Natural Family Planning Awareness Week: July 25 - 31, 2010

Natural Family Planning Awareness Week is a national educational campaign. The NFP Program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops develops a variety of educational formats to focus attention on Natural Family Planning methods and Church teachings which support their use in marriage.
The dates of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25) which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother.

Prayer for Married Couples
Almighty and eternal God, You blessed the union of married couples so that they might reflect the union of Christ with his Church: look with kindness on them.
Renew their marriage covenant,
increase your love in them, and strengthen their bond of peace so that, with their children, they may always rejoice in the gift of your blessing.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.