Marriage and openness to children

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PHXsunsAZ

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I’m getting my marriage convalidated and something I’ve been struggling with is the whole openness to children thing. My wife had a hysterectomy a few years ago because of medical problems. I used to want children but I got used to the idea of not having them. I guess my question is, is it mandatory that we start the whole adoption thing once our marriage is convalidated? I’m not opposed to adoption and my wife is open to it too, but I am feeling pressure now and it is making me nervous. I’m not sure how active we should be in pursuit of children.
 
That phrase confuses so many people! I know that Catholic authors, bloggers and speakers have made it popular, but, strike it from your frame or reference.

The Church teaches that each marital act must be “ordered toward procreation” that means that you do it in the same way you would do it if you were going to procreate, noting added, nothing taken away.

In the marriage you will vow to “lovingly accept children”. That does not mean you have to adopt.
 
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PHXsunsAZ said:
I guess my question is, is it mandatory that we start the whole adoption thing once our marriage is convalidated?
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No.

That isn’t what openness to life means within the context of marriage. It means two things: that you don’t have a permanent intention against children (which is a disposition of the will) and sexual acts within marriage are ordered to procreation.

Sterility is not an impediment to valid marriage. It does not create an intention against children. It does not disorder marital acts.

Adoption is an act of charity. It is virtuous to adopt but it is not inherently an end of marriage. It is something a particular person or couple may be called to. It is not a requirement of marriage.
 
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Thank you for your answers. That makes a lot more sense to me now
 
No. You have to be “naturally” open to children in marriage. It doesn’t mean you must go to all efforts to obtain children. Many perfectly valid and loving marriages are childless.
 
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