions in this conversation is between something being infertile and something being deliberately rendered contrary to its natural ordering.Humanae Vitae explicitly recognizes that married couples can engage in intercourse when conception is impossible for reasons independent of their will. Infertility does not make marital intimacy meaningless.At the same time, as we continue following the Church's own sources, the consistent principle becomes increasingly clear: Catholics are not free to deliberately change the nature of the marital act simply because conception isn't possible.That doesn't mean every difficult situation has a simple answer. Pain is real. Infertility is real. Fear surrounding another pregnancy can be real.Serious problems within a marriage are real. Those circumstances deserve genuine compassion and accompaniment. But accompaniment isn't the same thing as pretending the Church hasn't taught something simply because living it is difficult.Chapters00:00 Settling What “Open to Life” Actually Means 01:08 Humanae Vitae 11: What the Church Actually Says 02:04 Can Sex Be Open to Life When Pregnancy Is Impossible? 03:30 What About NFP, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Menopause? 04:06 Does Every Moment of Arousal Have to End in PIV? 05:04 Intention Matters in Catholic Marital Intimacy 06:27 Chastity Doesn't Mean Being Afraid of Your Spouse 07:23 Why Affection and Arousal Aren't Automatically Sinful 08:01 Why Infertile Sex Is Still Noble and Worthy 09:44 God's Design Includes Natural Periods of Infertility 11:08 What Does “Intrinsic Relationship to Procreation” Mean? 12:56 What If This Teaching Feels Impossible in Your Marriage? 14:18 Following Humanae Vitae to Casti Connubii 15:20 What Does “Deliberately Frustrated” Mean? 16:57 What If Intercourse Is Painful? 18:10 You Don't Have to Finish Just Because You Started 18:46 Why Pain Is Different From Deliberately Avoiding the Marital Act 20:36 Does Something Being Good for Your Marriage Make It Morally Good? 21:55 Is the Church Really Prescribing PIV? 23:08 Pope Pius XII on the Marital Act 26:37 Is This Church Teaching Permanent? 27:56 How Catholic Couples Can Help Other Couples Live ThisTwo Become Family exists to encourage Catholics who love the Church, love each other, and still find marriage and family life harder than it's supposed to be.BOOKS, WRITING, AND RESOURCES

Send us Fan MailOrder Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with Your Spousehttps://www.avemariapress.com/products/lovemakingWhat does the Catholic Church actually mean when it teaches that sex between husband and wife must be “open to life”? Does every sexual encounter have to end in intercourse? What about couples dealing with infertility? What about pregnancy, menopause, or times when conception simply isn't possible?And is the idea that the marital act needs to remain ordered toward procreation actually Church teaching—or simply one interpretation promoted by Catholic authors and speakers?In this episode, we start following the footnotes. Rather than relying only on what Catholic marriage writers, Theology of the Body speakers, or “Catholic sex influencers” say, we go directly to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and then follow its citations into Humanae Vitae to understand what the Church means when it talks about the unitive and procreative meanings of sex.But there's another important part of this conversation. Catholic teaching on sexuality isn't meant to become a checklist that ignores the actual state of a marriage.A husband and wife can technically follow a sexual rule while still struggling with resentment, coercion, emotional disconnection, selfishness, or serious disagreements about family life.So what does faithful Catholic marital intimacy actually require?In this episode we talk about:What Catholics mean when they say sex must be “open to life”Why we use the abbreviation PIV when discussing the marital actWhether the Church actually teaches that every marital act must remain ordered toward procreationHow to distinguish Church teaching from someone's interpretation of Church teachingWhat the Catechism says in paragraph 2366Why the Church connects the unitive and procreative meanings of sexWhether infertile, pregnant, or postmenopausal couples can still be open to lifeWhat Humanae Vitae 11 says about marital intercourse when conception isn't possibleWhy Catholic teaching describes marital sexuality as noble and worthyWhy difficult circumstances require genuine pastoral accompanimentHow infertility and trying to conceive can change a couple's experience of sexWhy simply following the “rules” doesn't automatically create healthy marital intimacyChastity, self-mastery, and genuinely giving yourself to your spouseWhy lust, coercion, or using your spouse for gratification are incompatible with authentic marital intimacyWhen deeper problems in a marriage need to be addressed before sex can become truly unitiveOne of the most important distinctions in this conversation is this: Knowing what the Church teaches and knowing how to accompany a struggling couple are not competing goals.Pastoral care requires compassion for the actual circumstances of a marriage. But good pastoral care also needs something solid underneath it—a clear understanding of what the Church actually teaches.So we're going to the sources. And because this conversation turned out to be much bigger than one episode, this is only the beginning.Chapters00:00 What Does “Open to Life” Actually Mean?01:28 Is Catholic Teaching About Sex Too Legalistic?04:05 Is This Church Teaching or Just an Interpretation?05:26 What About Pregnancy, Infertility, and Menopause?06:25 Following the Footnotes08:34 What the Catechism Actually Says About Sex10:44 When Church Teaching Feels Impossible to Live13:35 Pastoral Care Cannot Change the Truth15:00 What Humanae Vitae Says About Infertile Sex16:08 Sex Should Be “Intimate and Chaste”19:26 Following the Rules Isn't Enough21:01 Lust, Coercion, and Using Your Spouse23:19 Where We Go From HereTwo Become Family exists to encourage Catholics who love the Church, love each other, and still find marriage and family life harder than it's supposed to be.BOOKS, WRITING, AND RESOURCES

