Show Notes
Can you be grateful while grieving? Should you even try? In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Adam Cross tackles one of the most challenging tensions in Catholic spiritual life: how to honor our grief while maintaining gratitude for God's goodness. Drawing on Scripture, theological insights from Father Raniero Cantalamessa and Dr. Shan Tobin, and his clinical experience, Adam explores:
Why "just be grateful" advice can feel dismissive (even when well-intentioned) The biblical story of St. Paul singing hymns in prison How God became man to suffer with us, not just console us from a distance The connection between Mary's trust and her joy Practical ways to hold space for both grief and gratitude in your own life and with others
This isn't about dismissing pain or forcing positivity. It's about recognizing that grief and gratitude aren't mutually exclusive but can exist together as we wait for God's resurrection in our lives. Key Quote: "The opposite of sin is not virtue, but praise. The opposite of sin is remembering that God is goodness." Referenced Resources:
"Big God Little Devil" by Dr. Shan Tobin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (Preacher to the Papal Household) Sister Miriam James on Mary's fiat
Whether you're navigating your own season of grief or walking alongside someone who is, this episode offers theological depth and practical wisdom for honoring both the weight of suffering and the hope of the Gospel. About Adam Cross: Adam Cross is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in Southern California, specializing in Catholic therapy and integrating faith with mental health treatment. Connect with Adam: Website: www.adamcrosslmft.com Instagram: @adamcrosslmft
More from The Catholic Therapist
Can you love yourself the way God loves you? In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) unpacks an unexpected fruit of intimacy with God: a healthy, holy love of self rooted in being God's beloved. Topics covered:
Who's really driving your healing, you, or your anxiety? In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) explores a pattern he sees often in the therapy room: clients whose anxiety or OCD quietly takes charge of the healing process, driven by a fear that anything less than total control means they won't be okay. Topics covered:
Does trusting God's mercy mean you'll just get complacent with sin? In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) unpacks a fear he sees constantly in the therapy room, especially with clients struggling with scrupulosity and OCD: that leaning into God's mercy means letting themselves off the hook. Topics covered:
Is it possible to fear God and trust him at the same time? In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) sits down with Dr. Anthony Isacco, licensed psychologist and Director of Training for the PsyD program at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, for his third appearance on the show. Together they untangle one of the most common, and most misunderstood, tensions in the spiritual life: the fear of the Lord. Topics covered:
What if the scariest part of a horror movie isn't the monster, but the isolation? In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) reviews the horror film "Obsession" and unpacks what it reveals about consent, codependency, and what it truly means to love. Topics covered: