Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a great gift, helping us to understand the beauty of God’s creation and the intricacies of the human person. NFP is not mere ‘Catholic Contraception,’ but a wholistic way of caring for a woman’s health and cooperating with God’s design and plan for sex. NFP can help remove the veil and mystery of the female body and foster an understanding and appreciation of women as designed by God. NFP does not see fertility as a problem to be solved or avoided, but as a gift to be received and cherished. While critics may say that it is too difficult to learn and be effective, it can be learned and practiced at a young age and can help diagnose underlying health conditions that may otherwise be overlooked or exacerbated by use of “the pill” (pharmaceutical birth control). NFP offers something for men and women: self-mastery, a deeper understanding of the human person and God’s plan for sexual intimacy
“Love Beyond Measure, Natural Family Planning, Supporting God’s gifts of love and life in marriage” is the theme of this year’s national Natural Family Planning Awareness Week July 21–27, 2024.
Natural Family Planning Awareness Week is a national educational campaign sponsored by the USCCB to build awareness of all aspects of responsible parenthood and fertility-based awareness methods of family planning that uphold Catholic values and protect the dignity of marriage and family according to God’s design. Individual dioceses offer a variety of educational formats in the local Church to focus attention on Natural Family Planning methods and Church teachings which support their use in marriage.
“Natural Family Planning is a great gift, helping us to understand the beauty of God’s creation and the intricacies of the human person. NFP is not mere ‘Catholic Contraception,’ but a wholistic way of caring for a woman’s health and cooperating with God’s design and plan,” Nicholas Petrillo, diocesan associate director of marriage ministries and NFP said.
These dates highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae vitae (July 25) which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, marriage, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother.
The Catholic Church invites all the faithful to embrace God’s plan for married love. Learn more about these beautiful teachings which support the use of NFP in marriage at usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning/church-teaching.
Additional resources are available from Department of Evangelization and Family Life and can be found here: https://dioceseoftrenton.org/natural-family-planning. Email Nicholas Petrillo, npetrillo@dioceseoftrenton.org for more information.