More than 1 in 10 couples experience infertility, finding themselves in a “desert”—lost and abandoned, hungering and thirsting, praying and waiting—for a child. Discover the direction, nourishment, and faith provided within this spiritual resource for infertile Catholic couples, their families, and friends. Personal reflections from Catholic women struggling with infertility evoke a heartfelt realism, while passages from Scripture and prayers from the Book of Psalms provide the comfort and hope to trust in God, the “Divine Physician.”
By His stripes we are healed. By Her sorrows, we find consolation. A Seven Sorrows Devotional especially written for Catholic Women facing primary or secondary infertility. Find peace in your life by praying with Our Lady of Sorrows.
An updated edition of a trusted resource on the all-too familiar topic of infertility. Includes questions at the end of each chapter, lists for recommended reading, case histories, and personal testimonies.
One in every six United States couples experiences infertility but Catholic couples face additional confusion, worry, and frustration as they explore the medical options available to them. Filling a major void in Catholic resources, The Infertility Companion for Catholics is the first book to address not only the medical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of infertility, but also the particular needs of Catholic couples who desire to understand and follow Church teaching on the use of assisted reproductive technology. Authors Angelique Ruhi-López and Carmen Santamaría offer the support and wisdom gained in their own struggles with infertility. They describe the options that Catholic couples can pursue in seeking to conceive, many of which are not ordinarily presented by the medical community. In an encouraging and non-judgmental tone, they address both husbands and wives and help them recognize the emotional impact of infertility on their relationship. The Infertility Companion for Catholics presents a variety of spiritual resources including prayers, devotions, and the wisdom of the saints and provides suggestions for further reading of reference materials, Catholic documents, and Catholic blogs about infertility.
Endorsed by the Christian Medical Association.A Comprehensive Christian Guide to the Challenges of Infertility• Medical • Ethical • Emotional • Marital • Spiritual • BiblicalInfertility changes everything, shattering dreams and breaking hearts. But hope is available—today more than ever. The Infertility Companion draws on the Bible and on current medical knowledge, including the latest research, to shed light on such questions as:•Can people of faith ethically use high-tech infertility treatments?•How do we make moral, biblical decisions about medical treatment, third-party reproduction, stem cell research, and embryo adoption? •Is God punishing me? •Does God even care?•Will adoption increase our chances of getting pregnant?•How can we reduce the stress of infertility on our marriage relationship?•How can we keep sex from becoming a chore?These theologically trained authors have taught at a variety of conferences on infertility, pregnancy loss, and adoption, and they have helped thousands of couples to face the future through their message of encouragement. The Infertility Companion includes discussion questions and a workbook suitable for individuals, couples, or small groups. Full of practical tips and true stories, this book will guide couples past the ethical pitfalls of assisted reproductive technologies as they travel the difficult road ahead.An all-encompassing guide for the Christian infertility patient. Where other books fall short, this “companion” aids the patient not only with the physical and emotional aspects of this journey, but also helps answer the tough spiritual and ethical questions that arise in a couple’s desire to conceive.—Julie Watson, Conceiving Concepts
Get your marriage off to a great start--or renew the marriage you've shared for years--with this six-week devotional for couples, which takes inspiration from Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body. Experts Jackie François Angel and Bobby Angel will teach you how to pray together as a couple, opening you up to the wonders that God bestows on your marriage.
After five years of tests, Kerstin Daynes had her worst fear confirmed: she was infertile. In this honest and reassuring handbook, Kerstin shares her own personal experiences facing infertility and offers insights that will help couples to heal emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally, and socially. Using timeless concepts and introducing unique perspectives, Kerstin gently and empathetically walks the reader through this life-changing process as she shows couples how to make their lives productive while facing their situation. Infertility: Help, Hope, and Healing gives couples a quick reference that can be used repeatedly as they experience the ups and downs of grieving. Even with physical infertility, life can still be fertile, fruitful, and filled with hope.
Many women who experience post-abortion trauma and guilt feel doomed to suffer in silence. In God’s Mercy Awaits You, experienced pro-life counselor Sr. Patricia Marie Barnette accompanies women on a journey out of the darkness of shame and regret and into the light of God’s forgiveness and mercy. Sr. Barnette is as empathetic as she is knowledgeable, and she approaches this difficult topic with compassion and sensitivity.The book is also highly practical, filled with prayers, advice, and web and print resources that consider the issue from every perspective. If you or someone you know is living in pain caused by an abortion, God’s Mercy Awaits You is an invaluable resource to begin the process of healing.
Infertility: A Crossroad of Faith, Medicine, and Technology brings together a diverse group of clinicians, theologians, and philosophers to examine the use of reproductive technologies in the light of the Roman Catholic moral tradition and recent teaching. The book provides relevant background information (e.g. Donum Vitae from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) as it explores the psychological, social, legal, and moral contexts of reproductive medicine. This book is Volume 3 of Catholic Studies in Bioethics in the series Philosophy and Medicine.
