The Healing Journey

July 9, 2023

“Beloved Mother, so stricken with grief, help us to bear our own suffering with courage and love…”
– Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows

Perhaps the greatest pain when a loved one dies, especially a spouse, is the loss of their companionship. Janice no longer had her husband Paul sitting across her at the dinner table at night to talk about politics, to compliment her cooking and to plan their day running errands. Now, she had to do all those things alone, and with some tasks, she had no idea what she was doing. Household responsibilities were suddenly thrust upon her. She couldn’t remember the last time she paid the bills or wrote out a check. In fact, Paul had no longer been writing out checks, she suddenly realized. He was paying bills online.

She missed their evenings sitting in front of the TV, watching their favorites shows. She missed getting him his cup of camomile tea before bed. She even missed their bickering. What had once seemed like an annoying part of their relationship was now something that endeared him to her. But he was gone, and she was heartbroken.

Even though her children repeatedly called to check on her, at the end of the day there were those lonely hours when she had no distractions to take her mind off her loss.

Half out of desperation and half out of faith, she began talking out loud, talking out loud to the Blessed Mother … because she was sure that she’d understand, since her own life had been filled with heartbreak, which culminated in the death of her son. That’s why she is known as Our Lady of Sorrows. Janice poured her heart out to her heavenly mother because if anyone could understand, she would. And in her solitude, this gave Janice comfort.

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Throughout her life, the Blessed Mother knew suffering and loss. Turn to her.