My parents practiced natural family planning. When I was a teenager they joined the Couple to Couple League. Part of their training was to teach the process. It was then that they discovered they were doing it backwards. I am the ninth of 13 children.
I'm about to get married soon and my fiancee and I started learning NFP. I know that this is sometimes hardly understood topic and at the end people tends to misunderstand contraception vs family planning but the main message is to be open to life! is not thinking about not having children but is looking the best time to look for them with God in the first line of the marriage. Thanks for sharing! keep making this videos! The world needs more saint families.
Good video! A few things I would like to add (as a husband in an NFP using marriage): 1. Regarding people claiming NFP being the same as contraception: it’s helpful to think of NFP as inaction - it being an abstaining from sex during fertile times (inaction) vs. using contraception. I think a helpful comparison is losing weight by skipping a meal (inaction) vs. eating whatever you want and then throwing it up - the end result may be the same, but they are fundamentally different things. Another helpful thing to think of is an unmarried couple practicing abstinence is not the same as an unmarried couple who is having contracepted sex - the same thing applies within marriage. 2. One point I want to push back against is claiming that divorce rates are very low BECAUSE of using NFP (though the open communication is a plus, and I’m sure helps), rather, I think it more likely linked to the fact that if the couple accepts the church’s teaching on NFP, they also accept the church’s teaching on not getting divorced! 3. One thing you didn't really touch on is WHY contraception is a sin - but honestly, this is a much larger topic than a 10-minute video or short comment can cover - the church's primary teaching on the subject is Theology of the Body (768 pages long!) - I suggest starting with Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West (a mere 168 pages). It really takes a mindset shift, particularly in a post-modern world where "reality is what you make it, what it feels like to you, your own personal truth" (etc.) - to a mindset that things actually have a real concrete nature and purpose.
@Jose Catt bro, nfp does not frustrate the natural power. If anything it allows one to become more aware of the fertile periods in order TO fulfill the creation of life. You’re confusing the popes message with the idea that people are abusing nfp. Yes there is a time where nfp can be abused. Ex: newly weds bought a new house and are both working jobs to support house, cars and loans they are paying. Maybe in their first year of marriage it is wise to not bring life into the world just yet without being able to support their own lives. Say after a year or two, they have managed to make a sizeable dent In their loans and managed to save up a good amount in order to support a child, then the cycles they have learned from nfp can be utilized to the highest potential of bringing new life. If however, they were to continue all their lives leading up to menopause without conceiving and utilizing their bodies only for sexual gratification and not for bringing new life, then yes they would not be utilizing nfp for its intended purpose. Each use of NFP is on a case by case basis. Some use it to space their births, others use it to fine the prime optimal moment where conception is possible. However, by utilizing it during the times where conception is least possible, it does not intrinsically mean you are against having children. You could also be post partum and in order to protect the wife/mom, nfp can be utilized (after taking the proper amount of time to allow the mother to heal) in a loving way to still perform the marital act, and not risk another pregnancy so soon for fear of possible damage to the mothers womb/cervix/Perineum due to risk of tearing during childbirth. Please truly understand the meanings of certain statements made by popes. Especially for newly weds who may have financial concerns, nfp offers the opportunity to understand the cycle of a woman and when it is possible to conceive in order to avoid it for the time being and still give one another in holy matrimony.
I have never heard of this being practiced!!! What a beautiful thing, I am actually Protestant and haven’t really asked questions about this and I’m my church I don’t recall it ever being discussed. But I love that. I am a young woman and previously thought when I get married, if need be, I wanted to wait to have a baby until me and this future husband were financially stable and would have to use contraception. This is so much better and more beautiful and free under God’s will. But I like what y’all preach about changing your mindset to being open to God and what he wants, and that it is really selfish when I try to control the miracles of his hand in any aspect of my life! Thanks guys so much it’s is always good to listen to you guys and be reminded of who I am in Christ and what he wants for me.
Great! I’m not even married and already conscious about my menstrual cycles and hormone levels but never been teached about it. I’ve researched this by myself and God has lead me.
Dear Ascension Presents: Could you consider doing a series on saints and how their messages/experiences apply to us today? It would be especially helpful if it was in a format that parents can transfer to their children. It would be helpful to keep that information In front of us so that we can relate to our children when teaching life lessons, instead of relying only on current events. Thank you!
Would this work for one who no longer has Fertile mucus or periods? Thank you so much for your video :) you and you husband have such a wonderful way to explain and encourage NFP. I used Billings ovulation for 18 yrs successfully but after I took progesterone to save a possible miscarriage my hormones went crazy 😞 I lost my fertile mucus so it became nearly impossible. I appreciate any advice anyone can provide. God bless you all 💐
My husband and I used NFP. I’m post-menopausal now, so obviously, we aren’t still using it. I agree that it is hard. But we had an issue that was never really addressed. I have Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. My estrogen levels tended to run high and for too long and my progesterone was not enough. So the first six months of our marriage, when we were trying to avoid pregnancy, we almost couldn’t have sex at all because my cervical mucus was indicating fertility for three weeks out of the month. I know that I wasn’t really fertile for three weeks out of the month, but if we went by cervical mucus, we had to assume that it was possible pretty much anytime. I wonder if there are other women who have this issue. After the first six months, we wanted a baby, so we never had to avoid sex, which is kind of awesome except that we wanted kids and were never able to have any, which wasn’t so great. The temperature charting basically told me why I wasn’t getting pregnant. IF I ovulated, which did not happen every month, my temperature would dip and then go up like it was supposed to, indicating that progesterone was being produced. Temperature is supposed to stay up for 7-10 days. Mine only stayed up for 3-5 days, indicating that my body stopped producing progesterone too soon. We conceived on our honeymoon, which was not planned. I did a home pregnancy test when we got home and it was positive. My temperature charting indicated that I had ovulated. The next day, my period started. By the time I got to the doctor, the pregnancy test was negative. So I had a very early miscarriage. Most likely, I had conceived, but the zygote never implanted in my uterine lining. A few years later we were still trying to get pregnant. My period had started. I was at work. I went to the bathroom and when I wiped, along with the blood that was on the toilet paper was a tiny pink piece of tissue. One of my cousins is a nurse and used NFP and she told me that if I ever saw a piece of pink or gray tissue in my period blood, that that was a very early miscarriage. She had experienced this several times. So I conceived again without realizing it, but had a very early miscarriage again. This could’ve happened more times than I know about. And we never did end up having kids other than those very early miscarriages. We did fertility treatments up to a point that we thought was reasonable. Nothing worked. It came to a point where it was going to be financially and emotionally draining, so we stopped. After that, we didn’t actively try to get pregnant anymore, but we didn’t do anything to avoid pregnancy, either We ended up with five godchildren. I was a substitute teacher for two years for elementary grades, and I was a full time teacher for six years for grades K-2. I also volunteered with my church’s religious education program one year as a teacher’s aide for 5th grade and two years as a teacher for 4th grade. My husband was one of the parking lot assistants during that time. I was adopted as a baby. I ended up finding my birth family and now I have two great-nieces and seven great-nephews. Right now, they range in age from infant-14. So God has blessed us with children. Just other people’s children, not our own.
Bless you! You have found more than you could have imagined🙏 it hurts me when people do abortions because i alway think of those who parents with no babies 😔
lindavirus Me too. There are thousands of people on adoption waiting lists. They have to wait a long time and it is horribly expensive. I don’t know how much it is now, but 15 years ago, it was $25,000 to adopt a healthy infant. It was somewhat less if you adopted a black baby or a baby with a serious medical condition. We couldn’t afford the fee and we couldn’t take out a loan because there wasn’t room in our budget to make the loan payment along with the added expenses of raising a child. But it’s ok. God just had other plans for us. My favorite Garth Brooks song is Unanswered Prayers. Part of the lyrics go, “Remember when you’re talking to the Man upstairs that just because He may not answer doesn’t mean He don’t care. Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” I was adopted. I was also conceived in rape. I am the poster child for the “why you don’t abort a baby just because it was conceived in rape” club. My life has just as much value as anyone else’s. I’ve accomplished things with my life. I’ve made a positive impact on many others during my life. My birthmother loved me and wanted to raise me, but she couldn’t due to her circumstances at the time, so she made the sacrifice to place me for adoption. She gave me the greatest gift - life. And she gave my adoptive parents the gift of having a child to love and raise. I was loved by my birthmother, by the rest of my birth family, by my foster family, and by my adoptive parents and both sides of the family. I have truly been blessed.
cmmahoney21 thank you for sharing your story! I’m a woman with PCOS who is slowly coming to terms with the possibility of never being fertile. It helps to know I’m not alone, and that God has blessings for our lives beyond children.
nachtegael W - Actually, most women with PCOS do manage to have children. Almost everyone I know who has PCOS has kids. Except me and a couple others. If you have the health insurance and/or money to cover treatments, there are some things you can try. If you’re overweight, losing weight might help. Also a low carb diet. My doctor called it “no wheats, no sweets”. Taking the drug Metformin can help. It’s a diabetes drug, but it can lower your insulin resistance and somehow that can help your fertility. You can also take fertility drugs. I took Clomid. It’s supposed to make you ovulate. I took it for the maximum amount of time at the highest dose and it didn’t work at all for me. One of my high school friends who has PCOS had her ovaries drilled. Somehow, drilling holes in the ovaries is supposed to help with ovulation. It worked for her. She has two kids. I thought about that, but didn’t do it. There is also an injectable fertility drug that is stronger than Clomid. But you have to be careful because it can make you release too many eggs so there’s a risk for multiples. What they do is you take the shots and then you go to the fertility doctor and they do a sonogram to see how many follicles you have. If you have one or two, they inject another drug to make the ovaries release the eggs. If you have too many, they don’t give you the second drug. I think you can do this up to six times, but not more than that. It’s very expensive. I didn’t do it because it was too stressful. The fertility clinic was over 25 miles from my house through heavy traffic. I had a stressful job and didn’t want any more stress in my life. I couldn’t quit my job because we needed the income. And there was no guarantee. I could’ve gone through six cycles with the drug, which would cost $24,000, and still have no baby. If I’d had $24,000 to spend, we would’ve adopted. At least that way we would’ve ended up with a baby. But we couldn’t afford it. One other option is to adopt an embryo. People who do IVF usually have embryos left over. Sometimes people will allow their unused embryos to be adopted rather than destroyed. The doctor just implants the embryo and it’s supposed to develop normally. So you’ll be pregnant and give birth, but it won’t be your biological child. Just know that, even if you’re never able to have a baby, you’ll be ok. There are benefits to being child-free. And there are ways you can interact with other people’s children. I was a schoolteacher for eight years, two as a sub and six as a full time teacher. I loved it. I’m disabled now, so I can’t work. We used to take 2 of our 5 godchildren on outings a lot. I have 2 great-nieces and 7 great-nephews. We take the oldest three on outings. We’ve taken them on week-long trips a couple of times. We babysit or have sleepovers at our house. It’s fun for all of us. I know it’s hard, but one of two things will happen. You’ll either have or adopt a baby or you’ll be child-free and you’ll eventually get to a point, maybe in your 40’s, where you’ll stop wanting to have kids because you’ll realize that you’re too old for all that.
Glad that you talked about NFP, but I think it would have been better to accompany it with a more thorough discussion on what it means to "... be fruitful and multiply ...", particularly the *_fruitful_* part, because I think some people are very hardcore on the *_multiply_* part while either neglecting the *_fruitful_* part or perhaps sometimes misunderstanding it. For example, I've seen a comment on how using NFP to avoid having babies "is evil" ... one lady also commented on how she will have 40 babies because she loves babies and pretty much the sole purpose of marriage is to have babies. Although she is probably exaggerating and I love her very prolife stance, how true is that, and how fruitful / effective would it be to really do that (or similar)? I mean, she and her husband would have to be both super-rich *and* have tonnes of time and resources to give to all their children in order for that situation to be fruitful / effective (or else God Himself would have to intervene -- which, of course, He could ...). That's *A LOT* of relationships to manage and _relationships are _*_hard!!!_* ...
