Twelve Stripes Deep: How Infertility & Other Suffering Delivered My Greatest Joys - Mary Bruno

This is not your typical infertility journey. It is a love story painted by three dramatic characters - God, suffering, and the surprising joy that comes from leaning into both of them. After about 20 years of physical pain and 7 years of infertility, Mary's worst fears came true - her doctor recommended a hysterectomy. She began writing a blog series to describe her trek which, despite the suffering it brought, has delivered her most incredible joys. It begged her for more detail and gave birth to a memoir. As a Catholic, the implications of infertility are especially troubling when you consider how the call to be fruitful is often interpreted. But as Pope St. John Paul II describes in Mulieris Dignitatem , ...The motherhood of every woman...is not only 'of flesh and blood': it expresses a profound 'listening to the word of the living God' and a readiness to 'safeguard' this Word...(cf. Jn 6:68). God calls all women to be mothers and to express our originality into the world through our unique talents and the gift of spiritual motherhood. This is a profoundly healing message for women with and without children. In this book, Mary uses her personal experience of suffering through physical pain and infertility to explore authentic women's healthcare & communicate a greater reality of the incredible joy and purpose God desires for each person, despite - and even because of - the hardships of life. This book will: -Help you to discover the meaning of your suffering -Help you to find your purpose(s) -Illuminate the true meaning of fruitfulness and motherhood -Educate about authentic women's healthcare -Explore the many facets of birth control, ART & adoption -Give you a different way to look at infertility -Help to uncover the face of Jesus