Love Archives

From Humanae Vitae to Theology of the Body

Humanae Vitae Giving Day 2018 We are very glad to share this excerpt from Christopher West’s newest book which he debuted at our conference earlier this month, Eclipse of the Body: How We Lost Sight of the Meaning of Sex, Gender, Marriage, and Family and How to Regain It. * * * by Christopher West Soon after…

Surviving a Year Without Sex

Humanae Vitae Giving Day 2018 * * * We are pleased to share this piece from the fabulous blog of Jenny Uebbing, Mama Needs Coffee, hosted on the Catholic News Agency site. This was the first of a series of articles she shared in advance of today’s anniversary. Be sure to check out and follow…

4 Ways NFP is Different from Contraception

Humanae Vitae Giving Day 2018 * * * by Professor Janet E. Smith On the 50th year anniversary of Humanae Vitae, let’s take a moment to consider the differences between NFP and contraception. Some people think they are essentially the same because both are used by couples who want to have sexual intercourse but who…

Food and Sex are Different Things

From the Family Foundations archives **** I have never had sex. I do not plan on ever having sex. Our culture today leads many to believe that a man’s appetite for sex is like his appetite for food — it needs to be satisfied or he will wither. As a celibate man, I assure you, you can…

A Nod to the Love Languages

From the Family Foundations archives **** Learning to speak each other’s love language has been crucial for our marriage and it fits remarkably well with our practice of NFP! When Maria and I were engaged, I learned early on that she loved to read self-improvement books — books on relationships, on faith, and when we were expecting…

9 Tips: Improving Intimacy in Marriage

From the Family Foundations archives **** Whether it’s years of marriage or distractions from the kids, couples often report fading spousal intimacy over time. The longer they’re married, it seems, the less connected they feel. Here are 9 time-tested tips that may not seem romantic, but ultimately encourage the kind of TLC that allows authentic intimacy to…

Do you Have Hands of Mary?

I recently came across this wonderful article, written by a religious sister reflecting on whether her actions follow in the footsteps of Mary’s actions. That is, do our actions point others to Jesus? It’s a great reflection and worthy of your time. But when I read the title, I thought of something a bit different.…

Humanae Vitae: The Sword and the Stone

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * by Michael Gagnon It has now been 49 years since Humanae Vitae dropped out of heaven through His Holiness Pope Paul VI and the shockwaves continue to resound throughout the world. Since its release, this blessed document has not failed or slowed in its mission to clearly call…

Pregnant Again…

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * By Janet Sahm Easter One year ago, I wrote a reflection on the message of Humanae Vitae and the birth of my first born. A year later, I sit here again to attempt the task to reflect on the arrival of our second. Yes, in one and a…

Love as the Antidote to Selfishness

Selfishness. We have all been selfish and we have all been in the presence of someone being selfish. As a 21-year-old woman, I often get painted with the wide brush associating millennials and selfishness (among other things). But our faith tells us that one way to combat this selfishness is love. Two days ago we celebrated…