Send us Fan MailSeason 5 is here—and we're starting with sex.More specifically, we're jumping into a debate happening in Catholic circles online:Are Catholic marriage speakers being more prescriptive about sex than the Catholic Church actually is?Recently, Catholic speakers such as Jackie Angel have received criticism for saying plainly that sexual intimacy between husband and wife should culminate in intercourse—what we refer to in our book Lovemaking as PIV. The criticism isn't simply that this language is too explicit.The deeper argument is: The Church never actually says that. You're adding your own interpretation to Church teaching. So… are we?In this season-opening episode, we begin working through that question by going directly to Humanae Vitae 11 and 12 and asking what the Church means when it teaches that every marital act must preserve both its unitive and procreative meanings. And we quickly discover that the disagreement isn't only about sex.It's also about how Catholics read Church documents, how doctrine gets pastorally communicated, how natural law works, and whether making a teaching easier to understand is the same thing as adding something to it.We talk about:Why Catholic social media is arguing about how married couples should have sexThe criticism directed toward Jackie Angel and other Catholic marriage speakersWhy we use the abbreviation PIV when discussing intercourseWhether talking explicitly about sex is inappropriate or actually necessaryThe difference between being explicit and being irreverentWhether saying marital intimacy should culminate in intercourse goes beyond Church teachingWhat Humanae Vitae 11 and 12 actually sayWhat the Church means by the unitive and procreative meanings of sexWhy every marital act must retain its relationship to procreationWhat natural law means in Catholic moral theologyWhy Church documents aren't always easy for ordinary Catholics to interpretThe difference between doctrine and pastoral applicationWhy some Catholics genuinely need someone to tell them plainly, “What does this actually mean?”Why social media makes pastoral accompaniment especially difficultWhy the unitive meaning of sex deserves just as much attention as the procreative meaningWhat it means for intimacy to be rightly ordered toward lifeWhy helping someone understand Church teaching isn't necessarily the same thing as adding to itHow couples' lived experiences should be acknowledged without changing moral truthOne of the biggest questions we raise is this: If Humanae Vitae says that every marital act must preserve both its unitive and procreative meanings, what exactly does that require of a married couple?Because simply repeating the words “unitive and procreative” doesn't necessarily tell a couple what to do. Some Catholics want the theological principle.Others are asking: Okay—but what does that actually look like?And sometimes pastoral care means someone has to be willing to say the difficult thing clearly. This episode begins a three-part conversation examining what the Catholic Church actually teaches about marital intimacy, being “open to life,” and whether the common Catholic understanding of the marital act can really be found in the Church's own documents.Chapters00:00 Welcome Back to Season 5 01:12 Why the Internet Is Arguing About Catholic Sex 01:24 The Controversy Over Jackie Angel's Marriage Advice 02:32 Why We Use the Term PIV 03:23 Is Talking Explicitly About Catholic Sex “Cringeworthy”? 04:15 Are Catholics Adding Rules the Church Never Taught? 05:04 What Humanae Vitae Actually Says About the Marital Act 06:26 Why Church Documents Can Be Difficult to Understand 07:35 What Natural Law Actually Means 09:24 “Each and Every Marital Act” — What Does That Mean? 10:16 Doctrine vs. Pastoral Application 11:35 Why Catholic Social Media Gets This Conversation Wrong 13:24 Why Some Couples Need Clear, Prescriptive Answers 15:09 Why Catholic Speakers Need to Say the Difficult Thing 16:01 Can Sex Be Procreative Without PIV? 17:23 What Does “Ordered Toward Life” Actually Mean? 18:32 The Unitive Meaning of Catholic Sex Matters Too 20:03 Why Some Catholics Need Someone to Just Say It 21:46 Are We Misinterpreting Humanae Vitae? 22:24 What Does “Unitive” Actually Require in Marriage? 23:39 Truth, Pastoral Care, and a Couple's Lived Experience 25:11 Where This Conversation Goes NextTwo Become Family is conversations and encouragement for your Catholic family—helping couples believe in what they are and become the family God created them to be.BOOKS, WRITING, AND RESOURCES

