“I now am taking this kinswoman of mine, not because of lust, but with sincerity.  Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together.” Tobit 8:7   Summary Physical intimacy between spouses is a topic that is difficult to talk about, but one that is absolutely essential in Catholic circles.  You see, Satan’s plan is for people to have as much sex as possible BEFORE they are married and as little sex as possible AFTER they are married!  These lies and confusion need to be addressed in a way that is respectful but also practical for married couples.  In this podcast, we welcome Ellen Holloway of Vines in Full Bloom, a ministry dedicated to helping women and couples experience a joyful, satisfying sexual relationship within marriage. We discuss sexual pleasure, the different ways that men and women handle stress, the relationship between sex and prayer, the difference between “anticipatory” and “escalatory” foreplay,  and what to do when your libido is completely gone.  There is a wealth of valuable information for husbands and wives to hear and then discuss with each other.  Listen in and join the conversation!    Key Takeaways Part of foreplay is being aware of your spouse throughout the day and letting them know you are thinking of them.  Being joyful in marriage means you have a willingness to build intimacy through unity with your spouse.   If you have no desire for sex at all at the moment, ask yourself, “What AM I willing to do?” No one should accept zero libido as a lifestyle. That is not normal.  There are many similarities between how we view prayer and how we view sexual relations with our spouse.  We should be continually learning in both.  Our Heavenly Father made sexual relations to be pleasurable because He loves us and wants us to be happy.  Sometimes we don’t accept how overly generous our Father is!    Couple Discussion Questions Take 5-10 min daily for a week to discuss sex with each other.   How often do we discuss our sex life?  What is holding us back from having this conversation?  Do I believe sex is a sacred gift from God? Why or why not?     Resources Charting Toward Intimacy podcast www.vinesinfullbloom.com Physical Intimacy download from MFP website. https://messyfamilyproject.org/guide/physical-intimacy/