Today, July 25, 2012, marks the 44th anniversary of the encyclical Humanae Vitae. When you read it, you can't miss that it's hardly an antiquated document put out by "a bunch of celibate old men."
It's fairly brief, and very clear. It acknowledges that sexual self-mastery is oftentimes a work in progress. Likewise, its author Pope Paul VI advises pastors to be understanding and kind, and he offers Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist as constant helps towards sexual self-mastery.
Like a parent who warns children about the dangers of using light-giving fire wrongly or without proper instruction, God, through his Church, warns His children about the danger of misusing the life-giving gift of sexuality. Like the child who has to try it "my way," we have done the same over these past forty plus years. And we have been burned.
In truth, Humanae Vitae is a love letter from God to His children. Read it, and pass it on!
It's fairly brief, and very clear. It acknowledges that sexual self-mastery is oftentimes a work in progress. Likewise, its author Pope Paul VI advises pastors to be understanding and kind, and he offers Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist as constant helps towards sexual self-mastery.
Like a parent who warns children about the dangers of using light-giving fire wrongly or without proper instruction, God, through his Church, warns His children about the danger of misusing the life-giving gift of sexuality. Like the child who has to try it "my way," we have done the same over these past forty plus years. And we have been burned.
In truth, Humanae Vitae is a love letter from God to His children. Read it, and pass it on!
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