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MainBrain
Guest
If a person commits suicide they go to hell?
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Lost_Sheep
Guest
In a purely Black and White sense, suicide is a mortal sin and as such is damnable.
However, the argument could be made that someone who takes their own life may not be in their right frame of mind and therefore not fully accountable for their actions.
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Linybaby
Guest
I sure hope not! I have had two of my family members commit suicide! Both pastors talking at their funerals both said that the deceased accepted The Lord as their savior and both had an illness resulting them to take their own life therefore we believe they would be in heaven.
I guess for loved ones morning it’s better to believe that than them going to hell.
I personally have a complexed thought on it as suicide is a mortal sin the we are taught we go to hell…???
I guess for loved ones morning it’s better to believe that than them going to hell.
I personally have a complexed thought on it as suicide is a mortal sin the we are taught we go to hell…???
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Kal2012
Guest
That’s a very Protestant way of looking at heaven and hell.
I don’t believe in automatic hell for one sin.
Suicides usually aren’t in their right mind and therefore, shouldn’t be judged as rational.
Also, Catholics believe in purgatory. I like to think that suicides end up in purgatory so they can work out their issues.
I don’t believe in automatic hell for one sin.
Suicides usually aren’t in their right mind and therefore, shouldn’t be judged as rational.
Also, Catholics believe in purgatory. I like to think that suicides end up in purgatory so they can work out their issues.
meltzerboy
New member
Not necessarily, because they may be psychologically disturbed and therefore not culpable for their behavior. And, in my view, not necessarily even if they are culpable, depending on the sum total of the other behaviors of their life and, of course, G-d’s mercy.
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DaveBj
Guest
With the other posters, I do not believe that it is up to us to make an iron-clad judgment on the eternal state of a person who has committed suicide, for the reasons given above. I have heard it said that suicide is the ultimate irrational act, and a person is not thinking rationally, that would remove one (possibly two) of the three bases for determining whether or not an act is a mortal sin.
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MaryT777
Guest
Catechism of the Catholic Church /suicide 2380-2383
(Online for free)
2282: Paragraph 2: Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering or torture can diminish the responsibility of one committing suicide.
2233: We should not despair 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.
We pray for those who have taken their own lives and those family and friends that grieve for them.
Mary.
(Online for free)
2282: Paragraph 2: Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering or torture can diminish the responsibility of one committing suicide.
2233: We should not despair 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.
We pray for those who have taken their own lives and those family and friends that grieve for them.
Mary.
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Cricket2
Guest
We do view suicide as a mortal sin, and this one could go to hell. However, many suicides are committed by individuals that are so mentally ill or confused it is possible there would be little culpability on their part. I have to think that God would understand each situation much better than any of us.
In some cases a person may try to commit suicide more out of a desperate plea for help, thinking that help will arrive in time. When no help arrives, well we all know what happens. I have always wondered if in many cases this is not what happens, and the person has time to beg God for forgiveness. How do we really know the state of their soul or mind?
I say it is best to pray for them and their families, as this is a tragic loss of life.
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Fraz94
Guest
Suicide is a mortal sin and yes it could send somebody to Hell, however, if a mentally ill or very confused person takes their life then God is merciful and a person not in the right frame of mind can’t be hold to account.
My Priest always says if somebody jumps off a bridge they still have a few seconds before landing to their death to repent, even if they can’t stop it they still have those few seconds to repent and say “Jesus I love you” which would be enough to save them. Of course they might not go straight to Heaven, but any soul in Purgatory is on its way to Heaven!
My Priest always says if somebody jumps off a bridge they still have a few seconds before landing to their death to repent, even if they can’t stop it they still have those few seconds to repent and say “Jesus I love you” which would be enough to save them. Of course they might not go straight to Heaven, but any soul in Purgatory is on its way to Heaven!
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Brendan_64
Guest
It could reasonably be argued that in order to commit such an act such as suicide, which is contrary to human instincts and basic urge to survive, that one would indeed need to be suffering from serious mental disturbance and therefore not have full consent over what one is doing. I would imagine that most cases of suicide would be like this. Therefore the sin would not be mortal.
