Most people have problems. I wish there were more big families.

I remember being fairly young and with some of my siblings and either my mom or dad at a store (this happened often), and somebody would ask, "Are all these yours?" to the parent in question.  Invariably, the "Yes, and there's more at home" reply would bring forth the "Are you Catholic?" inquiry.  Of course!   :smile:

Usually, however, people were amused by the fact that I was one of a set of twins, and there was a younger set of twin siblings.  

I like to joke with sheep people and say that I am from a great twinning line, as that's highly desirable in sheep.  The cattle people smile and tell me that usually they cull those genetics!  

I usually chuckle and keep it to myself, when I'm out with a few of my kids. I just think, "hahaha...yeah, these are mine, as are the two at home..." or "you don't know the half of it..."

At the SSPX chapel, there are two families of 10 chldren and one family of 8 children, another of 6 children and lots with 5.  

Funny, at the novus ordo church, 3 seems to be the largest with 2 being norm.  Of course, this makes sense since the "god" of the novus ordites is "this world".

Just remember, though, that not every family gets to have 10 children. Especially nowadays, when it's so hard to find that "special someone" to commit to for life. Marriage is serious business, and it can take a while for a man to get established AND find a suitable spouse.

If you get married in your late 20's, you're less likely to have 12 children.

There is a thing called a "miscarriage", plus some women choose to feed their babies the food God designed for them ("breastfeeding"), which usually delays the return of fertility as a side effect.

We need to catch ourselves when we judge how "Trad" someone is by how many children they have. What if they're perfectly Trad but only have 6 children? Do you accuse them (even to their face) of using birth control? I've heard of such things happening, which is disgusting to say the least.

Yes, generally speaking families are not going to have 2-3 children if they're not "preventing". But even if you come across a Trad family with 2 children, PLEASE don't judge them if you don't even know them. It's not Christian, let alone Catholic.

Matthew,

Good point.  

Sometimes a small trad family is the result of a recent conversion from the N.O. or a protestant sect.  Occasionally, it may be due to fertility problems.

I don't know of any incident where a Father or Mother of a small family was accused of using birth control but I suspect it may be more likely to be an implied insult among the ladies.  

My post was just to highlight the difference between the SSPX chapel in St. Louis, and probably standard practice throughout the entire SSPX, in contradistinction with the normative behavior at the novus ordo.  The novus ordites are almost universally using birth control of one form or another.  

No judging was going on in my post, I was just bragging about the number of large families that go to the SSPX chapel in St. Louis!

In the SSPX, Catholic values are preached and in the last few months we have heard it mentioned during the sermon that if you are using birth control you will go to Hell.  During my novus ordo days, I never heard it mentioned - EVER!

If you get married in your late 20's, you're less likely to have 12 children.

You mean if a woman gets married in her late 20s.

Why is there an implicit assumption that a man who marries in his late 20s wouldn't have time for ten children?  

The statement is not rational without that assumption.

It's true you should never judge, but, often when speaking with smaller families, it's the dreaded natural family planning which is the cause.

I am not a fan of NFP. I don't understand it. I wont say it is a sin because apparently Pope Pius XII said it was okay when there is grave reason (I don't know what that means), but it seems strange for me to have good Catholics wanting sex without the responsibilities that come with it.