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From Easter Joy to Ascension Mission: The Married Couple as Witness
Holiness does not come from wishing for someone else’s vocation. It comes through faithfully living the one God has given you. A husband becomes holy by becoming a holy husband, and a wife becomes holy by becoming a holy wife. I recently worked with a couple in their mid-eighties whose renewed commitment to their marriage inspired even their great-grandchildren to reassess their own relationships. One faithful marriage can influence generations.
Why Porn Doesn’t Make You a Better Lover
Many people assume that watching porn will make them a better lover, but the opposite is often true. Porn is designed for visual performance, not mutual pleasure, and it trains habits that undermine real intimacy in marriage. What actually leads to satisfying, meaningful sex is not imitation, but attentiveness, connection, and love. When couples let go of porn-influenced expectations, they often discover a deeper and more fulfilling experience of intimacy. There is a better way forward, rooted in God’s design for marriage.
Why Catholics Should Stop Calling Pornography Struggles “Sex Addiction”
Many Catholics describe pornography struggles as a “sex addiction,” but that label may be misleading. The problem is real, but using the wrong term can lead to ineffective solutions. This article explains what’s actually happening and how couples can pursue real, lasting healing.
In Gratitude for Five Years of Marriage
Theo McManigal reflects on what his five years of marriage has taught him about diving more deeply into the graces Our Lord has to offer in this wonderful Sacrament.
When Anxiety Is Impacting Intimacy in Your Marriage
When anxiety is present in a marriage, intimacy often becomes one more source of pressure rather than a place of connection. Many couples fall into patterns of avoidance or tense, unfulfilling experiences that only reinforce the problem over time. This article breaks down how clinical anxiety affects sexual intimacy and offers clear, practical steps to begin changing that dynamic. You will learn how to reduce pressure, rebuild safety, and reintroduce intimacy in a way that actually works. If anxiety has been shaping your marriage, there is a path forward.
Are You Actually Discerning Marriage, or Just Dating Comfortably?
Dating can feel comfortable and enjoyable, but comfort alone does not mean a relationship is moving toward marriage. Without intentional discernment, couples can drift without clarity or direction. This article encourages dating couples to ask honest questions about their future and approach the relationship with purpose. True discernment brings clarity, not pressure, and helps couples move forward with confidence.
Is It Time to Divorce Your Wife? Read This First
Thinking about divorce? Before you make a decision that will impact your children, your finances, and your vocation, you need to understand the full cost. Divorce is not the clean escape it’s often presented to be, and it does not solve the deeper patterns that led you here. This article challenges husbands to take responsibility, lead with intention, and fight for their marriage before walking away. For Catholic men, it also addresses the reality that civil divorce does not end a valid sacramental marriage. Don’t make a permanent decision without doing the work first.
Saint Michael and the Battle Against Accusation in Marriage
This week’s feast of the Apparition of St. Michael gives married couples a clear spiritual focus: resist accusation before it settles into the home. Pope Francis warned that the devil seeks to separate us from God and from each other, and marriage is one of the places where that division can quietly grow. Harsh interpretations, repeated blame, and silent contempt can do real damage long before a major conflict appears. St. Michael reminds us to guard communion with prayer, humility, and hope in grace.
Your Wedding Night: Letting Go of the Pressure
The wedding night carries a lot of pressure, but it does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. Many couples are too exhausted, overwhelmed, or simply not ready, and that is completely normal. Whether intimacy happens that night or later, what matters is beginning your marriage with patience, generosity, and realistic expectations. Your first experience may be awkward or even uncomfortable, but this is something you will grow into together. And if you need guidance along the way, you do not have to figure it out alone.
Renowned Moral Theologian on the Do’s and Don’ts of Sexual Love Between Spouses Outside the Marital Act
Periodically, we plan on dropping excerpts from highly esteemed traditional moral theologians on questions pertaining to marital chastity and sexual morality. Many of these are taken from our Compendium which you can access here. Today’s excerpt is from Hieronymous Noldin, SJ.
