When the Cross Feels Too Heavy: A Catholic Guide to Grief, Doubt, and Trust

We've all been taught that Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light. So why does grief feel like neither? This week Marie Hanson sits down with licensed mental health counselor Samantha Stefaniak, founder of Rooted Soul Grounded Mind, for an honest conversation about what it actually looks like to grieve as a Catholic woman without losing your faith or faking your peace. In this episode: - Why questioning God in grief isn't a lack of faith, it's how He built us - The difference between healthy grieving and grief that's turned spiritually harmful - What to do in the first ten minutes when grief hits and you don't know how to cope  -How to support a grieving friend without having the right words - Why two feelings can be true at once: disappointment and gratitude - What the Glorious Mysteries teach us about grief that isn't final - How to validate grief that isn't tied to losing a person If this episode meets you somewhere heavy today, hit subscribe so you don't miss what's coming. The Catholic Woman: Newsletter and show notifications: https://catholicwoman.co/newsletter Substack: https://substack.com/@thecatholicwoman Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/share/g/1GeKDTt7WA/ Website: https://catholicwoman.co Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecatholicwomanpodcast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheCatholicWomanPodcast Connect with Samantha Stefaniak: Website: https://rootedsoulgroundedmind.com Instagram and Facebook: @RootedSoulGroundedMind Thank you to our sponsors: Sole Atelier — the first professional planner built for Catholic women, weaving prayer and productivity into one. Get 10% off with code CATHOLICWOMAN10 at https://soleatelier.com Salt and Light by Sami — toxin-free candles, diffusers, and perfume made without carcinogens or phthalates. Use code CATHOLICWOMAN at https://saltandlightbysami.com/CATHOLICWOMAN Raising Well Mannered Children — faith-built resources for forming virtue in your kids. Use code FAMILY5 at https://raisingwellmanneredchildren.com SEARCH KEYWORDS: catholic grief, how to grieve as a catholic, catholic woman podcast, questioning god, trusting god in suffering, catholic mental health counselor, healthy grieving, carrying a heavy cross, catholic guide to grief, glorious mysteries, grief and faith, spiritual grief, catholic women mental health, supporting someone grieving, grief without losing faith