C&SI - "Faith in a time of loss"- Reflection by Sr Helen Culhane - 1 Nov 2026 (S06E47)

In the Roman Catholic tradition, November is the month of the Holy Soul's where we pray for those who have left this mortal world but may not enjoy full the vision of God. November can be a hard month for many people as we recall the memory of our beloved dead - for the dead can drive you hard. But with the darkening of days and the drawing in of nights it seems to be an appropriate time to reflect and pray for our dead as the year and seasons move towards the death of winter. It is the time of year when we can reflect on our encounters with Sister Death and ultimately an encounter which we will all have. Sister Death is the shadow at our elbow, the constant friend at our door, our faithful companion throughout the journey of life who may at any time say come, your time is complete. Irish folklore has many comments and reminders about it with sayings like "there are no pockets in a shroud" to "there is no trailer after a hearse", or "it doesn't matter how much land you have, you will still end up in a plot 6 X 3". St Francis of Assisi reminds us that “Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that have received--only what you have given.

On this weeks podcast we are sharing a reflection which Sr Helen Culhane from the Children's Grief Centre gave at the Kilmallock Novena in June 2026 reflecting on faith in a time of loss.

In part one of the podcast we have our regular liturgical odds and ends including the saints of the coming week. As part of the prayer space in part one, we play a recording of "Slow Down" sung by Sissel with the Tabernacle Choir of Temple Square. The lyrics of the piece:

In the midst of my confusion
In the time of desperate need
When I am thinking not too clearly
A gentle voice does intercede

Slow down, slow down, be still
Be still and wait, on the Spirit of the Lord
Slow down and hear His voice
And know that He is God

In the time of tribulation
When I'm feeling so unsure
When things are pressing in about me
Comes a gentle voice so still, so pure

Slow down, slow down, be still, my child
Be still and wait, on the Spirit of the Lord
Slow down and hear His voice
And know that He is God
And know that He is God

In part three we have our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel which this week is the gospel reading for the Solemnity of All Saints and is Matthews account of the Sermon on the Mount with his account of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12a). As we journey through the coming week perhaps we could reflect on one  Beatitude each day to ask ourselves where have we seen it lived out by the quiet saints we encounter each day and how can we strive to live out that calling. 

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