Responsible parenthood in 'Gaudium Et Spes' and 'Humanae Vitae'

Abstract

"What a difference from the time when we got married", a middle-aged woman told me some time ago when we were discussing together some common problems of family life. Then, they used to tell us to have as large a family as possible because that is why we were married to beget children, to procreate - and God was all the more pleased and consequently bestowed more abundant blessings the larger our family was. But today, younger married couples are being told that a large family is not necessarily pleasing to God and they can limit the number of their children whenever they want to. Honestly speaking, my husband and I can't quite understand all this change and all this difference!" "Now, look here two are enough, don't misfire your family and the world", said a young man to his friend who welcomed a new baby in his family. "Try to be considerate of yourself and your wife, don't overburden her; and, after all, don't forget to leave room for some free time. "Of course note , replied the neo-father, "how can we when economic, educational and psychological conditions are make so great demands on us? And, then, am I to think of children all my life?" "As for my part" a young arrogant spouse uttered to a timid speechless' wife, "so long as I love my husband and my husband loves me, I don't mind what methods to use in order to avoid other births. We know what our family demands, it is we who have freely contracted marriage, and consequently it is we, and only we, who should decide on these matters. I cannot imagine how the Pope, bishops and priests can ever interfere in something in which they understand nothing or so little. How can they be sensitive to our marital love and tenderness which only we, as married and as completely committed to each other, can experience but cannot define? On whose Authority do they impose on our Conscience and on our marital relations that are thereby rendered unnatural and without their spontaneous Air of tenderness? Celibates as they are, they are inevitably bound to be irrelevant and meaningless whenever they dare talk about marriage and family life" [...].