The Problem of Suicide
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).
If you or someone you know is in distress, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
What Is Suicide?
Suicide is an attempt to harm oneself with the intent to end one’s own life. Such an act, personal or assisted, is always a tragedy and an occasion for sorrow. While suicide is an objective wrong, only God can pass final judgment on the souls of His children.
Our Catechism says, “Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life” (CCC 2281). It is a very unnatural act. While in the moment of uncertainty in the wake of a suicide, as we shall see, our Catholic faith offers us the comfort of the hope for their repentance and salvation.
Causes and Remedies
Triggers to suicidal ideation can include depression, mental illness, physical suffering, shame, harassment, relationship troubles, a prior stay in prison, and exposure to others who have struggled with suicidal thoughts or actions. For a more extensive list of possible causes and warning signs to look for, visit the National Institute of Mental Health’s FAQ page on suicide.
Suicide begins as a thought. One of its key remedies also begins with a thought: a mindfulness of all the blessings one has received from God, including the immense gift of life! The Catechism tells us, “We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for [God’s] honor and the salvation of our souls” (CCC 2280). Numerous studies show that people who intentionally count their blessings are typically happier and less depressed; gratefulness leads to healthy mental well-being. If someone is currently struggling with depression, counselors at the 988 Lifeline can help. Sometimes just talking to another person helps clear the fog. In some cases, it is best to have a doctor diagnose and treat a potential mental illness.
Why Is Suicide Wrong?
Suicide is immoral on several levels. First, it goes against the human person’s good and natural instinct to survive. The Catechism also says, “It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God” (CCC 2281). Therefore, suicide involves a disdain for God’s gift of life and a break from natural and divine law. It shows a deficit of love for oneself, one’s family and fellow human beings, and for the Giver of life.
The Catechism further informs us: “If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal.” But “psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one” who perishes by suicide (CCC 2282). This, together with the assurance of God’s mercy, gives us hope for their salvation.
Hope for Salvation
While the Italian poet Dante Alighieri is not a canonized saint, his Catholic literary genius on display in the Divine Comedy continues to influence modern theological understanding. In this poetry-fantasy, Dante makes it clear that some people who die by suicide go to Hell, while others do not. In Purgatory, he meets Cato the Younger, who died in this manner. Yet, he is in Purgatory, the place of preparation for those ultimately destined for Heaven. This hope is not only the hope of fiction. We Christians are people of hope, and we believe in a loving, merciful God. The saints themselves offer us such hope.
A woman who encountered St. John Vianney (1786-1859), the priest known as the Curé of Ars, was comforted by him in the loss of her husband, who had thrown himself from a bridge. Father Vianney told her that somewhere between the bridge and the water, her husband repented of the act. It goes to show that God’s mercy never runs out. His forgiveness is as good as gotten if we only ask.
In the Catechism, we read: “We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives” (CCC 2283). Catholics pray for the living and deceased, and those who have lost their life due to suicide are no different. They deserve our prayers.
Hope for the Here and Now
Everyone has good days and bad. But sometimes we can be inordinately disposed to sorrow. Sometimes this isn’t our fault, and we should consult a trusted doctor about what to do. Other times, we do have a role to play in our own depression. Melancholy, despair, and acedia are unhealthy. When we struggle with these, we fail to see the goodness of God and trust in His care for us. The antidote is gratitude.
Gratitude helps us see the abundance of God’s gifts. He thought YOU were important enough to have life, purpose, a mission and vocation. YOU are worthy of eternal life since we are all made in His image and likeness. We have infinite value because we are infinitely loved! Our Lord Jesus comforts us and says, “Fear not…you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). God gives us dignity and value, and our relationship with Him also has great value. When we recognize Jesus as the Giver of every good gift, we focus not on what we don’t have but on what we do. When we have Christ, we lack nothing. This is the source of our joy!