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© 2025 SOLACE: Soul + Grief
Description
This podcast is sponsored by SOULPLUSGRACE serving the San José area, offering grief support and grief journeying with spirituality. I hope to help you travel through grief with God at your side.
"I am a trained Spiritual Director for those who seek to complete the 19th Annotation of St. Igantius’ spiritual exercises OR seek spiritual direction while grieving. I have also worked as a hospital/cemetery chaplain and grief doula. I believe all paths lead to God and that all traditions are due respect and honour. I take my sacred inspiration from all of my patients and companions–past, present and future; the Dalai Lama, James Tissot, St. John of the Cross, the Buddha, Saint Teresa of Ávila, and, of course, Íñigo who became known as St. Ignatius. I utilize art, poetry, music, aromatherapy, yoga, lectio divina, prayer and meditation in my self-work and work with others. I believe in creating a sacred space for listening; even in the most incongruous of surroundings."
BACKGROUND
- Jesuit Retreat Center, Los Altos, CA -- Pierre Favre Program, 3 year training to give the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius
- Centro de Espiritualidad de Loyola, Spain -- The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola -- 30 Day Silent Retreat/
- Center for Loss & Life Transition – Comprehensive Bereavement Skills Training (30 hrs) Ft. Collins, CO
- California State University Institute for Palliative Care--Palliative Care Chaplaincy Specialty Cert. (90 hrs)
- Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City, CA -- Clinical Pastoral Education
- 19th Annotation with Fumiaki Tosu, San Jose, CA, Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
- Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA M.A. – Pastoral Ministries
CONTACT ME: candeelucas@soulplusgrace.com with questions to be answered in future episodes.
189 Episodes
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Send us a text Keeping vigil, reflecting on the gap between a rich life and a plain death, and wondering how faith, science, and ritual help us hold loss without letting it define us. The dead may be invisible, but we explore how their presence can still affect us. • why stories of death need telling and retelling • readings on the nearness of the dead and what comfort means • the vigil: hospice, timelines, and private moments of farewell • different grief responses within a family • finding...
Send us a text We share Rachel’s story of layered loss during 2020 and how a simple breeze became a faithful sign that love endures. We explore last words, waves of grief, and practical rituals to feel presence without denying absence. • why naming love before goodbye brings peace • how grief arrives in waves and why that is normal • the role of nature and sensory cues in healing • continuing bonds as a healthy way to stay connected • building simple rituals to steady daily If you have...
Send us a text Today we explore a traditional Rosh Hashanah reading from 1 Samuel about Jonathan's loyal friendship with King David, and; extracts powerful lessons for those on a grief journey. The biblical story demonstrates how love transcends hatred, and ultimately has the healing power to mend our deepest wounds. Especially grief. • Examination of the biblical story of Jonathan protecting King David from King Saul • Love is greater than hate, physical harm, and can heal all wounds • Love...
Send us a text Today we explore how our attachments to physical objects transform during grief. Loss requires us to reconsider what we hold onto and why, as we weave grief into the fabric of our lives rather than trying to overcome it. • Grief isn't something to "get over" but something we integrate into our lives • Moving to a new home revealed how many things I was willing to let go • St. Ignatius teaches about "disordered attachments" that keep us from being closer to God • Examining our ...
Send us a text When we're grieving, our culture of rugged individualism often tells us to face losses alone, but healing requires the presence of others. This episode explores why seeking support during grief isn't weakness but essential wisdom for moving forward. • Grief and loss are inevitable in life but nearly impossible to manage alone • Many avoid seeking help due to fear of appearing weak, being vulnerable, or being judged • Past experiences with grief can provide strength for facing ...
Send us a text Today we explore how to walk with God during grief when prayer feels impossible and faith seems distant. Grief creates natural spiritual questions as we navigate the physical, emotional, and psychological shifts that come with significant loss. • Picture God on your side rather than as the cause of suffering • God's compassionate presence walks with us through our pain • Trust God's nearness even when feelings suggest otherwise • Call on good memories to help navigate present ...
Send us a text Today explore the delicate subject of experiencing happiness in the midst of grief, examining how these seemingly contradictory emotions can coexist. • Life continues moving forward regardless of our personal grief, which can feel jarring and isolating • Happiness can emerge unexpectedly during grief through events like births, engagements, or achievements • Biblical passages often describe joy and sorrow as concurrent experiences rather than opposing emotions • Pain and...
Send us a text Journaling serves as both a memorial and milestone marker on our grief journeys, allowing us to process complex emotions and track our healing progress over time. Journal entries spanning several years document my experiences with various losses and the spiritual dimensions of grief. • Grief journaling helps memorialize our journey and provides perspective on how far we've come • Personal journal entries reveal the complex, non-linear nature of grief processing • Spiritu...
