Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

Every week, I am always so encouraged by our parish demographics. We have a healthy number in all categories: our wise, older Catholics, both couples who have been together many years and those who are widowed; our young men and women in undergraduate and graduate studies; our young families with little children together with families working their way through their children growing up; our newly-married, or the newly engaged waiting to be joined in the great Sacrament of Marriage; and everyone in between. As I mentioned before, our baptisms here far outpace our funerals, which is a sign of growth and God’s providential grace.

I would like to dedicate this column to our married couples and their families. Are you in love? We know that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Therefore, since the source of love is actually God, a relationship will only flourish if Love Himself is given proper place, i.e., First Place. Otherwise, we will be in various levels of emotional dependence and "like," but it will not be love in its most perfect definition. Our Lord teaches us, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (St. John 15:13)," a love stronger than death (Song of Songs 8:6). Visit www.foryourmarriage.org for helpful, current articles such as, "Help Your Marriage to Thrive," "The Truth About Divorce Statistics" (which, by the way, is enlightening), "Marriage: The Later Years," and "The Best Wedding Gift? Your Ongoing Support." There are also currently articles on "Dating & Engaged," and "Parenting & Family."

One of the surest ways to make sure a couple gets married and stays married until they die is also one of the healthiest. In our age of rediscovering natural, organically-grown foods and other products, a great many people are translating that into their lives together.

No drugs? No devices? No surgical procedures or treating a woman’s body like a chemistry set, "deceiving" it to avoid pregnancy? Helping couples to deepen conjugal love and achieve responsible parenthood is part of the Church’s total pastoral ministry to Catholic spouses.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella term for certain methods used to achieve and avoid pregnancies. Note well: we are NOT talking about the old "rhythm method." These methods are These methods are highly accurate and

based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Couples using NFP to avoid pregnancy abstain from intercourse and genital contact during the fertile phase of the woman’s cycle. It’s the way she is made, a woman’s integral dignity. NFP reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life, recognizes the value of the child, enriches the bond between husband and wife. On the other hand, contraception (e.g., "the pill" and other drugs or devices) are not only a sin against marriage, they are harmful to the marriage covenant.

As John and Jennifer Campbell discovered, "Living NFP…is a story about connections, unique and fulfilling. It involves the use of information that we then apply to the reality of everyday married life. …Unlike artificial contraception, which usually places full burden of family planning on the woman, NFP promotes shared responsibility of the fertility of both the husband and wife. It lends a spirit of togetherness to a marriage. There’s no ‘Have you taken your pill?’ That is, ‘Are you safe?’ In our marriage there’s no holding back that precious part of ourselves–our fertility. Rather than a burden to be dealt with, for us it is a blessing to be understood and respected. The complete self-giving says, ‘I love all of you.’"

John and Jennifer go on to explain, "The benefits of NFP extend beyond family planning. We’d heard that often the husband will develop a deeper respect for his wife and the gift of her fertility. In practice, we’ve found this to be true. …Unlike a couple using contraception in their marriage, sex is not always an option for two who are living NFP. That’s a good thing, contrary to what popular culture might imply. By experiencing times when we cannot engage in physical intimacy, the moments that we can are made all the more poignant and precious. …After all, consider the alternative: When a woman is on the pill or using some other kind of chemical contraceptive, she’s always available for sex. There’s no waiting, no longing, just indulging whenever you want. Nice at first, perhaps, but over time spontaneity and passion fade all the more quickly by the frequency of the intimacy. Oftentimes sexual intimacy will becomes less mutual over time in a contracepting marriage and more mandatory, and thus less rewarding for one or both spouses. …But, since NFP holds the key to our family planning, we necessarily discuss personal and intimate topics about our fertility that most couples never broach. These NFP talks are springboards to deeper discourses and more personal dialogue between us."

Read their full story at www.foryourmarriage.org

May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph lead you to be a life-giving example of God’s unselfish love to all you meet.

Father Wilson

Are you interested in learning how to strengthen your baptismal commitment and enrich your Christian way of life?

Br. Jeremiah, junior monk and seminarian from St. Vincent Archabbey and Assistant Director of Oblates, will be presenting information regarding the Oblates of St. Benedict at 9:30am, on August 8, 2010 in the Cathedral Hall.

Oblates of St. Benedict are lay persons associated with a Benedictine monastery, who commit to live their ordinary lives by the principles of the Holy Rule of St. Benedict. In particular, Oblates are called to cherish silence, to extend hospitality, and to nurture reverence for all. Please join us August 8^th for more information on how to deepen your life with Christ.

A Beautiful Photograph of the Restored Cathedral

 (by Doug Deas)