Abbey-Roads2

Conjugal acts.

To my knowledge, Pope Paul VI never directly addressed the issue of same sex marriage - mainly because in 1968 it was an unheard of idea.  Nevertheless, a close reading of his encyclical Humanae Vitae certainly provides a clear indication of Church teaching regarding marriage and the conjugal act…  And homosexual activity and gay “marriage” just doesn’t meet the criteria.

Homosexual acts are not open to life. 

“11. …the Church, calling men back to the observance of the norms of the natural law, as interpreted by their constant doctrine, teaches that each and every marriage act (quilibet matrimonii usus) must remain open to the transmission of life.” - PPVI

The two meanings of the conjugal act. 

“12. That teaching, often set forth by the magisterium, is founded upon the inseparable connection, willed by God and unable to be broken by man on his own initiative, between the two meanings of the conjugal act: the unitive meaning and the procreative meaning.  Indeed, by its intimate structure, the conjugal act, while most closely uniting husband and wife, capacitates them for the generation of new lives, according to laws inscribed in the very being of man and of woman. By safeguarding both these essential aspects, the unitive and the procreative, the conjugal act preserves in its fullness the sense of true mutual love and its ordination towards man’s most high calling to parenthood.   We believe that the men of our day are particularly capable of seeing the deeply reasonable and human character of this fundamental principle.” - PPVI

Don Marco also has a relevant post here. 

Rejecting Humanae Vitae - still.

The prophetic encyclical of the Servant of God, Pope Paul VI is still rejected today - perhaps more vehemently than it was the day of its publication 40 years ago.  Today we see the devastating results of its rejection throughout the world.  Loss of faith seems to be the most disastrous legacy of all.   

“20. The teaching of the Church on the regulation of birth, which promulgates the divine law, will easily appear to many to be difficult or even impossible of actuation. And indeed, like all great beneficent realities, it demands serious engagement and much effort, individual, family and social effort. More than that, it would not be practicable without the help of God, who upholds and strengthens the good will of men. Yet, to anyone who reflects well, it cannot but be clear that such efforts ennoble man and are beneficial to the human community.” - Source

Photo credit:  Hallowed Ground

Penance doesn’t have to be gloomy.

I’ll be offline again today…  I know!  Penance, prayer, work, dancing - you know…

(Yeah, so read about the recent developments going on in the Green Bay area here.)