The Christian Response to Grief
The Christian Response to Grief
Grief is a human emotion that affects all of us at different times throughout our lives, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming.
The Catholic Church, in all her wisdom, offers us this beautiful prayer in the rite of Christian burial:
“Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.”
Fr. Mike extends hope and encouragement to anyone grieving today. He explains that our grief as Christians should look different in the light of Christ’s promise of eternal life.
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My heart is broken. My dear friend Teresa passed away on Sunday. She was the one person who stood by me through everything, year after year, without fail. Teresa was more than a friend. She was a light in my life, a steady hand, a quiet strength I could always lean on.
Losing her feels unbearable. The world feels different now—emptier, quieter, without her voice, her laughter, her prayers.
Please pray for her.
I just lost my dad today, and while I’m not the most religious guy I know he was. Thank you for this.❤
Thank you! We have the right to grieve!
I feel so much shame because of my grief is over the death of my cat. Can I even have the hope of seeing her again? No. She may be gone forever.
I want someone to stab my heart and rid me of this pain.
I have never felt as loved as I felt loved by her.
Rest in peace ❤️ to my husband died February young man
I have a relative I used to love a lot and now I don’t know what to feel. He isn’t dead. Not yet. He’s just going to prison in a foreign country for something he didn’t do and he’s a raging atheist.
He’s not dead yet. But I know I’m never going to see him when I die. And only God knows how long I have to live with that knowledge before it finally happens.
Hope, for me, is just a lie. What hope is there for those of us who can never be understood by anyone around them and the only one who does understand never responds when I pray?
The silence I understand. It’s just God’s nature to be beyond most people’s comprehension. But having to float through life alone and never fully understood by anyone around me is a prospect that I just hate the idea of.
Thank you so much for this…… lost the woman who helped raise me a few years ago. and i’ve felt guilty for feeling sad because it made me feel selfish. this helped me so much….. Just, thank you <3
God bless you and thank you. If you have lost a loved one, may God rest them and bring their soul eternal peace. Amen.
Most people including Christians don’t know how to cope. There are a lot of broken people who aren’t getting the help needed.
My mom passed away 3 years ago on February 28, 2022, but it feels like 3 days ago. The grief is just absolutely immense. But I know she is with me and I will be joyfully reunited with her one day.
Being visually impaired, Edwin was my eyes. He passed away on 2nd of January 2025. He didn’t just see the world for me; he brought it to life in ways I could never experience alone.
He described the beauty and details I couldn’t see, read to me when print was inaccessible, and guided me with patience and love through everyday tasks. Whether helping me identify my medication late at night, narrating TV scenes, or ensuring I could participate fully in church, Edwin made sure I never felt left out of life’s joys or necessities.
At the shops, he became my guide—not just physically but visually—always finding ways to ensure I could experience everything with dignity and independence. He even prepared Christmas carol sheets and hymns in advance so I could fully participate in traditions that mattered to us both.
His love was a quiet, steadfast presence in my life, shown in countless small but monumental acts of care. To me, these weren’t just gestures; they were lifelines, helping me see the world through his eyes.
Edwin, my angel in disguise, gave me more than I could ever dream of—kindness, devotion, and a bond beyond words. Even when he faced his own struggles, his selflessness never wavered. He stood by me as my rock, my support, my light in the darkness.
I never imagined I would lose him so suddenly, and the pain of his absence is indescribable. If only I could have been there in his final moments—to hold his hand and tell him, once more, how much he meant to me.
Edwin, please don’t forget me, because I will never forget you. The love and compassion you gave were the greatest blessings of my life. I carry you with me always, and when my time comes, yours is the first face I hope to see. I’m not ashamed of my tears, nor my grief over the one who stood by me giving selflessly of all that he could. Suddenly being alone has filled my heart with angwish. He was my one and only best friend…. Not being able to go out on my own, I have no idea how to meet people and make new friends.
Thank you father Mike!
I needed to hear that message. I lost my wife dec28 2024 leaving me and my 2 girls behind ..
Bigger the love, harder the grief
I lost my dear wife 3 weeks age and it was so unexpected. I miss her so much and she is my soulmate. My life is over because she left so quickly and so young at age 46. We had 20 years of marriage. I hope God take me as soon everything is arranged so I can see my wife again. I love her so much. I am so sad everyday and it’s so painful.
Minute 6:22 on touched my hearty deeply. I grief because I love and I do carry that hope that in Christ, we will see each other again. Amen ❤
Father, you speak well, but too fast, in such a hurry that you forget to speak with the right emotions.
It gives the impression you drink so much coffee, and if it sounds absurd, or even as a joke, I’m serious. That’s why I don’t see your videos. There are expressions in our words that we use to express, grief, or joy, but you always sound like you are in a hurry. Pastorally: wrong. God bless you.
I just lost my grandmother “Nanny” today. I loved my Nanny so much. She was always so kind and so caring towards me and other family members. She passed this morning and we saw her body lying on the bed. It was heartbreaking. She was pale. She was lifeless. But then I remembered—that’s not her. That’s not my nanny. It’s just a shell. She is in heaven, rejoicing with Jesus Christ, and I’m so blessed to know that. I’m so blessed to have had her. She was 96 when she passed today.
