Summary
In traditional Catholic practices, couples abstain from sexual activity during specific periods to help in spacing out children and promoting chastity. This custom has been practiced since at least St. Paul’s time, as he advised married couples to abstain only for mutual consent and not routinely. In the Middle Ages, many Catholics observed abstinence during Lent, with records showing a significant decrease in births shortly after the season began. Although not mandated by Roman Catholic fasting rules, Eastern Orthodox Church members still abstained from sexual relations throughout lent. In 1950, Pope Pius XII reaffirmed this custom and extended it to include fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays and during Holy Week. Additionally, priests are instructed by the Council of Trent to encourage faithful Catholics to abstain from sexual relations for at least three days before receiving Holy Communion, to devote themselves more to prayer. This practice was advocated even earlier by St. Augustine, who encouraged periodic abstinence among married couples. Despite being less known, this custom remains an integral part of traditional Catholic life and continues to be upheld in various forms across different church traditions.
Key Topics
St. Paul, Natural Family Planning, Lent
