BEREAVEMENT
Suffering, struggling to overcome, pain, guilt, emptiness regret, loss, trauma, life turned upside down - there are many other words we can find to describe bereavement. Grief is a natural reaction. It can be overwhelmingly painful. And it is different for each of us. Understanding the process of bereavement doesn't prevent us or reduce the feelings of emptiness and pain we have. To understand bereavement is to understand your situation, as a person loved by God, and part of a family of people, God's people who can walk with you, to share the journey with you and your family. Will life ever be normal again, no it won't be. Just as the priest prays in the Eucharistic prayer for the deceased, life has changed and not ended. Changed for those who have died and also for those who mourn.
What does our Jesus teach us about losing someone: a friend, a relative, a work colleague, someone close to us?
What does our Jesus teach us about losing someone: a friend, a relative, a work colleague, someone close to us?
MATTHEW 5:1-12
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill.
There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak.
This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you
and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill.
There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak.
This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you
and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’
PRAYERS FOR THOSE WHO MOURN
Blessed are those who mourn,
For God will comfort them.
Lord, let us trust in your comfort,
Let us trust in your love.
Lord God, you are attentive to the voice of our pleading.
Let us find in your Son comfort in our sadness, certainty in our doubt, and courage to live through this hour.
Make our faith strong through Christ our Lord. Amen.
In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them eternal rest.
The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow,
no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.
May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For God will comfort them.
Lord, let us trust in your comfort,
Let us trust in your love.
Lord God, you are attentive to the voice of our pleading.
Let us find in your Son comfort in our sadness, certainty in our doubt, and courage to live through this hour.
Make our faith strong through Christ our Lord. Amen.
In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them eternal rest.
The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow,
no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.
May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
VISITING A CEMETERY AND PRAYING FOR THE HOLY SOULS
It is a holy and wholesome thing to pray for the dead,
that they may be loosed from their sins.” (2 Macc 12: 46).
During the year, especially on special anniversaries it's a nice custom and tradition is to visit the cemetery where a loved one is buried and pray for their repose. In the month of November, the month dedicated to the holy souls, the tradition of the Church in our local area is to bless the graves and tombs of those who have died. See the parish newsletter for the dates and times, usually on a Sunday afternoon during November. Also during November at Sacred Heart and Holy Souls we have a special mass where we invite the families and relatives of those parishioners who have died in the previous 12 months.
It is a holy and wholesome thing to pray for the dead,
that they may be loosed from their sins.” (2 Macc 12: 46).
During the year, especially on special anniversaries it's a nice custom and tradition is to visit the cemetery where a loved one is buried and pray for their repose. In the month of November, the month dedicated to the holy souls, the tradition of the Church in our local area is to bless the graves and tombs of those who have died. See the parish newsletter for the dates and times, usually on a Sunday afternoon during November. Also during November at Sacred Heart and Holy Souls we have a special mass where we invite the families and relatives of those parishioners who have died in the previous 12 months.
Suffering from bereavement?
If you are affected by the loss of somebody in your life and would like support, free of charge, please come along to our
Parish Bereavement Group. They meet once a month on a Wednesday. Please see the page for dates of meetings.
Other online resources:
The Art of Dying Well
If you are affected by the loss of somebody in your life and would like support, free of charge, please come along to our
Parish Bereavement Group. They meet once a month on a Wednesday. Please see the page for dates of meetings.
Other online resources:
The Art of Dying Well
