All Natural

This is going to be an unpopular blog entry. You’ll be surprised that it’ll be unpopular since I’m going to advocate going all natural. Isn’t that quite the fad these days with farmer markets booming and organic product’s prices soaring? But, I insist, what I’m going to suggest is unpopular. I know this because when my husband and I decided to go all natural, it wasn’t very popular to me at the time. Don’t get me wrong I’ve always been an advocate of… dare I say it… Natural Family Planning (NFP), but what it truly meant didn’t really sink in until, well, until we needed to practice it.

The Theory: Natural family planning is Pro Life. My good friend, Therese, a newly wed at the time was having a difficult time explaining to her husband why she wanted to use NFP. The road block was that they couldn’t get over the idea that NFP was just like artificial contraception. Their thinking was that both delayed conception… and artificial contraceptives seemed more efficient and effective to boot. These were valid assumptions. NFP does allow a couple to space births if necessary. But, it also allows a couple to predict the best times to try to conceive. As for NFP’s efficiency and effectiveness, it’s supposed to be 99% effective when done correctly. And the plus side of NFP, it’s all natural – so no weird side effects. Some women have also caught health issues in the early stages because they could tell when their natural body cycles were off.

It’s definitely Pro Health that way. But, is NFP truly Pro Life when used to space births?

When it was my turn to be married, Therese’s doubts came back in full force. I knew I had to be fully convinced because from what I did know about NFP; it entails a good amount of self-knowledge and self-mastery. I had to dig deep to understand the Catholic teaching on NFP. The Church, like a good mother, leaves it up to couples to decide how many children they will be open to.  In other words, it’s really up to each couple’s generosity and true understanding of responsible parenthood. Contrary to popular belief, providing for the material welfare of children is not the only dimension of responsible parenthood. Couples also need to be mindful of natural law and open to God’s will.

In a word, the exercise of responsible parenthood requires that husband and wife, keeping a right order of priorities, recognize their own duties toward God, themselves, their families and human society. (Humanae Vitae)

NFP is a morally right option for couples who after a lot of prayerful reflection find a grave reason to delay having children. The grave reason is usually medical but there could be other valid reasons. Talking it out with a good priest usually helps couples discern things.

In practice: NFP is Pro Life because it allows couples to space births while respecting natural law and preserving the dignity of the marital act. Let’s start a new fad that is beautiful in the eyes of God. Let’s give going all natural a chance, but first let’s consider these words from the Second Vatican Council:

Marriage and conjugal love are by their nature ordained toward the procreation and education of children. Children are really the supreme gift of marriage and contribute in the highest degree to their parents' welfare.

Is God asking you to consider being open to life?

Could you set aside some time this week to check out how NFP is practiced?