Send us Fan MailCan Catholics French kiss before marriage? After Elizabeth Busby's Theology of the Body Institute answer and Christian B. Wagner's response, “No, You Can't Kiss Your Girlfriend,” sparked a Catholic internet debate, Renzo and Monica enter the conversation as a married Catholic couple.Is passionate kissing always sinful outside of marriage? Is arousal the same as lust? And what does chastity actually require from dating and engaged couples who are trying to love one another well?This is a conversation about French kissing before marriage, Catholic dating, Theology of the Body, desire, chastity, and why marriage does not simply make using another person acceptable.Follow us on Instagram @twobecomefamily.Looking for some accompaniment when it comes to talk about sex with your spouse?, Check out our book and order Lovemaking: How to talk about sex with your spouseOur other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenDon't forget to visit https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Renzo and Monica pause their regular series to talk about Pope Leo's latest encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, through the lens of marriage and family life.This is not meant to be a full summary of the document. It is an invitation to read it. But as we worked through the encyclical, we kept seeing how much Pope Leo's reflections on human dignity, artificial intelligence, technology, algorithms, and the attention economy matter for Catholic families.The rebuilding of society starts in the home. The family is where a child first learns who he is, what he is worth, and what it means to be loved. That matters even more in a world where technology is forming imagination, attention, self-worth, and desire.We talk about why parents cannot afford to ignore AI, why filters and blockers are not enough, how the attention economy exploits vulnerability, and why AI can imitate care but can never actually love us.We also discuss how marriage and family life teach our children the difference between a tool and a person, between quick answers and real relationships, and between being managed by technology and being formed in love.To read the full ten points from the encyclical, visit our accompanying article on Substack.Follow us on Instagram @twobecomefamily.Looking for some accompaniment when it comes to talk about sex with your spouse?, Check out our book and order Lovemaking: How to talk about sex with your spouseOur other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenDon't forget to visit https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you go into marriage expecting your spouse to make you happy, fix your wounds, or finally give your life the meaning you've been looking for?In this episode, we talk about why your spouse was never meant to be your savior. Marriage is not just two people coexisting, splitting chores, raising kids, and trying to stay comfortable. For Catholics, marriage is a sacramental journey toward Jesus. That means romance, joy, friendship, suffering, healing, sacrifice, and grace all belong inside the story.We also talk about the “pictures” we carry into marriage, how shows like Boy Meets World shaped our expectations, why marriage can feel disappointing when our picture is wrong, and why Jesus has to be more than an add-on in marriage formation.Looking for some accompaniment when it comes to talk about sex with your spouse?, Check out our book and order Lovemaking: How to talk about sex with your spouseOur other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenDon't forget to visit https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Support the show