“Every new born child brings a loaf of bread under his arms” says an old saying. Meaning, you do not have to be super rich to have many children. That is one of the misconceptions, being open to life does not equal to have many children. It means to be open to whatever number of children GOD WANTS. If you are open to life and God gives you many children, he will provide.
@@CesarFCabrera Thank you, worthy of consideration, something to discern. One other point of consideration though is that, although God may (or may not) provide the money needed to support a large family, we are always going to be limited by time -- especially quality time.
Rob Onymous God provides, end of story. He will never give you a child without providing the means to sustain that child. He also provides the time. I know families with 18 children (same dad and mom) and they are fine kids, normal kids. We have a misconception in our society that think the least children you have the more you can provide for them. It is a temptation to think that way but it is not necessarily the case and is not the mentality of someone who believes in Divine Providence. Again the point is, what is the will of God? As a couple, are they using NFP for SERIOUS reasons ( for example, health, war, extreme poverty etc) or for worldly reasons (Bigger savings fund, career, more time for already existing child, vain material goals, etc) Thats where prayer and discernment comes in. If my parents would have calculated how many children to have based on their finances and time, based on the world standards, at least two of my sisters would never have been born. We live in a very materialistic society, and we risk to live marriage and NFP according to how society sees life. We are call to live a supernatural life, looking at heaven, trusting in God. With discernment and prayer, and daily struggles, it is possible
@@CesarFCabrera Sorry, but I'm calling your bluff there. Nice words, but unrealistic and impractical. God provides, but according to His Perfect Will. We are human and imperfect. Even if and when "God provides", we fail and are limited in and by our very nature. Not every one of us is called to have a gazillion kids. I know families who only had one kid and that kid grew up to be messed up, and the same for big families. It's also one of the reasons why the Catholic Church does not allow married men to be priests. There's just no way a man could be a good father to all his spiritual and biological children (and a good husband to his one wife). PERIOD.
Do not 'teach' this form of birth control or promote it especially to your children as using NFP is a serious and mortal sin of lust each time it is used. The primary and most important reason to have the marital embrace is for conceiving and having a children. By using NFP or any contraception, you are telling God that your putting your own will over His Supreme and Most Wise Will.
I love this, we’ve been married 30 years and had not used contraception. My uncle was my baby doctor. He delivered me and my first baby. He was a great doctor who from the beginning of my needing an o gynecologist explained everything. I was very blessed to have him in my life. We need more people like the two of you letting people know they do not need contraception. Thank you for your boldness. Love you
The vast majority of couples in fact do use some form of family planning. In communities that prohibit birth control....think Amish.....they have an average of eight to nine children. I don't think we can assume that this is a solid plan for families .
1 Corinthians 7:5 [5]You must not deprive each other, except by mutual consent for a limited time, to leave yourselves free for prayer, and to come together again afterwards; otherwise Satan may take advantage of any lack of self-control to put you to the test.
I think the big point that is being glossed over in this video is the fact you must have grave matter to use nfp. Wanting to space kids apart isnt grave matter. Physical reasons of the mothers life is in jeopardy to have more kids, economic issues of debt or unable to afford another child but not using an excuse of well I want to go on vacation every year or have the newest smart phone, and lastly social disorders of having to raise a child in concentration camps or something horrendous as that. If I were using nfp I would be rethinking why and making sure there isnt an underlying lie I've told myself that has me on it. The catholic church does approve of nfp but only for grave reasons not just because people dont want kids.
I had my first period when I was 12 and experienced terrible symptoms of all sorts until the age of 15. I found an amazing NAPRO/NFP family doctor who discovered that I had low progesterone and ever since then have been taking it in order to increase my levels. I have never been healthier and my symptoms have decreased remarkably. Any other doctor would have put me on the pill instantly but thankfully I had her. Now, my risks for miscarriage are so much lower and I am better than ever. Do the research! Don't slap a bandaid on a potential health issue.
Everyone freaking out in the comments about NFP only being used as “Catholic birth control” need to calm down. I’m a newlywed and NFP has brought me and my husband SO much closer. We are using NFP to “avoid” pregnancy for now because my husband is looking for a job and we want to bring children into our home only when we can financially take care of them, but we are open to the possibility of conceiving! That’s the whole point. AND as soon as we have a stable income, we are going to use NFP in order to conceive! It works both ways! Women are only fertile just a couple days per month, and NFP helps you know the best day to conceive.
Did it ever occur to you to give God a chance to be God and that if you open yourself to new life HE will arrange all your temporal affairs? This is a form of tithing… when you give your lives fully to God and His ETERNAL designs for marriage, HE is never outdone in generosity and prepares everything you need for your future. STOP playing God and pretending you're doing your unconceived children a favor... the children who will never be born and who will never see God for all eternity because you just don't want them now.
@@avecrux333 Yes, I'm completely open to God planning my family, and I know He will take care of us if we do get pregnant. That's literally why I'm using NFP and not the pill or condoms. We aren't cutting off the possibility to life at all. I'm tracking my cycle and knowing what's going on with my body. I know which days will be the most successful for conceiving because of NFP. I don't regret having a method that recognizes God's design of my body. I feel like I understand God more by understanding my fertility. ❤️
@@RachelHS825 Except the Church taught for thousands of years - for good reason - that having regular recourse to periods of infertility in the hopes of avoiding pregnancy is only permitted in cases of *grave* necessity. Now we have Catholic couples everywhere who have jobs and homes and food on the table treating slim budgets (not foreclosure and bankruptcy) as "grave" necessity, when theirs are merely circumstances which God can immediately change for the better - FOR US! - if/when we step out and accept His plan for marriage, which NEVER included NFP for thousands and thousands of years…until modern man's self appointed God-like authority over procreation, and who will get to exist for all eternity and who will not.
@@avecrux333 Haha ok, well I still love NFP and will keep tracking my fertility because it brings me and my husband closer to each other and closer to God. Here's a great short article about why NFP isn't anything like contraception at all: ccli.org/2017/07/contraception-vs-nfp-whats-the-difference/?fbclid=IwAR3owjcinPnXdUp-DBSJeD6C6w1XrK2I5hY_ulcvwKAZ1jMeShG5TDu_ACk
@@RachelHS825 nah ignore the weird comments. Using nfp to avoid pregnancies is fine, as long as the reason is deemed grave enough by the couple. Not a priest or whatever. People in the comments are so eager to insert themselves in our bedrooms.
Nicely said, Jacqui cracks me up with her excitement to respond and amazing personality. Thanks for sharing this necessary knowledge on NFP with us. God bless you all ascension team 💖💖💖. 💖💖💖
One thing to note: Saying that NFP can only be used in rare situations according to the Church is incorrect, as NFP is used not only to avoid pregnancy (while still leaving room for the less-expected) AND to achieve pregnancy.
Yes! There are so many couples that have had to struggle with infertility. I have a cousin that married when she was twenty years old. She struggled with infertility all her life. She had two miscarriages.
@@thethreefriends3002 then a condom is not a contraceptive because can be used to impermeabilize the muzzle of a gun. your argument is so ridiculous , it´s really absurd.
Geeze, I'm shocked at how much heat they are catching in the comments! This method (their particular one, Creighton), is a gift! Life is busy, life is crazy, and God gave us a way to have as many babies as He wishes for us.
I am for NFP, but using it with a right reason. It can be also sinful, so not everyone (in every situation) is allowed to use it. Can you talk also about it? And why are you two using it?
Exactly. It can only be used in RARE circumstances which is what the church OFFICIALLY TEACHES. But they are acting like it's just a free for all and you can use NFP for any reason at any time to avoid children. The church never has and never will teach that.
Do you have recommendations for recourses for young girls about to hit the puberty stage to learn about charting, TOB, etc in a good way that’s age appropriate or even for parents as a guide to these conversations? NFP was never explained to me by my parents, who don’t agree with it, and I’ve 2 daughters whom I hope to raise with the awareness of our bodies.
@Bethany Lockhart That book rocks! I think they should send it home in your goody bag from the hospital if you have a girl :) She should start reading it as soon as she can read!
I've been on the pill for almost 3 years and for sure it's not ideal but it has its ups, like controlling my acne and having short, light periods. But man, I CANNOT lose weight on this stuff and it makes me moody and depressed. Going to be going off it within a few months and I have a lot of mixed feelings but it's my choice.
I think it would just be better to go unplanned. That way, you are neither avoiding having children or directly seeking them out. You are %100 percent open to the chance of having children. Yes, it might make it harder when you are seeking to have children, but you know for a fact that you aren't avoiding it.
@Pixi Also with all due respect, even while using nfp there is a chance that you will have children. Yes, the chance is smaller, but it is still there, so it's really not that much less foolish. If a couple cannot support a child, they really shouldn't be having sex at all.
@EJ Everlast With all due respect, I think in order to be a real man you should be able to abstain from having children until you are able to support them. Also, I don't think putting an age on it is helpful to everyone. Some people are mature by 17, others can reach 70 and still not be ready.
What if I were to tell you that at first St. Augustine the Doctor of Doctors of the Church originally supported NFP between married couples using a calendar system which was also done by the Manicheans. But latter on St. Augustine condemned the practice being that it still removes God from the equation in which married couples are suppose to be open to life at all time during the sexual act which shouldn't be withheld during specific days of the month. Much latter on NFP was deemed acceptable by the Church during the Second Vatican Council over the issue of financial hardships of married couples. But in reality it was about population control.
Question for next week: what is about women who work night shift or use medication which messes up nfp? I heard from a girl that you have to have a regular sleep ryhtm for it to be accurate.
For taking your temp in the morning, it can possibly mess it up. However, you really need only four hours of uninterrupted sleep to get an accurate reading. However, checking your cervical mucus isn't likely to be changed by sleep or lack thereof. Also peeing on the ovulation strips could work for you. I suggest doing some more research :)
In fact night shift does not mess up NFP because it only needs 4 hours of sleep to measure the temperature and in combination with cheking mucus and if you want to hormones with ovulation stripes you can really be a 99,89% sure
No, it isn't. This is really awesome. In actuality every woman has her own cycle. So charting helps understanding YOUR cycle. Let's say, it's "customized" to each woman. The rhythm was a first attempt to understand women cycle. But now we now some of use have long cycle, others short, and every one is different, even in the same family. :D
Check out Tempdrop with the sympto-thermal method! This is a thermometer that you wear, so it can help track your cycle when you're sleeping (so if you have irregular sleep, up with a baby, drink water, etc. can help be paired with tracking mucus). Hope this helps :) www.temp-drop.com/
Good job guys. Simcha Fisher has a good book on NFP. Covers church teaching, challenges, a call on to be more loving and surrendered to God even though nfp is hard.
Thank you for this Video, and making one about the negatives of NFP. I Will say, the comment section is abhorrently prideful, and quite disgusting, some repeat commenters are the saddest samples of pride. No one, none of these negative accusers are personally living and experiencing the psychological, Mental, financial, nor personal lives of those [happily] using NFP. For those normal people looking to learn about NFP, don't be discouraged by radicals, and enjoy the video. Prayerful discernment, and YOUR spiritual directors' advice is all you need 😊 no one here matters honestly, and remember as Fr Alar says, "If the church says its Ok, Heaven says its Ok"
I would like to practice NFP, if only to give my future husband and I time to adjust a bit to married life, and in consideration of our mental health at the time.
Also, I do think they had some form of NFP 100 plus years ago. You know in the Bible the way a young woman's nurse would go in and find out if the woman was fertile to conceive with her husband and would then tell her husband. I should look more into that.
This makes no sense. Using a condom is using a piece of plastic to prevent pregnancy, and NFP is using timing of a woman’s cycle to prevent pregnancy. But the heart and intention of both methods is the exact same: to prevent pregnancy.
The fundamental difference is NFP is inaction. A helpful comparison is losing weight by skipping a meal (inaction) vs. eating whatever you want and then throwing it up - the end result may be the same, but they are fundamentally different things. Another helpful thing to think of is an unmarried couple practicing abstinence is not the same as an unmarried couple who is having contracepted sex - the same thing applies within marriage.