Send us a text Grief creates a profound rupture in our lives, affecting us spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, and physically. The 14th century spiritual classic "The Cloud of Unknowing" offers wisdom for navigating the darkness of grief through contemplative prayer. • Focuses on prayer as an act of will and love rather than intellect • Offers practical guidance for being fully present in prayer during difficult times • Emphasizes that even short, simple prayers are sufficient for con...
Send us a text We explore Karl Rahner's profound spiritual insights from "Encounters with Silence," focusing on finding God within the ordinary routines of daily life. Rahner, a Jesuit priest and influential 20th century theologian who helped shape Vatican II, offers wisdom particularly relevant to those experiencing grief. • Karl Rahner entered the Society of Jesus in 1922 and was ordained in 1932 • Rahner's vision provided theological support for openness and dialogue between Christians • ...
Send us a text Experience how St. Ignatius of Loyola would counsel someone experiencing fresh grief through spiritual wisdom, emotional sensitivity, and practical guidance based on his teachings and spirituality. These approaches help navigate grief by fostering deeper connection with God, finding meaning in suffering, and cultivating hope even in our darkest moments. • Acknowledge pain and invite God's presence - bringing raw emotions to prayer • Engage in discernment to navigate difficult ...
Send us a text Candee Lucas, a grief chaplain and spiritual director trained by the Jesuits at Santa Clara University, presents an imaginative interview with St. Ignatius of Loyola exploring spiritual approaches to grief and loss. The 500-year-old saint offers compassionate guidance for those experiencing profound sorrow after losing a loved one. • Recognizing "desolation" - when grief makes us feel distant from God - and continuing simple prayer practices • Using the Ignatian Examen to noti...
Send us a text Grief presents itself in many forms, including the loss of control during difficult news. Explore how modern dependency on technology for answers differs from seeking spiritual guidance during times of uncertainty and fear. • What might happen if we took our questions to God instead of Google? • Spiritual answers may be different but more meaningful than information alone • Connection to divine love is universal and available to everyone • Recognition that technolo...
Send us a text Music creates a powerful pathway through grief, offering comfort and expression when words fall short. Ben Kweller, a singer-songwriter who lost his 16-year-old son Dorian in a tragic car accident, channeled his grief into creating the album "Cover the Mirrors," demonstrating how art can become a healing force. • The "Impolitic" podcast with John Heileman features a poignant interview with Ben Kweller about his grief journey &nbs...
Send us a text Grief rarely follows the patterns we imagine it will, often surprising us with unexpected moments of both pain and comfort that defy our expectations. Our personal experiences with grief become like unique coloring books that reflect our individual journeys rather than conforming to society's expectations. • Childhood memories of a beloved sister who colored outside the lines • How grief rarely stays within the boundaries we expect • The unexpected comfort found in sensory mem...
Send us a text Today explore the difficult questions that arise during grief and how our Catholic faith offers pathways for healing. We examine how questions of "why" and "what if" can become poignant prayers and how sharing our stories helps us accept the reality of loss. • Questions beginning with "why" are often not really questions but statements of protest or pain • The sacrament of reconciliation helps those struggling with unresolved "what-if" questions and feelings of guilt • T...
Send us a text Grief is the process by which healing takes place after loss, requiring time and space to work through the emotional wounds. The work of grieving involves accepting the reality of loss, experiencing the pain, recreating the person in memory, adjusting to life without them, and finding new meaning. • The word "bereavement" means "to be torn apart" • Emotional wounds from loss take longer to heal than physical wounds • Grief helps you grow emotionally and spiritually despite the...
Send us a text The loss of a lover represents the most intimate and personal of all losses, one that people rarely discuss even in grief groups or therapy sessions. Through Pablo Neruda's powerful love poems, we explore how poetry can give voice to the unique grief of losing a romantic partner and provide comfort for those experiencing this particular type of loss. • Grief differs across various types of losses, requiring different approaches beyond a one-size-fits-all solution • The intimat...
Send us a text CAUTION: TODAY'S EPISODE DISCUSSES SUICIDE, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND SKIP TODAY IF THE SUBJECT SEEMS TOO INTENSE. Today, we explore the concept of "self-death" as an alternative term for suicide, reflecting onmy recent experiences supporting those grieving after suicide. The topic emerges from a week filled with suicide-related grief conversations and the loss of a work colleague, leading to deeper questions about how we support survivors and understand this form of los...
Send us a text Grief often speaks in simple, powerful truths like "My son is still not here" - words that capture the relentless reality of loss that remains despite our healing efforts. Explore how we can live with these painful realities while still finding connection to God and our loved ones. • Finding prayer in the darkness through simple pleas • Acknowledging the difficulty of waiting for God's help • Remembering and documenting moments of love as a key to healing • Reflecting on...
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