Love for Love's Sake: A Reflection on Humanae Vitae
Posted by Lily Wilson
|
July 23, 2025
This Friday marks the anniversary of Humanae Vitae, the encyclical that, for me, became the catalyst for making the Catholic faith my own. My parents modeled the faith beautifully to me and my siblings, instilling in us a deep respect for the sanctity of human life. But it wasn’t until I encountered Humanae Vitae myself, as a 19-year-old college student, that everything fell into place. Reading sections 9 through 11—God’s Loving Design, Married Love, and Responsible Parenthood—gave voice and clarity to the deepest desires of my heart. The realization that it was possible to experience, even now, a foretaste of the life to come changed everything. It gave me hope, meaning, and purpose. I wanted that—for myself and for others. To seek Love for Love’s sake answered the most fundamental questions in my soul. Several years later, now a mother of five young children, I discovered the Act of Oblation to Merciful Love, the same offering St. Thérèse of Lisieux made just two years before her death. At that point, painfully aware of my own weakness, I found deep resonance in her logic: that if we simply allow God’s merciful love to consume our sins and imperfections, then His very love in us will empower us to love Him in return. That was a game-changer. Because I wanted to be everything my children needed me to be—but I knew I couldn’t do it on my own. Left to our own devices, we are nothing but sin and misery. Yet in His infinite mercy, God gave us a way out of our misery through the Incarnation, Life, Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of His Son. We can hardly fathom the depth of love of a God whom we tend to think of as distant—yet who descended from His heavenly throne to share in our humanity in order to redeem us. Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. ~ John 14:1-3
Jesus has pledged to return and take us with Him—so that where He is, we may be also. Have you thought about the fact that you will see the true face of Jesus one day? It won’t be Jim Caviezel’s face. It won’t be Jonathan Roumie’s. What will He say to you? |