@@dutchmansmine9053 Hi. I'm not sure if I understand your question, and I think the wording comes from a contraceptive culture/mindset, particularly the phrase "decide to have kids". By using NFP, EVERY time the married couple has sex they are open to the possibility of kids (even if the possibility is low, i.e. during times that are likely to be infertile) - the only "decision" is the one to increase the possibility of kids (during times that are likely to be fertile). NFP really requires a mindset shift.
Mike Pouch but if practiced correctly, the NFP method actually provides a lower chance of pregnancy (meaning it is actually more effective birth control) than using a condom. So a couple using condoms could still have the same mindset in that they could be “open” to having a child if their birth control method fails. That’s the exact same as being open to children if NFP fails. It could even be said that couples using condoms are actually more open to having children because the risk of pregnancy is actually greater than that of NFP.
For everyone concerned with the thought that observing your cycle is a form of contraception, here is an excerpt from Familiaris Consortio not discussed at length in the video: When couples, by means of recourse to contraception, separate these two meanings that God the Creator has inscribed in the being of man and woman and in the dynamism of their sexual communion, they act as "arbiters" of the divine plan and they "manipulate" and degrade human sexuality-and with it themselves and their married partner-by altering its value of "total" self-giving. Thus the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality. When, instead, by means of recourse to periods of infertility, the couple respect the inseparable connection between the unitive and procreative meanings of human sexuality, they are acting as "ministers" of God's plan and they "benefit from" their sexuality according to the original dynamism of "total" selfgiving, without manipulation or alteration.[90] In the light of the experience of many couples and of the data provided by the different human sciences, theological reflection is able to perceive and is called to study further the difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle: it is a difference which is much wider and deeper than is usually thought, one which involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality. The choice of the natural rhythms involves accepting the cycle of the person, that is the woman, and thereby accepting dialogue, reciprocal respect, shared responsibility and self- control. To accept the cycle and to enter into dialogue means to recognize both the spiritual and corporal character of conjugal communion and to live personal love with its requirement of fidelity. In this context the couple comes to experience how conjugal communion is enriched with those values of tenderness and affection which constitute the inner soul of human sexuality, in its physical dimension also. In this way sexuality is respected and promoted in its truly and fully human dimension, and is never "used" as an "object" that, by breaking the personal unity of soul and body, strikes at God's creation itself at the level of the deepest interaction of nature and person.
Hi Jackie!! What a truth !! NFP is the only way to go BC is cutting off Gods gifts which are babies!! God bless you both in your ministry!! Ps: good topic suggestion for next is about the man making the living and the wife making the home!! From my experience when both the woman and man work full time something suffers and it’s usually the homelife and kids!! Part time is ideal for moms to keep her interests alive but her primary job is her home 🏡 and family!!! Many women and men may say “it takes 2 full time workers to make it” no it doesn’t DO WITH LESS. Rent instead of buy, have one car, no camper boat 72 inch TV! Or unmarried women reading this marry a man with a good career!!!
NFP also cuts off Our Lord's Gifts which are babies. NFP is birth control without harsh chemicals. Birth Control that uses harsh chemicals or not is always mortally sinful, regardless of the circumstances.
Living in the city of sin. I really wish the catholic church would focus on educating our young and couples on the beauty of NFP and the effectiveness. It is not taught and spoken of enough.
Peculiar how Jackie says, "NFP is not contraception but it's a form of birth control." Definition of 'Birth Control" : the practice of preventing unwanted pregnancies, especially by use of contraception.
If their marriage is OK and life is doing fine, they cannot use NFP. They have to be open to life. They can't prevent life from happening to avoid having another mouth to feed. It's not Catholic birth control.
Your statement has two logical fallacies in it, that I see: Strawman fallacy and decision point fallacy First, the strawman. The definition of birth control isn't unequivocal. There are different methods in which one can have some or complete control over whether or not one will achieve pregnancy. Like your definition states, it prevents preganancies especially by use of contraception, but not exclusively. Therefor, there are ways in which one can use birth control, without breaking the moral law. Abstinence is a form of birth control, and the most effective one at that, and it certainly isn't sinful. It's virtuous 😃 Second, the decision point fallacy: Just because the differences between NPF and contraception may not be obvious, and similarities between them may seem to point towards them being nearly the same, doesn't mean that we can't distinguish between the two and definitively judge them separately. Contraception as wrong and NPF as right, respectively. Hope that makes sense God Bless!
While NFP has the positives of learning a woman's cycle and delaying/avoiding conception when there are extremely serious reasons, it makes me so sad to have it touted as a necessity for married couples. God is generous with us, and we should be generous with souls for him. The mentality amongst many NFP users is essentially worldly... Avoid pregnancy, with no substantial, dire reason.
@Jose Catt Sorry, Jose, but you're mistaken. One pope preached against NFP, while another endorsed it. Why do you put one's opinion above the other's? The Church officially teaches NFP is okay to use in grave circumstances. If I have a serious illness and having another child would kill me, should I still try to get pregnant?
@Jose Catt That's a false comparison. Adultery is explicitly stated as a sin in the Bible. NFP is talked about nowhere in the Bible, and it's not intrinsically evil. And again, the Catholic Church literally teaches that it's not immoral to use it in grave circumstances. I trust my church. Idk what else to tell you man.
@Jose Catt Bro but condoms are INTRINSICALLY evil. NFP is not. And I have no clue what you're talking about? I'm a Catholic. I follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. It seems you don't though?
@Jose Catt Dude. Bro. My man. One pope's opinion IS NOT Catholic teaching. Catholic teaching is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. And in the CCC, the use of NFP is permitted in grave circumstances. I don't know how else to tell you that? I completely agree that NFP can be abused but it isn't intrinsically evil, despite Pope Pious XI's opinion on the matter.
*What about a video for couples who’ve had a miscarriage or struggle with infertility?????* Everyone talks about NFP but forgets about the couples who struggle even to conceive or have a full term pregnancy
Are there not specific conditions for avoiding pregnancy? For example serious illness. I can’t imagine that using NFP on a regular basis in order to avoid pregnancy can be right without a serious reason?
*What about a video for couples who’ve had a miscarriage or struggle with infertility?????* Everyone talks about NFP but forgets about the overwhelming number of Christian couples who struggle even to conceive or have a full term pregnancy.
when they say not to use the pill bc it makes you not notice you have PCOS but yet the pill is what a doctor prescribes to regulate your hormones better....
I was prescribed the pill when I was 15 and took it until I was 18. When I was 19, a year after I stopped, they found precancerous cells on my high risk cervix. Birth control, is not a necessity for regulating hormones. I was told originally when I went on it that it was only temporary. It ended up doing way more damage to me. It is my belief from experience that we don't need the pill. They are only treating a symptom, not the cause. They tried to tell me in my early 20s that I needed to go back on the pill for the rest of my life due to the problems I experienced with my cycles. They said I would never have children. At the time, I discovered vitex and asked them about it and they wanted nothing to do with it. I started taking it and it really helped my cycles become more regular, a bit less painful and manageable. I eventually discovered red raspberry leaf and paired it with vitex and the results were amazing. My cycle was every month at a more predictable time, not even close to being as heavy and irregular as before, and I believe it helped my husband and I conceive. After I had our first baby this year, my issues seemed to clear up on its own. To explain what these herbs are, Vitex helps the pituitary gland produced a balanced amount of hormones specific to your body. RRL nourishes and strengthens the uterus assisting the body in carrying a baby to term. These herbs are truly wonderful and medical science seems to refuse to have anything to do with them. Why? They can't patent nature and their goal is to keep you going back. Our healthcare system manages people's sicknesses or diseases, if they cured people, they wouldn't have much of a business.
I hope that you are joking... this is indeed a very serious sin which you are committing. And if you are confessing this sin, with the intent of using condoms again you are committing a sin of sacrilege. Pray for assistance in this, confess your sins to a priest with a true and sincere heart of sorrow, and with a firm purpose of amendment. Be assured of my prayers, try to overcome this.
Four children....loved and well cared for is an enormous responsibility and please do not let some religious zealots and outdated and rigid Catholic dogma dictate what is best for your family.
NFP means naturally family planning, literally. Planning a family. It's not to control/delay birth in any way, shape, or form. Its to aid in bringing children into the world: which is the sacrament of marriage. If your using NFP as a method of birth control to avoid pregnancy its not part of Catholic teachings.
I dont do NFP for religious reasons but I feel guilty for the fact that an egg and sperm can meet but can't implant with birth control... I feel more in control and Bette understanding of my self
Why haven’t y’all talked about the concepts of marital/conjugal debt as well as the guidelines within which NFP can be licitly used? That needs to be discussed, especially when talking about the difficulties and yet the beauty of what called has called married couples to in their vocation. Those teachings being: "With regard to physical, economic, psychological and social conditions, responsible parenthood is exercised by those who prudently and generously decide to have more children, and by those who, for serious reasons and with due respect to moral precepts (seriis causis moralibusque praeceptis observatis), decide not to have additional children for either a certain or an indefinite period of time.” (Humanae Vitae, 10)." And Pope St. Paul VI is simply pulling from Pope Pius XII list from his “Address to the Italian Catholic Union of Midwives” in 1951: "Serious motives, such as those which not rarely arise from medical, eugenic, economic and social so-called “indications,” may exempt husband and wife from the obligatory, positive debt for a long period or even for the entire period of matrimonial life.” More on those subjects: - fatherjerabek.com/2019/05/23/the-marital-debt/ - taylormarshall.com/2014/08/nfp-and-serious-reasons-what-are-these-reasons.html
I always interpreted the teachings of the chuch about sex that the act has to be open to life. So seeking out the time when not to get pregnant is not quite consistent with the church's teaching in my opinion. I may be wrong. Any comments?
No you nailed it, these people have honestly been stuck in denial about that. They literally will try to redefine "open to life" to make it so that NFP fits in with it lol.
I tend to lean in that direction too... I like how they said that they are still open to God's will, while not seeking to concieve. I think it has the potential to be used wrongly and/or with the wrong mideset, but if you think of it this way it's kind of awesome: "Lord, from our limited perspective, now does not seem to be the good time to have a child. We are not going to seek to concieve, because we want to be able to provide a good life for our children. However, You are God, not us; Your will be done." Reminiscent of the Garden of Gethsemane.
Yes NFP is for "planning a family naturally" which goes in hand with the sacrament of marriage. Some ppl here are regarding it as birth control and when they want to conceive. That's definitely not Catholic teaching that's modernism.
@@helcol14 Obviously to make sure that each act was open to life ..... we were blessed with 10 beautiful children and would have been delighted to welcome many more but that was obviously not Gods plan for our family 😭 In this day and age when sadly most catholics use artificial birth control do you not think that it is better to educate inform and discuss alternatives that are open to life ???? Self control is one of the fruits / virtues of the Holy Spirit after all ??? Sadly i am probably too old to have another baby now but maybe i will be blessed as Sarah was in her old age ❤ I would consider fostering and adoption but sadly my husband thinks that we will have our hands full of grandchildren !!!! We already have a beautiful grand daughter and cant wait for more grand baby blessings from God ❤
@@carolynx9126 thank you. I too often here people, mostly young people like me, mention NFP as Catholic birth control. Not used for legit reasons used for selfishness.
I was put on the pill at age 12 for having a heavy period. 12 years later I was taken off because it had given me growths in my liver. I’m honestly not sure if NFP will work or not because of the damage the pill did. My periods are so irregular I’m not sure how to track them. I can get a few in a row that are 4-5 weeks a part and then maybe not have one for 3 months.
Ok so I need help... I've been married for 5 years and we have 1 daughter (20 month old) I had a traumatic post partum journey... I had a really long labor, about 3 weeks after having my daughter I had severe post partum hemorrhaging because the doctors left some placenta inside me.... and then I also suffered from postpartum depression, which I told my doctor many times how I felt and he kept saying I was fine.. I wasnt and am not... I'm terrified of the thought of more children plus my husband and I both work full time jobs it's hard making ends meet... I'm scared to have more kids.... I'm trying to trust God but because of the depression I had and sometimes have I don't want anymore kids... my husband and I use a condom... is it still a mortal sin ? Considering my situation ?? And why doesnt the church talk about like post partum depression and stuff like that, no one ever does ... all we hear is be fruitful etc... but its hard!!! Any advice is welcomed !!!!! Please help!
