Pope Francis: Live a fruitful life

During his homily at morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday, Pope Francis urged Christians to live a "fruitful life."

Recalling how, in the days before Christ's birth, it was considered a blessing for a woman to be able to bear children, Pope Francis said it was thought to be a great shame for those unable to

Reflecting on the day's readings, he noted the irony of two men born of women who had been thought to be barren: Samson and John the Baptist. Both men would play an important role in history.

God's first commandment to man was "Fill the earth, be fruitful!" the Pope said. "Where there is God there is fruitfulness."

The Holy Father continued by noting that some countries have "chosen the path of sterility and suffer from that serious disease that it a demographic winter .… they do not have children". He suggested such nations may seek economic benefits but that "Fruitfulness, is always a blessing of God."

The Holy Father noted that there are those who choose not to bear children - religious and consecrated, for example - but they must continue to be fruitful by giving to others.

"Woe to us if we are not fruitful with good works," Francis said. "He who lives for himself produces selfishness, pride, vanity, greasing the soul without living for others. The Devil is the one who grows the weeds of egoism and stops us from being fruitful."

In conclusion, Pope Francis advised those present to look at the empty cradle waiting for the arrival of Christ - "Come, Lord, fill the cradle, fill my heart and help me to give life, to be fruitful."