When the Catechism Says That Sex WITHIN Marriage must be kept "within the limits of just moderation" . .

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. . . what does that really mean? Is there a moral or Church guideline that says that marital intimacy should be no more frequent than “x,” or each act last no longer than “y” minutes, or ? It’s puzzling that the Catechism states a moral imperative but gives no guidance to interpreting it. Does this change with age? Is this saying that older couples should “wean” themselves from intimacy to some “moderate” degree?
 
Means be mindful of your intent.

Id est, is your marital relations about love and intimacy or do they serve lustful desires that objectify the woman that just happens to be your wife (or vice versa).

You can still sin by lust with your wife. Lust is the perverted passion that is not love nor intimacy. Serves nothing, but your own interests.
 
What it means is that sex is kept in proportion to other marriage activities. For some it will be higher than others, but when it becomes the most important thing in a marriage, something is out of balance.

It has to do more, methinks, with sex as a whole than of specifics.
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
. . . what does that really mean? Is there a moral or Church guideline that says that marital intimacy should be no more frequent than “x,” or each act last no longer than “y” minutes, or ? It’s puzzling that the Catechism states a moral imperative but gives no guidance to interpreting it. Does this change with age? Is this saying that older couples should “wean” themselves from intimacy to some “moderate” degree?
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If you see the CCC footnote to that statement it refers to an Address to Midwives on the Nature of Their Profession by Pope Pius XII, October 29, 1951 and specifically the section on** human dignity in the conjugal act **(part of which I have quoted below). For the full paper see the link: papalencyclicals.net/Pius12/P12midwives.htm

QUOTE
The same Creator, Who in His bounty and wisdom willed to make use of the work of man and woman, by uniting them in matrimony, for the preservation and propagation of the human race, has also decreed that in this function the parties should experience pleasure and happiness of body and spirit. Husband and wife, therefore, by seeking and enjoying this pleasure do no wrong whatever. They accept what the Creator has destined for them.

Nevertheless, here also, husband and wife must know how to keep themselves within the limits of a just moderation. As with the pleasure of food and drink so with the sexual they must not abandon themselves without restraint to the impulses of the senses. The right rule is this: the use of the natural procreative disposition is morally lawful in matrimony only, in the service of and in accordance with the ends of marriage itself. Hence it follows that only in marriage with the observing of this rule is the desire and fruition of this pleasure and of this satisfaction lawful. For the pleasure is subordinate to the law of the action whence it derives, and not vice versa—the action to the law of pleasure. And this law, so very reasonable, concerns not only the substance but also the circumstances of the action, so that, even when the substance of the act remains morally safe, it is possible to sin in the way it is performed.
UNQUOTE
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
. . . what does that really mean? Is there a moral or Church guideline that says that marital intimacy should be no more frequent than “x,” or each act last no longer than “y” minutes, or ? It’s puzzling that the Catechism states a moral imperative but gives no guidance to interpreting it. Does this change with age? Is this saying that older couples should “wean” themselves from intimacy to some “moderate” degree?
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(Aside from avoiding the intrinsically evil things…)

Everything in life must be kept within “just moderation”…we are Christians…not hedonists…🙂

Hedonism makes the maximum pleasure as much as possible the goal of life…

We are to live according to virtue…

and pleasure is not the main thing…it is subordinated to the persons…etc

How is it governed?

Well no more than 1x per month ( :))

There is nothing decreed that one must only have relations x # times a week if that is what you are asking…

So how really are things to be moderated?

Well we are to “walk by the Spirit” and by reason (logos) and by virtue…

So by the Holy Spirit, reason, love and the other virtues…such as justice (there is after all the “marital debt” that each spouse has obliged themselves too in marriage…etc) …prudence and of course…temperance…

(Oh and some may be inspired to follow what Paul mentions… abstaining for a time for prayer…so that can figure into things too at times…)

Lets look at the CCC on temperance:

1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart."72 Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites."73 In the New Testament it is called “moderation” or “sobriety.” We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world."74
To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).75
 
Try not to enjoy it too much; simply close your eyes and think of England.
 
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