Send us Fan MailMarriage is no longer assumed to be the obvious next step for many young adults. For Gen Z, relationships are often measured by happiness, personal fulfillment, emotional safety, and freedom more than permanence, covenant, sacrifice, or family life.In this episode, we talk about why marriage is increasingly seen as optional, why some couples view a Church wedding as God's “stamp of approval” rather than a call to live marriage according to the Church's vision, and why traditional duty-based language often fails to connect with younger couples.The goal is not to water down what the Church teaches. The goal is to become better missionaries. If we want young adults to see marriage as good, necessary, and life-giving, we have to understand the language they are speaking and show them why God's vision of love actually leads to freedom, healing, and human flourishing.In this episode, we discuss:Why Gen Z does not always see marriage as necessary for family lifeHow career, finances, and cultural instability shape their view of commitmentWhy Church weddings can be misunderstood as a blessing of the relationship rather than a call to conversionWhy “duty,” “must,” and “ought” language does not always land with younger couplesHow the Church can speak more clearly, pastorally, and like missionaries about marriageMain takeaway: The Church does not need to abandon its vision of marriage. But we do need to learn how to translate it for a generation that often has no box to put it in.Send share this episode with a priest who walks with couples! Or share it with a young person, engaged couple, or married couple that wishes the Church gave them more guidance. We try walking with couples about sex, that's why we wrote this book to help Order Lovemaking: How to talk about sex with your spouseOur other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenDon't forget to visit https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Support the show

Send us Fan MailOn Tuesday 28 April 2026, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life will hosted a study day asking:"How can the Church form pastors capable of accompanying young people, engaged couples, and spouses so that they live Christian marriage as an authentic experience of faith in a cultural context marked by secularization? Several speakers addressed that question, including Father Andrea Bozzolo, rector of the Pontifical Salesian University."No one invited us, BUT we still wanted to add our two cents on how the Church could do a better job accompanying young people, engaged, couples, and married people.Catholic marriage is not just a beautiful idea. It is a sacrament lived through sex, sacrifice, fertility, exhaustion, money, children, resentment, forgiveness, prayer, and the daily choice to love someone who is also being slowly sanctified by God at the same time. Catholic couples need understanding and guidance, not sentimental language. If the Church wants to really accompany people, they need to shift away from, giving couples a romanticized theology of marriage because, though good and true, it ultimately leaves them feeling alone with the actual work of becoming one flesh.Send share this episode with a priest who walks with couples! Or share it with a young person, engaged couple, or married couple that wishes the Church gave them more guidance. We try walking with couples about sex, that's why we wrote this book to help Order Lovemaking: How to talk about sex with your spouseOur other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenDon't forget to visit https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Support the show

Why would the Resurrection change how Catholics talk about sex?We got into an online argument about sex, marriage, and what husbands are owed. But the more we talked, the more we realized the real disagreement was deeper than sex. It was about what marriage is, what sexual desire is, and whether how we understood the Resurrection actually changes what we believe our bodies are for.We wrote a Catholic s*x book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

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We are back! Back to conversations on the couch, and today we're talking about how unspoken expectations can become opportunities for future resentment. We share about how we've navigated speaking our minds and how we've worked through our own resentments. We're so happy you're here.We wrote a Catholic s*x book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

We are back! Sort of. Here's a quick life update from us. We will be back with a new episode next week. Please keep us in your prayers!We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

Sorry this has come so late! Our family has had to navigate a couple of things so we haven't been able to keep up. Thank you for understanding and your support!We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the showSupport the show

Parenting has a way of bringing you to the end of yourself. There are seasons where the noise, the conflict, the exhaustion, and the constant needs of your kids can make you feel like you're barely keeping your head above water. A lot of parents quietly assume that if things feel this hard, it must mean they're doing something wrong. But the truth is that family life was never meant to be carried alone.In this episode of our Lenten Series, we talk about what it looks like to ask for help when parenting becomes overwhelming. Not in theory, but in the real, messy moments that every parent eventually faces. We walk through three places parents can turn for help when things feel difficult. First, we talk about going to your spouse and learning to lean on each other instead of trying to carry everything individually. Marriage is meant to be a partnership, and parenting becomes much heavier when we stop asking our spouse to step in with us.Second, we talk about seeking help from people who are just a little further ahead of you in family life. Parents whose kids are a few years older, who have already walked through the season you're in. They don't need to be perfect parents to offer wisdom. In fact, some of the most helpful guidance comes from people who have made mistakes and learned along the way. And finally, we talk about therapy—both for parents and for children—and why reaching out for professional help can sometimes be one of the most loving and responsible things you can do for your family.If parenting has felt heavier than you expected lately, this episode is an honest conversation about why asking for help is not weakness. It's often the very thing that helps a family grow stronger.We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the showSupport the show

