Got crazy? I do.

Consequences of Artificial Methods

17. Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings—and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation—need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.

Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone. It could well happen, therefore, that when people, either individually or in family or social life, experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife.

Limits to Man’s Power Consequently, unless we are willing that the responsibility of procreating life should be left to the arbitrary decision of men, we must accept that there are certain limits, beyond which it is wrong to go, to the power of man over his own body and its natural functions—limits, let it be said, which no one, whether as a private individual or as a public authority, can lawfully exceed. These limits are expressly imposed because of the reverence due to the whole human organism and its natural functions, in the light of the principles We stated earlier, and in accordance with a correct understanding of the “principle of totality” enunciated by Our predecessor Pope Pius XII. (21)

“God has led his servant into solitude to speak to his heart; but he alone who listens in silence hears the whisper of the gentle breeze that reveals the presence of the Lord. In the early stages of our Carthusian life, we may find silence a toilsome burden; however, if we are faithful, there will gradually be born within us of our silence itself something that will draw us on to still greater silence.”

http://youtu.be/3xqjgzrZTPw 

My seed was born 
One bright spring morn 
In gardens grown by God. 
Out of the earth 
My stem gave birth 
To petals red as blood. 

The gentile rain 
My growth sustained, 
And like each seed God sows, 
I dreamed one day 
That I`d be named 
A king`s most precious rose. 
— 
One day a soldier 
Bent me over, 
Tore me from my bed. 
All beaten, battered, 
My stem tattered, 
Wanted not but dead 

In cruel hands ripped, 
My beauty stripped, 
`Twas not the dream I chose, 
And filled with shame, 
I wept in pain, 
No more a precious rose. 
— 
Then did I see 
The soldiers lead 
A man through palace doors. 
Was this my king? 
Why did they bring him in, 
This man so poor? 

A purple garment 
Hid the torment 
None but I could see. 
They mocked and laughed, 
Gave him a staff, 
And bowed on bended knee. 
— 
They bent me round 
And wove a crown 
And placed me on his head. 
My petals found 
Crushed on the ground, 
Like tears of God turned red. 

With each small sin 
I was pressed in. 
I pierced with self-disdain. 
In thought and deed 
I made him bleed, 
My selfishness, his pain. 
— 
`Behold!` they`d sing, 
`Behold your King! 
Hail, King of the Jews!` 
With each reed`s blow, 
Our pain did grow, 
As one we are abused. 

Despite the crown 
He did not frown; 
He smiled with love instead, 
And carried me 
For all to see 
Upon his tender head. 
— 
Once placed with awe 
In manger straw, 
Anointed by John`s hands, 
Transfigured on 
A mountain dawn, 
Now wore a mangled branch. 

Once gently kissed 
By Mary`s lips, 
And blessed with magi`s myrrh, 
Baptized by 
A parting sky, 
Now streamed with blood so pure. 
— 
An innocent brow 
Calls to us now 
To follow this example: 
To let our thorns 
And all that scorns 
Be healed within his temple. 

Though dreams may fade, 
Each one was made 
In seed that Jesus sows. 
And now I see 
I`m called to be 
The King`s most precious rose.