Hi! I think you should trust in God, he loves you and he knows you're scared and that's happening to you and your family, so, if you get pregnant you have yo know God it's with you and he will stand by your side. On the other hand, our bodies are soooo clever, when a woman is facing hard times and is stressed, her body is less likely to be fertile. According to the church teachings, one of the purposes of the marital act of sex it's to unite husband and wife, to help grow your relationship, and by using a condom you're puting a barrier between you two. I hope muy coment helps you, I'm sorry if some of the words or lines don't make so many sense, I speak spanish. I'll pray for you!
@@patriciaforlani3339 thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I appreciate everything you said and I thank you for your prayers. I'll pray for you as well 🙏 Dios la bendiga.
I wish I could ask Ascension Presents/ Jackie & Bobby this question... I am hearing in some of the Catholic videos mentions of “Natural Law”. I would like to know if this means that Catholics are very insistent on breastfeeding? It is as natural as Natural Family Planning. I’m really sad how in many areas of the U.S. it’s still not seen as so super important. I would say it’s a human right for the child. I’m not sure why society doesn’t get that.
And breast feeding a child on demand (as opposed to an arbitrary schedule) is a great way to naturally space child births, without the dubious morality behind NFP!
I see it is not all black and white, avoiding to have a child with NFP. Thank you for making this video! Needed it lol! Edit: God bless you and your family!
The rad trads have a point though. NFP is certainly open to life, but often it's use to to prevent life. I think Catholic culture should go back to big families. Just something to think about.
Honestly, NFP is just another form of birth control. The evil one disguises it as 'catholic' because it use no chemicals supposedly but you always use it with the intention to avoid a kid...that's truly lustful.
My husband and I (protestants) used NFP, but noticed we especially desired one another during my fertile times. We ended up with 4 pregnancies in 4 years. After our last baby, we chose (against our faith) sterilization. We had these amazing unplanned children, but never regret having them. Then, we made our own plans (vasectomy) and totally regret it.
So there was a lord, and he owned a farm, and he hired three workers, and he said to each of those three workers: "Here I have for each of you a bag of seeds, and I ask that for me that you plant all of these seeds and tend to all the crops that grow from these seeds, so that I may harvest them later. If you do that, I will reward you." Now the first of the workers did not want to tend to the crops, yet he still wanted the reward, so he planted the seeds, but alongside each seed he planted, he also planted a toxin that would kill the seed, such that every seed he planted withered away and died before it sprung roots or a stem. The second worker also did not want to tend to the crops, yet wanted the reward, so he came up with another plan, he waited for the winter to come and then he planted the seeds, and in the coldness of winter, the seeds could not survive, and they all withered and died. The third worker planted all the seeds in the spring, and every day he would go to them and tend to them, and pull out the weeds and care for them. Which of these workers will be seen as righteous in the sight of the lord?
Serious motives, such as those which not rarely arise from medical, eugenic, economic and social so-called “indications,” may exempt husband and wife from the obligatory, positive debt for a long period or even for the entire period of matrimonial life.”
@@JulieNicoleSays you can get pregnant on the pill as well. Casti connubii says there is only one natural *destiny* of the conjugal act..babies. Nfp/the pill do not share that natural destiny. Why does organic automatically mean in accord with nature?
I enjoyed this video. I loooove my contraception, and the peace of mind it gives but it is interesting that your partner is very conscious of your cycle which is amazing. I will say also to his point that contraception is saying “no” to the possibility of pregnancy; no contraceptive is 100% effective, people have had children on all of them & is one of the reasons I exist 💗😂. God will make a way😂😂.
I also agree that even using NFP is saying no to the possibility of pregnancy as well. In your conscience, you're deciding no everytime you do NFP in a cyclical basis. And I think a lot of folks don't really ponder on this. If you truly don't want to block or say no to life and pregnancy then nothing should be done, not even NFP should be done.
awww your comment is so cute :) God bless you with great fertility my friend. St.Raymond Nonnatus, pray for us to have many children. St.Gerard Majella, pray for us!
I heard that you used to have hormonal acne. I currently have hormonal acne after stoping the pill. I was wondering how you tackled acne transitioning to NFP and not using the pill. I’m also getting married in July and we plan on practicing NFP!
Only couples who get along beautifully can do NFP. If you are like millions out there who have marital, relationship problems, this NFP makes it worse.
Kinda trying to understand but you’re saying you have to be open to life, and you can’t use contraception because that means you’re blocking pregnancy. However, you can use NFP because there is still a chance that you can get pregnant? But isn’t NFP just using natural means to block pregnancy? And if so, how does that differ from contraception? because the only means of contraception that is 100% is abstinence which means there still is a chance to get pregnant on the pill and with condoms and stuff. So either using NFP would mean you’re not open to life and avoiding pregnancy or using contraception means you’re open to the small chance of life but you’re avoiding pregnancy because it can’t be both right? Not trying to argue I’m just confused by the concept. I hope someone can answer my questions. Not catholic btw but I’m interested in learning about the faith
NFP is not contraception because there is never a moment where you are "contracepting". Like, if for three weeks you are having regular sex with your spouse and not using contraceptives, and then for one week you abstain from sex, when does the contraception happen? Having sex without contraceptives certainly isn't practicing contraception. And abstaining from sex isn't practicing contraception. And if God wants to make a miracle occur to conceive a child outside of the woman's fertile window, you are giving him the ability to do that. When you practice contraception, you are basically telling God "I don't care if you want to work a miracle through me or not, I will not allow that to happen"
NFP doesn't work for everyone, it takes all the spontaneity out of intimacy, and most couples end up in a sexless marriage. Its not a great solution and if you use it as contraception what's the difference? Btw, the pill is not the only form of contraceptive out there...
This was very informative and encouraging to watch. Thanks guys. Goodness, Jackie but where did you find Bobby !? Where did he find you :-D Bobby perhaps look into doing some series on sex and sexuality with a number of your male friends ( single and married ) if possible. It's super encouraging to and hear a man who genuinely values holiness and learning and growing as a person. I've just personally not had much exposure to that and it can be very discouraging as a single woman staying committed to not settling for a man who simply doesn't value or believe the same things. Also for guys who may not have immediate access to healthy male mentorship to keep them encouraged.
Real talk, I do not understand how people manage to have more than 3 or maybe 4 children without either being upper middle class or poor enough to get government cheese
Holy,good people choose to be prudent with their money, live more simply and it's possible. Cheaters and entitled people have children TO get money from the government. I know dozens of families who are not upper middle class, or anywhere in the middle class, and do it with grace, strength, joy, trials but fortitude and the Lord blesses you all the more when your faith is bigger than you fear.
@@jac1161 Having worked as s child protective social worker and therapist for 33 years, I have witnessed first hand what it means for families to struggle financially, emotionally and psychologically to meet the needs of their children...many living in underserved communities with limited social supports, opportunity, education and job skills and limiting the number of children is a necessity and not a luxury or selfish act.
NFP is the only moral way for sure. The fertile time is also when male and female are most sexually charged. But please take note that NFP can also be used in ways that are not necessarily moral. If the wife refuses sex all the time except during ovulation the husband starts to feel like he is being used. This can end up very badly.
Please where I can buy exactly this not marquette, I found in internet many, but I don't have idea where I can buy it. Of what is the right one for buy. 🙏🙏🙏
Do you ever question the Catechism or other Catholic literature, or do you just accept it and abide by it no matter what? I mean this as respectfully as possible. Also, who writes the Catechism?
Good question. I looked up an article that you might find helpful. www.catholic.com/qa/how-much-authority-does-the-catechism-of-the-catholic-church-carry
Nich V., Go to to USCCB.org ---United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. There are tabs for teaching/beliefs and a search bar you can type in the word "catechism". I find the site very helpful. God bless you! Lena
My parents practiced natural family planning. When I was a teenager they joined the Couple to Couple League. Part of their training was to teach the process. It was then that they discovered they were doing it backwards.
I am the ninth of 13 children.
Or they were following the Lord. Glad you're here :)
That doesn't seem like something that could be done on accident. I have a feeling there is something you are not telling us?
I'm about to get married soon and my fiancee and I started learning NFP. I know that this is sometimes hardly understood topic and at the end people tends to misunderstand contraception vs family planning but the main message is to be open to life! is not thinking about not having children but is looking the best time to look for them with God in the first line of the marriage.
Thanks for sharing! keep making this videos! The world needs more saint families.
Good video! A few things I would like to add (as a husband in an NFP using marriage):
1. Regarding people claiming NFP being the same as contraception: it’s helpful to think of NFP as inaction - it being an abstaining from sex during fertile times (inaction) vs. using contraception. I think a helpful comparison is losing weight by skipping a meal (inaction) vs. eating whatever you want and then throwing it up - the end result may be the same, but they are fundamentally different things.
Another helpful thing to think of is an unmarried couple practicing abstinence is not the same as an unmarried couple who is having contracepted sex - the same thing applies within marriage.
2. One point I want to push back against is claiming that divorce rates are very low BECAUSE of using NFP (though the open communication is a plus, and I’m sure helps), rather, I think it more likely linked to the fact that if the couple accepts the church’s teaching on NFP, they also accept the church’s teaching on not getting divorced!
3. One thing you didn't really touch on is WHY contraception is a sin - but honestly, this is a much larger topic than a 10-minute video or short comment can cover - the church's primary teaching on the subject is Theology of the Body (768 pages long!) - I suggest starting with Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West (a mere 168 pages). It really takes a mindset shift, particularly in a post-modern world where "reality is what you make it, what it feels like to you, your own personal truth" (etc.) - to a mindset that things actually have a real concrete nature and purpose.
For your information, one out four couples who use natural family planning end up with an unwanted pregnancy.
"Helpful" in search of the truth or in justifying an opinion?
@@mariabatti7356 So they did it wrong in the same way girls get pregnant because they missed a day of the pill. Thanks! Nice to know! God bless!
@Jose Catt wrong. Sex isn't only about babies. It's about bonding as well.
@Jose Catt bro, nfp does not frustrate the natural power.
If anything it allows one to become more aware of the fertile periods in order TO fulfill the creation of life.
You’re confusing the popes message with the idea that people are abusing nfp. Yes there is a time where nfp can be abused.
Ex: newly weds bought a new house and are both working jobs to support house, cars and loans they are paying. Maybe in their first year of marriage it is wise to not bring life into the world just yet without being able to support their own lives. Say after a year or two, they have managed to make a sizeable dent In their loans and managed to save up a good amount in order to support a child, then the cycles they have learned from nfp can be utilized to the highest potential of bringing new life.
If however, they were to continue all their lives leading up to menopause without conceiving and utilizing their bodies only for sexual gratification and not for bringing new life, then yes they would not be utilizing nfp for its intended purpose.
Each use of NFP is on a case by case basis. Some use it to space their births, others use it to fine the prime optimal moment where conception is possible.
However, by utilizing it during the times where conception is least possible, it does not intrinsically mean you are against having children. You could also be post partum and in order to protect the wife/mom, nfp can be utilized (after taking the proper amount of time to allow the mother to heal) in a loving way to still perform the marital act, and not risk another pregnancy so soon for fear of possible damage to the mothers womb/cervix/Perineum due to risk of tearing during childbirth.
Please truly understand the meanings of certain statements made by popes. Especially for newly weds who may have financial concerns, nfp offers the opportunity to understand the cycle of a woman and when it is possible to conceive in order to avoid it for the time being and still give one another in holy matrimony.
I have never heard of this being practiced!!! What a beautiful thing, I am actually Protestant and haven’t really asked questions about this and I’m my church I don’t recall it ever being discussed. But I love that. I am a young woman and previously thought when I get married, if need be, I wanted to wait to have a baby until me and this future husband were financially stable and would have to use contraception. This is so much better and more beautiful and free under God’s will. But I like what y’all preach about changing your mindset to being open to God and what he wants, and that it is really selfish when I try to control the miracles of his hand in any aspect of my life! Thanks guys so much it’s is always good to listen to you guys and be reminded of who I am in Christ and what he wants for me.
