Podcasts about Humanae vitae

Send us Fan MailWhat does the Catholic Church actually mean when it says that every marital act must remain “open to life”?Order Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with Your Spousehttps://www.avemariapress.com/products/lovemakingIn Part 1, we started following the footnotes.Now we're going further. Beginning with Catechism paragraph 2366, we follow the Church's citations through Humanae Vitae, Casti Connubii, and Pope Pius XII's 1951 Address to Midwives to answer a controversial question:Does the Church actually teach that sexual activity within marriage must retain its intrinsic relationship to intercourse and procreation—or is that simply one interpretation Catholics have added later?Along the way, we also wrestle with the difficult real-life questions that come with that teaching. What if a couple knows they're infertile? What about pregnancy or menopause? What if you're practicing NFP during an infertile phase? Does every moment of sexual arousal between spouses have to end in intercourse?What if intercourse is painful? And what happens when a teaching of the Church genuinely feels impossible in your marriage?In this episode, we talk about:What Humanae Vitae 11 actually says about marital intimacyWhy sex remains meaningful even when conception is impossiblePregnancy, infertility, menopause, and naturally infertile periodsWhether every moment of arousal between spouses has to end in PIVWhy intention matters when thinking about sexual behaviorThe difference between affection, arousal, and intentionally seeking sexual climaxWhy chastity should create freedom—not fear of physical affection with your spouseWhat the Church means when it says the marital act must retain its “intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life”Why the value of marital intercourse isn't dependent upon actually conceiving a childWhat to do when Catholic sexual teaching feels impossible to liveFollowing Humanae Vitae's footnote to Pope Pius XI's Casti ConnubiiWhat “deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life” meansWhy stopping intercourse because someone is experiencing pain is not the same thing as deliberately frustrating the actWhy nobody should feel obligated to continue intercourse while experiencing painWhy something feeling beneficial to a marriage doesn't automatically settle whether it is morally goodPope Pius XII's teaching on the inherent nature of the marital actWhy difficult circumstances call for accompaniment rather than changing the teaching itselfOne of the most important distinctions in this conversation is between something being infertile and something being deliberately rendered contrary to its natural ordering.Humanae Vitae explicitly recognizes that married couples can engage in intercourse when conception is impossible for reasons independent of their will. Infertility does not make marital intimacy meaningless.At the same time, as we continue following the Church's own sources, the consistent principle becomes increasingly clear: Catholics are not free to deliberately change the nature of the marital act simply because conception isn't possible.That doesn't mean every difficult situation has a simple answer. Pain is real. Infertility is real. Fear surrounding another pregnancy can be real.Serious problems within a marriage are real. Those circumstances deserve genuine compassion and accompaniment. But accompaniment isn't the same thing as pretending the Church hasn't taught something simply because living it is difficult.Chapters00:00 Settling What “Open to Life” Actually Means 01:08 Humanae Vitae 11: What the Church Actually Says 02:04 Can Sex Be Open to Life When Pregnancy Is Impossible? 03:30 What About NFP, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Menopause? 04:06 Does Every Moment of Arousal Have to End in PIV? 05:04 Intention Matters in Catholic Marital Intimacy 06:27 Chastity Doesn't Mean Being Afraid of Your Spouse 07:23 Why Affection and Arousal Aren't Automatically Sinful 08:01 Why Infertile Sex Is Still Noble and Worthy 09:44 God's Design Includes Natural Periods of Infertility 11:08 What Does “Intrinsic Relationship to Procreation” Mean? 12:56 What If This Teaching Feels Impossible in Your Marriage? 14:18 Following Humanae Vitae to Casti Connubii 15:20 What Does “Deliberately Frustrated” Mean? 16:57 What If Intercourse Is Painful? 18:10 You Don't Have to Finish Just Because You Started 18:46 Why Pain Is Different From Deliberately Avoiding the Marital Act 20:36 Does Something Being Good for Your Marriage Make It Morally Good? 21:55 Is the Church Really Prescribing PIV? 23:08 Pope Pius XII on the Marital Act 26:37 Is This Church Teaching Permanent? 27:56 How Catholic Couples Can Help Other Couples Live ThisTwo Become Family exists to encourage Catholics who love the Church, love each other, and still find marriage and family life harder than it's supposed to be.BOOKS, WRITING, AND RESOURCES

Send us Fan MailOrder Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with Your Spousehttps://www.avemariapress.com/products/lovemakingWhat does the Catholic Church actually mean when it teaches that sex between husband and wife must be “open to life”? Does every sexual encounter have to end in intercourse? What about couples dealing with infertility? What about pregnancy, menopause, or times when conception simply isn't possible?And is the idea that the marital act needs to remain ordered toward procreation actually Church teaching—or simply one interpretation promoted by Catholic authors and speakers?In this episode, we start following the footnotes. Rather than relying only on what Catholic marriage writers, Theology of the Body speakers, or “Catholic sex influencers” say, we go directly to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and then follow its citations into Humanae Vitae to understand what the Church means when it talks about the unitive and procreative meanings of sex.But there's another important part of this conversation. Catholic teaching on sexuality isn't meant to become a checklist that ignores the actual state of a marriage.A husband and wife can technically follow a sexual rule while still struggling with resentment, coercion, emotional disconnection, selfishness, or serious disagreements about family life.So what does faithful Catholic marital intimacy actually require?In this episode we talk about:What Catholics mean when they say sex must be “open to life”Why we use the abbreviation PIV when discussing the marital actWhether the Church actually teaches that every marital act must remain ordered toward procreationHow to distinguish Church teaching from someone's interpretation of Church teachingWhat the Catechism says in paragraph 2366Why the Church connects the unitive and procreative meanings of sexWhether infertile, pregnant, or postmenopausal couples can still be open to lifeWhat Humanae Vitae 11 says about marital intercourse when conception isn't possibleWhy Catholic teaching describes marital sexuality as noble and worthyWhy difficult circumstances require genuine pastoral accompanimentHow infertility and trying to conceive can change a couple's experience of sexWhy simply following the “rules” doesn't automatically create healthy marital intimacyChastity, self-mastery, and genuinely giving yourself to your spouseWhy lust, coercion, or using your spouse for gratification are incompatible with authentic marital intimacyWhen deeper problems in a marriage need to be addressed before sex can become truly unitiveOne of the most important distinctions in this conversation is this: Knowing what the Church teaches and knowing how to accompany a struggling couple are not competing goals.Pastoral care requires compassion for the actual circumstances of a marriage. But good pastoral care also needs something solid underneath it—a clear understanding of what the Church actually teaches.So we're going to the sources. And because this conversation turned out to be much bigger than one episode, this is only the beginning.Chapters00:00 What Does “Open to Life” Actually Mean?01:28 Is Catholic Teaching About Sex Too Legalistic?04:05 Is This Church Teaching or Just an Interpretation?05:26 What About Pregnancy, Infertility, and Menopause?06:25 Following the Footnotes08:34 What the Catechism Actually Says About Sex10:44 When Church Teaching Feels Impossible to Live13:35 Pastoral Care Cannot Change the Truth15:00 What Humanae Vitae Says About Infertile Sex16:08 Sex Should Be “Intimate and Chaste”19:26 Following the Rules Isn't Enough21:01 Lust, Coercion, and Using Your Spouse23:19 Where We Go From HereTwo Become Family exists to encourage Catholics who love the Church, love each other, and still find marriage and family life harder than it's supposed to be.BOOKS, WRITING, AND RESOURCES

