Natural Family Planning & Theology of the Body, 17th Century Style

St Francis de Sales, take it away:

“The elephant, not only the largest but the most intelligent of animals, provides us with an excellent example. It is faithful and tenderly loving to the female of its choice, mating only every third year and then for no more than five days, and so secretly as never to be seen, until, on the sixth day, it appears and goes at once to wash its whole body in the river, unwilling to return to the herd until thus purified. Such good and modest habits are an example to husband and wife.” Introduction to the Devout Life, Part 3, chapter 39.

In all seriousness, St Francis de Sales was a great man, a great writer (patron saint of writers, even!) and a great defender of the faith. But not all our saints are infallible, and I’m going to say marital sex wasn’t his area of expertise.

I like the bit about the five continuous days, though.