If anyone sees this comment, please pray for my family as we go through this difficult time.
I lost my father yesterday, I love you Dad♥️♾️
Thanks, Fr Mike. Just lost my brother today. He wasn’t a regular churchgoer, but I prayed for him. I hope he has found his way to God.
i took care of my dad for years ,i mean i went over and beyond any way you can think even tho he was tough to live with i did it 24/7 ,when he passed i was down then someone said to me it was gods plan when god was ready to come for him thats it. he also said you have no right to interfere with gods plan and it made it easier to accept it. even when i doubted myself if one time i made the right choice on something. gods will is gods will thats it
Christians get their heart broken. They get disappointed: I don’t understand why it matters if I’m a Christian or not. I’m searching for help: support. It is so difficult: Christians are focusing on religion instead of focusing on being HUMAN. Most people can’t cope with grief: it is uncomfortable and difficult.
I lost my son 7-7-22
He would’ve been 23 today. I’m still struggling. Even listening to this video, I get it that death is not the end but a transition but it still hurts. Sometimes I regret having kids. If I had known I’d lose one I probably wouldn’t have had children. Not sure how that sounds but it’s how I feel.
I lost a co-worker recently (5-23-2025), she only made it to 46. I didn’t know her well, but yet my encounters & memories of her were always positive and the news of her passing really hit me as I realized how life can be cut off suddenly. It’s also sad because I never saw her again due to 2020 lockdowns and I found out she had an 18 month battle with cancer recently. It’s made me realize that I should check in on people more often; family, friends, co-workers, whoever it may be. Maybe reach out or make amends with them, whatever it may be. Almost all of my co-workers aren’t Catholic let alone Christian and they have no hope are are devastated as many of them were closer to her than me. It’s very sad, and yet it’s been one of the greatest opportunities to share my faith & love with others and I can already see God slowly turning something terrible into something better with each passing day. Thank you Fr. Schmitz for helping me accept this reality and showing that there are still good reasons for hope beyond this period of suffering & loss.
27-05-25
The pain of losing someone you love is overwhelming. I had a bf of 4 years, we really loved each other and was planning for a future together when the right time comes. He was my one and only boyfriend. We had so many plans to do together though we had silly misunderstanding and naggings but that doesn’t mean we loved each other less. He suddenly left me without a goodbye. Its been 2 nights since he left me. Now I’m just feeling lost, broken. I can only pray to God to keep his soul and make me strong to handle this grief.
I love you so much Reivio
Fly high, you are an angel now❤
I’ll see you across the shore someday.
Thank you Father for this heartfelt video❤ ive just lost a family member. I needed this message in my heart today❤
Thank you, Fr. Mike. My heart is broken after the death of my beloved brother, best friend and soulmate on April 26, 2024. My “big brother” who always …. always looked after his “little sister” with so much love, respect and care. We were inseparable from the time we were introduced when I was a newborn and my 2 year old brother loved me immediately due to the love in his beautiful heart. Beginning with his major health issues that began in 2017, I was by his side taking care of him for long periods of time, away from my family. Jim died in Christ. This provides great comfort as I grieve as never before. I do have hope that we will meet again. The deeper the love, the greater one’s grief… yes. Until we are reunited, my life will never be the same. Yet I have hope.
I needed to hear these words. Bless you. Amen.
Are you saying if to the believer or unbeliever about going to heaven?
Death not the end HOW SO MY DAUGHTER NOT HERE anymore she suffer from a TBI IN 92 now in 25 her life was taken
I hear you but this s it hurts too much. It is unbearable. I am so lonely. I miss my husband.
I lost the love my life recently and I KNOW she’s in the presence of our Lord and I KNOW we’ll be reunited in Heaven, but I’ve been struggling the last day or so; just feeling lost and numb. I opened up YouTube and this popped up on my feed without searching, God doesn’t deal in coincidences !
My precious human has passed away more than two years ago! I knew this beautiful channel, back then, while I was trying to find answers for so many things! I don’t know how I didn’t see this beautiful, comforting video back then. More than two years has passed, & I still have cried while watching your video now. Actually still crying. Thank you for your kindness Father Mike.
Lost my husband of 50 years. He was the grandson of a Lutheran Minister. He became agnostic/ atheist. Since his death 3 years ago, I have returned to the Catholic Church. I go daily to Mass. I am very active in the ministries of my ChurchI have been trying to get my husband into heaven. I don’t know if this will happen? Jeanne retired RN
I lost my husband 3 months ago to a treadmill accident in the basement and I am still grieving but I pray every day I know Jesus is comforting me and will never leave my side.
I had a child stolen from me I haven’t seen him in 7yrs now and it doesn’t stop hurting I am never fully happy Its a weight that drags on me My heart is crushed I can push it in the back of my mind but its always there People say time and I’ve found it to be true through death and divorce but this is not getting better over time How do I purge it? It has taken my will to fight anything or enjoy anything fully Help me Lord Jesus Only you can
Thank you. I needed this more than you could ever know.
what if my loved ones arent Christian? theres no version of heaven for me that doesnt have them in it