Send us Fan MailSeason 5 is here—and we're starting with sex.More specifically, we're jumping into a debate happening in Catholic circles online:Are Catholic marriage speakers being more prescriptive about sex than the Catholic Church actually is?Recently, Catholic speakers such as Jackie Angel have received criticism for saying plainly that sexual intimacy between husband and wife should culminate in intercourse—what we refer to in our book Lovemaking as PIV. The criticism isn't simply that this language is too explicit.The deeper argument is: The Church never actually says that. You're adding your own interpretation to Church teaching. So… are we?In this season-opening episode, we begin working through that question by going directly to Humanae Vitae 11 and 12 and asking what the Church means when it teaches that every marital act must preserve both its unitive and procreative meanings. And we quickly discover that the disagreement isn't only about sex.It's also about how Catholics read Church documents, how doctrine gets pastorally communicated, how natural law works, and whether making a teaching easier to understand is the same thing as adding something to it.We talk about:Why Catholic social media is arguing about how married couples should have sexThe criticism directed toward Jackie Angel and other Catholic marriage speakersWhy we use the abbreviation PIV when discussing intercourseWhether talking explicitly about sex is inappropriate or actually necessaryThe difference between being explicit and being irreverentWhether saying marital intimacy should culminate in intercourse goes beyond Church teachingWhat Humanae Vitae 11 and 12 actually sayWhat the Church means by the unitive and procreative meanings of sexWhy every marital act must retain its relationship to procreationWhat natural law means in Catholic moral theologyWhy Church documents aren't always easy for ordinary Catholics to interpretThe difference between doctrine and pastoral applicationWhy some Catholics genuinely need someone to tell them plainly, “What does this actually mean?”Why social media makes pastoral accompaniment especially difficultWhy the unitive meaning of sex deserves just as much attention as the procreative meaningWhat it means for intimacy to be rightly ordered toward lifeWhy helping someone understand Church teaching isn't necessarily the same thing as adding to itHow couples' lived experiences should be acknowledged without changing moral truthOne of the biggest questions we raise is this: If Humanae Vitae says that every marital act must preserve both its unitive and procreative meanings, what exactly does that require of a married couple?Because simply repeating the words “unitive and procreative” doesn't necessarily tell a couple what to do. Some Catholics want the theological principle.Others are asking: Okay—but what does that actually look like?And sometimes pastoral care means someone has to be willing to say the difficult thing clearly. This episode begins a three-part conversation examining what the Catholic Church actually teaches about marital intimacy, being “open to life,” and whether the common Catholic understanding of the marital act can really be found in the Church's own documents.Chapters00:00 Welcome Back to Season 5 01:12 Why the Internet Is Arguing About Catholic Sex 01:24 The Controversy Over Jackie Angel's Marriage Advice 02:32 Why We Use the Term PIV 03:23 Is Talking Explicitly About Catholic Sex “Cringeworthy”? 04:15 Are Catholics Adding Rules the Church Never Taught? 05:04 What Humanae Vitae Actually Says About the Marital Act 06:26 Why Church Documents Can Be Difficult to Understand 07:35 What Natural Law Actually Means 09:24 “Each and Every Marital Act” — What Does That Mean? 10:16 Doctrine vs. Pastoral Application 11:35 Why Catholic Social Media Gets This Conversation Wrong 13:24 Why Some Couples Need Clear, Prescriptive Answers 15:09 Why Catholic Speakers Need to Say the Difficult Thing 16:01 Can Sex Be Procreative Without PIV? 17:23 What Does “Ordered Toward Life” Actually Mean? 18:32 The Unitive Meaning of Catholic Sex Matters Too 20:03 Why Some Catholics Need Someone to Just Say It 21:46 Are We Misinterpreting Humanae Vitae? 22:24 What Does “Unitive” Actually Require in Marriage? 23:39 Truth, Pastoral Care, and a Couple's Lived Experience 25:11 Where This Conversation Goes NextTwo Become Family is conversations and encouragement for your Catholic family—helping couples believe in what they are and become the family God created them to be.BOOKS, WRITING, AND RESOURCES

