I have marked in my Bible a very special date at Sirach 2. The date is May 8, 1992. I was a Protestant at the time but in the process of seeking information for an annulment so that I might be accepted to convert to the Catholic Church. I made an appointment with Sr. Veronica Miceli, O.P, as she was a friend and served the Archdiocese of New Orleans for annulments. When I arrived in her office, she called to say that she was delayed in traffic on the North Shore from New Orleans. I told her that I would wait.
I felt that I was in a very holy place early on, as I waited, and could sense a stong presence of the Holy Spirit. Sister’s Bible was in front of me on her desk so I decided to read, opening to the Sirach passage below. Immediately I felt overwhelmed with God’s presence within me and began to pour out my heart with tears and tears and more tears. These were not tears of sadness or joy but tears of God is here.
Such was the state I was in when Sister arrived, and we both realized that she was meant to be late because God was on time.
Trust in God
My child, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast, and do not be impetuous in time of adversity.
Cling to him, do not leave him, that you may prosper in your last days.
Accept whatever happens to you; in periods of humiliation be patient.
For in fire gold is tested, and the chosen, in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust in God, and he will help you; make your ways straight and hope in him.
You that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy, do not stray lest you fall.
Sirach 2:1-7,
New American Bible, revised edition
My friend says: “A huge percent of catholic women use birth control, you know, and it is considered a health matter.”
So being pregnant is a health issue, to be avoided for good health? (I would say that using artificial contraceptions cause health issues – I could name a few I experienced during my Protestant, contraception-using days.) And a huge percent of Catholic women use birth control? I have a couple of questions and some comments concerning this alleged, huge percent of Catholic women using birth control.
1. What percentage of Catholic women who attend Mass weekly and who are married use artificial contraception?
2. What percentage of converts to the Catholic faith use artificial contraception?
The point of the first questions being that the devout Catholic wife, practicing her faith (weekly or daily Mass and observing other sacraments of the Church), daily, quality time in prayer, who knows, respects and follows the teachings of the Church, will not use artificial contraception.
The point of the second question is that converts have embraced the Catholic faith by choice, after receiving much teaching and doing much study, often converting at great personal sacrifice. Often they know much more about the Catholic faith than do cradle Catholics who were poorly catechized, especially if they came along from about 1960 on. Converts have a great love, loyalty and gratitude towards the Catholic Church and are often more scrupulous in trying always to adhere to the teachings and beliefs of the Church, including not using artificial contraception.
I suspect that a large percentage of Catholics using birth control are cradle Catholics, who are Catholic in name only and do not fit the descriptions under the last two paragraphs above.
As to that ridiculous statistic floating around that 98% of Catholic woman use birth control, start with this as far as debunking (there are many, many more on internet): http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/13/figure-that-98-of-catholic-women-use-birth-control-debunked/
Here’s a bit of history on the use of artificial contraceptions:
“Few realize that up until 1930, all Protestant denominations agreed with the Catholic Church’s teaching condemning contraception as sinful. At its 1930 Lambeth Conference, the Anglican church, swayed by growing social pressure, announced that contraception would be allowed in some circumstances. Soon the Anglican church completely caved in, allowing contraception across the board. Since then, all other Protestant denominations have followed suit. Today, the Catholic Church alone proclaims the historic Christian position on contraception.” http://www.catholic.com/tracts/birth-control
In a related (yes, related) subject, here is a good booklet on abortion:
Click to access straight_talk_about_abortion.pdf
The Way of the Soul's Desire 