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Finding hope in grief with St. John Bosco

Today is Jan. 31, the memorial of St. John Bosco.

We read at today’s Mass, “We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life” (Heb 10:39).

In times of grief, the weight of sorrow can feel unbearable. The loss of a loved one leaves a void that no earthly comfort can fully fill. Yet St. John Bosco, in his tender letter to his grieving benefactor Count Annibale, offers three consolations. These consolations are not mere words; they are the truths of the Faith that sustain us in the darkest times.

First consolation: The promise of heaven

St. John Bosco reminds us that when a loved one has lived a holy life and died in God’s grace, we can take comfort in the assurance that they now enjoy the eternal glory of heaven. Death, for the faithful, is not an end but a passage to eternal life. As Catholics, we believe in the Communion of Saints, in which our departed loved ones remain with us in the mystery of the Church. Their prayers, their love and their presence are now perfected in Christ, and we are called to trust that they are at peace, beholding God face-to-face.

Second consolation: God’s comfort in this life

In our sorrow, God does not leave us alone. St. John Bosco assures us that, though we endure pain now, God will send consolations even in this present life. Through the kindness of others, the beauty of creation and the peace that prayer brings, God tenderly offers us moments of grace to strengthen our hearts. His mercy is never distant; it is present in the everyday moments that remind us of his enduring love.

Third consolation: The hope of reunion

The most profound hope of our Christian faith is the promise that we will be reunited with our loved ones in heaven. St. John Bosco encourages the grieving heart with the reminder that, in God’s perfect timing, we will see them again where there will be no more tears or sighs. This hope is not a wishful thought but a firm expectation rooted in Christ’s resurrection, which assures us that love is stronger than death and that, in eternity, we will share in the joy that no sorrow can ever diminish.

If you are grieving today, take these consolations to heart. Entrust your loved ones to the mercy of God, seek his comfort in the present and hold fast to the hope of reunion. The pain of loss is real, but so is the promise of eternal life. Rest in the loving providence of God, who holds all things together in his perfect wisdom and love.

Let us pray,

O God, who raised up the Priest Saint John Bosco as a father and teacher of the young, grant we pray, that, aflame with the same fire of love, we may seek out souls and serve you alone. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.