Humanity
Children
quick ideas about children and sex within marriage. Should one desire children? Are children a treasure?
EspañolA. Are children a treasure?
1. Are children something good?
Yes. Without a doubt. No one regrets bringing a child into the world. It is always a wise decision.
2. They take work and reduce comforts
That is true. In this life good things cost something, and if one shrinks from the effort, one does not reach worthwhile goals. A child is a great treasure, and obtaining treasures requires sacrifice. If one thinks too much about the difficulties, one risks missing out on the prize.
3. There are financial problems
That is true. Financial difficulties are frequent and form part of the sacrifices of life. It is also true that children are the greatest wealth of a family and a source of support in old age.
4. How to appreciate that children are a treasure?
If one does not realize it intuitively, it will be hard to admit it in its full value. This question may help: in how many millions would you value your children?
B. Sex in marriage
1. Is it an important topic?
In sexual union the spouses are collaborators of the Creator in the birth of a new life. They form the origin of the new body, and God creates a soul that will be the life of the new being. The spouses are God's collaborators in bringing a new child of God into the world. A very elevated action.
2. Is sex and its pleasures correct within marriage?
They are correct, good, and pleasing to God, who arranged those pleasures to facilitate reproduction, both animal and human.
3. Is any use of sex and any seeking of pleasure within marriage correct?
They must be actions open to reproduction, that is, in conformity with the Creator's plan. Artificially preventing new life opposes nature and is a grave action because of the dignity of the marital union which is thereby distorted.
4. An explanation
- The marital act has its origin in the Creator's love for the spouses and the spouses' love for each other. It has its end in the love of God and the parents for the new being that is born. Any arbitrary interruption of this journey from its origin to its end is an attack on the love of God and of the spouses.
5. God's love for the spouses and for the child?
This divine love manifests itself in several ways:
- Love for the spouses by increasing their honor, establishing that they are His collaborators in the creative work of bringing a new being into existence.
- Love for the child by desiring that it be born in a family and be the fruit of love. Thus human dignity grows. A human being is originated by the love of two persons, while an animal or a plant can be produced in a factory or farm.
6. What happens if sex is misused in marriage?
- The gift of a child is lost.
- The heart of the spouses becomes selfish by seeking its own pleasure instead of mutual self-giving. The capacity to love diminishes.
- The dignity of the spouse is reduced, since instead of being the father or mother of a new being, one becomes an object that gives more or less pleasure.
- The risk of marital infidelity increases, since one easily finds another person who gives more pleasure.
7. And if, doing everything correctly, no children are born?
Then everything is fine. The love and mutual self-giving have not been distorted and there is no offense to the Creator. Simply that complete and correct self-giving has not been fruitful.
8. When performing the marital act, must the spouses intend to procreate?
It is fitting, but not obligatory. On the other hand, it is necessary that they intend to unite without artificial obstacles that falsify the complete mutual self-giving required by the marriage commitment (marriage).