SOLACE: Soul + Grief
This podcast is sponsored by SOULPLUSGRACE serving the San José area, offering grief support and grief journeying with spirituality. We hope to help you travel through grief with God at your side. Candee Lucas, your host, is a Jesuit-trained-and-inspired spiritual companion to the dying and their families, friends and caretakers.
"I am a trained Spiritual Director for those who seek to complete the 19th Annotation of St. Igantius’ spiritual exercises. I have also worked as a hospital/cemetery chaplain and grief doula. I believe all paths lead to God and that all traditions are due respect and honour. I take my sacred inspiration from all of my patients and companions–past, present and future; the Dalai Lama, James Tissot, St. John of the Cross, the Buddha, Saint Teresa of Ávila, and, of course, Íñigo who became known as St. Ignatius. I utilize art, poetry, music, aromatherapy, yoga, lectio divina, prayer and meditation in my self-work and work with others. I believe in creating a sacred space for listening; even in the most incongruous of surroundings."
BACKGROUND
Jesuit Retreat Center, Los Altos, CA -- Pierre Favre Program, 3 year training to give the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius/Centro de Espiritualidad de Loyola, Spain -- The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola -- 30 Day Silent Retreat/Center for Loss & Life Transition – Comprehensive Bereavement Skills Training (30 hrs) Ft. Collins, CO/California State University Institute for Palliative Care--Palliative Care Chaplaincy Specialty Cert. (90 hrs)/Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City, CA -- Clinical Pastoral Education/19th Annotation with Fumiaki Tosu, San Jose, CA, Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius/Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA M.A. – Pastoral Ministries
SOLACE: Soul + Grief
Healing Embrace of God's Promise
Today we delve into the heart's deepest sorrows, discovering how to emerge with a spirit refined by the trials we endure. From anger to bewilderment, together we seek the serene guidance of the divine, finding solace in the promise of a future free of the weight of our present pain.
Be sure to subscribe to this podcast on Google Podcasts, Apple, Amazon Music, Spotify, or follow us on the Facebook pages of Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos, California, or Calvary Cemetery in San Jose, California.
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION WHILE GRIEVING IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE
You can reach us at: ccoutreach@dsj.org
To arrange personal spiritual direction: 408-359-5542
Our theme music is: Gentle Breeze by Yeti Music from the album "Uppbeat".
Additional Music and sound effects today by: via Pixabay.
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Welcome to this week's episode of Solace Soul Plus Grief. I'm Candee Lucas. We're glad you're here. This podcast is sponsored by Catholic Cemeteries and the Diocese of San Jose. The death of a loved one is a very difficult life transition and we hope we can answer some of your questions, help you find where God is moving in your life as you continue your grief journey, and remind you of the power of your faith and love for God. You're always welcome in our circle of healing, love and care.
Candee:Grief feels like an open wound. Sometimes we are so aware of the rawness of it, the newness of it, the shock of it, that we can do nothing but notice it. The examine which follows deals especially with that feeling of woundedness as it relates to our relationship with God, our relationship with God. It is so important to keep that line of communication open as we grieve, to be able to access God's love and God's healing, to be able to access God's care for us as we grieve. So take time to listen to this reflection in the quiet, preferably not while you're driving, so that you have time to breathe, to inhale, to experience the wonder and the healing love of God in our sorrow.
Candee:Our reflection today is from Mark Thibodeau. He's a Jesuit who wrote a series of examines for various circumstances. A wound is some emotional hurt in a heart, psyche or soul caused by something painful that's happened. We who are grieving almost always experience this. The examen leads us to pray about those wounds. Begin in the usual way, which is sitting quietly, breathing normally and having your eyes closed or nearly closed, making a space for God. Then spend a few moments in gratitude, thanking God for one of the blessings, big and small, that you've received today. Then ask God to show you a wound in your heart. At this moment.
Candee:This wound causes hurt, fright, anger, resentfulness and remorse. Allow God to take you to that difficult place in your soul. Perhaps you find yourself painfully, but also prayerfully, remembering the moments that created this wound. Courageously sit in the midst of this difficult moment. Perhaps ask Jesus to hold your hand as you prayerfully relive the worst parts. Ask God to show you the strongest emotion you have at this very moment as you rehash this painful experience. Speak aloud to God about how you're feeling. Say God, I'm furious or sad or grief-stricken or confused. Sit with God with these feelings for a moment. Ask God to show you how this wound might be coming worse, growing in size or becoming infected. If you were to allow this wound to lead you away from faith, hope and love, what might that look like like Concretely? In what ways might this wound tempt you to behave poorly? Ask God to help prevent this from happening. Ask God for a particular grace to help you guard against this poor behavior behavior. Ask God for the grace right now.
Candee:Sit in silence for just a moment, giving God a chance to do whatever God wants with you right now. Perhaps in this quiet moment, god will just place his warm, fatherly hand on your head. Perhaps God will say something to you. Perhaps you'll just sit together in the silence. It's okay if God seems to be saying and doing nothing at all. Trust that he will heal this wound in his own time, in his own way, prayerfully.
Candee:Daydream for just a moment, imagining a day when you no longer feel wounded about this. What would that be like? What might be the attitudes, perspectives, thoughts, feelings, words, actions? If you no longer carry this wound, what grace would you need to begin to heal? Ask God for that grace right now. Ask God to show you how he might make good come out of hurtful things. How can this wound make you stronger, more loving, more humble, more spiritually mature? How can you become a more effective disciple of God's love through this wound? Ask God to make good use of this wound, to use this experience for his greater glory. If you feel called to do so, make some concrete resolution to be a person of faith, hope and love in the midst of this painful reality of life. Trust that God will be there with you through it all and in your usual way, which the Jesuits suggest is one of thanks.
Candee:That concludes another episode of Solace. A new one drops every Friday. Please subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, spotify, amazon or find us on Google. I'm Candee Lucas, your host, aftercare Coordinator, chaplain and Spiritual Director at Catholic Cemeteries at Gate of Heaven in Los Altos, california. Please contact us if you have questions or seek spiritual direction. Our contact information is in the show notes. Be gentle with yourselves. Travel with God. Vaya con Dios.
Candee:Thank you.