Yes but learn now or else you'll struggle
Great! I’m not even married and already conscious about my menstrual cycles and hormone levels but never been teached about it. I’ve researched this by myself and God has lead me.
Dear Ascension Presents: Could you consider doing a series on saints and how their messages/experiences apply to us today? It would be especially helpful if it was in a format that parents can transfer to their children. It would be helpful to keep that information In front of us so that we can relate to our children when teaching life lessons, instead of relying only on current events. Thank you!
DO NOT PRAY TO SAINTS. WORSHIP GOD ALONE. SALVATION IS BY FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE.
#AskAscension
Would this work for one who no longer has Fertile mucus or periods? Thank you so much for your video :) you and you husband have such a wonderful way to explain and encourage NFP. I used Billings ovulation for 18 yrs successfully but after I took progesterone to save a possible miscarriage my hormones went crazy 😞 I lost my fertile mucus so it became nearly impossible. I appreciate any advice anyone can provide. God bless you all 💐
@Jose Catt please help me to understand how you have come to conclude that NFP is a mortal sin?
@@ReformationChicagoRadio We don't pray to saints, we ask them to intercede on our behalf.
My husband and I used NFP. I’m post-menopausal now, so obviously, we aren’t still using it. I agree that it is hard.
But we had an issue that was never really addressed. I have Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. My estrogen levels tended to run high and for too long and my progesterone was not enough. So the first six months of our marriage, when we were trying to avoid pregnancy, we almost couldn’t have sex at all because my cervical mucus was indicating fertility for three weeks out of the month. I know that I wasn’t really fertile for three weeks out of the month, but if we went by cervical mucus, we had to assume that it was possible pretty much anytime. I wonder if there are other women who have this issue.
After the first six months, we wanted a baby, so we never had to avoid sex, which is kind of awesome except that we wanted kids and were never able to have any, which wasn’t so great.
The temperature charting basically told me why I wasn’t getting pregnant. IF I ovulated, which did not happen every month, my temperature would dip and then go up like it was supposed to, indicating that progesterone was being produced. Temperature is supposed to stay up for 7-10 days. Mine only stayed up for 3-5 days, indicating that my body stopped producing progesterone too soon.
We conceived on our honeymoon, which was not planned. I did a home pregnancy test when we got home and it was positive. My temperature charting indicated that I had ovulated. The next day, my period started. By the time I got to the doctor, the pregnancy test was negative. So I had a very early miscarriage. Most likely, I had conceived, but the zygote never implanted in my uterine lining.
A few years later we were still trying to get pregnant. My period had started. I was at work. I went to the bathroom and when I wiped, along with the blood that was on the toilet paper was a tiny pink piece of tissue. One of my cousins is a nurse and used NFP and she told me that if I ever saw a piece of pink or gray tissue in my period blood, that that was a very early miscarriage. She had experienced this several times. So I conceived again without realizing it, but had a very early miscarriage again.
This could’ve happened more times than I know about. And we never did end up having kids other than those very early miscarriages.
We did fertility treatments up to a point that we thought was reasonable. Nothing worked. It came to a point where it was going to be financially and emotionally draining, so we stopped. After that, we didn’t actively try to get pregnant anymore, but we didn’t do anything to avoid pregnancy, either
We ended up with five godchildren. I was a substitute teacher for two years for elementary grades, and I was a full time teacher for six years for grades K-2. I also volunteered with my church’s religious education program one year as a teacher’s aide for 5th grade and two years as a teacher for 4th grade. My husband was one of the parking lot assistants during that time.
I was adopted as a baby. I ended up finding my birth family and now I have two great-nieces and seven great-nephews. Right now, they range in age from infant-14.
So God has blessed us with children. Just other people’s children, not our own.
cmmahoney21 God bless you! Thank you for sharing your story!
Bless you! You have found more than you could have imagined🙏 it hurts me when people do abortions because i alway think of those who parents with no babies 😔
lindavirus
Me too. There are thousands of people on adoption waiting lists. They have to wait a long time and it is horribly expensive. I don’t know how much it is now, but 15 years ago, it was $25,000 to adopt a healthy infant. It was somewhat less if you adopted a black baby or a baby with a serious medical condition.
We couldn’t afford the fee and we couldn’t take out a loan because there wasn’t room in our budget to make the loan payment along with the added expenses of raising a child.
But it’s ok. God just had other plans for us.
My favorite Garth Brooks song is Unanswered Prayers. Part of the lyrics go, “Remember when you’re talking to the Man upstairs that just because He may not answer doesn’t mean He don’t care. Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”
I was adopted. I was also conceived in rape. I am the poster child for the “why you don’t abort a baby just because it was conceived in rape” club. My life has just as much value as anyone else’s. I’ve accomplished things with my life. I’ve made a positive impact on many others during my life.
My birthmother loved me and wanted to raise me, but she couldn’t due to her circumstances at the time, so she made the sacrifice to place me for adoption. She gave me the greatest gift - life. And she gave my adoptive parents the gift of having a child to love and raise. I was loved by my birthmother, by the rest of my birth family, by my foster family, and by my adoptive parents and both sides of the family. I have truly been blessed.
cmmahoney21 thank you for sharing your story! I’m a woman with PCOS who is slowly coming to terms with the possibility of never being fertile. It helps to know I’m not alone, and that God has blessings for our lives beyond children.
nachtegael W - Actually, most women with PCOS do manage to have children. Almost everyone I know who has PCOS has kids. Except me and a couple others.
If you have the health insurance and/or money to cover treatments, there are some things you can try. If you’re overweight, losing weight might help. Also a low carb diet. My doctor called it “no wheats, no sweets”.
Taking the drug Metformin can help. It’s a diabetes drug, but it can lower your insulin resistance and somehow that can help your fertility.
You can also take fertility drugs. I took Clomid. It’s supposed to make you ovulate. I took it for the maximum amount of time at the highest dose and it didn’t work at all for me.
One of my high school friends who has PCOS had her ovaries drilled. Somehow, drilling holes in the ovaries is supposed to help with ovulation. It worked for her. She has two kids. I thought about that, but didn’t do it.
There is also an injectable fertility drug that is stronger than Clomid. But you have to be careful because it can make you release too many eggs so there’s a risk for multiples.
What they do is you take the shots and then you go to the fertility doctor and they do a sonogram to see how many follicles you have. If you have one or two, they inject another drug to make the ovaries release the eggs. If you have too many, they don’t give you the second drug. I think you can do this up to six times, but not more than that. It’s very expensive.
I didn’t do it because it was too stressful. The fertility clinic was over 25 miles from my house through heavy traffic. I had a stressful job and didn’t want any more stress in my life. I couldn’t quit my job because we needed the income. And there was no guarantee. I could’ve gone through six cycles with the drug, which would cost $24,000, and still have no baby.
If I’d had $24,000 to spend, we would’ve adopted. At least that way we would’ve ended up with a baby. But we couldn’t afford it.
One other option is to adopt an embryo. People who do IVF usually have embryos left over. Sometimes people will allow their unused embryos to be adopted rather than destroyed. The doctor just implants the embryo and it’s supposed to develop normally. So you’ll be pregnant and give birth, but it won’t be your biological child.
Just know that, even if you’re never able to have a baby, you’ll be ok. There are benefits to being child-free. And there are ways you can interact with other people’s children.
I was a schoolteacher for eight years, two as a sub and six as a full time teacher. I loved it. I’m disabled now, so I can’t work.
We used to take 2 of our 5 godchildren on outings a lot. I have 2 great-nieces and 7 great-nephews. We take the oldest three on outings. We’ve taken them on week-long trips a couple of times. We babysit or have sleepovers at our house. It’s fun for all of us.
I know it’s hard, but one of two things will happen. You’ll either have or adopt a baby or you’ll be child-free and you’ll eventually get to a point, maybe in your 40’s, where you’ll stop wanting to have kids because you’ll realize that you’re too old for all that.
Glad that you talked about NFP, but I think it would have been better to accompany it with a more thorough discussion on what it means to "... be fruitful and multiply ...", particularly the *_fruitful_* part, because I think some people are very hardcore on the *_multiply_* part while either neglecting the *_fruitful_* part or perhaps sometimes misunderstanding it.
For example, I've seen a comment on how using NFP to avoid having babies "is evil" ... one lady also commented on how she will have 40 babies because she loves babies and pretty much the sole purpose of marriage is to have babies. Although she is probably exaggerating and I love her very prolife stance, how true is that, and how fruitful / effective would it be to really do that (or similar)? I mean, she and her husband would have to be both super-rich *and* have tonnes of time and resources to give to all their children in order for that situation to be fruitful / effective (or else God Himself would have to intervene -- which, of course, He could ...). That's *A LOT* of relationships to manage and _relationships are _*_hard!!!_* ...
Period. So true. There are some catholics who would shame others couples who could'nt/would'nt have more children.
“Every new born child brings a loaf of bread under his arms” says an old saying. Meaning, you do not have to be super rich to have many children. That is one of the misconceptions, being open to life does not equal to have many children. It means to be open to whatever number of children GOD WANTS. If you are open to life and God gives you many children, he will provide.
@@CesarFCabrera Thank you, worthy of consideration, something to discern. One other point of consideration though is that, although God may (or may not) provide the money needed to support a large family, we are always going to be limited by time -- especially quality time.
Rob Onymous God provides, end of story. He will never give you a child without providing the means to sustain that child. He also provides the time. I know families with 18 children (same dad and mom) and they are fine kids, normal kids.
We have a misconception in our society that think the least children you have the more you can provide for them. It is a temptation to think that way but it is not necessarily the case and is not the mentality of someone who believes in Divine Providence.
Again the point is, what is the will of God? As a couple, are they using NFP for SERIOUS reasons ( for example, health, war, extreme poverty etc) or for worldly reasons (Bigger savings fund, career, more time for already existing child, vain material goals, etc) Thats where prayer and discernment comes in.
If my parents would have calculated how many children to have based on their finances and time, based on the world standards, at least two of my sisters would never have been born.
We live in a very materialistic society, and we risk to live marriage and NFP according to how society sees life.
We are call to live a supernatural life, looking at heaven, trusting in God. With discernment and prayer, and daily struggles, it is possible
@@CesarFCabrera Sorry, but I'm calling your bluff there. Nice words, but unrealistic and impractical. God provides, but according to His Perfect Will. We are human and imperfect. Even if and when "God provides", we fail and are limited in and by our very nature. Not every one of us is called to have a gazillion kids. I know families who only had one kid and that kid grew up to be messed up, and the same for big families. It's also one of the reasons why the Catholic Church does not allow married men to be priests. There's just no way a man could be a good father to all his spiritual and biological children (and a good husband to his one wife). PERIOD.
It's been 6 of marriage and 5 years of Nfp i too want to educate my children with this wonderful teaching but I still have more to learn
Do not 'teach' this form of birth control or promote it especially to your children as using NFP is a serious and mortal sin of lust each time it is used. The primary and most important reason to have the marital embrace is for conceiving and having a children. By using NFP or any contraception, you are telling God that your putting your own will over His Supreme and Most Wise Will.
It's for grave circumstances.
No "buts"..just learn and teach with passion, vigor and GOOOOOOO!!!!
I love this, we’ve been married 30 years and had not used contraception. My uncle was my baby doctor. He delivered me and my first baby. He was a great doctor who from the beginning of my needing an o gynecologist explained everything. I was very blessed to have him in my life. We need more people like the two of you letting people know they do not need contraception. Thank you for your boldness. Love you
The vast majority of couples in fact do use some form of family planning. In communities that prohibit birth control....think Amish.....they have an average of eight to nine children. I don't think we can assume that this is a solid plan for families .
1 Corinthians 7:5
[5]You must not deprive each other, except by mutual consent for a limited time, to leave yourselves free for prayer, and to come together again afterwards; otherwise Satan may take advantage of any lack of self-control to put you to the test.
