People all have a choice in how they grieve the loss of someone they love. The truth is death is part of life. And in human mortality, people will experience loss, both physical and emotional.
The good news is that we are never alone when we lose someone special in our life. God is always there for people, no matter what happens. He’ll be by our side as we mourn and share memories of this person who has touched people’s hearts so deeply. The way we deal with these feelings is by praying for strength during loss. Prayer helps people feel better because it gives people hope that they can overcome their feelings of grief and despair and regain their courage in the face of terrible loss.
Prayer for strength during loss
We pray to You, O Lord, that You give us the stamina and resolve to carry our heavy loads until we can once more experience the warmth and love of Your divine mercy. Be mindful of us and take pity on us as we try to understand the difficulties of life.
Grant us, O Lord, the strength to endure patiently with hope in You; give us the fortitude to face up to our problems without fear or discouragement. May Your favor be upon us in all things so that those problems that cause us pain will not bring us down.
We thank You for our fellow men and women who have been tested by adversity and have remained true to Your teachings. We ask that You bless them with wisdom so that they may learn from their mistakes and choose wisely when faced with similar tests in the future. We also beg forgiveness for any sins committed against them by any member of this community during this time of trial.
Help me, O Lord, to remember always how valuable each human life is because each one represents an opportunity for eternal growth. Help me to see every person I meet as a brother or sister in Christ whose only desire is to know You more intimately through prayer and meditation on Your Word! Amen.
Short prayer for hope in times of grief
Dear Lord,
You have told us to ask much of You, and I know that nothing is impossible for You; please hear me and give me the strength to keep going. Please help me to see the reason for my pain and then help me to accept it. Please help me to understand that this is a part of life and not something I should fear or avoid. Please help me to remember that Your love is greater than any hurt or pain, and I will never be alone because You are always with me.
In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen
The word of God
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 NRSVUE
Prayer to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Patron Saint of Grief
Through your own grief and suffering, St. Elizabeth, you became a source of strength, wisdom, and comfort to others. You found new ways to bring hope and grace into the lives of people by founding the first Catholic schools in the United States, establishing the Sisters of Charity religious order, and becoming the first American Catholic saint.
I am coming to you today with a heavy heart. I am deep in grief, and I know that your prayers are always heard fondly by Jesus. I know that with you praying for me, Saint Elizabeth, I will grow closer to God’s will each day.
Please pray for us in this time of need: pray that our hearts will be healed through this tragedy; pray that we will find comfort in knowing that our Lord is with us always; pray that we will be able to share our grief with others who have lost loved ones; pray that we will see the beauty of the Lord in all things and finally, please ask God to send us an angelic consoler who has been called upon to comfort us through this traumatic time.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Patron Saint of Grief, pray for us.
Amen.
Further Reflection
How do people survive pain? Where do they get their strength from?
Some people ask how others get through difficult times. Some tell them they are not tough times; they are normal times and that they affect everyone in different ways. Some people lose faith, but that is a choice, not a requirement. People can grieve with strength and peace because God is always with people; that is when prayer for endurance in the face of loss comes.
Prayers for courage in the face of loss can be short, long, hurried and frantic or meditative, but the most important thing is that they come from the heart. This prayer could not only help us deal with loss, but it could also be a model for others who might be going through the same thing.
Dependence is highlighted by suffering rather than being created by it. Whether people realize it or not, humans are constantly completely dependent on God. And God is kind to keep reminding us not to chase after things that appear to be more comforting than His love at the time. Through one another, God helps people remember him and keeps our faith in him alive during pain.
If we are facing trouble, if a situation has brought out the worst in us, that is okay. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging our need for help; there is no shame in admitting that we need help, especially in tough times. When we feel like giving up, say a prayer, and hope will still find a way to come into our lives and make things happen for us. This does not only apply to our personal life but also at work and in school life. Don’t underestimate the power of prayer for strength during times of sorrow or hardship. It can bring comfort to us and peace to our minds, especially when everything around us seems hopeless.