A Husband’s Crash Course in Natural Family Planning (NFP)
Natural Family Planning can feel overwhelming for many husbands, especially if it only briefly came up during marriage prep. This crash course breaks down the basics, helping you understand your wife’s cycle, the main NFP methods, and what it actually means for your marriage. It also addresses the real challenges couples face, especially when timing and desire do not align. Most importantly, it invites you to step in, communicate, and lead well in this area of your relationship. If you want to go deeper, there are resources and support available to help you both navigate NFP with confidence.
The Weekly Reset: 30 Minutes That Strengthen Your Marriage
Strong marriages do not drift apart overnight, but they can slowly lose connection without intentional time together. A weekly reset offers a simple way to stay connected through a short, focused conversation each week. By prioritizing even 15 to 30 minutes of intentional check-in, couples can strengthen communication and prevent small issues from growing. This habit keeps your marriage grounded, consistent, and moving forward together.
Can Wives Orgasm Outside of Sex? Defending the Church’s Teaching
If the female orgasm is not procreative, why can’t it take place outside of sex along with other incomplete sexual acts? This article offers a robust explanation for why the Church’s teaches against this.
When Marriage Feels Stuck, Christ Still Comes Near
Across three liturgical calendars, this Sunday speaks to couples who feel spiritually or emotionally stuck. The risen Christ does not avoid places of weakness. He steps into them, asks whether we want healing, and begins to restore what has grown tired or immobile. With Saint Joseph the Worker and Saint Athanasius in view this week, married couples are invited into quiet fidelity, patient endurance, and one concrete act of healing grace.
What If It’s Been Too Long Since You’ve Had Sex?: Breaking Relational Inertia in Marriage
It’s been months, maybe even years, since you’ve had sex with your spouse. You both want it, yet nothing happens. This article uncovers the hidden force of “relational inertia” that keeps couples stuck and challenges you to make a simple but powerful choice. If you’re tired of waiting for the perfect moment, it’s time to break the cycle and start rebuilding intimacy.
Good Isn’t the Goal: Why Your Marriage Needs Intentional Growth
Many marriages settle into a place that feels “good,” but good is not the goal. Without intentional effort, even stable relationships can slowly drift into complacency. Growth in marriage does not require major changes, just small, consistent choices to prioritize connection and pursuit. This article invites couples to move from autopilot to intentional love, building something deeper over time.
How to Have a Happy Catholic Wedding Day (Without Losing Your Marriage Before It Starts)
Wedding planning should bring you closer together, not pull you apart. Yet many couples enter marriage exhausted, divided, and burdened by expectations that have nothing to do with the sacrament. This guide challenges the cultural norms surrounding weddings and refocuses you on what actually matters: your vows, your unity, and the foundation of your married life. If you want a peaceful, meaningful wedding day, it starts by making intentional choices now. Your marriage is the goal, not the performance.
When Is the Right Time to Get Married? (Stop Waiting for Certainty)
How do you know when it’s the right time to get married? The answer is simpler and harder than you think: you won’t have perfect certainty before you decide. Many couples today get stuck in years of dating or cohabitation, mistaking comfort for discernment. This article challenges you to stop waiting, recognize the cost of staying stuck, and use a clear framework to decide whether it’s time to marry or move on.
Our First In-Person Talk and What Comes Next
This past week, Theo gave our first in-person talk for the Apostolate for Marital Intimacy, focusing on emotional intimacy and communication in marriage. The response made one thing clear: couples are looking for practical, faithful guidance they can actually use. We are now opening the door for parishes and ministries to host in-person or virtual events. Join us tonight at 7 PM CDT for our live Q&A on YouTube, where we will also be giving away a copy of Love and Responsibility. We are also just under $400 from our monthly goal, and your support helps us continue this work.
Healing from Chastity Culture in Marriage
You did everything right… so why does intimacy still feel so difficult? Many couples carry hidden messages from chastity culture into marriage, where fear, guilt, and confusion around sex don’t simply disappear after the wedding. If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile “sex is bad” with “sex is holy,” you’re not alone. The good news is that healthy, joyful intimacy can be learned. Here’s how to begin moving from fear to freedom in your marriage.