This is part 3 of our Lenten series, where we're walking with Catholic parents through the real struggles of family life during the season of repentance, mercy, and renewal.Parenting often feels like a daily examination of conscience. We lose our temper. We forget a commitment. We say the wrong thing, again. Many Catholic parents quietly carry guilt and shame after these moments, fearing that repeated missteps mean they are failing their children or falling short of God's call.In Missing the Mark, we explore failure, sin, and imperfection through a deeply Catholic lens. Lent reminds us that “missing the mark” is part of the human condition, but it is never the final word. Through humility, repentance, and grace, our failures become invitations to growth rather than sources of despair. If you've ever worried about being a “bad parent,” struggled with shame after losing patience, or wondered how holiness is possible in the chaos of family life, this episode is for you.We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

Why does parenting feel so overwhelming, even when we're trying to do everything right? In this episode of Two Become Family, we explore how much of our stress, guilt, and burnout as parents comes from aiming at the wrong goal. When success is measured by calm children, good behavior, or having everything under control, everyday family life can quickly feel like failure.“Changing Our Aim” invites Catholic parents to rediscover the virtue of magnanimity, the call to live with a greatness of soul that aims beyond perfectionism and control. Rather than shrinking our expectations out of fear or comparison, magnanimity helps us set our sights on the true goal of parenting: forming hearts for love, virtue, and holiness. Through the lens of Lent, we talk honestly about missing the mark, feeling discouraged, and how re-aiming our hearts allows God's grace to do the real work.This episode lays the foundation for the entire Lenten series by reframing parenting not as performance, but as participation in God's slow, faithful work of transformation in family life.In this episode, we discuss:•Catholic parenting during Lent•What magnanimity really means for parents•Why control and perfection increase parental burnout•How changing your aim reduces guilt, shame, and comparison•Raising children with faith, hope, and trust in GodSupport the show

Parenting has a way of exposing our limits. The moments we lose our temper, feel overwhelmed by the noise, or realize we don't have the patience we hoped we would can quickly turn into shame. In this episode, we begin our Lenten journey by reclaiming humility, not as self-condemnation, but as truth. Humility isn't thinking less of yourself; it's seeing yourself clearly and letting God meet you there.We talk honestly about why parenting feels so personal when we fall short, why our culture equates control with competence, and how humility frees us from the pressure to be perfect. Drawing from real parent struggles, Catholic wisdom, and lived experience, this conversation reframes failure as the starting point of grace,not the end of the story.This episode sets the foundation for the entire series: Lent doesn't ask parents to try harder, but to lower their defenses, tell the truth, and let God work in the middle of the mess.In this episode:Why feeling overwhelmed doesn't make you a bad parentHow humility opens the door to grace instead of shameWhat Lent teaches us about letting go of controlHow honest self-assessment leads to freedom, not discouragementSupport the show

Getting married is more than planning a wedding — it's preparing for a lifelong vocation.In this episode, we walk engaged couples through the conversations and habits that build a strong, lasting marriage. From finances and family expectations to conflict resolution and shared life vision, we explore the practical and spiritual foundations every couple needs before saying “I do.”We also discuss how to recognize the difference between genuine discernment and emotional attachment, how to surface hidden concerns before they become future wounds, and why praying together is one of the most powerful ways to stay aligned.In this episode we cover:• The essential pre-marriage conversations• Building a shared vision for your future• Navigating disagreements in a healthy way• Recognizing red flags early• Money, family, and expectations• Creating a meaningful prayer life togetherWhether you're newly engaged or seriously discerning marriage, this episode will help you prepare not just for a wedding day — but for a lifetime together.Support the show

Living with PCOS can feel overwhelming, confusing, and deeply isolating, especially when you're told to “just lose weight” or given unclear answers about fertility and hormones.In this video, I share the non-expert guide to living with PCOS, from personal experience, research, and walking this journey alongside my spouse.This is not medical advice, but an honest breakdown of what PCOS looks like in everyday life, how it affects marriage and fertility, and what helped us move forward.In this video, you'll learn: • My personal struggle with PCOS and the emotional toll it took • What PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is and how it shows up in daily life • How PCOS is diagnosed and why it's often missed or delayed • Why PCOS affects weight gain and weight loss differently • How PCOS impacts marriage, intimacy, and fertility • How couples can navigate PCOS together instead of letting it create distance • Why finding a NaPro / restorative reproductive doctor changed everything • What to do next if you've been diagnosed with PCOSIf you've ever wondered: • “Why is my body not responding like it should?” • “Is infertility inevitable with PCOS?” • “How do we stay united as a couple through this?” • “What happens after the diagnosis?”This video is for you.Support the show

Is marrying young too soon?In this honest conversation, we tackle the 5 core questions every couple faces before tying the knot — from emotional readiness to financial responsibilities and future growth as individuals and partners. Whether you're in a serious relationship or thinking about the future, this video helps you feel less alone in making such a big decision.