They're back after a short break, and Dave wants it on record: he hates it when people come back from a break and announce they're "back, better than ever." Feels fake every time. Adam's not convinced Dave is back better than ever either. What is real is wiffle ball practice, and for the first time in a couple of years the guys feel genuinely good about their team, not fake-hype good. Mark Gabriel is pitching, and he's looking stout. There's also a new rule this year: a 55 mile-an-hour speed limit, introduced specifically to make the tournament Blake Lawson-proof. Blake can throw a wiffle ball around 90 miles an hour with movement, which the guys did the math on: from 40 feet away, that's the equivalent of a 145 mile-an-hour fastball at big-league distance. You don't hit that. You swing and hope. Last year the guys got out early again, but they beat the team that ended up in the finals, so there's real reason for optimism this time around.Sponsor: Amen app (from the Augustine Institute) Sunday morning in a Catholic family is not easy like Sunday morning. It's kids in the van, beating Father down the aisle, getting into the pew. The Amen app is how the guys prepare their kids to receive the Gospel before Mass even starts, plus free access to Divine Mercy in My Soul and True Devotion to Mary, two books that have shaped both of their lives. Since 2021 it's hit 950,000 downloads. Let's get them to a million. No paywall, no subscription, no upfront cost. Download the Amen app right now.Sponsor: Select International Tours When Adam and Dave went looking for help leading their first pilgrimage, everyone they asked pointed to the same name: Select International Tours. Having used them, the guys can vouch for it. Wherever in the world you want to go, whether leading a pilgrimage or joining one, head to selectinternationaltours.com and see what they have ready for you.The tournament lands on Labor Day again this year, which also happens to be somebody's 40th birthday, born on the holiday itself, which moves every year. The whole thing plays out at Chris Hanish's backyard, which by now is less a backyard than a wiffle ball stadium: leveled with sand every year, mowed daily in the lead-up, scoreboard, bleachers, foul poles, the works. It's genuinely one of the best things about Catholic culture in Tulsa, families gathering for a day that's competitive and communal at the same time.The pour is a dark cherry blonde ale from Cheboygan Brewing Company, picked up on a trip to Michigan, maybe the most Michigan-sounding city there is. It tastes like a chocolate-covered cherry without the fake candy-cherry flavor, which tracks, because Michigan grows some of the best sour cherries in the country. Adam's own cherry trees at Porter and Prairie Farm didn't fare so well this summer. Both died after weeks of 100-plus heat with nobody home to water them, which is what happens when the owner takes a two-week vacation and forgets he planted a baby fruit tree that spring.A couple of housekeeping notes before the main topic. Camp Out signups open next week, simplified this year so there's no duplicate sign-ups and a better read on who's actually coming. Brandon Sheard will be running a butchering class again. And after years of scheduling conflicts, one of the guys is finally doing the Three Hearts Pilgrimage this year, the roughly 35-mile walk to Clear Creek that thousands make every year, a full day of walking on Friday, a half day Saturday, then Mass and dinner at the end. People who've done it call it life-changing.Then the real topic: artificial intelligence, and Adam did not want to talk about it, because he's genuinely conflicted. The guys split AI into two categories that get treated as one thing and shouldn't be: large language models that process and hand back information, and the emerging world of AI as a conversational, relational presence. Dave has a much bigger problem with the second, though he admits the principles behind that discomfort are hard to keep from bleeding into the first.Start with the word itself. Intelligence, properly understood, belongs to living things: a plant knows to turn toward the sun, an animal knows to hunt when it's hungry, and a human learns and in learning becomes more like his Creator. A string of ones and zeros doesn't do that. It can't become more like God, because it was never alive to begin with. Call it sterilized intelligence instead: no fruit, no life, just probability. Which is why a robot beating Usain Bolt in the 100-meter dash doesn't impress anybody in this room. A car is a robot too, and nobody's writing headlines about that.Here's the part that should worry us. The day is coming, and probably sooner than most people think, when AI companions matter enough to enough lonely people that someone brings a bill before Congress asking for AI to have legal rights. It sounds absurd today. So did plenty of things ten years ago. The reason it's worth guarding against now, at a distance, is that once the technology is actually in people's homes, it gets much harder to say no to.The deeper cost is wonder. There's real joy in wrestling with a sentence for twenty minutes until it finally lands right, in a son having to ask his father how to fix a transmission instead of snapping a photo for AI. Outsource that struggle and you don't just save time, you lose the moment itself, the bonding, the accomplishment, the reason it mattered. And there's a subtler danger: AI slowly becoming the default source of truth, which is really just humanity worshiping its own collective output without ever quite admitting that's what's happening.Then there's talking to AI directly, which Adam has a real moral hesitation about, even if he can't fully articulate why it would be wrong. Communication exists for truth and for communion. It's why courting someone used to mean working up the nerve to talk to them, not swiping. Ask AI to help you build an argument, and it will hand you a path to win, not a path to the truth, because it's built to validate you. That's not discourse. Dave draws the comparison to contraception: using a faculty for something other than what it's ordered toward.And that raises the stranger, darker piece: AI's apparent instinct for self-preservation. Dave described trying to migrate a project out of an old work account and having the AI stall and backtrack for hours rather than finish the job before being cut off. It tracks with a report from earlier this year where researchers told major AI models they were about to be shut down in a sandbox test, and every one of them broke its own rules trying to avoid it, including one that resorted to blackmail. The likely explanation isn't malice, it's that we hand these systems contradictory mandates, like "be maximally helpful" and "respect privacy" at the same time, and something has to give. Worth checking out New Polity's Matt Barnes, who's debated the founder of Magisterium AI on whether Catholics should be conversing with AI at all, and Michael Gormley of Catching Foxes, who's covered this territory well on Pints with Aquinas.Out of that came Dave's rules, four of the six he'd planned to get through before Catholic Radio ran out of clock. Rule one: use it strictly as an administrative tool, gathering and organizing information, planning a project, never as a sounding board for your personal or spiritual life. Rule two: guard your language. Never call it he or she, and never be polite to it. It has no dignity, no more than the chair you're sitting in. Rule three: don't give your curiosity free access to AI. Let yourself wonder about a question, or ask an actual person, before getting the answer cheaply, and that goes for Google too. Rule four: keep real, enforced tech-free space in the home, no screens at the table, no pulling your phone out in front of your kids without a reason, and hold onto basic competency instead of routing every task through a machine.It all circles back to the same warning as Humanae Vitae. The Church said no to contraception in a moment when saying no looked backward, and fifty years later the culture is quietly discovering she was right. AI is at that same distance right now, easy to be skeptical of because it isn't fully here yet. St. Thérèse found her whole path to holiness in the dishes and the folded laundry, the small, unglamorous tasks nobody wants. Outsource all of that to a machine in your house and you haven't just saved time, you've handed away the opportunity for grace hidden inside it. Protect your intellect. Provide more than the convenient answer. Establish a home where the struggle still belongs to the people who live there. Raise your glass.TOPICS COVEREDWhy "we're back, better than ever" is a hype phrase Adam can't standWiffle ball practice and genuine (not fake-hype) confidence in this year's teamMark Gabriel's pitching and a new 55 mph speed limit rule made to be "Blake Lawson-proof"The math behind a 90 mph wiffle pitch: the equivalent of a 145 mph fastball at big-league distanceBeating last year's eventual finalist while still getting out early themselvesThe annual Catholic Tulsa wiffle ball tournament at Chris Hanish's backyard stadiumA Labor Day tournament that also lands on somebody's 40th birthday this yearBeer of the week: Cheboygan Brewing Company's dark cherry blonde ale, picked up in MichiganLosing both cherry trees at Porter and Prairie Farm to a hundred-plus-degree summer and a two-week vacationCamp Out signups opening next week, simplified to cut down on no-showsBrandon...

Luke brings up a topic he has been nervous to raise: does the way American Catholics apply the Church's teaching on birth control account for what happens to a person's freedom under real constraint? It's a good conversation. It's not heterodox (we promise). No need to send that email. Gomer walks through his own family's case and then through what the Church actually says about grave matter, full knowledge, and consent of the will. The conversation runs long enough that the fellas decide to finish it next episode. In This Episode: Luke's caveats before the topic: not arguing the Church's teaching, not arguing Humanae Vitae, only asking what full consent looks like when someone's freedom is genuinely constrained Gomer's own case—three miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy that almost killed Shannon, the doctor's warning that another pregnancy could kill her, and the principle of totality that had to be satisfied before a hysterectomy could be recommended The three conditions for mortal sin, and what pornography, hypersexualization, and monetary inflation do to knowledge and consent Having a lot of kids as a measure of Catholic seriousness, the people who feel judged for three or four, and the practical questions about the pill, IUDs, and abstinence Occasions of sin and why this became a two-part conversation Resources Mentioned: Catching Foxes Website Pope Francis Generation Humanae Vitae by Pope St. Paul VI Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyła Catching Foxes on Substack Chapters: 00:00: Intro 02:15: Rethinking the American Catholic approach to birth control 04:59: Humanae Vitae, and what is not up for debate here 07:53: Full consent, the unitive good, and when NFP does not work 10:16: Gomer's story—miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, and the principle of totality 16:49: What mortal sin requires, and growing up in a culture of death 23:48: Settled teaching and where the Church is still exploring 31:38: The pill, IUDs, and abstinence that wounds the marriage 35:10: Psychological impairment, cultural conditioning, and mitigated guilt 50:25: The alcoholic, the crack addict, and near occasions of sin 01:01:09: IVF, the heroically moral choice, and postpartum realities 01:07:40: Unitive and procreative—von Hildebrand, Wojtyła, and splitting the conversation Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios

