My Delight with Sarah Bartel

Sarah Bartel
  • 4.4 (28)
  • SEXUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

You are not broken!  The culture is broken. Your expectations may be skewed. But God designed your feminine sexuality to flourish in marriage if it is honored and nurtured appropriately.  This show is for Catholic women who want to know how to enjoy sex in marriage. This show helps you learn how to create a positive view of sexuality and your body in line with Catholic teaching and ALSO gain practical knowledge, tips, and scripts. If you want to know more about what it means to care for your unique, God-designed sexuality as women --so that you can thrive in your sex life in marriage and help change the culture--join in these honest, woman-centered conversations hosted by Sarah Bartel, moral theologian and Catholic sex + marriage coach. “Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure: The Creator himself ... established that in the genitive function, spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment.”  -Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2362

  1. 1D AGO

    The Five Spiritual Attacks to Expect While Fasting... with Denise Jelinek

    When we fast, we can expect a pattern of five spiritual attacks--whether the fast is from food, behaviors like scrolling, people-pleasing, or other comforts. The enemy works in our false attachments: to things, to false gods, and to false comforts. He likes to get us to put something above God in our life, and that creates disorder. Fasting restores order. It puts God back as the center of our life. Of course the enemy will pursue our soul when we do this.  Learn his tactics, learn that this is normal (you are not failing), and then learn how to gently and lovingly restore proper order after an attack.  Denise Jelinek joins Sarah to break down the play book for each of these five attacks... and shares what to do about them. They touch on authentic self-care and tie it all in to  Join Denise in fasting from the scale and finding peace with food this Lent in her beautiful and deeply transformative 63 Surrendered Program!  Ash Wednesday Sale: Get it for $1 a day (coupon code: Lent63) Join here: https://weightlosswiththeholyspirit.com/ 🌸 🌸  Join me for the free Bloom in the Desert retreat:  www.canafeast.com/desertbloom MORE RESOURCES Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.

    43 min

  2. 2D AGO

    3 Tips from the Song of Songs for Your Love Life 🌺

    It's almost Lent! Listen to the voice of the Lord speak: "I will lead her into the desert, and there I will speak to her heart." Hos 2:14 So many good Catholic married women feel like there's a desert of some kind in their love life. Maybe it's a libido desert, or a postpartum desert, or a menopause desert. Maybe it's the ache of not feeling as desired by your husband as you'd like. Maybe lovemaking just feels humdrum and routine So many different kinds of deserts! The scriptures can renew our minds and bring supernatural inspiration. In this episode, Sarah shares three lessons from the Song of Songs to help guide your love life. As she reads this scripture through the lens of a Catholic sex and marriage coach, she sees: 1. The Bride's body image is very positive! 2. Great use of words and talking between the Bridegroom and the Bride. More Catholic couples should be talking about their love life with each other and talking while making love. You have a love story. Keep telling the story! 3. Use all 5 senses. The Song of Songs uses vivid language for all five senses. How can you incorporate and highlight the sense of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing in different ways to enliven your time coming together?  Sarah shares just a few examples of ideas in this episode, but more is available in her Bloom in the Desert virtual retreat happening Feb. 18-24. It's free! Learn more from the Song of Songs to inspire your love life, do fun homework, win prizes, enjoy a safe Catholic community of sisters in Christ all committed to growing together.  Enroll here: https://canafeast.com/desertbloom 🌸 🌸  Join me for the free Bloom in the Desert retreat:  www.canafeast.com/desertbloom MORE RESOURCES Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.

    12 min

  3. FEB 4

    What is Sexual Coercion? with Jenny DuBay

    Making you feel guilty for saying "no." Wearing you down with asking over and over. You just want to get some sleep... the babies will be up at 5 am, so you just give in to get it over with. ...These are all examples of sexual coercion, which is a form of emotional abuse.  Sarah is joined by Jenny DuBay, a certified trauma-informed Catholic coach, certified deconstructing gaslighting specialist, and certified narcissistic abuse specialist to talk about sexual coercion in marriage and the importance of consent to sex in Catholic marriage. Just because you're married doesn't mean you have to be constantly sexually available.  That's not the teaching of the Catholic Church, and Jenny uses her theology degree and deep knowledge of TOB and Church teaching to dive into this topic. Listen in if you want to hear about the many different forms sexual coercion can take in Catholic marriage... and what to do about it. Get Jenny's DuBay's book Don't Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic's Guide to Recognizing and Healing from Domestic Abuse (EnRoute Books and Media, 2024) Learn more about Jenny at https://www.jennydubay.com and learn more about healthy relationships in the articles on her SubStack at: https://www.createsoulspace.org/ 🌸 🌸  Join me for the free Bloom in the Desert retreat:  www.canafeast.com/desertbloom MORE RESOURCES Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.

