A Critical analysis of the roles of clergy and other caring persons before, during and following significant grief experiences. The experience of grief is universal and felt by every person during the course of a lifetime. Because grief is so common and has concerned people for centuries; one might conclude that it is a well-understood experience. Unfortunately this does not seem to be true. "Death and grief are difficult issues to face. When they come we cope as best we can't but otherwise we prefer not to discuss.1 Only recently, has there been careful studies of the grief process.