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A Husband’s Reflection on Natural Family Planning (NFP)
by Brian
In my mid to late twenties I was very interested in the Church’s teaching on artificial contraception. My interest had to do with the belief, which came from study and reflection, that contraception had done more harm to families and society than many Catholics, both clerical and lay, would ever admit.
I read and studied several papal encyclicals including "Humane Vitae" and the Church document "The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World". Both convinced me that the Church was absolutely right to oppose artificial contraception. It made me realize that if I ever got married, contraception would never be an option.
When Bobbi and I started to correspond with one another we discussed our desire to practice natural family planning. I was greatly relieved that Bobbi felt the same way as I did about contraception. However, I was somewhat ignorant about the fundamentals of NFP, how it worked and so forth. During our engagement, Bobbi started to explain to me the practical side of NFP and loaned me several books on the subject.
Through the books I read I not only received insights into the nuts and bolts of NFP but I gained a profound understanding and appreciation for Bobbi’s fertility. By seeing God’s designs built into her fertility, I immediately recognized the spiritual dimension of NFP.
On a more personal note, I have to admit that NFP is not always easy to practice. It takes patience, discipline, respect and prayer. Not to mention – and this is where the spiritual dimension of NFP comes into play – that it will help a couple fulfill their calling to be chaste and pure. This may seem strange to some, but it is most important if a couple desires to see their marriage bear spiritual fruit. For the more chaste and pure you are, the closer you will be to Jesus and Mary. And the closer you are to Jesus and Mary, the more graces you will receive to strengthen your marriage and family life.
To consider NFP as anything else but beautiful and holy is ridiculous. NFP not only helps a couple be chaste and pure within the married state, which is of immense spiritual value, but allows them to give their entire self to one another. Nothing is held back, they even share their fertility. It also teaches spouses to love each other in a way that is more than just physical, touching on the emotional and spiritual side of the relationship. In fact, NFP will help a couple find different ways to express their love, which can be very beneficial for the marriage.
If you are married and contracepting I encourage you to stop, learn about NFP and embrace it. If you are not married, but hope to get married in the future I encourage you to learn more about NFP and the Church’s teaching on marriage and family life.
Other NFP Articles
What's Wrong with Birth Control? by Bobbi
Is Birth Control Safe for A Woman's Body? by Bobbi
What Is NFP? by Bobbi