Day 297: The Cross of Suicide

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. CCC 2280

Today's reading from the Catechism is on suicide, the willful taking of one's own life. It is a gravely sinful act, mitigated to be sure by factors such as mental illness. What drives someone to see no other solution than to actually end their own life is not something I can fully understand. The act not only impacts the person committing suicide, but can leave a deep pain to those who love them. The most I can say is that there is help for those who need it, including, if all else fails, God. He is always there and "will never fail you nor forsake you" (Heb 13:5). I pray those at their wits' end find such relief from their pain.

The Catechism Companion Vol III has some good commentary on this:

Suicide has many victims, including the survivors of those who have taken their lives. Each life matters, even if the person does not currently value his or her own life... Often, one suicide will spark a rash of other suicides. Once one person has taken the step, it seems like a solution to others battling thoughts of self-harm. We belong to each other. In taking one's own life, one takes from others - family, friends, and community... We should not assume that those who have committed suicide are lost souls, and we should pray for them because "by ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance" (CCC 2283). As the saying goes, we do not know what happens between the bridge and the water. (p. 110)

Finally, Fr. Mike Schmitz has a great video on this sad topic: