The miracle of "two becoming one flesh," in the sacrament of marriage, is utterly profound and beautiful.  At times, I am struck by this beauty, when I see couples who have been married for many years, dance together in a rhythm and bodily union, as if they were one person on the dance floor.  Similarly, I have seen spouses grow together to the point that they think alike, and even develop comparable mannerisms.  The miracle of two becoming one, at each level, of spirit, soul, and body, is expressed and symbolized in sexual intercourse.  Love and its union, cannot sit still for long: it must grow deeper and more powerful, or diminish.  So each marital union has the potential of entering every day, and in every act, a deeper mystery: I in you, you in me, and God in us.
     The gift of sex is diminished by the use of   contraceptives.  Sterilization also degrades human  sexuality by altering its value of being life giving and love giving.  God intends sexual intercourse to say, "I  surrender myself to you totally and receive you totally."  Contraception says, however, "There is some of me I don't want to give you or receive from you."  This is so because one's fertility (ability to procreate) is withheld, robbing sexual intercourse of its most unifying power.  Contraception, therefore, suppresses the power of  procreation, preventing complete and total self-giving  between the husband and wife.  The use of contraceptives inhibits love, and for these reasons, the Church teaches that contraceptive acts are sinful.
     The Church acknowledges that there may be times in a couples' life, where for serious reasons, pregnancy may be avoided.  In such circumstances she recommends    abstinence and Natural Family Planning.  This course of action requires self-discipline, builds virtue, respects spouses, and teaches other ways of communicating and expressing love, all of which are necessary for a healthy marriage.  More on NFP next week.

Fr. Michael