Abstinence During the Fasts

Q & A with Fr Job:

Question: What is the point of refraining from marital relations during fasts?

Answer: Concerning the necessity of refraining from marital relations during fasts, the word of God says: “The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinence” (I Cor. 7:4-5). One cannot justify marital relations during fasts by the desire to conceive children. The Church blesses this on other days. All that is done in disobedience to the holy Church rule can not bring anything good.