In November, when the Church traditionally remembers the faithful, the Pope invited them to pray for parents who have lost their children.
In his prayer note, the Pope invites us to pray for “all parents who mourn the death of their son or daughter, that they may find support in their community and be consoled by the Spirit of consolation.”
Pope Francis has commented that the pain experienced when children die is “so great that there are no words to describe it.” When facing that pain, “words of encouragement” “don’t help,” even if “they are said with good intentions.” That is why the Pope invites us to behave “in the same way” with parents who have lost a child, “listening to them, being close to them with love, and like Jesus Christ with those who suffer.” comforted you, do the same by imitating him.
In November, when the Church traditionally remembers the faithful, the Pope invited them to pray for parents who have lost their children.
Jesuit Father Cristóbal Fons, international director of the Pope’s Prayer Apostolate, said: “The pain of losing a child is immense. In the face of this reality, instead of trying to say too much, we must do so with love, freedom and respect. Let us know that God never stops comforting those who suffer and it is necessary to walk with closeness and gentleness in this situation, taking care to find the appropriate language that does not deny their pain and allows us to remain close to Him without trying, knowing what it is. “It inspires and motivates us is always the experience of the God of life.” Father Fons invites us to join the Pope in prayer so that the Holy Spirit can give the peace and comfort that only He can give to hearts wounded by this tragedy.
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“What can we say to parents who have lost a child? How can we console them? There are no words.
You see, when one spouse loses the other, they become a widower or widower. A child who loses his parents becomes an orphan. There is a word for it. But when a father loses his son, there are no words for him. The pain is so great that there are no words to describe it.
And it is not natural to outlive your child. The pain caused by this damage is very severe.
Words of encouragement are sometimes trite or sentimental and unhelpful. Of course, these words spoken with good intentions can deepen the wound.
To console parents who have lost a child, it is necessary to listen to them, be close to them with love, responsibly care for their pain and do what Jesus Christ did as he comforted the victims, it is necessary to emulate them.
And those parents who are strong in their faith can certainly find comfort in other families who have suffered such terrible tragedy and been reborn in hope.
Let us pray that all parents who mourn the death of their son or daughter find support in their community and peace of heart in the Spirit of consolation.”