@Jose Catt Oh no, an out-of-context quote from a pope to refute a quote from the Bible. You completely crushed him.
@@selimhajali9007 ahahahah xD
I guess if you are trying not to get pregnant then you would fast during the time you are most fertile
Definitely going to keep this for when I want to start a family
I think the big point that is being glossed over in this video is the fact you must have grave matter to use nfp. Wanting to space kids apart isnt grave matter. Physical reasons of the mothers life is in jeopardy to have more kids, economic issues of debt or unable to afford another child but not using an excuse of well I want to go on vacation every year or have the newest smart phone, and lastly social disorders of having to raise a child in concentration camps or something horrendous as that.
If I were using nfp I would be rethinking why and making sure there isnt an underlying lie I've told myself that has me on it. The catholic church does approve of nfp but only for grave reasons not just because people dont want kids.
I had my first period when I was 12 and experienced terrible symptoms of all sorts until the age of 15. I found an amazing NAPRO/NFP family doctor who discovered that I had low progesterone and ever since then have been taking it in order to increase my levels. I have never been healthier and my symptoms have decreased remarkably. Any other doctor would have put me on the pill instantly but thankfully I had her. Now, my risks for miscarriage are so much lower and I am better than ever. Do the research! Don't slap a bandaid on a potential health issue.
Everyone freaking out in the comments about NFP only being used as “Catholic birth control” need to calm down. I’m a newlywed and NFP has brought me and my husband SO much closer. We are using NFP to “avoid” pregnancy for now because my husband is looking for a job and we want to bring children into our home only when we can financially take care of them, but we are open to the possibility of conceiving! That’s the whole point. AND as soon as we have a stable income, we are going to use NFP in order to conceive! It works both ways! Women are only fertile just a couple days per month, and NFP helps you know the best day to conceive.
Did it ever occur to you to give God a chance to be God and that if you open yourself to new life HE will arrange all your temporal affairs? This is a form of tithing… when you give your lives fully to God and His ETERNAL designs for marriage, HE is never outdone in generosity and prepares everything you need for your future.
STOP playing God and pretending you're doing your unconceived children a favor... the children who will never be born and who will never see God for all eternity because you just don't want them now.
@@avecrux333 Yes, I'm completely open to God planning my family, and I know He will take care of us if we do get pregnant. That's literally why I'm using NFP and not the pill or condoms. We aren't cutting off the possibility to life at all. I'm tracking my cycle and knowing what's going on with my body. I know which days will be the most successful for conceiving because of NFP. I don't regret having a method that recognizes God's design of my body. I feel like I understand God more by understanding my fertility. ❤️
@@RachelHS825 Except the Church taught for thousands of years - for good reason - that having regular recourse to periods of infertility in the hopes of avoiding pregnancy is only permitted in cases of *grave* necessity.
Now we have Catholic couples everywhere who have jobs and homes and food on the table treating slim budgets (not foreclosure and bankruptcy) as "grave" necessity, when theirs are merely circumstances which God can immediately change for the better - FOR US! - if/when we step out and accept His plan for marriage, which NEVER included NFP for thousands and thousands of years…until modern man's self appointed God-like authority over procreation, and who will get to exist for all eternity and who will not.
@@avecrux333 Haha ok, well I still love NFP and will keep tracking my fertility because it brings me and my husband closer to each other and closer to God. Here's a great short article about why NFP isn't anything like contraception at all: ccli.org/2017/07/contraception-vs-nfp-whats-the-difference/?fbclid=IwAR3owjcinPnXdUp-DBSJeD6C6w1XrK2I5hY_ulcvwKAZ1jMeShG5TDu_ACk
@@RachelHS825 nah ignore the weird comments. Using nfp to avoid pregnancies is fine, as long as the reason is deemed grave enough by the couple. Not a priest or whatever. People in the comments are so eager to insert themselves in our bedrooms.
Nicely said, Jacqui cracks me up with her excitement to respond and amazing personality. Thanks for sharing this necessary knowledge on NFP with us. God bless you all ascension team 💖💖💖.
💖💖💖
Thank you guys so much. I love this series as it gives the truth and it is from both perspectives in a marriage.
One thing to note: Saying that NFP can only be used in rare situations according to the Church is incorrect, as NFP is used not only to avoid pregnancy (while still leaving room for the less-expected) AND to achieve pregnancy.
*What about a video for couples who’ve had a miscarriage or struggle with infertility?????*
Check out OK Catholics, Everday Catholic, and Whole Catholic Living!
Yes! There are so many couples that have had to struggle with infertility. I have a cousin that married when she was twenty years old. She struggled with infertility all her life. She had two miscarriages.
@Jose Catt NFP is not contraception since it can also be used to achieve pregnancy
@@thethreefriends3002 then a condom is not a contraceptive because can be used to impermeabilize the muzzle of a gun. your argument is so ridiculous , it´s really absurd.
I loved the explanation at 5:43!! It totally hit the nail on the head for me and made even more clear sense to me than before.
Geeze, I'm shocked at how much heat they are catching in the comments! This method (their particular one, Creighton), is a gift! Life is busy, life is crazy, and God gave us a way to have as many babies as He wishes for us.
He also blessed us with a brain and intellect to evaluate how many we can care for in a loving and responsible manner.
I appreciate your honesty.
Its important to note that there is no "infertile" part of the cycle, percentage wise. The percentage just changes at different stages.
I am for NFP, but using it with a right reason. It can be also sinful, so not everyone (in every situation) is allowed to use it. Can you talk also about it? And why are you two using it?
Of course everyone's allowed to use it!
Exactly. It can only be used in RARE circumstances which is what the church OFFICIALLY TEACHES. But they are acting like it's just a free for all and you can use NFP for any reason at any time to avoid children. The church never has and never will teach that.
If they are using it, it must be for problems in their life or marriage.
NFP is used to understand what’s going on in your body. It isn’t solely to prevent pregnancy. People also use NFP to try to conceive.
@@julia2 Yep, I know this
Do you have recommendations for recourses for young girls about to hit the puberty stage to learn about charting, TOB, etc in a good way that’s age appropriate or even for parents as a guide to these conversations? NFP was never explained to me by my parents, who don’t agree with it, and I’ve 2 daughters whom I hope to raise with the awareness of our bodies.
@Bethany Lockhart Thank you So much!!! Ill for sure get it asap!
@Bethany Lockhart That book rocks! I think they should send it home in your goody bag from the hospital if you have a girl :) She should start reading it as soon as she can read!
Thank you for your loving grace filled honest witness in days of ambiguity, even on sensitive issues.
Ascension Presents True faithful Catholics are beautiful people! And Jackie and Bobby are our CZcams angels ;-)
I am so against birth control because it has so many chemicals. NFP makes so much sense since we are only fertile 2 days out of the entire month!!!!
Yes!!
Well if you don't count his sperms living up to 5 days.
I've been on the pill for almost 3 years and for sure it's not ideal but it has its ups, like controlling my acne and having short, light periods. But man, I CANNOT lose weight on this stuff and it makes me moody and depressed. Going to be going off it within a few months and I have a lot of mixed feelings but it's my choice.
I think it would just be better to go unplanned. That way, you are neither avoiding having children or directly seeking them out. You are %100 percent open to the chance of having children. Yes, it might make it harder when you are seeking to have children, but you know for a fact that you aren't avoiding it.
@Pixi Also with all due respect, even while using nfp there is a chance that you will have children. Yes, the chance is smaller, but it is still there, so it's really not that much less foolish. If a couple cannot support a child, they really shouldn't be having sex at all.
@EJ Everlast With all due respect, I think in order to be a real man you should be able to abstain from having children until you are able to support them. Also, I don't think putting an age on it is helpful to everyone. Some people are mature by 17, others can reach 70 and still not be ready.
What if I were to tell you that at first St. Augustine the Doctor of Doctors of the Church originally supported NFP between married couples using a calendar system which was also done by the Manicheans. But latter on St. Augustine condemned the practice being that it still removes God from the equation in which married couples are suppose to be open to life at all time during the sexual act which shouldn't be withheld during specific days of the month.
Much latter on NFP was deemed acceptable by the Church during the Second Vatican Council over the issue of financial hardships of married couples. But in reality it was about population control.
Don't forget, St Augustine was at first a Manichean himself, so it is likely that this is the period he agreed with it.
Lololol. You guys are wonderful. So blessed. Thankyou for your wisdom.
Jackie and Bobby, I have enormous respect and admiration for you but in all honesty we could not have done it.
Question for next week: what is about women who work night shift or use medication which messes up nfp? I heard from a girl that you have to have a regular sleep ryhtm for it to be accurate.
For taking your temp in the morning, it can possibly mess it up. However, you really need only four hours of uninterrupted sleep to get an accurate reading. However, checking your cervical mucus isn't likely to be changed by sleep or lack thereof. Also peeing on the ovulation strips could work for you. I suggest doing some more research :)
In fact night shift does not mess up NFP because it only needs 4 hours of sleep to measure the temperature and in combination with cheking mucus and if you want to hormones with ovulation stripes you can really be a 99,89% sure
No, it isn't. This is really awesome. In actuality every woman has her own cycle. So charting helps understanding YOUR cycle. Let's say, it's "customized" to each woman. The rhythm was a first attempt to understand women cycle. But now we now some of use have long cycle, others short, and every one is different, even in the same family. :D
Check out Tempdrop with the sympto-thermal method! This is a thermometer that you wear, so it can help track your cycle when you're sleeping (so if you have irregular sleep, up with a baby, drink water, etc. can help be paired with tracking mucus). Hope this helps :) www.temp-drop.com/
Good job guys. Simcha Fisher has a good book on NFP. Covers church teaching, challenges, a call on to be more loving and surrendered to God even though nfp is hard.
Thank you for this Video, and making one about the negatives of NFP. I Will say, the comment section is abhorrently prideful, and quite disgusting, some repeat commenters are the saddest samples of pride. No one, none of these negative accusers are personally living and experiencing the psychological, Mental, financial, nor personal lives of those [happily] using NFP. For those normal people looking to learn about NFP, don't be discouraged by radicals, and enjoy the video. Prayerful discernment, and YOUR spiritual directors' advice is all you need 😊 no one here matters honestly, and remember as Fr Alar says, "If the church says its Ok, Heaven says its Ok"
I would like to practice NFP, if only to give my future husband and I time to adjust a bit to married life, and in consideration of our mental health at the time.
Not Catholic but I agree...this is great. Excellent video!
Thank you so much for your videos, so useful!! God bless your family
Am I wrong but from my understanding NFP is only allowed in GRAVE circumstances. This video makes it out that its just allowed generally. It isn't.
you are right!
Also, I do think they had some form of NFP 100 plus years ago. You know in the Bible the way a young woman's nurse would go in and find out if the woman was fertile to conceive with her husband and would then tell her husband. I should look more into that.
Give us the quote pls.
@@melissafeds1344 I honestly can't remember where exactly I read about this. However, I'll update if I come across it again.
This makes no sense. Using a condom is using a piece of plastic to prevent pregnancy, and NFP is using timing of a woman’s cycle to prevent pregnancy. But the heart and intention of both methods is the exact same: to prevent pregnancy.
A Men
The fundamental difference is NFP is inaction. A helpful comparison is losing weight by skipping a meal (inaction) vs. eating whatever you want and then throwing it up - the end result may be the same, but they are fundamentally different things.
Another helpful thing to think of is an unmarried couple practicing abstinence is not the same as an unmarried couple who is having contracepted sex - the same thing applies within marriage.
@@MikePouch But why can't the married couple simply practice abstinence until they decide to have kids?
@@dutchmansmine9053 Hi. I'm not sure if I understand your question, and I think the wording comes from a contraceptive culture/mindset, particularly the phrase "decide to have kids". By using NFP, EVERY time the married couple has sex they are open to the possibility of kids (even if the possibility is low, i.e. during times that are likely to be infertile) - the only "decision" is the one to increase the possibility of kids (during times that are likely to be fertile).
