To Love Again: Finding Comfort and Meaning in Times of Grief

Cynthia Whissell is a psychology professor at Laurentian University.

This book, which is a translation and extension of the French original,
Aimer, perdre, et grandir, offers the reader a poignant combination of
poetry and psychological insight. It is perhaps better described by it
subtitle than its title, although it is clear that the author, who is a
psychologist as well as a priest, sees the ability to love again as the
natural and desirable outcome of a successful grieving process.

Grief is the emotion engendered by loss, and Jean Monbourquette
addresses his book to those who have suffered great losses of love,
whether through separation and/or divorce or through the death of a
loved one. As a psychologist, Monbourquette recognizes the stages of the
grief reaction, from shock and denial through emotional expressiveness
to celebrating the end of grief; as a priest, he reminds his readers
that prayer has a special role to play in the grief-recovery processes;
as a poet, he makes a special point of asking readers to read his book
“through the knowing of the heart.” Illustrations by Muriel Faille
and a selection of photographs underscore the poetic nature of the book,
while case studies, positive self-statements, and specific instructions
for change give it its psychological flavor.

Grief is not a pleasant emotion, yet, as Monbourquette makes clear,
there are no shortcuts through it. Although grief-work digs deeply into
our psyches, there is another side to grief. To Love Again is an upbeat
book because it focuses on the fact that most of those who grieve can
look forward to the climb out of grief, toward loving again.