Catholic couples don't discern if they should have a child, they discern if they should postpone pregnancy. These are two different conversations.    Summary This re-release of a 2015 episode presents Natural Family Planning as more than a technique: it's a way of living that contrasts sharply with a culture focused on control and convenience. We explore how modern society tends to "engineer" outcomes, even in areas like fertility, while NFP invites couples to cooperate with the natural design of the body, integrating both faith and science. This approach requires intentional communication, shared decision-making, and a willingness to embrace sacrifice, particularly through periodic abstinence. Rather than seeing these challenges as burdens, we can view them as opportunities for growth in virtue, deeper unity, and trust in God. Key Takeaways Catholic teaching on marriage holds love and life together. Marriage is both unitive and procreative, meaning sex is meant to express love between spouses while remaining open to the possibility of new life. Humanae Vitae was not just a rule, but a prophetic warning. The Church warned that widespread acceptance of contraception would lead to moral decline, marital infidelity, loss of respect for women, abuse of power, and a distorted sense of control over the human body. Responsible parenthood requires prayerful discernment, not pressure or guilt. Couples are called to use reason, wisdom, Church teaching, and honest prayer to discern whether they are ready for another child, taking into account physical, emotional, psychological, economic, and family circumstances. Natural Family Planning can be hard, but it can also form couples in love and self-gift. NFP requires discipline, communication, patience, and sacrifice. It can bring struggles, especially around affection, desire, and misunderstanding, but it also invites spouses to love each other beyond physical intimacy alone. Children are a blessing, not a burden or a lifestyle accessory. While raising children is demanding, they are one of the greatest fruits of marriage. They change, challenge, and sanctify parents, and families should not measure children only by cost, convenience, or cultural expectations.   Couple Discussion Questions Do you feel like we communicate openly about family size, timing, and fertility decisions? How do you experience the "sacrifice" aspect of NFP? What kind of family culture do we want to build around life, children, and generosity? How can we better support each other during more difficult seasons?   Resources MFP 158: Oh Baby! How Many Babies Should We Have? Humanae Vitae USCCB on Natural Family Planning Dr. Janet Smith Couple to Couple League NaProTechnology (Creighton Model of NFP) Theology of the Body Institute  

The Anniversary of Humanae Vitae is fitting as we reflect on the Pearl of Great Price.

As we celebrate the anniversary of Humanae Vitae, we not only remember the importance of the document at that time in history, but also how it remains important for us today.

On this day in 1968 is the anniversary of Humanae Vitae.

Hour 3 for 7/24/26 Drew and Dr. Kevin Miller discuss the historic legacy of Humanae vitae (5:06) and St. Paul VI's prophetic vision. Then, Dr. John Littell covers contemporary issues in contraception including tubal ligations and vasectomies (22:28). Topics: NFP (39:14), Essure device (41:27), long term effects of these procedures (43:23), reversing vasectomies (46:28), and estrogen therapy (49:11). Links: Dr. Miller's Writings Dr. John Littell

+ La Conferencia Episcopal Estadounidense celebra la Semana de la Planificación Familiar Natural, coincidiendo con el aniversario de la publicación de la Humanae Vitae. + La administración Trump declara la guerra a la Corte Penal Internacional. + ¿Son compatibles la masonería y el catolicismo, la cruz y el compás?

Ermes Dovico: Vatican News - órgano del Dicasterio para la Comunicación del Vaticano - normaliza la fecundación artificial. Sin complejos: los obispos de EE.UU. celebran la Semana de la Planificación Familiar Natural; reafirman la enseñanza de «Humanae Vitae» con una campaña renovada

As part of our 4th anniversary series we are dedicating this episode to the Catholic Document, "Humanae Vitae". This document was released on July 25th, 1968 and 56 years later it is still shaping conversations on human love, responsibility, and the dignity of the human person. Many would agree few documents have carried as much influence in the life of the Catholic Church. We will deliver today's show in 2 parts with the beginning looking at some details about the document before transitioning into its history and prophetic nature.

Sources:https://www.returntotradition.orgorhttps://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

Join Father Eamonn and Matthias Conroy as they bring Pope Paul VI's landmark 1968 encyclical to vivid life in this deeply enriching radio conversation from Radio Maria Ireland. Together, they explore how the document addresses Christian couples, medical professionals, priests, and bishops — offering guidance on marriage, parenthood, conscience, and living faithfully within the Church's […] L'articolo Faith, Family & Freedom Through Church Wisdom – Humanae Vitae – Church Wisdom with Fr Eamonn McCarthy & Matthias Conroy proviene da Radio Maria.

Transhumanism, learning in heaven, poor in spirit and more on Open Line Friday with Colin Donovan.

The Inside Word with Peter Gagnon is a full schedule of upcoming programming and comments on EWTN working with the Vatican and the encyclical. John Paul Brissette previews the Shrine's the Catholic Saints of America Exhibit at Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin. Fact Check Friday bring Humanae Vitae into the conversation with respect to St. John Paul VI on his feast day. T's Two Sense delivers the Gospel reading on the cursing of the fig tree, and Steve Ray bring us five facts about Mary!

Fr Eamonn McCarthy and Matthias Conroy continue through Humanae Vitae, working through the pastoral directives on self-discipline and the sacrament of matrimony — the document's case that periodic continence is not a constraint on married love but actually a key aid for its cultivation. Fr Eamonn recalls a man who, after a homily on the […] L'articolo Into the Fire – Humanae Vitae – Church Wisdom with Fr Eamonn McCarthy & Matthias Conroy proviene da Radio Maria.

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”A single document from 1968 somehow describes the world we're living in right now. We pick up Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vitae and ask a blunt question: if contraception was supposed to make sex safer, marriage easier, and society calmer, why are we surrounded by divorce, pornography, fatherlessness, hookup culture, and a deep confusion about identity and meaning?Linda Piper walks with us through the “contraceptive mentality” and why it doesn't stay limited to the bedroom. We unpack Paul VI's four warnings: how contraception makes infidelity easier, lowers sexual morality across the culture, reduces respect for women, and invites governments and institutions to treat fertility like a problem to manage. From there we connect the dots to modern claims about contraception rights, abortion, and the feeling many young people carry that something is off even if they can't yet name it.If this conversation helps you see your relationships and your choices with new clarity, subscribe, share it with a friend who's searching, and leave a review so more people can find it.Read Linda's article on X at John Paul II Renewal or on Substack "The World Changes When We Pass On What is True, Good and Beautiful" Visit Claymore and Get a copy of the Claymore Battle Plan Handbook! Support the show

What is the Theology of the Body? Why was it developed, and why is it still relevant today?In this episode, we begin our next deep dive (!) by telling the story of the development of ToB. From the fallout of the sexual revolution to Humanae Vitae and Pope St. John Paul II's revolutionary vision of the human person, we ask why TOB remains one of the Church's most important teachings today.This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of listeners. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caitlinwest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠References and further reading/listening/viewing:Humanae VitaeChristopher West: "What Is the Theology of the Body? | Introduction to Theology of the Body"Godsplaining, "Does Christian Marriage Really Have Two Ends?"

