Come & See Inspirations (C&SI)

November is traditionally the month of the Holy Souls, a month when the Church invites us to remember those who have died and to pray for them. There is something appropriate about this time of year. The evenings are drawing in, the leaves have fallen, and the natural world seems to be moving towards its winter sleep. There is a sense of endings, of things passing away, of the rhythm of life turning towards rest. It is a thin time, a liminal time. 
November can also be a difficult month. For many of us, it brings memories of people who are no longer with us. Parents, grandparents, husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours. Some died recently; others have been gone for many years.
Yet grief has a way of surprising us. A particular smell, a familiar tune, a photograph, a favourite place or an unexpected memory can suddenly bring someone back into our thoughts with an intensity that catches us unprepared.
Grief never entirely leaves us. We simply become better at carrying it. And perhaps we need to be especially gentle with those for whom this is their first November without someone they love. 
We should not rush grief. Nor should we expect people to put their sorrow behind them simply because a certain amount of time has passed. And yet November is not simply about sadness. It is also about hope, prayer and the Christian conviction that death is not the final word.
In this weeks podcast excerpt, we want to reflect on three things: our relationship with death, the importance of remembering and praying for the dead, and the hope that comes to us through Christ.
Text us at +353 874668950 or email at comeandseeinspirtaions@gmail.com

November is traditionally the month of the Holy Souls, a month when the Church invites us to remember those who have died and to pray for them. There is something appropriate about this time of year. The evenings are drawing in, the leaves have fallen, and the natural world seems to be moving towards its winter sleep. There is a sense of endings, of things passing away, of the rhythm of life turning towards rest. It is a thin time, a liminal time. 
November can also be a difficult month. For many of us, it brings memories of people who are no longer with us. Parents, grandparents, husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours. Some died recently; others have been gone for many years.
Yet grief has a way of surprising us. A particular smell, a familiar tune, a photograph, a favourite place or an unexpected memory can suddenly bring someone back into our thoughts with an intensity that catches us unprepared.
Grief never entirely leaves us. We simply become better at carrying it. And perhaps we need to be especially gentle with those for whom this is their first November without someone they love. 
We should not rush grief. Nor should we expect people to put their sorrow behind them simply because a certain amount of time has passed. And yet November is not simply about sadness. It is also about hope, prayer and the Christian conviction that death is not the final word.
Today, in part two of the podcast, we want to reflect on three things: our relationship with death, the importance of remembering and praying for the dead, and the hope that comes to us through Christ.
In part one we have our regular liturgical odds and ends including saints of the week and the Pope's Prayer Intention for November.
In part three we have our reflection on the Sunday gospel which this week is Matthew's account of the foolish and wise bridesmaids. (Matthew
25:1-13)

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at comeandseeinspirtaions@gmail.com

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. 
Text us at +353 874668950 or email at comeandseeinspirtaions@gmail.com

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 excerpt 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.
Text us at +353 874668950 or email at comeandseeinspirtaions@gmail.com

On this weeks podcast we are sharing the news on how the canonisation cause of heroic First World War chaplain Father Willie Doyle SJ moved to its Roman stage following the formal closing of the diocesan inquiry in Ireland on October 18th. We share a brief reflection from Bishop Tom Deenihan about what Fr Willie says to Christians today as he formally closes the diocesan phase of the process. Then we share an interview we had with Pat Kenny from the Fr Willie Doyle Association in September 2017 when Pat introduced listeners to Fr Willie Doyle SJ - one of the Irish Jesuit chaplains who served (and in his case died) during WWI.
In part 1 we have our regular prayer space and a dip into the liturgical odds and ends including saints of the week.
In part 3 we have our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel Matthew 22:34–40. When asked which is the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus replies: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind," and the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Text us at +353 874668950 or email at comeandseeinspirtaions@gmail.com