    41 min

  4. JAN 27

    Nutrition, Libido, and Perimenopause with Rita Johnson

    How does nutrition impact our hormones for libido and perimenopause thriving?  Sarah is joined by Catholic nutritionist Rita Johnson of the Health and Hormones podcast to chat about how what you eat can impact your libido and perimenopause hormones.  Along the way they chat about the power of dreaming, mindset shifts, and four high-protein breakfast ideas to anchor your blood sugar and set you up for a stable day... the kind of day more likely to leave with with some extra energy for intimacy at the end of it, if you want! You can find Rita at https://healthandhormones.org. Interested in the 5-day Perimenopause Workshop that Rita, Sarah, and other Catholic experts are offering Jan. 26-30? All sessions will be recorded so you can catch the replays. Walk away with a workbook full of practical strategies. https://healthandhormones.org/perimenopause-workshop  Want Rita's free handout on hormone health? https://birdsend.page/forms/9473/cDk9YT4KSn 🌸 🌸  Join me for the free Bloom in the Desert retreat:  www.canafeast.com/desertbloom MORE RESOURCES Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.

    33 min

  5. JAN 15

    🇫🇷 7 Reasons I Love France and Want to Take You There!

    Ladies, this is your invitation from Sarah to join her on a "Daughters of Grace" Women's pilgrimage to France in May 2026! It's this May 4-13th, in the footsteps of St. Thérèse, her mama St. Zélie, St. Joan of Arc ("I was born to do this!"), and of course, all guided, inspired, and devoted to Our Lady. You'll pray at Notre Dame cathedral, the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, Mont St. Michel where we'll seek the archangel's strength and protection, and culminate with a healing of hearts at Lourdes. The themes of the dignity of women, feminine genius, the theology of the body throughout  a woman's life cycle, and healing the heart of a woman will all be woven throughout the pilgrimage. Sarah shares her pivotal memory of encountering St. John Paul II at World Youth Day in Paris in 1997 in an atmosphere of joy, gathered with thousands of youth from around by the Holy Spirit.  In this episode, Sarah shares seven reasons why she loves France and wants to take you there with her.  1. The country's devotion to Our Lady 2. French saints!  3. Breathtaking cathedrals (French Gothic architecture 😍) 4. Beauty  5. Intelligence + Elegance 6. The French Language 7. The Food The pilgrimage costs $4,199 for the land-only package in which you arrange your travel to and from France, or $4,999 flying from Seattle.  More info at https://canafeast.com/france Want to go, but can't?  Pray this novena to see if a way might open up through the Little Flower's prayers! My Novena Rose Prayer O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love. O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God to grant the favors I now place with confidence in your hands . . (mention in silence here) St. Therese, help me to always believe as you did in God’s great love for me, so that I might imitate your “Little Way” each day. Amen Want to join the free online formation on the pilgrimage themes?  Sign up at: https://canafeast.com/france 🌸 🌸  Join me for the free Bloom in the Desert retreat:  www.canafeast.com/desertbloom MORE RESOURCES Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.

    30 min

  6. 12/18/2025

    What Should You Wear to Bed? 💕

    What should you wear as you climb into bed with your husband for a lovemaking night? Sarah invites you to consider: Wearing something that makes you feel good.  1. It might feel good in terms of comfort. It might feel cozy and comforting on your skin and keep you warm.  2. It might make you feel good because it looks good on you. It's your color. The cut and fit suit you and flatter you. That's another wonderful reason to wear something to bed!  3. It might make you feel good because it feels sensual, with slinky, soft fabric. 4. Maybe it feels good because you feel feminine, sexy, or confident in it. That can help you get in the right attitude for lovemaking.  Lingerie is okay. You don't have to wear it, but you can. There's nothing immoral about it, and in fact, it is quite likely that some of the lace made by St. Zélie Martin's workshop was for lingerie. If you want to wear lingerie, consider a model-free store such as  Mentionables. (Get 10% off with the affiliate link: https://www.shopmentionables.com/BARTEL) Or, consider the unique, hand-made, fair-trade pieces made by Ginger and Peach. https://www.gingerandpeachlingerie.com Another tip is to go to an upscale department store, try on some chemises and nightgowns to see what you like, and then see if you can find them for a fraction of the price on eBay. Imaginary lingerie is another great way to go! It fits perfectly, looks great on you, doesn't itch, scratch, or ride up, and it's FREE!  5. Don't do this if it's bringing you down!  Is ratty, stretched-out sleepwear dragging your energy down and making you feel frumpy and un-sexy? You deserve to feel good. If it's dragging you down, ditch it, and make an intentional choice to wear something that makes you feel good as you climb into bed to meet your husband. 🌸 🌸  Join me for the free Bloom in the Desert retreat:  www.canafeast.com/desertbloom MORE RESOURCES Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.

