Canadian Bishops on Humanae Vitae: 'Yes! to the fullness of life'
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp
The Commission for Doctrine of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have issued a statement to Canadian Catholics and all people of good will. In , issued in both English and French, the Canadian Bishops hope to inspire and encourage married copies to find the promise of joy that Humanae Vitae offers.
鈥榊es鈥� to life
Rather than only saying 鈥楴o鈥� to contraception, the Canadian Bishops affirm that Humanae Vitae provides a resounding 鈥� 鈥榊es!鈥� to the fullness of life promised to us by Jesus Christ (John 10:10).
Human love incarnates divine love
The Bishops continue saying that human love is meant to reflect divine love which is free, total, faithful, and fruitful. Human beings embody this love and express it through the 鈥渓anguage of the body鈥�. This love is, therefore, 鈥渓ife-long, exclusive, and ready to reach beyond the couple itself, even bringing forth a new life!鈥� the Bishops write.
Marriage reflects Christ鈥檚 love
Using Ephesians 5:32, the Bishops then reflect on married love. We unite ourselves physically and intimately with Christ the Bridegroom when we receive Communion. Union with Christ empowers us to 鈥渕ake the complete gift of self鈥� which he models to us, they write.
Sexuality expresses divine love
Even the gift of human sexuality partakes in expressing divine love. Thus, the Bishops explain that every sexual act 鈥渋s meant to speak a love鈥� that is free and not coerced, total in the gift of one鈥檚 entire self, faithful, and open to new life which makes the couple鈥檚 love fruitful.
Made for infinite love
Since we are made for infinite love, only infinite love can satisfy us, the Bishops remind us. The Church wishes that married couples experience the fullness of human love in marriage. This means using this divine gift without 鈥渄epriving it, even if only partially, of its meaning and purpose鈥�, as 杏MAP导航 Paul VI wrote in Humanae Vitae. 鈥淚ntentionally modifying a sexual act so as to render it sterile鈥nds up falsifying the language of our sexuality鈥�, the Bishops write.
Joy of Married Love
In conclusion, the Bishops encourage Catholics to read Humanae Vitae and 鈥渞ediscover the beautiful truth contained within it鈥�. For this end, the Bishops pray,
May all married couples, in faithfulness to the grace of their baptism and marriage vows, live and experience the joy of married love as taught in Humanæ Vitæ and thus be signs of God鈥檚 loving presence in the world.
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