Often (though not always) the release date of a Church document is significant. For example the Catholic Catechism was released on the anniversary of the start of Vatican II and the Year of Faith will begin in October and marks the 50th anniversary of the start of Vatican II.The encyclical begins with:
The transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator. It has always been a source of great joy to them, even though it sometimes entails many difficulties and hardships.
The fulfillment of this duty has always posed problems to the conscience of married people, but the recent course of human society and the concomitant changes have provoked new questions. The Church cannot ignore these questions, for they concern matters intimately connected with the life and happiness of human beings.
In today's Gospel Jesus says
whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
The first reading is about death to one's self and sacrifice so that life will prevail. And the responsaral is about sowing seed (ahem) in tears (or reluctance, perhaps) and reaping in joy. (See the readings here)
Or perhaps Pope Paul VI remembered James' famous line from his letter that "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17) In other words, our faith is expressed in our bodies.
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