Conjugal love, and the family life which results from it, have this purpose: that the married couple be ready to cooperate generously with the love of the Creator and the Savior, Who through them will increase and enrich His own family day by day.

The most complete expression of the unity of the spouses is the sexual act, the fulfillment of the mutual love which Jesus so desires for them. The union of husband and wife in Christian marriage reflects the union between the risen Christ and His Church.

The married couple has the responsibility to determine, in the light of all the circumstances of their married life, what is the unique creative partnership that God invites them to share with Him. With an attitude of openness for life, they plan their family through a conscientious assessment of what they can do to further the good of their whole family and of society.

In this task, couples are helped by prayer, the Church’s teachings, their own knowledge of themselves and their family situation, and the example of other faithful Christians. As in all of life’s decisions, here too, the spouses should pray and make their decisions according to well-informed Christian consciences.