Suicide

[BenjaminD]

If someone is a devout Catholic, devout in Christ, Virgin Mary and the Church… and commits suicide, will he go to heaven? Is suicide the one sin that stops the path to heaven?

 

[Stylites]

If someone is a devout Catholic, devout in Christ, Virgin Mary and the Church… and commits suicide, will he go to heaven? Is suicide the one sin that stops the path to heaven?

Murdering one’s self is wrong, but we cannot know what condition of grace any soul was in while on the threshold of death’s door. Any unrepentant mortal sin stops the path to heaven.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I am a sixth grade teacher. I have a girl in my class whose step dad committed suicide just a month ago. He waited until the girl and mom were gone and even with the little boy in the next room sleeping, took a shotgun and blew his own head off.

It completely uprooted and damaged three lives plus inlaws, put us all into a stupor. It was and is a living nightmare for the whole family.

I certainly hope he goes to heaven. Only God Himself knows the man’s state of mind. He could have had mental problems that no one knew of. He couldn’t been in such a depression and state of impaired thinking that his mind was gone. Nobody knows.

I do know that suicide is NEVER the answer and that it definitely puts out soul in serious jeopardy for hell, no doubt. But also God knows what is going through the suicidal person’s mind and God is merciful. I like to think that many of these folks obtain final peace…but I’m not qualified to know. None of us is.

We can only pray for them, try to always let EVERYONE we know and love be aware that it puts the soul in jeopardy for damnation, and it’s never an answer…it leaves behind too many victims and too much carnage for loved ones as well. It’s just not an option…

 

[ConstantineTG]

If someone is a devout Catholic, devout in Christ, Virgin Mary and the Church… and commits suicide, will he go to heaven? Is suicide the one sin that stops the path to heaven?

Modern psychology has revealed that some who commit suicide do so out of extreme grief and may have lost rational thinking at the point of killing oneself. Its possible that they are not liable for what they committed as the grief has taken over rational thought. But if one kills oneself out of contempt of one’s own life, then its a sin and that person will probably go to hell.

 

[valentino]

there are mitigating circumstances sometimes which God can take into account.If a person is mentally ill or it was say an impulsive act done without forthought God in His mercy can excuse such persons.we aren’t allowed to take our own life because things don’t work out the way we want them to.God created us out of love and God had to use His creative energy to give us life.Also He paid a dear price for us by dyinng on the cross.Each of us is of much worth to God and we have no right to take what is His.Chances are the person you speak of was mentally ill since you say he loved Jesus so God in His infinite mercy would not let him go to Hell.

 

[06convert]

I would agree. Self preservation is among the things that are fundamental to our being. That’s why are our heart rate shoots up and our body dumps adrenalin into blood. Self preservation. For someone to be able to turn against that, I would think they have to be truly not in their right mind.

 

[PilgrimToChrist]

There are different cases. One has already been mentioned, which is the loss of reason – either through serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia, severe clinical depression) or just extreme grief over the loss of another person. It seems like few people would just rationally make the decision to off themselves one day.

Another case is found in this story. Padre Pio met a woman who was sobbing. He asked her what was wrong and she said that her husband had committed suicide by jumping off a bridge and so he was in hell now. Padre Pio, being given a revelation from God, told her that he was not in hell but in Heaven – Our Blessed Mother had given him an extraordinary grace such that between the time that he jumped off the bridge and the time that he hit the water, he made an act of perfect contrition and went straight to Heaven. This was given him based on the merits of his practice of saying the Three Hail Marys in the morning and night.

So suicide is an unforgivable sin in that it is an action based out of despair, which denies God existence or His ability or desire to help us. Assisted suicide / euthanasia probably sends many people to hell – and they thought they couldn’t stand suffering in this life! But for the more common forms of suicide, there are probably mitigating circumstances and we pray that God keeps these people from doing harm to themselves and falling into Hell.

Lord, have mercy!

 

[markomalley]

If someone is a devout Catholic, devout in Christ, Virgin Mary and the Church… and commits suicide, will he go to heaven? Is suicide the one sin that stops the path to heaven?

From the CCC:

2280 Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him.
It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life.
We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls.
We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us.
It is not ours to dispose of.

2281 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.

2282 If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal.
Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law.
Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.

2283 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.
For there to be a mortal sin, there must be three factors: grave matter, understanding that it is grave matter, and full consent of the will.

Grave matter: suicide is objectively grave matter.

Understanding: a person may or may not fully comprehend that it is grave matter. Don’t automatically assume that the person had full knowledge of that one way or the other.

Full consent: if you are under extreme mental duress or are mentally ill, you may not be capable of giving your full consent to the action.

**Bottom line is that it is not for any of us to declare that somebody is in hell. **We have to trust in God that He will make a way for salvation for anybody who wants it. If a person jumps out of a building, how do we know that the person didn’t repent and say, “God forgive me, I’m sorry” on the way down?

 

[valoriuslobo]

In the past, was the Church’s view on suicide any different than it is now?

 

[Phemie]

In the past, was the Church’s view on suicide any different than it is now?

Yes. When I was growing up suicides were not given Catholic funerals and were often refused burial in Catholic cemeteries.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

And weren’t there plenty of bishops/priests also who would refuse to baptize a child born out of wedlock?