NFP really requires a mindset shift.
Mike Pouch but if practiced correctly, the NFP method actually provides a lower chance of pregnancy (meaning it is actually more effective birth control) than using a condom. So a couple using condoms could still have the same mindset in that they could be “open” to having a child if their birth control method fails. That’s the exact same as being open to children if NFP fails. It could even be said that couples using condoms are actually more open to having children because the risk of pregnancy is actually greater than that of NFP.
For everyone concerned with the thought that observing your cycle is a form of contraception, here is an excerpt from Familiaris Consortio not discussed at length in the video:
When couples, by means of recourse to contraception, separate these two meanings that God the Creator has inscribed in the being of man and woman and in the dynamism of their sexual communion, they act as "arbiters" of the divine plan and they "manipulate" and degrade human sexuality-and with it themselves and their married partner-by altering its value of "total" self-giving. Thus the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality.
When, instead, by means of recourse to periods of infertility, the couple respect the inseparable connection between the unitive and procreative meanings of human sexuality, they are acting as "ministers" of God's plan and they "benefit from" their sexuality according to the original dynamism of "total" selfgiving, without manipulation or alteration.[90]
In the light of the experience of many couples and of the data provided by the different human sciences, theological reflection is able to perceive and is called to study further the difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle: it is a difference which is much wider and deeper than is usually thought, one which involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality. The choice of the natural rhythms involves accepting the cycle of the person, that is the woman, and thereby accepting dialogue, reciprocal respect, shared responsibility and self- control. To accept the cycle and to enter into dialogue means to recognize both the spiritual and corporal character of conjugal communion and to live personal love with its requirement of fidelity. In this context the couple comes to experience how conjugal communion is enriched with those values of tenderness and affection which constitute the inner soul of human sexuality, in its physical dimension also. In this way sexuality is respected and promoted in its truly and fully human dimension, and is never "used" as an "object" that, by breaking the personal unity of soul and body, strikes at God's creation itself at the level of the deepest interaction of nature and person.
Hi Jackie!! What a truth !! NFP is the only way to go BC is cutting off Gods gifts which are babies!! God bless you both in your ministry!! Ps: good topic suggestion for next is about the man making the living and the wife making the home!! From my experience when both the woman and man work full time something suffers and it’s usually the homelife and kids!! Part time is ideal for moms to keep her interests alive but her primary job is her home 🏡 and family!!! Many women and men may say “it takes 2 full time workers to make it” no it doesn’t DO WITH LESS. Rent instead of buy, have one car, no camper boat 72 inch TV! Or unmarried women reading this marry a man with a good career!!!
NFP also cuts off Our Lord's Gifts which are babies. NFP is birth control without harsh chemicals. Birth Control that uses harsh chemicals or not is always mortally sinful, regardless of the circumstances.
I completely agree with you, It makes so much sense.
Living in the city of sin. I really wish the catholic church would focus on educating our young and couples on the beauty of NFP and the effectiveness. It is not taught and spoken of enough.
Peculiar how Jackie says, "NFP is not contraception but it's a form of birth control."
Definition of 'Birth Control" : the practice of preventing unwanted pregnancies, especially by use of contraception.
@@jedisilvr contraception is used to prevent/avoid unwanted pregnancies. Birth control is used to prevent/avoid unwanted pregnancies.
If their marriage is OK and life is doing fine, they cannot use NFP. They have to be open to life. They can't prevent life from happening to avoid having another mouth to feed. It's not Catholic birth control.
And then Bobby said that the use of contraception is directly saying No to life while with NFP the couple is open to the fact that a child is possible
Your statement has two logical fallacies in it, that I see:
Strawman fallacy and decision point fallacy
First, the strawman.
The definition of birth control isn't unequivocal. There are different methods in which one can have some or complete control over whether or not one will achieve pregnancy. Like your definition states, it prevents preganancies especially by use of contraception, but not exclusively.
Therefor, there are ways in which one can use birth control, without breaking the moral law.
Abstinence is a form of birth control, and the most effective one at that, and it certainly isn't sinful. It's virtuous 😃
Second, the decision point fallacy:
Just because the differences between NPF and contraception may not be obvious, and similarities between them may seem to point towards them being nearly the same, doesn't mean that we can't distinguish between the two and definitively judge them separately. Contraception as wrong and NPF as right, respectively.
Hope that makes sense
God Bless!
You can also use NFP to have children, it’s not ONLY to prevent pregnancy.
Much love brother and sisters
While NFP has the positives of learning a woman's cycle and delaying/avoiding conception when there are extremely serious reasons, it makes me so sad to have it touted as a necessity for married couples. God is generous with us, and we should be generous with souls for him. The mentality amongst many NFP users is essentially worldly... Avoid pregnancy, with no substantial, dire reason.
@Jose Catt You're telling me it would be prudent to have eight kids when you have a very low-income job?
@Jose Catt Sorry, Jose, but you're mistaken. One pope preached against NFP, while another endorsed it. Why do you put one's opinion above the other's? The Church officially teaches NFP is okay to use in grave circumstances. If I have a serious illness and having another child would kill me, should I still try to get pregnant?
@Jose Catt That's a false comparison. Adultery is explicitly stated as a sin in the Bible. NFP is talked about nowhere in the Bible, and it's not intrinsically evil. And again, the Catholic Church literally teaches that it's not immoral to use it in grave circumstances. I trust my church. Idk what else to tell you man.
@Jose Catt Bro but condoms are INTRINSICALLY evil. NFP is not. And I have no clue what you're talking about? I'm a Catholic. I follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. It seems you don't though?
@Jose Catt Dude. Bro. My man. One pope's opinion IS NOT Catholic teaching. Catholic teaching is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. And in the CCC, the use of NFP is permitted in grave circumstances. I don't know how else to tell you that? I completely agree that NFP can be abused but it isn't intrinsically evil, despite Pope Pious XI's opinion on the matter.
*What about a video for couples who’ve had a miscarriage or struggle with infertility?????*
Everyone talks about NFP but forgets about the couples who struggle even to conceive or have a full term pregnancy
Fr mike on this channel has a video about this
StreetSigns what’s it called???
I was so happy to be free from the world's pressure to use artificial birth control in my marriage
If it is not too personal to ask: do you use NFP?
@@helcol14 yes
@@kathleenirish For what reason?
Are there not specific conditions for avoiding pregnancy? For example serious illness. I can’t imagine that using NFP on a regular basis in order to avoid pregnancy can be right without a serious reason?
me and my husband practice nfp but also when we're are having sex he will pull out and finish on my stomach. is this against morality in the bible?
No it's fine
*What about a video for couples who’ve had a miscarriage or struggle with infertility?????*
Everyone talks about NFP but forgets about the overwhelming number of Christian couples who struggle even to conceive or have a full term pregnancy.
This is only to be used in absolute necessary not from selfish wants to not want children
when they say not to use the pill bc it makes you not notice you have PCOS but yet the pill is what a doctor prescribes to regulate your hormones better....
I was prescribed the pill when I was 15 and took it until I was 18. When I was 19, a year after I stopped, they found precancerous cells on my high risk cervix. Birth control, is not a necessity for regulating hormones.
I was told originally when I went on it that it was only temporary. It ended up doing way more damage to me. It is my belief from experience that we don't need the pill. They are only treating a symptom, not the cause.
They tried to tell me in my early 20s that I needed to go back on the pill for the rest of my life due to the problems I experienced with my cycles. They said I would never have children.
At the time, I discovered vitex and asked them about it and they wanted nothing to do with it. I started taking it and it really helped my cycles become more regular, a bit less painful and manageable. I eventually discovered red raspberry leaf and paired it with vitex and the results were amazing.
My cycle was every month at a more predictable time, not even close to being as heavy and irregular as before, and I believe it helped my husband and I conceive. After I had our first baby this year, my issues seemed to clear up on its own.
To explain what these herbs are, Vitex helps the pituitary gland produced a balanced amount of hormones specific to your body. RRL nourishes and strengthens the uterus assisting the body in carrying a baby to term. These herbs are truly wonderful and medical science seems to refuse to have anything to do with them. Why? They can't patent nature and their goal is to keep you going back. Our healthcare system manages people's sicknesses or diseases, if they cured people, they wouldn't have much of a business.
I'm not going to lie. We use condoms because we have 4 kids and we just can't have any more kids (13,12,12,3) financially 😣
I hope that you are joking... this is indeed a very serious sin which you are committing. And if you are confessing this sin, with the intent of using condoms again you are committing a sin of sacrilege.
Pray for assistance in this, confess your sins to a priest with a true and sincere heart of sorrow, and with a firm purpose of amendment. Be assured of my prayers, try to overcome this.
Four children....loved and well cared for is an enormous responsibility and please do not let some religious zealots and outdated and rigid Catholic dogma dictate what is best for your family.
@@donbarton2747 ...who are you to make a total stranger feel guilty about a very personal choice. How many mouths are you feeding ??
NFP means naturally family planning, literally. Planning a family. It's not to control/delay birth in any way, shape, or form. Its to aid in bringing children into the world: which is the sacrament of marriage. If your using NFP as a method of birth control to avoid pregnancy its not part of Catholic teachings.
👏👏👏
I dont do NFP for religious reasons but I feel guilty for the fact that an egg and sperm can meet but can't implant with birth control... I feel more in control and Bette understanding of my self
NFP must be a high wire act because, as you say still, "you're trying to avoid pregnancy," which is a sin, no?
Why haven’t y’all talked about the concepts of marital/conjugal debt as well as the guidelines within which NFP can be licitly used? That needs to be discussed, especially when talking about the difficulties and yet the beauty of what called has called married couples to in their vocation.
Those teachings being: "With regard to physical, economic, psychological and social conditions, responsible parenthood is exercised by those who prudently and generously decide to have more children, and by those who, for serious reasons and with due respect to moral precepts (seriis causis moralibusque praeceptis observatis), decide not to have additional children for either a certain or an indefinite period of time.” (Humanae Vitae, 10)."
And Pope St. Paul VI is simply pulling from Pope Pius XII list from his “Address to the Italian Catholic Union of Midwives” in 1951: "Serious motives, such as those which not rarely arise from medical, eugenic, economic and social so-called “indications,” may exempt husband and wife from the obligatory, positive debt for a long period or even for the entire period of matrimonial life.”
More on those subjects:
- fatherjerabek.com/2019/05/23/the-marital-debt/
- taylormarshall.com/2014/08/nfp-and-serious-reasons-what-are-these-reasons.html
I always interpreted the teachings of the chuch about sex that the act has to be open to life. So seeking out the time when not to get pregnant is not quite consistent with the church's teaching in my opinion. I may be wrong. Any comments?
No you nailed it, these people have honestly been stuck in denial about that. They literally will try to redefine "open to life" to make it so that NFP fits in with it lol.
I tend to lean in that direction too... I like how they said that they are still open to God's will, while not seeking to concieve. I think it has the potential to be used wrongly and/or with the wrong mideset, but if you think of it this way it's kind of awesome: "Lord, from our limited perspective, now does not seem to be the good time to have a child. We are not going to seek to concieve, because we want to be able to provide a good life for our children. However, You are God, not us; Your will be done." Reminiscent of the Garden of Gethsemane.
Yes NFP is for "planning a family naturally" which goes in hand with the sacrament of marriage. Some ppl here are regarding it as birth control and when they want to conceive. That's definitely not Catholic teaching that's modernism.
@@AV-tm5zf no it's not
Another great and informative video in this series!
Great video really good advice i have used NFP since converting to Catholism it is very effective and so much more healthy !
Why are you using NFP?
Why?
@@helcol14 Obviously to make sure that each act was open to life ..... we were blessed with 10 beautiful children and would have been delighted to welcome many more but that was obviously not Gods plan for our family 😭 In this day and age when sadly most catholics use artificial birth control do you not think that it is better to educate inform and discuss alternatives that are open to life ???? Self control is one of the fruits / virtues of the Holy Spirit after all ??? Sadly i am probably too old to have another baby now but maybe i will be blessed as Sarah was in her old age ❤ I would consider fostering and adoption but sadly my husband thinks that we will have our hands full of grandchildren !!!! We already have a beautiful grand daughter and cant wait for more grand baby blessings from God ❤
@@ninjamaster3453 read my answer to Helcol please as that is my reply to you also
@@carolynx9126 thank you. I too often here people, mostly young people like me, mention NFP as Catholic birth control. Not used for legit reasons used for selfishness.