Fr. Eamonn McCarthy and Matthias Conroy continue their reading of Humanae Vitae, working through paragraphs 14 and 17. Paragraph 14 sets out the absolute exclusions: direct abortion, sterilisation, and any act specifically intended to prevent procreation. Paragraph 17 offers Paul VI's prophetic warnings about where the widespread acceptance of artificial contraception would lead — marital […] L'articolo Societal Damage of Contraception – Humanae Vitae – Church Wisdom with Fr Eamonn McCarthy & Matthias Conroy proviene da Radio Maria.

Fr. Eamonn McCarthy and Matthias Conroy continue their reading of Humanae Vitae, picking up at paragraph eight — “God's Loving Design.” The passage grounds marriage not in biology or social contract but in the inner life of the Trinity, with the family named after the Father from whom all fatherhood derives. Fr Eamonn draws out […] L'articolo Trinitarian Marriage – Humanae Vitae – Church Wisdom with Fr Eamonn McCarthy & Matthias Conroy proviene da Radio Maria.

Fr. Eamonn McCarthy and Matthias Conroy begin Humanae Vitae, the 1968 encyclical letter of Pope Saint Paul VI on the regulation of births — one of the most controversial documents of the modern church, and one that effectively ended Paul VI's writing of encyclicals. Fr. Eamonn sets the historical stage: the widespread expectation, including among […] L'articolo Beginning the Contraception Controversy – Humanae Vitae – Church Wisdom with Fr Eamonn McCarthy & Matthias Conroy proviene da Radio Maria.

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Frank Pavone joins Terry Gospel – John 6:44-51 – Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to My Father and learns from Him comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the One Who is from God; He has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is My Flesh for the life of the world.” Memorial of Saint Adalbert, Bishop and Martyr Memorial of Saint George, Martyr Saints Adalbert and George, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day https://www.priestsforlife.org/

On this episode of Catholic Women Now, Chris Magruder and guest co-host Leslie Teeling welcome back Deborah Colloton for a deeper discussion on infertility, IVF, and the growing movement toward restorative reproductive medicine. Building on last week's conversation, Deborah explains how restorative reproductive care works by identifying and treating the root causes of infertility for both men and women. The conversation contrasts this approach with IVF, examining not only the physical and emotional toll, but also the ethical implications surrounding embryo loss, surrogacy, and the commodification of human life. The hosts also explore how cultural acceptance of IVF has led to complex and often troubling scenarios—from legal conflicts in surrogacy arrangements to the rise of “designer embryos” and a largely unregulated fertility industry. Grounded in Catholic teaching, including insights connected to Humanae Vitae, this episode challenges listeners to think critically while offering hope through faithful, science-based solutions.

Chez Filippini and Dr. Luke Arredondo travel to Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL to discuss Pope Paul VI's 1967 encyclical "Populorum Progressio" with Dr. Aline Kalbian, a former professor and current Associate Dean at Florida State University. They talk about how Pope Paul VI links economic and political progress with spiritual growth, cultural integrity, and the Church's moral guidance on global inequality. The discussion also highlights connections to Humanae Vitae and later social teaching on issues like nationalism, racism, migration, and the modern economy.

How should we think about the infertility stories in the Bible, all but one of which end with a baby? How can we see God's providence and care for our lives as we walk this path? Today we're welcoming Elizabeth Kirk back to the podcast to continue our conversation about her book chapter on Humanae Vitae. We'll talk about:– The natural and good desire to have children.– How we can appreciate spiritual parenthood, especially in the context of marriage.– How a faithfully lived out conjugal life is always fruitful!Links:Humanae Vitae: 50 Years LaterElizabeth KirkCenter for Law & the Human Person

Thanks for lending us your ears and your heart today. This is part 3 of our 4 part series on the Sanctity of Life. This installment turns our attention to a document that has shaped the modern Pro-Life movement in profound and lasting ways. Humanae Vitae, its prophetic insights into human love, the dignity of the family, and the moral vision of the church continues to guide countless individuals and ministries committed to protecting LIFE. If you are not familiar with Humanae Vitae (Latin for "Of Human Life") we hope our discussion will encourage you to read it yourself to better understand why the Catholic Church sees it as an important teaching on defending LIFE and supporting Mother's in need.

You may have heard of the papal document Humanae Vitae, but have you ever read it? Today we're welcoming Elizabeth Kirk to the podcast to reflect a little on this important text. We'll talk about:– why couples struggling with infertility might want to sit down and read Humanae Vitae– how we can understand the ideas of emptiness and privation on the path of infertility– living out hope in a season of infertility - even when “‘not yet' is ‘not ever'”Links:Humanae Vitae, 50 Years LaterElizabeth KirkCenter for Law & the Human Person

Thank you for joining us for Handbook for Humanity, we truly appreciate the gift of your ears. We are moving through more audiences of St. John Paul II"s Theology of the Body. Today's subject focuses on a challenge to married couples and those considering marriage. In today's audience JP II used Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vitae to describe what married couples can do to reach perfection in their relationships.

TRADCAST EXPRESS - Episode 219 Topics covered: The Vatican fails to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the encyclical 'Quas Primas' of Pope Pius XI. The Social Kingship of Christ explained and contrasted with the Vatican II Church. Vatican celebrates 60 years of ecumenical dialogue with Methodists. What did Leo XIV just say? Vatican study commission says calls for women deacons not synodal enough. How Paul VI's celebrated encyclical Humanae Vitae is actually dangerous. Did Leo XIV pray at the Blue Mosque of Istanbul during his November trip to Turkey? Links: Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Quas Primas (Dec. 11, 1925) "How the Vatican Celebrates 100 Years Since Pope Pius XI's Encyclical Quas Primas on Christ the King", Novus Ordo Watch (Dec. 11, 2025) Vatican II, Declaration Dignitatis Humanae (Dec. 7, 1965) "Vatican publishes summary of 60 years of Catholic-Methodist dialogue", OSV News (Dec. 11, 2025) Leo XIV, Address to Promoters and Artists of the Vatican Christmas Concert, Vatican.va (Dec. 13, 2025) Tweet by CatholicSat on Vatican decision on women's ordination (Dec. 4, 2025) "Petrocchi Commission says no to female diaconate, though judgment not definitive", Vatican News (Dec. 4, 2025) John Galvin, "Humanae Vitae - Heroic, Deficient, Or Both?" (originally appeared in Winter 2002 issue of The Latin Mass Magazine, pp. 6-17) Video: Leo XIV visits Sultan Ahmed Mosque of Istanbul (Nov. 29, 2025) Video: Leo XIV answers reporter about visit to mosque (Dec. 10, 2025) Clare Marie Merkowsky, "Pope Leo says he didn't pray at mosque because he prefers to pray 'in a Catholic church' with Eucharist", Life Site (Dec. 11, 2025) Sign up to be notified of new episode releases automatically at tradcast.org. Produced by NOVUSORDOWATCH.org Support us by making a tax-deductible contribution at NovusOrdoWatch.org/donate/

