W
Woodstock
Guest
With the above comments, you have hit upon the eastern understanding of sexual relations. They are a weakness, in accordance with 1 Cor 7, to be allowed within marriage so that neither party sins by acting on his passions outside of a marriage.Well…with all the sexual temptations out there today, I don’t think this is recommended by many spiritual directors.
If either spouse still struggles with sexual temptations at that time in the future, then these medicines should be looked into, and relations continued until no longer possible, even with medications.
If neither spouse struggles with sexual temptations at that time, and one or both spouses no longer work properly, then there is no sin in ceasing relations altogether, so long as it will not endanger either spiritually or emotionally.
However, if both people are so self-disciplined and spiritually advanced as to not be tempted to the passions of the flesh outside of marriage, and they are called to this gift, then St. Paul says that is even better, twice calling it “good” to remain celibate and twice saying that relations within marriage are a concession, but a valid one.