Yes. When I was growing up suicides were not given Catholic funerals and were often refused burial in Catholic cemeteries.

 

[Phemie]

And weren’t there plenty of bishops/priests also who would refuse to baptize a child born out of wedlock?

I suppose there were. There are still priests today who will refuse to baptize the children of cohabiting couples since there is no well-founded hope that they will be raised Catholic when the parents aren’t willing to follow Catholic doctrine.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

True enough. But in many cases a couple weakened, made a mistake, a child came from a moment of passion and loss of control, the man takes off 100mph and leaves the woman behind. Then the woman wishes to raise her child Catholic and try her best to be a good Catholic mom. That’s a lot different than a cohabitating couple of stubborn modernists I guess. I don’t know…

I suppose there were. There are still priests today who will refuse to baptize the children of cohabiting couples since there is no well-founded hope that they will be raised Catholic when the parents aren’t willing to follow Catholic doctrine.

 

[Phemie]

True enough. But in many cases a couple weakened, made a mistake, a child came from a moment of passion and loss of control, the man takes off 100mph and leaves the woman behind. Then the woman wishes to raise her child Catholic and try her best to be a good Catholic mom. That’s a lot different than a cohabitating couple of stubborn modernists I guess. I don’t know…

I can only say that my friend had a baby out of wedlock 32 years ago and the priest had no problem baptizing her. I’m sure that not all Pastors behaved pastorally – but even in the 1880s they were baptizing illegitimate children, I have the parish records that prove it.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I never thought “all” priests or bishops felt that way, just a certain amount out there…

Just like nowdays there are actually priests who refuse to grant absolution to some folks. I talked to a woman this week I know who confessed to fornication. She was really embarrassed to admit it and had to summon her courage to go in there. The priest, in his late 80’s and from Spain told her he refused to grant her absolution. She walked out unforgiven and cannot approach the Sacrament on Easter. I was appauled…

I can only say that my friend had a baby out of wedlock 32 years ago and the priest had no problem baptizing her. I’m sure that not all Pastors behaved pastorally – but even in the 1880s they were baptizing illegitimate children, I have the parish records that prove it.

 

[catholicgirl201]

I think that it could be possible that committing suicide could prevent a person from entering Heaven. Suicide violates the Commandement " Thou shalt not kill".

 

[NeedImprovement]

…Another case is found in this story. Padre Pio met a woman who was sobbing. He asked her what was wrong and she said that her husband had committed suicide by jumping off a bridge and so he was in hell now. Padre Pio, being given a revelation from God, told her that he was not in hell but in Heaven – Our Blessed Mother had given him an extraordinary grace such that between the time that he jumped off the bridge and the time that he hit the water, he made an act of perfect contrition and went straight to Heaven. This was given him based on the merits of his practice of saying the Three Hail Marys in the morning and night.
…
Lord, have mercy!

I really don’t mean to ruffle any feathers, but it would appear that the different sources I’ve read attribute this particular story to the Curé of Ars - St. Jean Vianney , rather than to Saint Padre Pio. Both of these Saints are very much loved, but we need to avoid confusion.

I have an account of the story here somewhere in a small booklet entitled “Thoughts of the Curé of Ars” . Here’s another link confirming the story .

God Bless

 

[NeedImprovement]

I never thought “all” priests or bishops felt that way, just a certain amount out there…

Just like nowdays there are actually priests who refuse to grant absolution to some folks. I talked to a woman this week I know who confessed to fornication. She was really embarrassed to admit it and had to summon her courage to go in there. The priest, in his late 80’s and from Spain told her he refused to grant her absolution. She walked out unforgiven and cannot approach the Sacrament on Easter. I was appauled…

It isn’t totally clear whether this particular subject is on-topic , but I’ve also personally suffered disappointment in the Confessional on other matters (not always in my youth) , and it can be devastating for a time.

However, given the information on hand, and to provide a little more objectivity before anyone goes any further in (another thing St. Jean Vianney vigorously disagreed with) the knocking/comparing of priests :

The fact that the poster

gurneyhalleck1:

“…talked to a woman this week I know who confessed to fornication. She was really embarrassed to admit it and had to summon her courage to go in there”

but that this same woman was readily able to “confess” all of this to the poster - whom I will have to assume for the moment, is not a priest, suggests there is more than one problem here … and these other problems don’t appear to be confessor-oriented.

 

[thirddec]

Suicide who would even try to be God in Judgement on this. Yes there are clear wrongs involved in despair and suicide but so much suffering and confusion too. I would hope that God is mercifull and understands the true Heart of the poor sinner and will allow them a last moment of clarity before the final passing where they may repent.

As for priestly differences ; we don’t always have all the facts to make a sound judgement and priests are human to and are not fallable or without personalities and preduces of their own. I’m sure if someone trully wants to confess and get absolution The Holy Spirit will guide them further.

 

[marica_mandic]

If someone is a devout Catholic, devout in Christ, Virgin Mary and the Church… and commits suicide, will he go to heaven? Is suicide the one sin that stops the path to heaven?

Suicide is realy very big sin.
God all our sins look in perspective of all detail of our life.
One person can be realy ill and commite suicide and that is not the same when total health person commite suicide.