St. Gianna Molla is a great saint to turn to on the path of infertility! As a laywoman and a wife, she can seem especially relatable. In this episode, Jillian welcomes Jennifer Nelson of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Relics to the podcast. They'll talk about:

• The story of St. Gianna and why we should ask for her intercession in a season of infertility/loss
• How the marriage of Pietro and Gianna Molla can inspire us on this path
• The importance of praying together and the Novena that Jennifer wrote for married couples

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Relics of St. Gianna

• Water Into Wine: A Novena For Married Couples

• Book: The Journey of Our Love: The Letters of Saint Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla

On Instagram back in February, Steffani Aquila of His Girl Sunday proposed a question to her followers: "What if difficulty helps me to blossom?" A season of infertility doesn't always feel like a grace-filled time – but it can still be a season of personal growth!

Jillian welcomes Steffani back to the podcast to reflect on increasing in faith, grace, and virtue during (or even because of) a difficult season. They'll talk about:

• The ways that the experience of infertility can help us to "blossom"
• How our perspective on infertility and growth can change over time
• Steffani's encouragement to women and couples to find ways to "blossom" in the thick of trying to conceive

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• His Girl Sunday Website:
• Festive Faith Book
• His Girl Sunday Instagram

• What is Liturgical Living? w/ Steffani Aquila

• Hospitality and Maintaining Friendships in a Season of Infertility w/ Steffani Aquila

Your marriage – yes, yours! – can bear witness to the beauty of this sacrament, even on the path of infertility.

Lisa Martinez is back on the podcast to talk with Jillian about witness, discernment, and fruitfulness. In this episode, they'll discuss:

• Lisa and Mike's recent major discernment process
• How the service we give to others is fruitfulness
• Why the marriages of couples going through infertility bear witness to the beauty of this sacrament, even though they may not have children

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• Little With Great Love

What does beloved book Anne of Green Gables have to teach us in a season of infertility? Today we're welcoming children's book author, Veronica Simon, and longtime friend of the ministry, Allie Kleineck, to the podcast to dig into this wonderful novel. Cassandra speaks to Veronica and Allie about:

• The importance of female friendship and mentorship in Anne of Green Gables

• How part of spiritual motherhood is inspiring others to lead virtuous lives

• What Anne of Green Gables teaches us in a season of infertility

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• Pennyworth Publishing
• Blog Post: A Sense of Wonder

Steffani Aquila of His Girl Sunday is back on the podcast to talk about her favorite topic, liturgical living, and how fun traditions are for all Catholics. By embracing food, decorations, and music associated with Catholic saints and feast days, our spiritual lives and domestic churches can be rejuvenated!

Jillian and Steffani talk about:

• Why married Catholics can and should embrace traditional meals, decorations, and songs for the sake of their own spiritual lives, whether or not they have children in the home
• How couples struggling with infertility can make room for prayer in their "domestic church"
• Steffani's favorite Catholic tradition to embrace with her husband

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• His Girl Sunday Website
• Festive Faith Book
• His Girl Sunday Instagram
• Podcast: What is Liturgical Living? w/ Steffani Aquila
• Podcast: Hospitality and Maintaining Friendships in a Season of Infertility w/ Steffani Aquila

How can we embrace the role of aunt in a season of infertility? Today Jillian welcomes Ann and Ann's niece Maria to the podcast to talk about this special bond between women and their nieces and nephews. They'll discuss:

1. How aunts can live out their spiritual motherhood in practical ways

2. What we learn from our aunts that we can pass on when we become aunts ourselves

3. Finding fruitfulness in embracing the feminine genius as an aunt

Links:

• Blog Post: Feminine Fruitfulness During A Season of Infertility
• Blog Post: Learning Receptivity in Infertility

It isn't always easy to lean into – or even discover! – our creative sides on the path of infertility. But creativity can be an important a source of consolation and fruitfulness for us in a season of waiting and loss.

Today, Jana from January Jane Shop talks with Jillian about art and fruitfulness. They'll discuss:

• The story behind January Jane Shop
• How Jana's "Land of the Living" collection was borne out of an experience of loss
• Jana's encouragement to keep creating through a difficult season

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• January Jane Shop

• Land of the Living Collection

Marriage and Holy Orders are called "sacraments of service." Husbands and wives vow their lives to each other, and priests vow their lives to Christ in these important moments of grace and surrender.

Fr. Paul joins Jillian on the podcast to talk about the meaningful similarities we can draw between these sacraments. They'll discuss:

• Similarities between the liturgical celebrations of Marriage and Holy Orders, and the symbolism that can help us deepen in understanding
• The importance of the domestic church
• How the Holy Mystery of matrimony invites us to give our own Fiat on the path of infertility

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• Baptism Episode
• Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick Episode
• Eucharist Episode
• Confirmation Episode

If you're confirmed, do you ever stop to think about how you've received the Holy Spirit?! God has given us a wonderful gift in the Sacrament of Confirmation! This grace can strengthen us and our marriages as we carry the cross of infertility.

In this episode, Jillian and Fr. Paul talk about:

• How Confirmation/Chrismation is like a "personal Pentecost"
• What it means to have received the gift of the Holy Spirit
• Why it's important to nurture our friendships with the Saints

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• Baptism Podcast
• Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick Podcast
• Eucharist Podcast

At Mass, Catholics hear the words of consecration spoken over the bread and wine. How can the Eucharistic mystery and Christ's giving of His Body and Blood strengthen our faith on the path of infertility and loss?

In this episode, Jillian and Ann speak with Fr. Paul about the Holy Eucharist. They'll talk about:

• Seeing the Paschal Mystery as one event, from the Last Supper through Christ's death and resurrection
• Receiving Our Lord in our own "broken" bodies
• How we can open our hearts to Jesus and become more like Him through the Eucharist

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• Podcast Episode on Baptism
• Podcast Episode on Reconciliation & Anointing of the Sick