Can you imagine yourself single, homeless with three children under the age of four, in the middle of a Canadian winter, with no one to call? What about if you’ve just arrived in Canada from your own dangerous country, but you’ve landed in hospital needing surgery, with no one to take care of your two school aged children? Think of a crisis you have been through and think about who you had to lean on for support. Who are the people you may have had on speed dial to help talk

When we stood at the altar, the priest looked us in the eyes and asked: “Will you accept children lovingly from God?” Our response was an exuberant: “We will.” And we meant it. We were assured: be open to life, and life will come. Be faithful. Be patient. Be generous. Be hopeful. So we waited. And waited. And waited. We didn't know it would hurt this much, but we said yes to life. And we’d say yes again.

This year at The Fruitful Hollow, our theme is "fruitfulness in your home and marriage". We are exploring ways we can exercise fruitfulness in our domestic church, physical home, hobbies, relationships and wider family, even in times of darkness. This week we're extending that to our places of work, wherever those may be. 

choosing to stay faithful to Church teaching, faithful to your husband and faithful to your body is pro-life, even if it means not having children at all. By choosing not to pursue anti-life options, you're standing up for life. By not commodifying children, you're protecting a culture of life and your options of showing it are limitless. 

Infertility is deeply painful but can be fertile ground for nurturing these fruits of the Spirit. Spiritual fruitfulness is no less valuable

Love centered on Christ is always fruitful. It is transformed in Christ. Dietrich von Hildebrand explains that “the love of the beloved lift

V/. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, R/. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. V/. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, R/. Be it done unto me according to your Word. Hail Mary… V/. And the Word was made flesh, R/. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary… V/. Pray for us, O h

I remember seeing her image, a huge six-foot portrait hanging on the wall of the Catholic church where I attended grade school, and feeling

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Bacon and chocolate, salt and caramel, ice cream and french fries, and a friendship between an infertile woman and a woman with two surprise

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The side effects from medications and then feeling like an experiment at times would just become too much. I remember crying when an...