Humanae Vitae/ 50th Anniversary

Bishop Jaime Soto and Suzanne Francois discuss Humanae Vitae

Humanae Vitae ("Of Human Life") is the papal encyclical written by Blessed Pope Paul VI in 1968. It provides beautiful and clear teaching about God's plan for married love and the transmission of life.  July 25, 2018, marks the 50th anniversary of the issuance of Humanae Vitae. In this anniversary year, Catholics are urged to read the document and to grasp its meaning, purpose, and impact. Here you can read the document (in English or Spanish), and find new reflections, articles, and resources.

Read the encyclical and meditate on God's design for married love.

Pray with us by using these simple Humanae vitae inspired monthly prayers that can help us reflect upon Church teaching on marriage, conjugal love, and responsible. parenthood.

Watch what our bishops are teaching about God's gift of married love and life.

Hear Pope Paul VI. . .  speak about the importance of Humanae vitae in this rare video.

Resources

Bishop Robert Barron on Contraception and Social Change

Robert Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and founder of Word on Fire Ministry, made this 10-minute video in January 2018:  "This coming July," he says, "we will mark the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s deeply controversial encyclical letter, Humanae Vitae. But I would like to draw particular attention to a remarkable passage in this encyclical, namely Section 17, in which Paul VI plays the prophet and lays out, clearly and succinctly, what he foresees as the consequences of turning away from the Church’s classic teaching on sex...."