. Scripture denotes God’s love for his people by referring to both acts. In the Old Testament, God’s loving care for his people is compared to the loving care of a nursing mother for her child (Isa.66: 12-13). In the New Testament, a husband’s love for his wife is compared to Christ’s spousal love for his Church (Eph. 5:21-33).
. Both acts involve love through intimacy, physical closeness, and emotional bonding. The marriage act is for babies and for bonding. Breastfeeding is also for babies and for bonding.
. Both acts are associated with rightful pleasure. God made both acts pleasurable and good to ensure that the race would continue. Thus husband and wife would want to come together in the marriage act, and the mother would want to stay with and nurse her baby.
Sheila Kippley
Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood
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