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thistle
Guest
Not necessarily. Their culpability might be diminished.
I don’t understand why people focus only on the suicide.
What people seem to assume is that a suicide is in a state of grace up to that point which may not be the case. A person committing suicide may not be committing a mortal sin for the suicide depending on the circumstances but if they are already in a state of mortal sin then by killing themselves they would go to Hell for the actual mortal sin(s) on their soul at death.
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robwar
Guest
I am concerned about you. Not just this question but the other posts you have had which are rather despairing and include questions about asking God to take your life and seeing yourself as failure. I am praying that you get some help and get it quickly to deal with the depression etc you are having. I am praying for you.
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frizzgrig
Guest
It is important for everyone to remember:
While the Church has definitively declared some people have made it to Heaven (the Saints), the same Church has never definitively declared any specific person to have been eternally damned to hell.
While the possibility to end up in hell exists, we do not know what the circumstances/reasons are or the state of grace or lack thereof of a person at the exact time of death, especially those with great psychological struggles.
While the Church has definitively declared some people have made it to Heaven (the Saints), the same Church has never definitively declared any specific person to have been eternally damned to hell.
While the possibility to end up in hell exists, we do not know what the circumstances/reasons are or the state of grace or lack thereof of a person at the exact time of death, especially those with great psychological struggles.
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Annie39
Guest
Agreed. Please seek help.
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svid2
Guest
Pax Christi.
A suicide could have a last-second “Jesus - I love you!” change of heart just before the final blackout. Even Judas might be in Purgatory.
God bless.
A suicide could have a last-second “Jesus - I love you!” change of heart just before the final blackout. Even Judas might be in Purgatory.
God bless.
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scoobydoo6v92
Guest
I also think that some people get screwed in life. It’s how they handle it. I am sorry if someone has been screwed one time too many… and they can’t cope It’s a sickness when someone does this but some people get too much too fast and goodbye misery. My question is always where the HELL was God when they committed it?? I have lamented at some bad events in my life. and one person had the NERVE to tell me to get help. I have a heart’s desire. no pill no shrink no prescription will get me my heart’s desire. the only one is God. and sometimes the only healing one will get is an answer to a prayer. a yes from God or a relief from the damn suffering enough of the suffering already. i know we need to suffer and carry our cross but once and a while it would be nice to put it down and be able to live for once and have some joy. Sometimes it is a mental illness. Now the ones that may go to Hell possibly are the guys that murder someone then do suicide by cop to avoid incarceration. those I worry the most over. but the ones that have had enough of the cross and suffering and God keeps saying no and keeps piling on the suffering. we all have our breaking points and we all have ways of which it comes out. and for some it is a bottle of pills and the hell with it others is sex or drinking or drugging, some it’s a criminal act. some people are tired of being broke all the time and embezzle, don’t make it right as there is no right from doing a wrong. but I can definitely understand though . who knows whats in that person’s mind. I have asked God to take me home I have had enough. but I won’t kill myself. no way. but enough of the suffering. we all have to carry a cross but God like any good loving parent does once and a while give the child that candy bar… you know… sometimes to keep the dog on the porch you got to feed him once and a while… our walk with God is a two way street and frankly sometimes a lot of times it seems one way. and some people have had enough and end it.
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scoobydoo6v92
Guest
Sometimes telling someone to get “help” just makes it worse. That person needs t tell God that they need help. sometimes that “help” can ONLY come from God. Saying get “help” is such an uncaring uncompassionate simplistic answer that it is uncharitable. I say to someone that is thinking of suicide to pray and beg God to get off his duff and come to their assistance NOW!!! I never tell people to get “help” maybe that “help” is ME listening to them. Telling someone to get “help” is passing the buck onto someone else. Shrinks only medicate and get people on all kinds of mind numbing mind scrambling drugs that they “mask” the symptoms. when the real problem can be fixed by listening and saying that right word or doing that right “kind” act. never know. Lord forgive me for the things I have done and what I have FAILED to do.
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UnCatholicBride
Guest
Seeking a professional is not a sign of weakness, and perhaps that medical staff member is God’s answer to your cry for help!
