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

Do you feel desperately in need of healing – spiritually and physically – on the path of infertility and loss? This episode is for you!

Jillian and Fr. Paul talk about the "Sacraments of Healing," Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. They'll discuss:

• Why healing is a necessary part of our path to holiness
• How regular Confession can strengthen us in our lives and marriages
• If Catholics on the path of infertility should ask for the Anointing of the Sick

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• Springs Examen
• Purchase the Examen Here
• Podcast Episode on Hope

Examen podcast series:

• Relationship with God
• Relationship with spouse
• Relationship with others
• Relationship with self

This month, we'll be talking with Fr. Paul about the seven sacraments. In each episode, we'll explore one or two of the sacraments and how we can understand them in a new light on the path of infertility.

Jillian and Fr. Paul begin with the sacrament of Baptism. They'll discuss:

• What happens to our soul at Baptism, and why the sacrament should still comfort us even years and decades later
• Why Romans 6:4 shines light on how we are called to live through difficult seasons
• How all Christians are called to bear witness to their Baptismal grace in the world through nourishing the spiritual lives of others

It is our honor to walk with you!

Are you ready to learn more about the theology of the body? Where to even begin? Who is the theology of the body actually for? What terms do we need to know in order to understand it?

Today's episode is part IV of a series on the theology of the body with guests Chris O'Neill, Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and Trey Weaver, Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. With Jillian, they'll suggest some resources, texts, and videos to start with or use on your journey of diving deeper into the theology of the body!

And don't forget to email your questions to [email protected]!

Links:

1. Part I: Getting Started With Theology of the Body
2. Part II: What does "Theology of the Body" even mean?
3. Part III: What Jesus' Body Teaches Us About Our Suffering
4. John Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body
5. Theology of the Body Explained
6. Paul VI, Humanae Vitae
7. Karol Wojtyła, Love and Responsibility
8. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio
9. John Paul II, Mulieris Dignitatem
10. John Paul II, Dives in Misericordia
11. Paul VI, Gaudium et Spes
12. Paul VI, Lumen Gentium
13. Edward Sri, Men, Women, & The Mystery of Love
14. Patricia Polacco, Luba and The Wren
15. Michael O'Brien, Island of the World
16. Sigrid Undset, Kristin Lavransdatter
17. Sheldon Vanauken, A Severe Mercy

Other resources:

• The Passion of Christ in the Gospels
• Moana (2016)
• Lion King
• Life is Beautiful (1997)
• Babette's Feast (1987)

Father's Day is coming up, so we're having Kenn Cramer back on the podcast to talk about ministering to men and our personal relationships with God the Father. Jillian and Kenn will reflect on:

1. The importance of ministering specifically to men in a season of infertility/loss
2. How parishes can observe Father's Day and Mother's Day in a way that honors the varied experiences of people in the pews
3. Growing in relationship with God the Father

Links:

• How Can We Educate Our Priests About Infertility? w/ Kenn Cramer
• Infertility Awareness

Mother's Day resource for pastors

Have you ever felt like your body is an obstacle, or that it's working against you? If so, this podcast episode is for you!

Today Jillian welcomes Sister M. Emmanuel Kurtzweg, OSF, RN and teammate, Stacey, to the podcast to talk about what it means to be "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps 139:14). Listen to hear more about:

• FEMM (Fertility Education and Medical Management) and how it's different from other fertility awareness methods.
• Why part of Sr. Emmanuel's mission is to teach her Franciscan sisters about their fertility, and what we, as married women, can learn from that.
• What advice Sr. Emmanuel would give to couples who are having a hard time with fertility treatments and are discerning taking a break.

It is our honor to walk with you!

Links:

• Sr. Emmanuel's FEMM Info Page
• Submit Your Intentions to the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration!

What does the theology of the body have to teach us about bodily suffering? What do Jesus' wounds have to do with our wounds? What can we learn from the theology of the body about abandoning ourselves to the will of God?

Today's episode is part III of a series on the theology of the body with guests Chris O'Neill, Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and Trey Weaver, Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. With Jillian, they'll explore what theology of the body has to teach us as we walk the path of infertility.

Links:

1. Part I: Getting Started With The Theology of The Body

2. Part II: What Does Theology of the Body Even Mean?

3. John Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body

4. Karol Wojtyła, Love and Responsibility

What is hope really? Are there different ways to understand hope? How should we think about hope when we are also dealing with the reality of childlessness?

Today Jillian welcomes Cassi to the podcast to think about these important questions. They'll discuss:

1. What natural and supernatural hope feel like on the path of infertility

2. What hope has looked like for Cassi at different places on the path of infertility

3. Encouragement for those who feel that they will never be happy or fulfilled without a baby

It is our honor to walk with you on the path of infertility!

Links:

• The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur
• Fr. Paul's Email: [email protected]
• Searching For and Maintaining Peace
• Interior Freedom
• Blog Post: The Seeds and Your Inner Fertility
• Blog Post: Hospitality of the Heart
• Blog Post: The Former Things are Passed Away

What does the theology of the body even mean? From it, what can we learn about Christ's body, and about God Himself? What does Christ's body tell us about who we are, and about our own capacity to love? What do our bodies tell us about what we were created for?

Today's episode is part II of a series on the theology of the body with guests Chris O'Neill, Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and Trey Weaver, Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. With Jillian, they'll explore what theology of the body has to teach us as we walk the path of infertility.

Links:

1. Part I: Getting Started With The Theology of The Body

2. John Paul II, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body

3. Karol Wojtyła, Love and Responsibility