Humae Vitae 1

HUMANAE VITAE

ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PAUL VI
ON THE REGULATION OF BIRTH

JULY 25, 1968

To His Venerable Brothers the Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops and other Local Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See, to the Clergy and Faithful of the Whole Catholic World, and to All Men of Good Will.

Honored Brothers and Dear Sons, Health and Apostolic Benediction.

The transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator. It has always been a source of great joy to them, even though it sometimes entails many difficulties and hardships.

The fulfillment of this duty has always posed problems to the conscience of married people, but the recent course of human society and the concomitant changes have provoked new questions. The Church cannot ignore these questions, for they concern matters intimately connected with the life and happiness of human beings.

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Humanae vitae, means human life. For the next 31 days I am celebrating the most significant document of the 20th Century. This is the culmination of the 39th year and the beginning of the 40th of its release. I believe that a wave of converts will "cross the Tiber" as the children of Israel did the river Jordan after the 40 years in the wilderness. A generation has forsaken this gift to the Church, but a new springtime has come. Those who rejected humanae vitae embraced the "culture of death" and brought about a spiritual death, but God has kept a remnant that will lead the Church and the world to Life Himself. Jesus became human life so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

To all who may read this, take note that Pope Paul VI has directed this encyclical to MEN. In a day of gender confusion, with masculinity, femininity, celibacy, and marriage under assault, it is time for MEN to read these prophetic words and lead their families and the people of God into the Promise Land. Women need to read and understand how a real MAN should think and behave in this crooked and depraved generation.

SEX, the topic is sex. The transmission of human life is to take place in and only in the protective boundaries of marriage. To properly engage in the sexual union is to be a coworker with GOD. We have been set free by Christ to choose to embrace our spouse in a way that is responsible and pleasing to God. What a joy and gift we have in our sexuality! Yet, what a tremendous responsibility we have as well.

With the release of the contraceptive pill in the 1960's, one voice spoke out above all others as a clear, authoritative guide into truth and righteousness. I want to enter into that wisdom and hear again the voice of truth to me and understand better what God is saying to us right now.

Proverbs 2 RSV

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his saints.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart,and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you;understanding will guard you; delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil; men whose paths are crooked,and who are devious in their ways.

You will be saved from the loose woman,from the adventuress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death,and her paths to the shades; none who go to her come back nor do they regain the paths of life.

So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land,and men of integrity will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.