Can Natural Family Planning actually damage a marriage?Many couples quietly struggle with NFP — feeling disconnected, frustrated, or even resentful — and wonder if something is wrong with them, their marriage, or the Church's teaching.In this episode, we respond honestly and pastorally to five of the most common objections to Natural Family Planning and offer practical guidance for couples who want unity, intimacy, and peace — not pressure or guilt.In this episode, we cover:1️⃣ “Feeling that NFP doesn't really work — it's too complicated or unreliable.”2️⃣ The emotional and sexual strain caused by long abstinence periods.3️⃣ What to do when spouses disagree on when or why to use NFP.4️⃣ Is NFP basically the same as contraception?5️⃣ How to navigate marriage when one spouse struggles to accept NFP.Rather than defending NFP with theory alone, we focus on how NFP is lived inside real marriages — including communication, sacrifice, desire, resentment, and love. This conversation is especially for couples who feel exhausted by oversimplified answers and want something deeper, more human, and more faithful.If you're asking: • Why does NFP feel so hard in our marriage? • Is abstinence damaging our intimacy? • Are we using NFP for the right reasons? • How do we stay united when we disagree?— this episode is for you.We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

What does every married couple need to understand about sex—especially when conversations online say things like “men don't need sex”?In this episode, we unpack 5 essential truths about sex in marriage that are often misunderstood, oversimplified, or argued about without enough clarity. While it's true that no one needs sex to physically survive, reducing sexual intimacy to something optional—or purely personal—can quietly damage a marriage over time.We explore why sexual desire isn't just about pleasure, release, or pressure, but about desiring the spouse as a whole person. We also address the real fears many people carry into conversations about sex—fear of being used, objectified, or reduced to a body—and why those fears are sometimes justified and sometimes misplaced.Most importantly, we present a vision of marital sexuality that's bigger than both obligation and autonomy. When rightly understood, male sexual desire can reflect Christ's self-giving love and pursuit of His Church, transforming sex from a battleground into a place of unity, trust, and mutual gift.In this episode, we cover: • Why men don't need sex to survive—but marriages do need sexual intimacy • How sexual desire goes beyond pleasure and points toward the spouse as a person • Why the phrase “men don't need sex” can confuse the lived experience of male sexuality • How fear of being used or objectified shapes misunderstandings about sex • How male desire, properly ordered, can mirror Christ's love for His ChurchWe wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

In this episode, we expose 5 modern lies about sex that are quietly destroying marriages, even Christian ones. We dig into why couples experience disconnection, resentment, and confusion around intimacy, not because they don't love each other, but because they've absorbed cultural messages that distort the truth about sex, marriage, and the human person.We'll break open the myths many couples believe:• that sex is mainly about individual pleasure instead of relational meaning and self-gift• that sex is a “need” you require to feel complete or healthy• that sex is the primary or only form of intimacy in a relationship• that sex becomes optional or unnecessary in a long-term committed marriage• that sexual autonomy and personal desire should be prioritized over unity and harmonyYou'll learn why these lies lead to loneliness, emotional distance, and frustration between husbands and wives and what Scripture, Catholic tradition, and real experience reveal about the true purpose of sex: union, vulnerability, communion, and sacrificial love.If you want a richer marital intimacy, not just more frequency, this conversation will challenge the assumptions shaping your expectations. Whether you're dating, engaged, newly married, or decades into marriage, this episode will help you rediscover sex as a spiritual, emotional, and relational gift, not a commodity, pressure, or performance.We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelMusic by Andrii Poradovskyi from PixabaySupport the show

Check out the Inito Fertility Monitor and use code MON15 at check out!We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

Story of All Stories by Emily Stimpson Chapman and Word on FireWe wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

Buy Emily's book: http://stpaulcenter.co/AroundtheCatholicTable use code Monica20 for a discount!We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

