Should we be open to having another child? This is a question that many married couples face throughout their marriage. Having children requires a lot of sacrifice. However, the Church and experience teaches us about the “supreme goodness” of having children. Dr. Edward Sri is joined by his wife Beth Sri to discuss the discernment process of having children and some practical tips to aid you in the process.
Snippet from the Show
Children are meant to bring a husband and wife deeper into deeper unity.
Shownotes
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 2378
A child is not something owed to one, but is a gift. The “supreme gift of marriage” is a human person. A child may not be considered a piece of property, an idea to which an alleged “right to a child” would lead. In this area, only the child possesses genuine rights: the right “to be the fruit of the specific act of the conjugal love of his parents,” and “the right to be respected as a person from the moment of his conception.”
Tools for Discernment
- Talk with Your Spouse
As with all things in marriage, it is essential to maintain open communication with your spouse. In regards to children/family planning, be sure to communicate clearly with your spouse on your struggles, fears, hopes, and desires.
- Be Brutally Honest
Be brutally honest with yourself and with your spouse. It is ok to struggle, but you must be honest about that struggle.
- Take It to Prayer
Just as it is essential to maintain open communication with your spouse, you must also maintain open communication with the Lord. Ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit. Commit yourself to God’s will.
- Consult with a Third Party
It may be helpful at times for you and your spouse to take your discernment to a third party, whether a priest, spiritual director, or mentor(s). Their wisdom/knowledge may aid you greatly.
Upcoming Events List
- June 20-23: St. Patrick Catholic Church – Summer Summit – London, England
- June 23-July 1: Rome Pilgrimage
- July 18-20: 2024 National Eucharistic Congress – Indianapolis IN
- Aug 10: Discipleship Conference – Oklahoma City OK
- Aug 22: Magnify – Texas A&M Students – College Station, TX
- Aug 23-24: Diocesan Faith Formation Conference – Tulsa OK
- Sept 13: St. Laurence Catholic Church Parish Mission – Sugarland TX
- Sept 16-18: Priest convocation – Springfield IL
- Sept 21: 2024 Annual Meeting and Investiture of the Northern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – Denver CO
- Oct 3: Diocese of Harrisburg Annual Priest Workshop – Hunt Valley MD
- Oct 5: McHenry County Catholic Prayer Breakfast – Chicago IL
- Nov 16: Women of Christ 16th Annual Conference – Brookfield, WI
- Nov 23: Marriage Retreat – Loveland, CO
Resources
- Visit Dr. Sri’s website at www.edwardsri.com and to book online events with Dr. Sri email events.edwardsri@gmail.com
- Find more of Dr. Sri’s episodes at www.ascensionpress.com/allthingscatholic
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to www.ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings
Dr. Edward Sri is a theologian, well-known Catholic speaker, and author of several best-selling books. His work with Ascension includes study programs such as A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion and Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother. Several of Dr. Sri’s programs were filmed on-site in the Holy Land, and feature immersive video explorations of the sacred sites where Jesus, Mary, and the Apostles lived and died.
Dr. Sri is the host of the acclaimed Ascension podcast All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri. Together with Curtis Martin, Dr. Sri is a founding leader of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), of which he serves as senior vice president of Apostolic Outreach.
Dr. Sri lives with his wife Beth and their children in Colorado.