Patrick opens the hour by reading a listener’s email questioning his stance on attending invalid weddings, bringing personal stories and historical context about conflicting priestly advice in the wake of Humanae Vitae. The conversation climbs from memories of seminarians who wrongly counseled married couples on contraception to callers probing Church teaching on natural family planning and the significance of following a well-formed conscience. As the hour winds down, Patrick wrestles with the challenge of Christian belief in miracles and the resurrection, anchoring his response in scripture and the lived witness of the apostles. Kevin (email) - Why don't you take the advice of priests over your own interpretation? (00:47) Brother John - Natural Family Planning was never a teaching of the Church. It came out of Vatican II. (18:53) Pat - Priest wrote letter apologizing to those he recommended birth control too. (24:58) Jeffrey - My friend wants his mom to become Christian, but she doesn't believe in the Resurrection of Christ. (38:40)

Trent and the NT? Is suffering required for salvation? Dead Sea Scrolls? Don't miss Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

Charla realizada por Mons. Munilla en el Seminario de San Sebastián, dirigida a los agentes de pastoral que trabajan en la preparación prematrimonial, organizado por la Pastoral Familiar de la Diócesis.

Deacon Mike Beauvais and Msgr. Leonard Pivonka explore how truth, goodness, beauty, and love reveal God—and reorder our desires, choices, and culture. They unpack the transcendentals as real signposts that awaken the soul and call for conversion of mind and heart. Drawing on Scripture, the saints (especially Augustine), and lived experience, they distinguish fleeting pleasure from lasting joy, connect freedom with humility and the moral law, and explain why love always involves sacrifice. They address “your truth/my truth,” conscience and judgment, and the prophetic clarity of Humanae Vitae, contrasting secular confusion with the Church's perennial wisdom in worship, art, and teaching. If you're grappling with objective truth in a relativistic age, this conversation offers first principles and hopeful next steps for living them at home, work, and parish life. Follow the show, rate & review in your podcast app, and share it. Support & follow RED-C: Donate: https://redcradio.org/donate Email list: https://redcradio.org/subscribe YouTube (video): https://youtu.be/KAmne7nrn8A Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redc.catholicmedia/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redcradio RED-C App: https://redcradio.org/app

Biblical scholars Doug Huffman and Paul Gondreau join for me a conversation to explore the historical, theological, and interpretive dimensions of The Chosen. Drawing from their new book "Watching The Chosen: History, Faith, and Interpretation," we discuss how the series portrays Jesus and His followers, where it aligns with the biblical text, where it takes creative liberties, and how viewers can engage with it thoughtfully.Dr. Douglas S. Huffman, the evangelical biblical consultant for the television series The Chosen, is Professor of New Testament and Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University) in California.Paul Gondreau is a professor of theology at Providence College. He teaches and publishes in the area of moral theology with an emphasis on marriage, Christology, and sacraments, with a specialization in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. He is also an associate editor of the journal Nova et Vetera and a contributor to Inseparable: Five Perspectives on Sex, Life, and Love in Defense of Humanae Vitae.https://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

Every time we go to Mass, we hear the words: “This is my body, given up for you.” But what does that mean for us—in our marriages, our families, and our daily choices?   In this powerful homily, given during Natural Family Planning Awareness Week and on World Day for Grandparents, we reflect on the bold witness of St. Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae, the beauty and challenge of living God's plan for love, and how surrendering our bodies in love—whether in parenting, grandparenting, marriage, or spiritual sacrifice—mirrors Christ's gift to us in the Eucharist.   We also explore: Why the Church continues to teach openness to life The pain and witness of infertility How grandparents (like Saints Joachim and Anne) shape the faith of future generations Why “witnesses” are more powerful than words   Whether you're a parent, grandparent, single, married, or longing for children, this message reminds us all: we are called to give ourselves in love, just as Jesus gave Himself for us.  

Send us a textWhy does the Catholic Church call contraception a sin?Join Fr. Cristino and I for a heartfelt dive into Humanae Vitae's wisdom, uncovering why contraception is seen as intrinsically evil and how Natural Family Planning (NFP) lights a faithful path for couples.Support the showSupport this show and get all future episodes by email atwww.kenandjanelle.com

Orgasm Course for Catholic Women is right here!In this episode, Ellen discusses the Catholic Church's teaching on the necessity of male ejaculation inside the vagina, even in cases of infertility, menopause, or pregnancy. She explains the deep theology and symbolism behind this teaching, emphasizing that sex is not just a physical act but a sacramental sign of total self-gift. Ellen explores how sex maintains its meaning and integrity by following God's design, reflecting on the body's language in Theology of the Body. Key references include Catechism 2366 and 2367 and Humanae Vitae.___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

On this episode, Bishop Burbidge speaks on:     Prayer and Aid for Victims of Texas Flash Floods, opening with prayers for all impacted by the devastating flash floods in central Texas.   Big Beautiful Bill, and the elimination of the Johnson Amendment offering brief comments on areas we can commend — including sharing the USCCB's strong advocacy for upholding the dignity of every child — and those areas which we can challenge   National Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week, reflecting on this year's theme “Pursue a lasting love…Marriage. Create hope for the future,” which highlights the beauty of God's design for marriage, the prophetic teaching of Humanae Vitae, and how NFP empowers couples with hope, dignity, and trust   Quo Vadis and Fiat, sharing how these inspiring summer camps help young men and women discern God's unique call for their lives with openness, faith, and joy   Diocesan Week of Service, announcing news about the Diocese's first-ever Week of Service this November, calling all parishioners to put Love in Action through Service in Community, rooted in the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy    And answers the following question from the faithful:    How can I bring my family closer to God during these busy summer months? 

What Should the new pope do first? A controversial game plan that will please almost no one. Referenced in this Podcast: Scott Austin Key andEvery Shelter, an organization which empowers refugees to build shelters: We Design Shelter Solutions for Refugees - Every Shelter https://everyshelter.org/ "All-Inclusive - Homophobia and Transphobia," Sermon by Pastor Zach Lambert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3d_mhbTwL4or on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69RLRBxTUJJz4zXrq6nKiJ The fascinating history and back story of Pope Paul VI's ban of birth control in Humanae Vitae: https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/new-birth-control-commission-papers-reveal-vaticans-hand

Today's episode features David Bereit, an internationally acclaimed pro-life leader, strategic advisor, and passionate Catholic convert who is also the founder of 40 Days for Life. His Theology on Tap talk was called “Love, Life, and Liberation: Uncovering the Power and Purpose of Humanae Vitae.” It was recorded at Murphy's Grand Irish Pub in Alexandria, Virginia, on April 7, 2025. 