What are the top 6 reasons we don't give our kids smartphones or personal devices? In today's episode we lay them out and then we give you our *new* favorite alternative!Check out the Gabb Phone 4 use code TWOBECOMEFAMILY at checkout!Read "Anxious Generation" by Jonathan HaidtRead "The Tech Exit" by Clare MorellWe wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

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We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

Who would give better advice when things aren't ideal in the bedroom? AI or a real Catholic couple? In this episode, we take on ChatGPT and see if AI can actually give good advice to couples who are struggling to connect in the bedroom. Can the authors of Lovemaking give better lovemaking advice?!We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelSupport the show

What are the best ways to resolve conflict in a marriage? Well we're still figuring that out, but we can at least judge whether or not the most popular strategies you learn in marriage prep work. What do you think? Is our list accurate?We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order  LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

In our first episode back from Summer break we talk about all the things that kept us busy this Summer. We're so happy to be back with you. Let's jump in!We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order  LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenSUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

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Send us a textIn this episode we interviewed the now co-host of Hope For Right Now podcast Laura Phelps! This was such a fun interview with our friend Laura and we hope you're blessed by the conversation. Let's jump in!We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order  LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenRead and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing, here are some ways you can support our show:  Support us on Patreon!Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

Send us a textKim Zember has a brand new podcast with EWTN called "Here I am Stories" were she interviews and shares stories of people coming to know the love of Jesus Listen hereIn this rewind we interviewed her and learned all about here story. She is a blessing to the Church and we are so happy you're able to listen. Let's jump in!_Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order  LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenRead and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing, here are some ways you can support our show:  Support us on Patreon!Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

Send us a textIn our first rewind of the summer we are sharing one of our favorite interviews with the Swaffords! It's all about heroic virtue and how virtue can change your life and your relationships. Let's jump in!Buy the Swaffords book!Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order  LOVEMAKING!  Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenRead and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing, here are some ways you can support our show:  Support us on Patreon!Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

Send us a textWelcome to part 5 of our new series Resurrected Marriage! In today's episode, we talk about how, as God's grace heals us, we need to respond by moving from maintenance to mission. What is the mission your marriage is living out? We're so happy you're here with us! Let's jump in!Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order  LOVEMAKING!  - Use code LOVE10Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenRead and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing, here are some ways you can support our show:  Support us on Patreon!Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

Send us a textWelcome to part 4 of our new series Resurrected Marriage!  Let's jump in!Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order  LOVEMAKING!  - Use code LOVE10Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenRead and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing, here are some ways you can support our show:  Support us on Patreon!Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

Send us a textIn this episode, we apologize profusely for missing yesterday's post and come to you to de-influence and share what's going on in our lives. We hope you enjoy the episode and hop over to our substack to continue the conversation!ADHD Diagnosis is Not a Label on SubstackBuy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order  LOVEMAKING!  - Use code LOVE10Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenRead and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing, here are some ways you can support our show:  Support us on Patreon!Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

Send us a textIn today's episode we sit down and chat with Mary Bruno. We are so happy you are here to join us to hear her testimony and witness! Let's jump inThe intimate experiences with suffering and joy Mary shares inspired her to write two books! You can learn more about Missing Pieces: Female Perspectives on Sex for Catholic Women and Holding Space for Joy: A Prayer Companion for Women Struggling with Infertility and read reviews through these links on Amazon. Find her at marygbruno.comBuy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order  LOVEMAKING!  - Use code LOVE10Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenRead and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing, here are some ways you can support our show:  Support us on Patreon!Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

Send us a textWelcome to part 3 of our new series Resurrected Marriage! In today's episode, specifically talk about moving from the bad fruit of lust to the good fruit of love in marriage. We're so happy you're here with us for this let's jump in!Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order  LOVEMAKING!  - Use code LOVE10Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenRead and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing, here are some ways you can support our show:  Support us on Patreon!Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show

Send us a textWelcome to part 2 of our new series Resurrected Marriage! In today's episode, we talk about how grace can allow us to move from tackling the bad fruit in our marriage to tackling the bad roots in our marriage. We're so happy you're here with us for this let's jump in!Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order  LOVEMAKING!  - Use code LOVE10Our other booksGo To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. JosephGo To Joseph For ChildrenRead and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATEThank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing, here are some ways you can support our show:  Support us on Patreon!Our ApostolateAbout UsConnect with us and send us a message on InstagramYouTube ChannelEpisode Music by Alex_MakeMusic from PixabaySupport the show