• Art
  • Book Reviews
  • Catechism
  • Games
  • Music
  • Special Needs
  • Technology
  • Theology

Amazing Catechists

Teaching and learning the faith together

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Patron Saint of Amazing Catechists
    • Donations
  • Lisa Mladinich
  • Columnists
    • Browse by Topic
      • #giveaway
      • Art
      • Campus Ministry
      • Catechetics
      • Catechism
      • Catechist Training
      • Catholic Spirituality
      • Church Documents
      • Columnists
      • Culture
      • Elementary School
      • Evangelization
      • Family Life
      • Featured
      • Games
      • General
      • Grief Resources
      • High School
      • Homeschooling
      • Liturgical
      • Mary
      • Middle School
      • Music
      • New Age
      • NFP/Chastity
      • Prayer
      • RCIA & Adult Ed
      • Reader Suggestions
      • Sacraments
      • Scripture
      • Special Needs
      • Spiritual Warfare
      • Technology
      • Theology
      • Therapeutic
      • Video
      • Vocations
    • Browse by Author
      • Alex Basile
      • Alice Gunther
      • Amanda Woodiel
      • Cay Gibson
      • Christian LeBlanc
      • Christopher Smith
      • Deanna Bartalini
      • Dorian Speed
      • Elizabeth Ficocelli
      • Elizabeth Tichvon
      • Ellen Gable Hrkach
      • Faith Writer
      • Father Juan R. Velez
      • Gabe Garnica
      • Jeannie Ewing
      • Jennifer Fitz
      • Justin Combs
      • Karee Santos
      • Lisa Mladinich
      • Marc Cardaronella
      • Maria Rivera
      • Mary Ellen Barrett
      • Mary Lou Rosien
      • Maureen Smith
      • Msgr. Robert Batule
      • Msgr. Charles Pope
      • Pat Gohn
      • Peggy Clores
      • Robyn Lee
      • Rocco Fortunato
      • Sarah Reinhard
      • Steve McVey
      • Tanja Cilia
      • William O’Leary
  • Resources
    • Bible Stories
    • Book Reviews
    • Catholic Cartoons
    • Catholic Links
    • Interviews
  • Speakers
  • Contact us

Is NFP Natural?

By Ellen Gable Hrkach

To discuss the answer to this question, first a brief explanation/review of Natural Family Planning: a couple together observe and chart the woman’s signs of fertility and infertility. If the couple is avoiding pregnancy, they abstain from relations in the fertile time and wait until they reach the infertile phase to engage in the marital embrace.

Since NFP involves abstinence during the fertile time, some complain that it isn’t really natural because we can’t follow our “natural” urges and engage in sexual activity whenever we want.

If a couple is avoiding pregnancy and they are not having sexual contact in the fertile time, it doesn’t mean they stop loving one another. Nor does it mean that they stop having the natural desire to become one.

Over the years, I have found this to be a challenging aspect of NFP since the fertile time has typically been when I most desire my husband. However, the time of abstinence has also been an opportunity to focus on other ways of loving such as walks, special dinners, talking and sharing. NFP can be a way to grow in virtue.

The question “Is NFP really natural” comes down to this: NFP is natural because there are no devices, chemicals or other surgical procedures used. It is natural because it allows the couple to be free to choose when to engage in relations and not be a slave to urges and passions. We are human precisely because we can say no and we can say yes. Humans can fast from food but animals cannot make the decision to stop eating because it is in their nature to eat when food is put in front of them. When husband and wife come together as one in the sexual embrace with no devices or chemicals, it is precisely because they can say no that the freely-chosen yes means something so beautiful and sacred.

Marriage does not justify lust. If a wife were merely a means of satisfying her husband’s urges, it could potentially cause the wife to feel used.

Abstaining (and not following the “natural urge” theory) can be an act of love. For example, if a wife or husband were ill, would it be natural to abstain and remain faithful or would it be natural to give in to urges to find pleasure with another person? The free choice to remain faithful is very natural, just as I believe that the choice to abstain in the fertile time is natural as well.

I can honestly state that with NFP, I have never felt used. And these times of abstinence have brought us closer.

NFP is definitely natural. Abstaining can be an act of love. Choosing to do the right thing is very natural when one is trying to grow in virtue.

For more information on NFP: https://www.ccli.org

copyright 2010 Ellen Gable Hrkach

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Read all posts by Ellen Gable Hrkach Filed Under: NFP/Chastity Tagged With: Ellen Gable Hrkach, NFP

About Ellen Gable Hrkach

Ellen and her husband, James, have been certified NFP teachers for the Couple to Couple League since 1984 and have worked since 1983 in marriage preparation and chastity education. Ellen currently works as marketing director for Live the Fast. Ellen’s also an award-winning, bestselling author (her books have recently topped 610,00 downloads on Kindle). Her newest book is A Subtle Grace, which just hit #1 in Christian Historical Fiction and Christian Romance. Her other books can be found at her Amazon Author Page. She writes frequently for CCL’s Family Foundations magazine, a columnist for CatholicMom.com, a reviewer for CatholicFiction.net and she and her husband create the “Family Life” cartoons. She and her husband own a small Catholic publishing company called Full Quiver Publishing. Her blog is at https://ellengable.wordpress.com. She lives in Pakenham, Ontario Canada with her husband and sons. Contact her at: info@fullquiverpublishing.com

Comments

  1. awaken says

    July 19, 2017 at 11:21 pm

    very good this blog
    can you help me?
    if you have time you can coming to blog me?

    https://logampoker.com/poker-terpercaya-presentase-kemenangan-tinggi/
    https://logampoker.com/presentase-kemenangan-besar-poker/
    https://logampoker.com/3-cara-bug-dapatkan-kartu-6-dewa-ceme/

    Agen Poker Online Server Idn,
    Domino qiu qiu online 2017,
    bandar ceme online 2017,
    Poker online indonesia 2017,
    Agen Poker Online Terpercaya 2017,
    Poker Online terpercaya 2017,
    Agen Poker Online

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

What’s New?

microphoneNEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR NEXT IN-SERVICE?

Amazing Catechists can help!

Visit our Speakers page to access our available speakers and topics. And if you don't see what you are looking for, send a comment through the website, and we will get right back to you!

Catholic CD of the month club

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Columnists

Alice Gunther

Amanda Woodiel

Cay Gibson

Christian LeBlanc

Christopher Smith

Deanna Bartalini

Dorian Speed

Elizabeth Ficocelli

Elizabeth Tichvon

Ellen Gable Hrkach

Faith Writer

Father Juan Velez

Gabriel Garnica

Jeannie Ewing

Jennifer Fitz

Karee Santos

Lisa Mladinich

Marc Cardaronella

Mary Ellen Barrett

Mary Lou Rosien

Maureen Smith

Monsignor Robert Batule

Msgr. Charles Pope

Pat Gohn

Peggy Clores

Robyn Lee

Rocco Fortunato

Sarah Reinhard

Sherine Green

Sr. Teresa Joseph fma

Steve McVey

Tanja Cilia

William O’Leary

Archives

Share Amazing Catechists at your website!

Amazing Catechists

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2022 Amazing Catechists. · Log in