You would not tell a diabetic to rely solely on prayer to God to treat their medical condition- you would tell them to seek a medical professional to manage their insulin. Depression is the same- it is not a defect of character, it is a chemical imbalance in the brain. There is no shame in taking a medication to restore the natural chemical balance of your body. There is no shame in seeking counsel of another individual who can help you process your feelings.
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
Can I lighten this up without offending anyone ?
This is true. While on retreat, the Retreat Master master told us about a true story of a mother, who had gone to Padre Pio and was crying. He asked why she was so distraught.
She said, that her son had committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in the area she lives and that because he committed suicide, he would be in hell.
Padre Pio told her that he would pray for her son and ask the Lord for guidance. He asked that the woman continue to come and see him and he would help her through her stressful time.
Well, upon meeting with Padre Pio the next time, he told the mother that the Lord had told him to tell her that her son was not in hell, that he had realized his error as soon as he jumped from the bridge and ask God for forgiveness before hitting the ground and dying. God had forgiven him for his sin.
True story.
Our Retreat Master then offered a little humor to the story and said, “so, if you ever consider jumping off a bridge, make sure it’s a high one so, you’ll have a chance to repent before hitting the ground.”
In all, God’s mercy is beyond our understanding. Most of the beliefs about suicide come from Church teaching that it is a grave sin, but also from Dante’s Divine Comedy, where the fourth ring of Hell was filled with souls who were living in dogwood plants. Because they had destroyed the body God had given them before their time, they were doomed for eternity to dwell in whatever body that they could be housed in, and in hell, it was the 4th ring where the dogwood existed.
Since Dante’s time when mental illness wasn’t as well know as today, the Church had little understanding of what drove a person to suicide. Today we know that many are mentally depressed to the point of despair and often, it’s the medication they’re on which breaks down their sense of reason.
In all cases, pray for those souls.
Jim
This is true. While on retreat, the Retreat Master master told us about a true story of a mother, who had gone to Padre Pio and was crying. He asked why she was so distraught.
She said, that her son had committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in the area she lives and that because he committed suicide, he would be in hell.
Padre Pio told her that he would pray for her son and ask the Lord for guidance. He asked that the woman continue to come and see him and he would help her through her stressful time.
Well, upon meeting with Padre Pio the next time, he told the mother that the Lord had told him to tell her that her son was not in hell, that he had realized his error as soon as he jumped from the bridge and ask God for forgiveness before hitting the ground and dying. God had forgiven him for his sin.
True story.
Our Retreat Master then offered a little humor to the story and said, “so, if you ever consider jumping off a bridge, make sure it’s a high one so, you’ll have a chance to repent before hitting the ground.”
In all, God’s mercy is beyond our understanding. Most of the beliefs about suicide come from Church teaching that it is a grave sin, but also from Dante’s Divine Comedy, where the fourth ring of Hell was filled with souls who were living in dogwood plants. Because they had destroyed the body God had given them before their time, they were doomed for eternity to dwell in whatever body that they could be housed in, and in hell, it was the 4th ring where the dogwood existed.
Since Dante’s time when mental illness wasn’t as well know as today, the Church had little understanding of what drove a person to suicide. Today we know that many are mentally depressed to the point of despair and often, it’s the medication they’re on which breaks down their sense of reason.
In all cases, pray for those souls.
Jim
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svid2
Guest
Pax Christi.
Please know that suicide goes against God’s plans for the suicide. That person may be in this world to do important work which can help many souls get to Heaven. Nobody is put here to “give up” and simply hope to somehow get into Paradise.
God’s Will and plans for you and me are most important! Suicide can result in a horrible afterlife for the suicide, and for others.
We all need each other!
God bless.
Please know that suicide goes against God’s plans for the suicide. That person may be in this world to do important work which can help many souls get to Heaven. Nobody is put here to “give up” and simply hope to somehow get into Paradise.
God’s Will and plans for you and me are most important! Suicide can result in a horrible afterlife for the suicide, and for others.
We all need each other!
God bless.
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