Using NFP, may we limit our child bearing to our twenties?

[WendyDarling]

My husband and I are a young, married, conservative, Catholic couple. We were married in the Church and practiced Natural Family Planning until we had our little boy. We want to continue growing our family, but would like to be done having children by age 30. We want to be open to God’s gifts, but would also like to be done having children by age 30 and enjoy them while we are young. We plan to continue Natural Family Planning after we are 30, and would never think of using any kind of contraception. Many people told us that a decision such as this would be a personal question between God and ourselves. But, I just wanted to ask a Catholic expert to see if that would be considered a sin to not be open to life, even if we are Natural Family Planning.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

God’s principal reason for giving people children is not for them to enjoy them, but that certain human beings will exist. Has it occurred to you that God might want you to have children after you are thirty? I know that your plan sounds nice and neat and God’s plans can be quite messy and all over the place. But He and only He knows best. Better let HIM call the shots with your thirties. If He wants to give you children during those years, then submit to Him and be open to what He sends you. His plans are golden. Be grateful that you are healthy enough to have children in your thirties, should He wish it.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.