    12 min

  7. 12/13/2025

    Do You Need a Sex Sabbatical?🚫

    What is a sex sabbatical? How do you know if you need one? What do you do during it, and how do you change up your dynamic afterwards? In this episode, Sarah shares how a sex sabbatical can be a helpful way to reset your love life in marriage. If you're in a cycle of obligation sex, forcing yourself to have painful sex, or just feeling burnt out, used, or resentful about sex in your marriage, a sex sabbatical can be just what a wife needs. It can give her the time to reflect on how she got to this point, it can give her space to research and learn more, and it can give her time to plan out and design a better chapter going forward, after coming together with her husband again. A husband and wife can use this time to develop other areas of intimacy in their marriage that may have gotten neglected. They can work on their communication, deepen emotional intimacy, and expand their repertoire of non-sexual touch.  Resources mentioned in this episode: Mary Bruno, Missing Pieces: Female Perspectives on Sex for Catholic Women (book) Cana Feast Retreat Library (at-home Catholic date night retreats for a small dose of cemotional connection) Abundant Catholic Marriage Course (comprehensive online program for a big dose of emotional connection) Ruth Buezis, Awaken Love: The Truth about Sex That Will Transform Your Marriage (book) 🌸 🌸  Join me for the free Bloom in the Desert retreat:  www.canafeast.com/desertbloom MORE RESOURCES Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.

    22 min

  8. 12/08/2025

    Our Lady and Your Love Life

    What does the Blessed Virgin Mary have to do with your love life as a Catholic wife? Is it even appropriate to turn to her for help in this area, seeing as she is a virgin--the Virgin of virgins, in fact? Yes! She is the passionate spouse of the Holy Spirit, and you do not need to be shy of asking her help with this intimate sanctuary of your marriage.  -Mary is the perfect model of active receptivity. This concept can help you grow in your love life. Some women need to develop the "active" side of this more, and for others, perhaps it's the "receptivity" they need to work on. Meditating on what "active receptivity" means for you can be helpful. -You can ask Mary's help by praying a novena to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots for help undoing knots of shame, ignorance, wounds, and other obstacles holding you back from enjoying peace, freedom, and wholeness in your love life. -St. John Paul II was deeply devoted to Our Lady, and he is also the pope who has written and spoken most on sex and marriage. -Consider consecrating yourself to Our Lady, praying the Rosary, and approaching her for help. Her help and protection are powerful.  St. Maximilian Kolbe's Consecration to Mary (read about the preparation as well):https://militiaoftheimmaculata.com/act-of-consecration-to-mary/ St. Louis deMontfort's Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself 🌸 🌸  Join me for the free Bloom in the Desert retreat:  www.canafeast.com/desertbloom MORE RESOURCES Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.

    8 min
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4.4
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

You are not broken!  The culture is broken. Your expectations may be skewed. But God designed your feminine sexuality to flourish in marriage if it is honored and nurtured appropriately.  This show is for Catholic women who want to know how to enjoy sex in marriage. This show helps you learn how to create a positive view of sexuality and your body in line with Catholic teaching and ALSO gain practical knowledge, tips, and scripts. If you want to know more about what it means to care for your unique, God-designed sexuality as women --so that you can thrive in your sex life in marriage and help change the culture--join in these honest, woman-centered conversations hosted by Sarah Bartel, moral theologian and Catholic sex + marriage coach. “Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure: The Creator himself ... established that in the genitive function, spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment.”  -Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2362

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Bartel
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 My Delight with Sarah Bartel
  • Show Website
    My Delight with Sarah Bartel

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