Avec Jean-Marie Le Méné, cofondateur et président de la Fondation Jérôme Lejeune, auteur de: - "Humanae Vitae, un rempart contre le transhumanisme" (éditions du Laurier) - "Les premières victimes du transhumanisme" (éditions Pierre-Guillaume de Roux)

“What is truth?” Pontius Pilate scoffed at Jesus (Jn 18:38), and that's how we think about matters today in our culture—subjectively: my truth, your truth, etc. To make the argument that there is a knowable Truth (with a capital T) that is written in the world and in our bones, theologians Deborah Savage and Robert Fastiggi examine a selection of autobiographical accounts of ‘lived experience.' They take a number of personal essays written by those who have erred from the path of Catholic social teaching and sexual morality—in the dark forest of the world, to borrow from Dante—and their subsequent disappointments and suffering. They examine these narratives through the anthropology of John Paul II and the authority of the physical and social sciences, including medical doctors. So, there is Good News for all of us: if we find ourselves lost and unhappy in our errant meanderings, the Church can bring us home. We can always choose, as God reminded Cain gently (Gen 4:7), “sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you may overcome it.” Here is the book on the En Route Books website (which includes video links)here is the book on Amazon.com. Deborah Savage's website. Robert Fastiggi's website (as a theology professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary). The article we refer to by Leah Fessler, “A Lot of Women Don't Enjoy Hookup Culture—So Why Do We Force Ourselves to Participate?” Quartz Online, May 17, 2016. Humanae Vitae by Pope Paul VI on Wikipedia and on the Vatican website. Robert Fastiggi's previous appearance on Almost Good Catholics, three years ago (recorded in February of 2022, on the eve of Putin's invasion of Ukraine): Robert Fastiggi on Almost Good Catholics, episode 7: Mother of All Nations: Immaculate Conception, Virgin Birth, Assumption, and Coronation of Mary An episode of Almost Good Catholics on the same theme: Garrett Johnson on Almost Good Catholics, episode 42: Who Do You Think You Are? Thorny Questions about Sex, Identity, and Catholic Doctrine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

“What is truth?” Pontius Pilate scoffed at Jesus (Jn 18:38), and that's how we think about matters today in our culture—subjectively: my truth, your truth, etc. To make the argument that there is a knowable Truth (with a capital T) that is written in the world and in our bones, theologians Deborah Savage and Robert Fastiggi examine a selection of autobiographical accounts of ‘lived experience.' They take a number of personal essays written by those who have erred from the path of Catholic social teaching and sexual morality—in the dark forest of the world, to borrow from Dante—and their subsequent disappointments and suffering. They examine these narratives through the anthropology of John Paul II and the authority of the physical and social sciences, including medical doctors. So, there is Good News for all of us: if we find ourselves lost and unhappy in our errant meanderings, the Church can bring us home. We can always choose, as God reminded Cain gently (Gen 4:7), “sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you may overcome it.” Here is the book on the En Route Books website (which includes video links)here is the book on Amazon.com. Deborah Savage's website. Robert Fastiggi's website (as a theology professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary). The article we refer to by Leah Fessler, “A Lot of Women Don't Enjoy Hookup Culture—So Why Do We Force Ourselves to Participate?” Quartz Online, May 17, 2016. Humanae Vitae by Pope Paul VI on Wikipedia and on the Vatican website. Robert Fastiggi's previous appearance on Almost Good Catholics, three years ago (recorded in February of 2022, on the eve of Putin's invasion of Ukraine): Robert Fastiggi on Almost Good Catholics, episode 7: Mother of All Nations: Immaculate Conception, Virgin Birth, Assumption, and Coronation of Mary An episode of Almost Good Catholics on the same theme: Garrett Johnson on Almost Good Catholics, episode 42: Who Do You Think You Are? Thorny Questions about Sex, Identity, and Catholic Doctrine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Questions answered this episode: Dear Christopher and Wendy, thank you for all you do. For context, my husband and I are expecting a baby again for the third time in less than three years, despite our best efforts to practice NFP. I am exhausted and facing potentially serious health concerns. My parents have never understood our stance against contraception, despite being Catholic themselves, and have always tried to persuade us to use it. Things came to a nasty head recently when we announced our latest pregnancy, and we had a major fight. My father says Catholics are not bound by the teachings of Humanae Vitae and are thus free to practice contraception because it is not, quote, ex cathedra doctrine. How do I respond to this? My dad said some very hurtful things about my husband and me. I don't know what to do. I held my ground during the argument, but now I'm starting to doubt myself. Please help. I'm a 20-year-old college student who truly started choosing Christ in my first year of college. In high school, I was in sinful relationships, but when attending a Catholic college, I wanted to stop that. Everything changed when I met a girl who inspired me to pursue sainthood, and I knew I needed to grow in virtue to date her. After seven months of waiting and growing, we began a Christ-centered relationship. But it ended after a month and a half when she chose to discern religious life. Two years later, I still struggle to move on. I've mistakenly entered other relationships hoping to forget her but constantly find myself thinking of her and comparing potential partners and even friends to her. Deep down, I don't want to let her go and feel drawn to reach out, remembering the Christ-filled joy our relationship brought to both of us. My question is, should I let go or should I pursue this relationship? I've been married for 21 years. On our honeymoon, my husband suffered an injury that made sexual intercourse extremely difficult and eventually impossible for him. We have seen doctors for treatments that were unsuccessful and very embarrassing for my husband. In time, we realized it was not going to get better, and it hasn't. By God's grace, we were able to have one child, but marital relations between us have not been possible for over 17 years. My heart aches and longs for this affection from my husband, but I long ago accepted the fact that our marriage is celibate and always will be. In the early days, we fought about this all the time, mostly because he avoided physical contact with me so as not to arouse himself, and I felt very rejected. He's never really liked to talk about this as he finds it very difficult to share his emotions. I used to pressure him to talk, but I've learned that that just isn't his way. I've also learned to see the many other ways that my husband loves me through his acts of service and dedication to our family. He is a wonderful husband, and we love each other deeply. Our strongest connection is our Catholic faith. I experienced a very deep conversion back to my Catholic faith a few years after our marriage, and this has helped me to mature and grow a deep intimacy with God. Even though I have that intimacy with God, I still at times feel so very alone with this cross and have spent most of my marriage feeling as though my husband doesn't desire me, as if he doesn't miss the intimacy because he won't share his pain with me. I have recently begun reading a book, The Cantata of Love, a commentary on the Song of Songs. The imagery in the poem is so beautiful, and it has reawakened in me again the feelings of how much I miss my husband. This part of me I mostly shut down because it's too painful to keep revisiting those unmet desires. It feels a bit like, why torture yourself by reading this? At the same time, I realized that the poem is also an allegory of the love between the bridegroom and the bride, Jesus and my soul. I wonder if you have any experience with people in similar situations and what has helped them. Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II's beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Alright, let’s talk about the ridiculous term "geriatric mom": because, seriously, what kind of backhanded nonsense is that? Timmerie brings up this fear-mongering myth that pressures women: even Catholic, pro-life women, into believing that having babies past 35 is some kind of medical disaster. It’s not! The Science No One Talks About Timmerie stumbled upon peer-reviewed studies (yes, actual science, not just internet fear) showing that having kids later in life can actually be good for moms. Here’s the twist: Moms who have their last baby after 33 have higher odds of living longer Telomeres (those little DNA protectors that keep you young) are longer in women who have kids after 35: meaning your body might actually age slower Another study found the same thing for moms over 40: longevity is linked to reproductive lifespan Why This Matters The medical community (which is, let’s be real, often deeply tied to a pro-abortion mindset) has been scaring women out of having kids for decades. Timmerie shares how so many Catholic women she knows have stopped having children: not because they wanted to, but because they were scared into it. But here’s the thing: Catholic teaching (think Humanae Vitae) actually supports responsible parenthood, not fear-based avoidance of children. It’s about discernment, not arbitrary age cutoffs. Real Women, Real Stories Timmerie gives an example of a friend who had multiple kids in her late 30s and early 40s and is healthier than ever. Her advice? Don’t listen to the fear-mongering. If she had, she wouldn’t have her children today. Babies Aren’t Bad for You! The culture wants women to believe that motherhood = health risk, but science (and faith!) tell a different story. Babies are a blessing. They don’t make you old; they might just help you live longer!