Currently 5 months pregnant with my unplanned NFP baby 🙃
Congratulations!
I wish you and your family the best. Did you know what happened? Perhaps what you misunderstood about the method?
Shot in the dark 😆 god bless you both. I’m wondering why Bon Jovi is springing to mind 🤔 but I don’t want to give love a bad name.
I was put on the pill at age 12 for having a heavy period. 12 years later I was taken off because it had given me growths in my liver. I’m honestly not sure if NFP will work or not because of the damage the pill did. My periods are so irregular I’m not sure how to track them. I can get a few in a row that are 4-5 weeks a part and then maybe not have one for 3 months.
I suggest talking to an NFP doctor. NFP works for irregular periods.
You all totally skipped over CCC 2368. One needs to have “just reasons” to use NFP and a just reason is not to have sex without conceiving.
Ok so I need help... I've been married for 5 years and we have 1 daughter (20 month old) I had a traumatic post partum journey... I had a really long labor, about 3 weeks after having my daughter I had severe post partum hemorrhaging because the doctors left some placenta inside me.... and then I also suffered from postpartum depression, which I told my doctor many times how I felt and he kept saying I was fine.. I wasnt and am not... I'm terrified of the thought of more children plus my husband and I both work full time jobs it's hard making ends meet... I'm scared to have more kids.... I'm trying to trust God but because of the depression I had and sometimes have I don't want anymore kids... my husband and I use a condom... is it still a mortal sin ? Considering my situation ?? And why doesnt the church talk about like post partum depression and stuff like that, no one ever does ... all we hear is be fruitful etc... but its hard!!! Any advice is welcomed !!!!! Please help!
Hi dear
Also, make sure you have received the valid sacrament of Holy Matrimony before you engage in the marital act. I will pray for you!
Hi! I think you should trust in God, he loves you and he knows you're scared and that's happening to you and your family, so, if you get pregnant you have yo know God it's with you and he will stand by your side. On the other hand, our bodies are soooo clever, when a woman is facing hard times and is stressed, her body is less likely to be fertile. According to the church teachings, one of the purposes of the marital act of sex it's to unite husband and wife, to help grow your relationship, and by using a condom you're puting a barrier between you two.
I hope muy coment helps you, I'm sorry if some of the words or lines don't make so many sense, I speak spanish. I'll pray for you!
@@patriciaforlani3339 thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I appreciate everything you said and I thank you for your prayers. I'll pray for you as well 🙏 Dios la bendiga.
Can you make a video on how to know when you are ovulating?
I wish I could ask Ascension Presents/ Jackie & Bobby this question...
I am hearing in some of the Catholic videos mentions of “Natural Law”. I would like to know if this means that Catholics are very insistent on breastfeeding? It is as natural as Natural Family Planning. I’m really sad how in many areas of the U.S. it’s still not seen as so super important. I would say it’s a human right for the child. I’m not sure why society doesn’t get that.
And breast feeding a child on demand (as opposed to an arbitrary schedule) is a great way to naturally space child births, without the dubious morality behind NFP!
I see it is not all black and white, avoiding to have a child with NFP. Thank you for making this video! Needed it lol!
Edit: God bless you and your family!
I don't see the difference either way your stopping a pregnancy i don't see why birth control is bad.
Can someone who is not regular on period do natural family planning?
I would talk to your doctor or gyno about that. Irregular period might be a sign of infertility but definitely talk to a dr
The rad trads have a point though. NFP is certainly open to life, but often it's use to to prevent life. I think Catholic culture should go back to big families. Just something to think about.
Honestly, NFP is just another form of birth control. The evil one disguises it as 'catholic' because it use no chemicals supposedly but you always use it with the intention to avoid a kid...that's truly lustful.
@@corinaavelar5752 I agree. But I wouldn't go as far as calling it a sin.
@@tMatt5M the use of contraception is a mortal sin. NFP is contraception.
@@corinaavelar5752 Nothing is being contracepted though. The sex just doesn't happen.
@@tMatt5M Yes a child is being contracepted because they have sex on days when the woman is infertile.
My husband and I (protestants) used NFP, but noticed we especially desired one another during my fertile times. We ended up with 4 pregnancies in 4 years. After our last baby, we chose (against our faith) sterilization. We had these amazing unplanned children, but never regret having them. Then, we made our own plans (vasectomy) and totally regret it.
Vasectomy is reversible
So there was a lord, and he owned a farm, and he hired three workers, and he said to each of those three workers:
"Here I have for each of you a bag of seeds, and I ask that for me that you plant all of these seeds and tend to all the crops that grow from these seeds, so that I may harvest them later. If you do that, I will reward you."
Now the first of the workers did not want to tend to the crops, yet he still wanted the reward, so he planted the seeds, but alongside each seed he planted, he also planted a toxin that would kill the seed, such that every seed he planted withered away and died before it sprung roots or a stem.
The second worker also did not want to tend to the crops, yet wanted the reward, so he came up with another plan, he waited for the winter to come and then he planted the seeds, and in the coldness of winter, the seeds could not survive, and they all withered and died.
The third worker planted all the seeds in the spring, and every day he would go to them and tend to them, and pull out the weeds and care for them.
Which of these workers will be seen as righteous in the sight of the lord?
Can one be closed to fertility and open to life at the same time?
Serious motives, such as those which not rarely arise from medical, eugenic, economic and social so-called “indications,” may exempt husband and wife from the obligatory, positive debt for a long period or even for the entire period of matrimonial life.”
If the natural destiny of the conjugal act is a baby, and the natural destiny of NFP is no baby, then how can we say it is natural?
Bc u can STILL get pregnant with nfp…. Even if ur avoiding pregnancy its still possible.
@@JulieNicoleSays you can get pregnant on the pill as well. Casti connubii says there is only one natural *destiny* of the conjugal act..babies. Nfp/the pill do not share that natural destiny. Why does organic automatically mean in accord with nature?
I enjoyed this video. I loooove my contraception, and the peace of mind it gives but it is interesting that your partner is very conscious of your cycle which is amazing. I will say also to his point that contraception is saying “no” to the possibility of pregnancy; no contraceptive is 100% effective, people have had children on all of them & is one of the reasons I exist 💗😂. God will make a way😂😂.
I also agree that even using NFP is saying no to the possibility of pregnancy as well. In your conscience, you're deciding no everytime you do NFP in a cyclical basis. And I think a lot of folks don't really ponder on this. If you truly don't want to block or say no to life and pregnancy then nothing should be done, not even NFP should be done.
I preffer have 25 babbies
? I guess you do not understand NFP
awww your comment is so cute :) God bless you with great fertility my friend. St.Raymond Nonnatus, pray for us to have many children. St.Gerard Majella, pray for us!
I do not believe in big families. I am not a fan of big families. The norm is to have two children.
Good luck paying for their schooling, food, housing, and clothes without an upper 6 figure salary :P
I heard that you used to have hormonal acne. I currently have hormonal acne after stoping the pill. I was wondering how you tackled acne transitioning to NFP and not using the pill. I’m also getting married in July and we plan on practicing NFP!
Only couples who get along beautifully can do NFP. If you are like millions out there who have marital, relationship problems, this NFP makes it worse.
Did you know the divorce rate is much, much lower for couples who use NFP? You should consider it. It opens dialogue with your spouse.
Just remember though that you must have a grave matter to use it.
@@maritamuras8978or maybe because having 6+ kids makes divorce nearly impossible
Is pulling out consider Contraception sorry for the bad wording I used to sin
Kinda trying to understand but you’re saying you have to be open to life, and you can’t use contraception because that means you’re blocking pregnancy. However, you can use NFP because there is still a chance that you can get pregnant? But isn’t NFP just using natural means to block pregnancy? And if so, how does that differ from contraception? because the only means of contraception that is 100% is abstinence which means there still is a chance to get pregnant on the pill and with condoms and stuff. So either using NFP would mean you’re not open to life and avoiding pregnancy or using contraception means you’re open to the small chance of life but you’re avoiding pregnancy because it can’t be both right? Not trying to argue I’m just confused by the concept. I hope someone can answer my questions. Not catholic btw but I’m interested in learning about the faith
NFP is not contraception because there is never a moment where you are "contracepting". Like, if for three weeks you are having regular sex with your spouse and not using contraceptives, and then for one week you abstain from sex, when does the contraception happen? Having sex without contraceptives certainly isn't practicing contraception. And abstaining from sex isn't practicing contraception. And if God wants to make a miracle occur to conceive a child outside of the woman's fertile window, you are giving him the ability to do that. When you practice contraception, you are basically telling God "I don't care if you want to work a miracle through me or not, I will not allow that to happen"
We as Catholics are not called to be .2% (not even 1%) open to life God tells us to be 100% open.
Do you guys have a private social media page? Really enjoy your vids.
NFP doesn't work for everyone, it takes all the spontaneity out of intimacy, and most couples end up in a sexless marriage. Its not a great solution and if you use it as contraception what's the difference? Btw, the pill is not the only form of contraceptive out there...
Thank you for this very balanced perspective.
This was very informative and encouraging to watch. Thanks guys. Goodness, Jackie but where did you find Bobby !? Where did he find you :-D Bobby perhaps look into doing some series on sex and sexuality with a number of your male friends ( single and married ) if possible. It's super encouraging to and hear a man who genuinely values holiness and learning and growing as a person. I've just personally not had much exposure to that and it can be very discouraging as a single woman staying committed to not settling for a man who simply doesn't value or believe the same things. Also for guys who may not have immediate access to healthy male mentorship to keep them encouraged.
1:22 actually the sassy answer is "Your FACE is enough birth control!"
*Oof*
Real talk, I do not understand how people manage to have more than 3 or maybe 4 children without either being upper middle class or poor enough to get government cheese
Holy,good people choose to be prudent with their money, live more simply and it's possible. Cheaters and entitled people have children TO get money from the government. I know dozens of families who are not upper middle class, or anywhere in the middle class, and do it with grace, strength, joy, trials but fortitude and the Lord blesses you all the more when your faith is bigger than you fear.
@@jac1161 Having worked as s child protective social worker and therapist for 33 years, I have witnessed first hand what it means for families to struggle financially, emotionally and psychologically to meet the needs of their children...many living in underserved communities with limited social supports, opportunity, education and job skills and limiting the number of children is a necessity and not a luxury or selfish act.
Hello
What is the method called that you used I can’t catch what you said
Also where do we learn how to do it ? Please help and God bless
What method and where I can buy it? Is the NFP different types of it? Advies please 🙏🙏
NFP is the only moral way for sure. The fertile time is also when male and female are most sexually charged. But please take note that NFP can also be used in ways that are not necessarily moral. If the wife refuses sex all the time except during ovulation the husband starts to feel like he is being used. This can end up very badly.
..cause you really don't want to waste this time..💏✌
NFP is the same as not being fully open to life. 100% disagree with this post-Vatican II teaching...
Please where I can buy exactly this not marquette, I found in internet many, but I don't have idea where I can buy it. Of what is the right one for buy. 🙏🙏🙏
Do you ever question the Catechism or other Catholic literature, or do you just accept it and abide by it no matter what? I mean this as respectfully as possible. Also, who writes the Catechism?
Good question. I looked up an article that you might find helpful. www.catholic.com/qa/how-much-authority-does-the-catechism-of-the-catholic-church-carry
Nich V.,
Go to to USCCB.org ---United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. There are tabs for teaching/beliefs and a search bar you can type in the word "catechism". I find the site very helpful.
God bless you!
Lena
A great army of old men in rome
nich v
I would be careful not to challenge the lady in this video
Where are the other 2 videos?
Is using NFP bad? I just don’t want to have more than one child because I mean pregnancy is scary