May 10, 2023
“The Spirit comes to our aid in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones, according to God’s will.”
– St. Paul
Certainties that you clung to throughout your life often get upturned when someone you love dies. If you thought you were strong, you will find you’re weak. If you believed “this too will pass,” you will discover it doesn’t, at least not according to your time frame. And if you sought comfort in prayer, you may find that prayer is difficult. Praying may be a struggle for you, and your inability to pray can contribute to your distress and perhaps exacerbate it.
When you are confronting raw emotions and constant tears and an onslaught of anxiety about the future, you will not be able to find the comfort where you typically found comfort. When you are overwhelmed by grief, your prayers will arise from desperation. However even during those situations, which often can border on despair, prayer is possible and prayer is necessary. But it will be a different kind of prayer.
Place yourself in the presence of God, preferably before the Tabernacle, where Jesus resides in the Blessed Sacrament. Pour out your heart and ask for the Holy Spirit to pray through you. Furthermore, never doubt that God is with you in your darkest hour, and that he never leaves you for a moment. He understands your pain. However, it always helps to tell him in your own words … and then rest in his love.
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During your grief, you will learn different ways to pray.