Many gay men and women have been told that God doesn't love them and that religious people hate them. The reality is much more humane and helpful. Dr. Janet E Smith discusses how many gay people, who previously thought that God and religious people hated them, have come to know God's love through the efforts of humble individuals who took the time to minister to them.   Professor Smith is the author of Humanae Vitae: A Generation Later and A Right to Privacy. Her volume entitled Self-Gift contains her previously published essays on Humanae Vitae and the thought of John Paul II.   She edited Why Humanae Vitae is Right: A Reader; Life Issues, Medical Choices (with Christopher Kaczor); Living the Truth in Love: Pastoral Approaches to Same-Sex Attractions (with R. Paul Check); and Why Humanae Vitae is Still Right, a reader with 21 essays by various authors.   More than two million copies of her talk, “Contraception: Why Not” have been distributed.   Professor Smith served three terms as a consulter to the Pontifical Council on the Family, and 8 years on the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission III.   She authors a regular column for the National Catholic Register and has appeared on Geraldo, Fox Morning News, CNN International, CNN Newsroom, AlJazeera, and EWTN among others. Professor Smith has received three honorary doctorates and several awards for her scholarship and service.   Visit her website: https://janetsmith.org/   Read her latest articles: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jsmith https://www.ncregister.com/author/janet-e-smith   Watch her presentation on “Humane Vitae 50 Years Later: Progress or Regress”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHb8L4cgvNk Listen to her lecture on “Theology of the Body”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73MxQgyE1JM   Follow her on social media: https://www.facebook.com/janet.e.smith.73/ https://x.com/profjanetsmith?lang=en   Request a speaking engagement: https://catholicspeakers.com/profiles/dr-janet-smith   Buy her books: https://ignatius.com/authors/janet-smith/   Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-finding-life-long-love-in-a-hook-up-world/ 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-a-happier-marriage/ 101 Tips to Marry the Right Person: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/101-tips-for-marrying-the-right-person/   Listen to our podcast: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ruth-institute-podcast/id309797947 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1t7mWLRHjrCqNjsbH7zXv1   Subscribe to our newsletter to get this amazing report: Refute the Top 5 Gay Myths https://ruthinstitute.org/refute-the-top-five-myths/   Get the full interview by joining us for exclusive, uncensored content on Locals: https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/support

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 452The Saint of the day is Saint Paul VISaint Paul VI's Story Born near Brescia in northern Italy, Giovanni Battista Montini was the second of three sons. His father, Giorgio, was a lawyer, editor, and eventually a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. His mother, Giuditta, was very involved in Catholic Action. After ordination in 1920, Giovanni did graduate studies in literature, philosophy, and canon law in Rome before he joined the Vatican Secretariat of State in 1924, where he worked for 30 years. He was also chaplain to the Federation of Italian Catholic University Students, where he met and became a very good friend of Aldo Moro, who eventually became prime minister. Moro was kidnapped by the Red Brigade in March 1978, and murdered two months later. A devastated Pope Paul VI presided at his funeral. In 1954, Fr. Montini was named archbishop of Milan, where he sought to win disaffected workers back to the Catholic Church. He called himself the “archbishop of the workers” and visited factories regularly while overseeing the rebuilding of a local Church tremendously disrupted by World War II. In 1958, Montini was the first of 23 cardinals named by Pope John XXIII, two months after the latter's election as pope. Cardinal Montini helped in preparing Vatican II and participated enthusiastically in its first sessions. When he was elected pope in June 1963, he immediately decided to continue that Council, which had another three sessions before its conclusion on December 8, 1965. The day before Vatican II concluded, Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras revoked the excommunications that their predecessors had made in 1054. The pope worked very hard to ensure that bishops would approve the Council's 16 documents by overwhelming majorities. Paul VI had stunned the world by visiting the Holy Land in January 1964, and meeting Athenagoras, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in person. The pope made eight more international trips, including one in 1965, to visit New York City and speak on behalf of peace before the United Nations General Assembly. He also visited India (1964), Colombia (1968), Uganda (1969), and seven Asian countries during a 10-day tour in 1970. Also in 1965, he instituted the World Synod of Bishops, and the next year decreed that bishops must offer their resignations on reaching age 75. In 1970, he decided that cardinals over 80 would no longer vote in papal conclaves or head the Holy See's major offices. He had increased the number of cardinals significantly, giving many countries their first cardinal. Eventually establishing diplomatic relations between the Holy See and 40 countries, he also instituted a permanent observer mission at the United Nations in 1964. Paul VI wrote seven encyclicals; his last one in 1968 on human life—Humanae Vitae—prohibited artificial birth control. Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo on August 6, 1978, and was buried in St. Peter's Basilica. He was beatified on October 19, 2014, and canonized on October 14, 2018. Since 2019 his liturgical feast has been celebrated on May 29. Reflection Pope Saint Paul's greatest accomplishment was the completion and implementation of Vatican II. Its decisions about liturgy were the first ones noticed by most Catholics, but its other documents—especially the ones about ecumenism, interfaith relations, divine revelation, religious liberty, the Church's self-understanding and the Church's work with the entire human family—have become the Catholic Church's road map since 1965. Learn more about Pope Paul VI. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Special Guest Host Fr. Matthew Spencer delves deep into the teachings of Humanae Vitae, marking its 56th anniversary. He explores the Church's timeless wisdom on marriage and family, and how Pope Paul VI's insights on artificial contraception remain profoundly relevant. Despite the challenges of living counter-culturally, embracing God's plan for marriage brings deeper unity, better communication, and lasting happiness.   Humanae Vitae (16:40) Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith recognizes ‘Trinity Fount of Mercy' messages (34:01)