Marriage is a sacred union designed by God to reflect His love, faithfulness, and creativity. One of the fundamental aspects of this divine plan is openness to life, which means welcoming children as a natural fruit of love between husband and wife. In today’s world, many couples view children as a challenge or a burden, often influenced by a culture that prioritizes personal convenience over family growth. However, according to the teachings of the Theology of the Body, being open to life is not only a moral call but also a profound way to strengthen marriage, bringing couples closer in love, unity, and purpose.
Understanding Openness to Life
Openness to life means that a couple embraces their fertility as a gift from God, understanding that marital love is designed to be free, total, faithful, and fruitful. St. John Paul II, in his Theology of the Body, explains that love within marriage must mirror God’s creative and self-giving love. Just as God’s love is always life-giving, so too should the love between spouses remain open to the possibility of new life.
This does not mean that every couple will have many children or that every act of intimacy must result in pregnancy. Rather, it means that a couple does not intentionally block God’s plan for fertility through artificial means. They remain open to God’s will, whether that includes many children, few children, or none at all due to natural circumstances.
How Openness to Life Strengthens Marriage
Many couples discover that when they embrace openness to life, their relationship grows stronger in unexpected ways. Here’s how this mindset positively impacts marriage:
1. Deepens Marital Love and Unity
When a couple is open to life, their love is expressed in its fullest form—a love that holds nothing back. This attitude fosters a deeper emotional and spiritual connection because both spouses recognize that they are fully giving themselves to one another, including their fertility.
- They develop greater trust because they are not withholding any part of themselves.
- They strengthen their communication, especially when discussing family planning and the responsibility of raising children.
- They learn to support each other, growing together in patience, sacrifice, and shared goals.
2. Encourages Selflessness and Sacrificial Love
One of the greatest threats to marriage is selfishness. A relationship that revolves around personal desires can become fragile and easily broken when difficulties arise. However, being open to life teaches self-giving love, which is the heart of a lasting marriage.
- Welcoming children requires sacrifice, which helps both spouses grow in maturity and generosity.
- Parenthood teaches humility, as couples learn to put their children’s needs before their own.
- Marriage becomes more about serving the other rather than seeking self-satisfaction.
St. John Paul II reminds us that love grows through sacrifice. In contrast, when couples avoid life for the sake of comfort, they may unintentionally develop a mindset that prioritizes personal pleasure over the self-giving nature of love.
3. Strengthens Faith and Trust in God
Being open to life requires faith—faith that God will provide, that He has a plan for each child, and that He will give the necessary graces to raise a family. This mindset leads couples to rely on God more deeply, strengthening their spiritual bond.
- Couples who embrace openness to life often develop a stronger prayer life, asking for wisdom and guidance.
- They experience God’s providence, as He provides unexpected blessings and support for their growing family.
- They grow in spiritual maturity, learning to surrender their plans to God’s greater design.
This trust in God’s plan helps couples face financial difficulties, career changes, and unexpected challenges with greater peace and confidence.
4. Enhances Intimacy and Respect in the Relationship
Openness to life naturally leads couples to seek natural methods of family planning, such as Natural Family Planning (NFP). Unlike artificial contraception, NFP:
- Encourages communication and cooperation between spouses.
- Fosters greater respect for the woman’s body and its natural cycles.
- Prevents the mentality of “use”, ensuring that intimacy remains a true gift of self rather than an act of personal gratification.
Many couples who switch from contraception to NFP report greater emotional and physical satisfaction in their marriage. Their intimacy becomes more meaningful, as it is rooted in respect, understanding, and shared responsibility.
5. Creates a Stronger Family Foundation
When couples welcome children into their marriage, they create a home filled with love, joy, and purpose. Raising children together strengthens their bond as partners and gives them a common mission.
- Parenthood unites spouses – Raising children together strengthens teamwork and deepens their appreciation for one another.
- Children enrich marriage – Though they require sacrifice, children bring immense joy and fulfillment to family life.
- A strong family benefits future generations – Children raised in homes filled with love and faith are more likely to build healthy marriages in the future.
Overcoming the Challenges of Openness to Life
While being open to life is a beautiful calling, it is not always easy. Some couples fear financial struggles, personal limitations, or the pressures of raising children in today’s world. However, challenges can be overcome through:
- Prayer and spiritual support – Seeking God’s guidance and relying on the strength of faith.
- Community and mentorship – Learning from other faithful couples who have embraced openness to life.
- Trust in divine providence – Remembering that God never gives a calling without also providing the grace to fulfill it.
Additionally, Natural Family Planning (NFP) allows couples to responsibly space pregnancies while remaining faithful to God’s design. It respects the natural fertility of the body and promotes self-control, patience, and mutual understanding.
The Beauty of Life-Giving Love
Openness to life is not simply about having more children—it is about embracing God’s design for marriage and love. When couples allow their love to be free, total, faithful, and fruitful, their relationship is transformed. They experience deeper unity, stronger faith, greater joy, and a lasting sense of purpose.
While the world often promotes a self-centered view of love, true marital happiness comes from self-giving love—a love that is open to life, filled with trust in God, and rooted in sacrifice.
By embracing openness to life, couples not only strengthen their marriage but also build a legacy of love that will impact future generations.