In today’s episode we continue to discuss issues laid out by the USCCB that define our call to marriage and family. This topic specially discusses the use of artificial birth control and why using anything to prevent conceiving a child, inside or outside of marriage, is always wrong.   The Church teaches beautifully on this point, specifically through JPII’s Theology of the Body. Sex and marriage demand a total gift of self, and when we use contraception we are refusing to receive another person’s fertility and a future with them.    It is important that we teach not only what is wrong, but also God’s beautiful plan for sex and marriage so children can see how contraception corrupts that plan. In this episode I also share the age that we teach our children about sex and the stages of that conversation. We really do need to get to our kids first, because the world has MANY lies it wants to share with our kids.   Our exploration of being open to life and the use of contraception comes directly out of our new book, CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING FOR YOUTH. Catholic Social Teaching for Youth is not on sale yet, but will be soon. Look for the book to be on sale in May!   In the meantime, please use this Catholic Social Teaching Cheat Sheet. It outlines what the Church teaches on each topic and offers you a brief description of the beauty we should reinforce as we teach.  Get it here: https://omniform1.com/forms/v1/landingPage/61ba0f0cbe1f5d001d03c28e/64110c69b09e89c71966c120   Thank you for listening to the Just One Small Thing Podcast. Tuning in each week means so very much! Want to hear more great Catholic content perfect for the whole family? Make sure to tune in each day to the CATHOLIC SPROUTS PODCAST. https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-sprouts-podcast/   Looking for a way to support this podcast? Here are some ideas: Say a prayer for us! This would be SUCH a gift! Share this podcast with a friend! Purchase something in the Catholic Sprouts Shop: https://shop.catholicsprouts.com/  Drop Nancy an email at nancy@catholicsprouts.com with a word of encouragement or an idea for a future episode.   This podcast is dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. May we all meet there one day!   Your sister in the small things, Nancy