At The Heart Of It
2026 marks the 55th year CCL has been in existence. CCL is teaching couples how to understand and embrace their fertility and live their marriage vocation as God planned it. This milestone has me reflecting on why we have survived for more than half a century. At the heart of it, CCL is still here because we offer the practical and the uplifting. The practical—understanding when we are fertile and infertile—and the uplifting—helping us to live better marriages.
Awe & Wonder
When couples learn to recognize when they are fertile and not, it becomes powerful knowledge. First it gives confidence to both spouses – they are in charge of their fertility, not some pill or device. Second, it improves communication between spouses. They must talk about managing their physical desires (which isn’t always in synch) against the probability of conceiving a child. The published research is consistent; couples using NFP state their communication is improved, even when they felt it was already good. Third, this daily knowledge of their fertility reminds them of the awe and wonder of how we are made. (It also teaches us guys that certain statements may be funny in one part of her cycle but not in another.)
To Truly Love
As to the uplifting dimension of NFP, it’s a great daily tool to remind us how to truly love our spouse – to put their good ahead of our own. Several published studies show couples who use NFP have improved self-mastery, are better at expressing sexual intimacy, and have improved spiritual well-being. These improvements are significant when compared to couples using contraception in the few comparative studies available.
Multiple studies using large US-based databases show clearly that couples who have ever-used NFP have significantly lower odds of divorce compared to those who have never used NFP. These same studies show those who have ever-used contraception (barriers, pills, or are sterilized) have a significantly increased risk of divorce compared to never-users.
A Better Life
Simply put NFP is a daily habit, like eating well, exercising regularly, and getting a good night’s sleep, that helps us live a better life. And, for NFP, it’s not so much the daily habit that is at the heart of it, but the consequences of those habits that improve our lives.
Written by Mike Manhart. This was originally published in Family Foundations magazine. Join us as a CCL Patron to support our mission! With a monthly gift of $5 or an annual gift of $60 or more, you will receive our complimentary award-winning magazine, Family Foundations, as our thank you for supporting CCL. Find courses for a lifetime of fertility at LearnNFP.org.