148 pages – Suggested weeks to complete 8-12 weeks minimum
Table of Contents
Chapter One – Changing Times and Emerging Questions
Chapter Two – Laying A Foundation
Chapter Three – The Meaning and Beauty of Married Love
Chapter Four – “Thou Shalt Not…”
Chapter Five – Natural Family Planning
Chapter Six – Consequences and Conflict
Chapter Seven – Pastoral Directives, Part I
Chapter Eight – Pastoral Directives, Part II
A sample two-hour session
7:00 p.m. – Hellos
7:15–7:20 p.m. – Opening Prayer
7:20–8:50 p.m. – Read & Discuss
8:50 p.m. – Closing Prayers/Announcements
9:00 p.m. – Goodbyes
Supplemental resources
- Audio Chapter 1 of Humanae Vitae
- Of Human Life (Humanae Vitae) by Pope St. Paul VI YouTube Playlist
- On Love & Relationships YouTube Playlist
- Must listen talk by Dr. Janet Smith “Contraception Why Not”
- Bonus Episode: The Hormone Genius & Humanae Vitae: A Conversation with Teresa Kenney
- Unprotected: A Pope, the Pill, and the Perils of Sexual Chaos
- Another Sort of Feminism: 7 Risks of the Pill by Simone Rizkallah
- On 55th Anniversary, Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life) Is more Relevant than Ever | Catholic Exchange
Fertility Care resources
- Saint Paul VI Institute
- Couple to Couple League
- The Guiding Star Project
- The Marquette Method
- FACTS
- Natural Womanhood
- Femm Health
- “Pearl & Thistle: An innovative approach to lifelong body literacy for Catholics” (for both adult and teenage girls)
Paying it forward
Make a one-time gift to Endow to help women all over the world discover their God-given dignity!
Become a monthly supporter and join the Feminine Genius Circle!
I remember last summer when I discovered Endow, I tuned in to some of your Humane Vitae webinar and it was some of the first teaching I had ever had on this subject! Amazing, but true. I have mentioned that I grew up Protestant and we really did not discuss anything in this arena. I am so grateful for the Catholic Church for this truth and for so many reasons!
Anonymous
The key message of this document is understanding the inseparable dependency of authentic love and truth in human relationships. This is Pope Paul VI’s long-awaited and controversial encyclical explaining the beauty of marriage and the sanctity of human life within that bond. This study is important because it addresses many questions modern Catholics have battled in today’s culture dealing with human love in relationships. It is an important topic to discuss and a great resource in understanding why the Church so strongly guides us towards honoring our dignity within intimate relationships and God’s very hand in procreation.
Navigating the study
Each chapter is divided into three sections. For a more leisurely 12 week study, groups can work through two of the three sections. For an 8 week study, groups can either move through the sections more rapidly or are selective about which sections to complete. It is not expected that all the questions should be answered in one session or at all.
The commentary for this study was written by Emily Stimpson Chapman, who also wrote our studies on Letter to Women, Rosarium Virginis Mariae (On the Rosary of the Virgin Mary), Setting the World Ablaze: St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Hildegard of Bingen -Discovering the Doctors of the Church.
We are here to support you
Throughout your study, as spiritual, theological, or pastoral questions arise, please contact us for support. Please also consider emailing us testimonies from your group! We love to hear what the Lord is doing through Endow!
The Endow team is here to support you in studying this important document! For an initial 20-minute Zoom meeting with us, please contact [email protected] with the subject line “Mentoring meeting”
Humanae Vitae promotional kit