Prayer Exercise for Dealing with Grief

 

This prayer exercise will involve the use of your imagination.

 

We will begin this prayer exercise with some deep breathing.

 

Take a deep breath, as deeply as possible. Hold it for a second, and then let it out. As you exhale, constrict your diaphragm push the last remaining air out of your lungs.

 

Again, take a deep breath, as deeply as possible. Hold it for a second, and then let it out.

 

As you continue to breathe deeply, imagine breathing in the grace and peace of God. As you exhale, release anxiety and stress from your mind and your body.

 

Continue to breathe deeply and focus on relaxing your body and stilling your mind. Be aware of your neck and shoulders, your back, your arms and hands, even your legs and feet. Tell them to relax. Release all muscle tension in your body.

 

As you continue to breathe deeply and rhythmically, imagine that you are walking along a hillside. It is dark and rainy. You are very aware of your grief and sense of loss. There is a group of people standing nearby. They are all weeping. You know how they feel and go over to them. You see they are gathered around a woman who is sitting on a rock. She is holding the lifeless body of a young man in her arms. “Surely,” you think, “This is her son.”Then you realize who it is. It is the Virgin Mary holding the lifeless body of her son, Jesus. You know from the Bible who the people around her are: Mary Magdalene, John the Apostle, Joanna, and Joseph of Arimathea who gave his tomb to Jesus. Tou think, “Mary was so pure.: Why did she have to experience suhch grief. You think to yourself, “Grief touches all of us. Even the most holy and most pure.”

 

You want to say, it will be okay. He will rise. But she doesn’t know that now, and you can’t tell her. All you can do is share in her grief. You put your arm on her shoulder and try to smile. She looks into your eyes through her tears. She tries to smile.

 

Joseph of Arimathea comes and takes the body of Jesus from her to place in his tomb. Mary stands and embraces you. You both weep together for a long time. You share her grief. She shares yours.

 

Then, she turns and embraces John who is standing next to her. You turn and embrace Mary Magdalene in, to comfort her. You share her grief as well. Sadness shared is diminished.

 

Again, you want to tell her. “It will be okay. He will rise.” Then you realize, so will your loved one. Jesus did rise and prepared a place for your own loved one. It will be okay. Your loved on will rise. You remember the Psalm, “Tears last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

 

You say aloud.

I do not grieve alone. The Blessed Mother grieves with me.

I only grieve for a short time. My joy will last forever.

 

Take a deep breath and let Jesus who grieved for the loss of Joseph his earthly guardian, and Lazarus his friend, share your grief.

 

Take another deep breath and let Mary who grieved for the loss of her Divine Son share your grief.

 

Grief shared is diminished. Joy shared is increased.

 

Again, say aloud.

I do not grieve alone. The Blessed Mother grieves with me.

I only grieve for a short time. My joy will last forever.

 

Amen.