Helping married couples to deepen conjugal love and achieve responsible parenthood is part of the Church’s total pastoral ministry to Catholic spouses. Fulfillment of this ministry includes both education and pastoral care. This means “instilling conviction and offering practical help to those who wish to live out their parenthood in a truly responsible way” (Familiaris Consortio, 35).
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the Church’s approved method for married couples to achieve responsible parenthood by cooperating with God’s design for human fertility, allowing them to space births without violating the unitive and procreative meanings of the marital act. Unlike contraception, which artificially suppresses or alters fertility and thus removes the openness to conception, NFP respects the natural cycles of a woman’s fertility, enabling couples to abstain during fertile periods while remaining open to life.
The purpose of NFP extends beyond mere birth regulation to a holistic formation in Christian marriage, promoting generosity toward children while acknowledging human limitations through grace-filled discernment. Popes have emphasized that NFP programs must recognize God’s plan for marriage, viewing children as living witnesses to spousal love rather than burdens. For this reason, we approach the topic from a perspective of openness rather than a contraceptive mentality.
Help Planning your Family
- Resources and programs in the Diocese of Rochester: https://www.dor.org/content/natural-family-planning/
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ resources: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/
- The Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System (CrMS) empowers couples to truly understand their menstrual and fertility cycles in order to make knowledgeable decisions about achieving and avoiding pregnancy and to monitor gynecologic and reproductive health. For more information visit http://fertilitycarerochester.weebly.com/
- Couple to Couple League – (CCL) is an international, Catholic, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and teaching fertility awareness (natural family planning) to married and engaged couples. Couple-to-Couple League: www.ccli.org Liga de Pareja-a-Pareja: ligadepareja.org
- Springs in the Desert Support for those struggling with infertility by offering a place of respite and solidarity where they can know God’s love for them and discover His unique call to fruitfulness. Virtual and in-person retreats, virtual book club, small groups, as well as a prayer and reflection series are available.