Is there any hope for those who have taken their own lives?

[rickhuntoon]

I have a very good friend whose father committed suicide a few months ago. By all accounts he was an extremely devout and pious individual and an exemplary Catholic. He prayed constantly and lived his faith outwardly helping everyone he could. He had battled depression for years and was on the antidepressant Lexapro. With no sign that anything was wrong he hung himself one evening. His family who is equally devouy struggles with this daily and cannot find any peace because they feel his soul may be condemned due to the taking of his own life.

My question is; Even though there is a grave sin involved here, what does the church say about the possibilities of this man’s soul being saved? Are there exceptions in his case based on the facts related? Also, is there any literature you can suggest that they could read that would clarify this situation for them so they can find some peace in their lives? Thank you for your answer.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Most of us think of depression in terms of the mild experience most of us have once and awhile. Severe depression is nothing like it. It bares down heavily on the person, making every waking moment extremely hard to bare.

Most people take their lives just to stop the pain. The self preservation instinct is very strong in all of us. So to go against it require a very strong motivation. Since this is the case, the Church gives a Catholic burial to those who have taken their own lives.

That man may very well be in heaven as the result of the heavy cross of depression that he carried. By all means pray for his soul.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardhip, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsiblity of the one committing suicice. We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives… ’ #s 2282-2283

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O. P.