An 87 Year Old Looks Back

I knew the Church said it was a sin to practice birth control, but I never felt that way.  I was married in 1952 at age 27.  My firstborn came a year later.  After that we practiced rhythm, and my husband was fine with it.  Our second child was born two years later and our third three years after that.  Then my husband and I were both ready to practice a surer method.  I never thought birth control was wrong.  I know there are three conditions necessary for a sin to be serious.  One is full consent of the will.  I knew in my heart I couldn’t give full consent. 

 

In confession, when I first started on the Pill, the priest said he couldn’t give me absolution unless I promised not to use the Pill again.  I told him I couldn’t make that promise.  I left the confessional and haven’t been to private confession since.  What do I have to confess?  I gossiped about someone?  I entertained an unkind thought?  I go to the communal penance services in our parish.  I love the communal services.  I kept going to communion and I continued my involvement in parish activities.  For some years now, I’ve been a lector.  I’ve never felt guilty about my decision.

I went on to have a fourth child, using the Pill in between.  I always knew I wanted more children.  I just didn’t want to have them all at once.  My children are spaced two, three and four years apart.  If I had my life to live over, I’d have had six children.  I’m crazy about babies.  I was content at the time but my four have turned out so well—their spouses, too—that I wish I had two more.