So what is Super-Natural Family Planning (SNFP)? A couple practicing SNFP is aware of what is involved in NFP, but they also have their eyes on a supernatural end. A couple utilizing SNFP is actively engaging their intellects and wills and their minds and hearts, which have been elevated by supernatural insight and grace. They do not ignore the sufferings and serious difficulties that sometimes arise within married life, and they responsibly consider the use of NFP. However, their supernatural perspective and heroic generosity call them to live in the present moment. They do not let anxieties and reservations about an uncertain future shake their trust in their Heavenly Father. After all, we are a people who daily pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” SNFP says, “If God is providing for our daily needs now, and there are no certain limitations coming in the future, then we ought to trust that He will continue to care for our needs tomorrow.”
The need for active trust in God is a foundational point in SNFP. As a sacrament, our marriage should reflect the victory of Christ over original sin. Listen to the Catechism describe the incompatibility between trust and sin:
Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and, abusing his freedom, disobeyed God's command. This is what man's first sin consisted of. All subsequent sin would be disobedience toward God and a lack of trust in His goodness. (CCC 397)
We have seen that there is a superficial similarity and a substantial difference between NFP and contraception; so too, there is a superficial similarity and substantial difference between SNFP and what might be labeled the error “Providentialism.” Those who favor the use of NFP as a norm, even when serious reasons for avoiding a pregnancy do not exist, tend to criticize SNFP as falling into the error of “Providentialism.” The “Providentialist” relies on God's care, however, without making recourse to the natural tools we have been given by God; he would think that a pregnancy will only take place if God has already planned on personally providing for all of the child's needs. The “Providentialist” would ignore existing serious problems with his health, finances, emotional or social concerns, and discern God's will in an overly simplistic manner; if a pregnancy happened, it must be God's will. This is a half truth; of course all life is God's will, but He also wills that we act as responsible collaborators in welcoming new life. This is where SNFP and Providentialism differ.
To fall into Providentialism is a bit like the man who lived in a flood zone. As the waters rose some men in a truck came by and offered him a ride out of the danger zone. He replied, “No thank you, I trust God will save me.” A bit later, as the waters were rising, some rescuers came by in a boat and again offered to take him to safety. Again, he refused, “No thank you, God will save me.” When the waters had flooded his home and he was trapped on the roof of his house, a helicopter lowered a ladder in a desperate effort to save him. Defiantly, he repeated, “No! I have faith! God will save me.” Not too much later he was standing before Almighty God. He complained, “Lord, I trusted you to save me. Why did you abandon me?” God responded, “I sent you a truck, a boat, and a helicopter! What did you expect?” God wants us to communicate with Him and do our part.
It is true, as the Catechism affirms, “God is the sovereign master of his plan.” However, the Catechism continues, “But to carry it out he also makes use
of his creatures' cooperation. This use is not a sign of weakness, but rather a token of almighty God's greatness and goodness.” (CCC 306). The error of the Providentialist is that he refuses to use his God-given intellect and will to exercise responsible parenthood.
Responsible parenting requires that we examine our circumstances honestly, but with an eye on the supernatural. A young couple will think after the birth of their first child, “We don't know if we could love a second child as much.” In some ways they are right, because they have not yet been given the grace to love a second child; that grace comes with the conception, pregnancy, and birth of the next child. In other words the grace will come when we need it, not before we need it. That being said, we must also understand that God's children walk the path of the Cross, and, at times in our lives, our current sufferings and hardships may present serious difficulties; to bring children into those difficulties without thoughtful and prayerful reflection might be irresponsible. If Dad's business is closing in four months and he will lose his job, or if Mom is suffering from a serious ailment, this may very well lead a responsible couple to utilize natural methods to postpone a pregnancy. Once the storm passes, they can put aside the charting and rhythmic abstinence.