Does Periodic Continence Harm Spousal Love?: Pope John Paul II's Response to the Pastoral Difficulties of Living Out .

UNLABELLED

The main reason for the widespread dissent from is not primarily academic. Rather, dissent arises first on a practical level by couples themselves on account of the difficulty they experience in living out the teaching. More specifically, couples often feel that there is a "contradiction" between the responsible regulation of birth and the unity of their love. This essay addresses this pastoral objection head on through a candid appreciation of the "difficulties" couples experience and through demonstrating Pope John Paul II's idea of cultivating a "conjugal spirituality," which moves couples interiorly from merely following rules to fostering reverence both for one's spouse and for God.

SUMMARY

This article provides a pastoral response to the difficulties of living out the teaching of , by explaining the teaching of through the lens of Pope John Paul II's . Specifically, I explain John Paul II's exhortation to couples to develop a "conjugal spirituality" through the virtues, so that they will grow in reverence for their spouse and for God.