Suicide Brings Hope, Not Hell

One tragedy that many families in our community have had to deal with is suicide. According to a statistic in 2013, there were 41,149 deaths by suicide in the United States. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death. It is the second leading cause of death for 15 – 24 year olds, and someone dies from it every 12.8 minutes. Sources: save.org , https://www.afsp.org/ .

When a suicide occurs, it is a time when families should not only be able to turn to each other but especially to God and the Church. However, there seems to have been an unfounded, erroneous belief that the Church teaches suicide victims go to hell. FALSE! The Church has never taught that. Rather “suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. 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” (Catechism 2281). In addition, our faith teaches us that suicide is seriously contrary to justice, hope, and charity. It is forbidden by the fifth commandment” (Catechism 2325). Though it may feel like hell to go through suicide or lose someone to this tragedy, we must understand that our God is a loving, compassionate and merciful God. This gives us hope. One important circumstance we don’t know (that God knows) is the person’s state of mind when he or she commits that act. The Catechism also states: “Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide” (Catechism 2282). “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” (CCC 2283). It’s not too far-fetched to say that a person who has committed suicide may have to pass through purgatory before entering heaven. Here are two testimonies of suicides that may also give us a spirit of hope.

Fr. Doug Lorig, a Catholic priest (and convert from the Episcopalian faith), who serves in Scottsdale, AZ outside of Phoenix, shares a story about how he buried a 17-year-old boy named Tony, who had been involved with drugs and committed suicide. “I prayed for him at every Mass for a year and about a year later went to Queen of Heaven Cemetery for another funeral, of a newborn, and parked the car at the far end of the cemetery,” says Fr. Doug. “I then went to the canopy and said prayers and consoled the family and was walking back past all these graves and just stopped because someone was calling my name. “‘Fr. Doug, Fr. Doug.’ “And there was nobody there. “I looked down — and there was Tony’s grave! I happened to be right there. And I had a locution (spoken voice). “I heard him clearly say to me,” ‘Fr. Doug: thank you.’” Source: http://www.spiritdaily.net/lorig.htm

Another testimony comes from St. John Vianney (1786 – 1859) who encountered a widow struggling with her husband’s suicide. She stated, “He (the husband of this woman) was an unbeliever, and my one object in life was to bring him back to God,” said the wife. “I did not get the time. He committed suicide by drowning himself! I could only think of him as lost. Oh! Were we never again to meet? Now you heard what the Cure D’Ars (St. John Vianney) told me more than once: ‘He is saved!’ So I shall see him again in heaven!…Monsieur l’Abbe, I am cured!” Source: Cure D’Ars, by Trochu, pp. 540 – 541.

May we continue to pray for all souls in the month of November especially our beloved deceased who have taken their own lives. May God have mercy on them, give hope to all those who struggle with it and give us hope too.

Praise to Our Merciful, Loving and Resurrected Jesus!
Fr. Jeff Allan
Resources:
Catechism: 2280-83, 2325
National Suicide Hotline: (800) 273-8255,
SCC Community Mental Health Access Line (810) 987-6911; Toll Free: (888) 225-4447

Author: Fr. Jeff Allan

Biography - Fr. Jeff Allan, was ordained a Catholic priest on June 7th, 2014 for the Archdiocese of Detroit (AOD). He graduated from Adrian College in 2001 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Criminal Justice. After working in the pharmaceutical sales industry for almost three years, he felt called to discern the priesthood. Before being ordained a priest, Fr. Jeff was blessed to receive three degrees from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. They include a Bachelor of Philosophy, Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB), and a Master of Divinity (Theology). His assignments in the U.S. have included serving at multiple parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit as an associate pastor and currently as a weekend assistant. Fr. Jeff is certified as a hospital chaplain through ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education). He has had the opportunity of serving at three Metro-Detroit Area Hospitals since 2017 where he serves in full-time ministry as a Catholic Priest and Hospital Chaplain. View all posts by Fr. Jeff Allan