--- title: "Loving Fruitfully (Four Keys Exclusive Excerpt #3)" description: Love always bears fruit, according to Pope Francis. Read on to learn more about married couples' call to physical and spiritual fruitfulness in this exclusive excerpt from the Catholic marriage advice --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/19/loving-fruitfully-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-3#) # Loving Fruitfully (Four Keys Exclusive Excerpt #3) May 19, 2016 11:00:13 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) ![Courtesy of Ave Maria Press. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CM_com-Santos-4-Keys-2.png?width=720&height=340&name=CM_com-Santos-4-Keys-2.png) Courtesy of Ave Maria Press. All rights reserved. "Love always gives life," said Pope Francis in [*Amoris Laetitia*'s chapter on the fruitfulness of married love](http://canwecana.blogspot.com/2016/04/fruitful-love-symbolizes-gods-inner.html) (no. 165). That's why one of the Four Keys to Everlasting Love is life-giving fruitfulness, as we explain in [our book on Catholic marriage](http://canwecana.blogspot.com/p/our-book.html) of the same name. The first key to everlasting love is [staying faithful through forgiveness](http://catholicmom.com/2016/05/05/loving-faithfully-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-1/). The second key is [serving freely through wise stewardship](http://catholicmom.com/2016/05/12/loving-freely-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-2/). And the third key is physical and spiritual fruitfulness.  As part of an exclusive series on CatholicMom, following is the introduction to Part III of *The Four Keys to Everlasting Love* on a married couple's call to fruitfulness. ## Called to Be Fruitful: ### Physical and Spiritual Fertility as Signs of God's Infinite Love The third key to everlasting married love is fruitfulness. In the beginning of time, “God blessed man and woman with the words: ‘Be fruitful and multiply’” (CCC, 1652 quoting Gn 1:28). Our sexuality and our fertility are great gifts from our Creator, and the children who are produced or welcomed into the circle of your love are the crown of your marriage. Modernity isn’t sure whether children are a blessing or a burden. They were always considered a great sign of God’s favor in the Old Testament. In a quintessentially Mediterranean image of richness and abundance, the Psalms rejoice that “your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table” (128:3). Today’s reality is more complicated. In a nonagricultural society, children are sometimes thought of more as a burden than a blessing. Fertility can feel like a cross, but infertility can feel like one, too. Through advocating methods of Natural Family Planning, the Church proposes solutions for those struggling with fertility and infertility alike. And through insisting that children with special needs are blessings, too, the Church extends her loving arms around parents who have welcomed special-needs children into their families. Of course, fertility is more than just biological. It has a spiritual component as well. When Jesus said in John 15:5 that those who live in him will “bear much fruit,” he was referring to a harvest of souls, good works, and eternal reward. A married couple’s love for one another cannot remain closed in on itself. It is meant to be generously shared with others—whether biological children, adopted children, foster children, stepchildren, or even anyone seeking friendship and spiritual advice. Every person we counsel, encourage, or inspire by our visible dedication to the other brings us one step closer to a better world (CCC, 1653, 2379).     *   *   * *[Order **The Four Keys to Everlasting Love: How Your Catholic Marriage Can Bring You Joy for a Lifetime** and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/159471603X/catholicmom).* *Excerpt reprinted from* The Four Keys to Everlasting Love *with permission from Ave Maria Press.* *Image courtesy of Ave Maria Press.* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F19%2Floving-fruitfully-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-3%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F19%2Floving-fruitfully-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-3%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F19%2Floving-fruitfully-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-3%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Loving%20Fruitfully%20%28Four%20Keys%20Exclusive%20Excerpt%20%233%29) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F19%2Floving-fruitfully-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-3%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F05%2F19%2Floving-fruitfully-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-3%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Loving Freely (Four Keys Exclusive Excerpt #2) Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/12/loving-freely-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-2) [ Loving Totally & Forever (Four Keys Exclusive Excerpt #4) Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/26/loving-totally-forever-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-4) [ Loving Faithfully (Four Keys Exclusive Excerpt #1) Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/05/loving-faithfully-four-keys-exclusive-excerpt-1) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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