Eternal Hope For Those Who Die By Suicide

Do you believe that a person will go straight to hell if they die by suicide? According to the Roman Catholic Church, that is not necessarily so. To better understand this mismatch, it helps to look at some of the theology behind sins.

There are venial sins and mortal sins. Venial sins diminish and wound the divine life in our souls while mortal sins destroy it, thereby separating oneself completely from God. To be a mortal sin, three conditions must be met: 1) The matter of the sin must be grave. Killing is grave. Suicide is killing, but the priest must check the other two conditions before concluding it is mortal. 2) The sinner must have full knowledge of the evil involved. People do not like hearing the word evil when it comes to suicide, but killing in itself originates from evil in the world. 3) Just like in marriage, the person must use the full consent of their will to carry out the action. If the person's mind is compromised in some way, the person did not use their will with full consent and the sin would not be mortal. [1]

Since the one doing the killing is dead, it is impossible to check in on the last two conditions. Therefore, we cannot say for sure that their action was a mortal sin. We do not know for sure if they completely separated themselves from God and put themselves in a state of Hell. We can then hope and pray for the person's eternal salvation of soul. If the person did separate themselves completely from God of their own free will, then the prayers will be used by God in some other beneficient situation.

Using my father as an example, he was an active alcoholic of at least 25 years and most likely depressed at the time of his suicide. One might say "he was not in his right mind" but no one knows for sure. Only God knows. So I pray that Jesus may have forgiven him for his action, and I hope at the least, he may be in Purgatory being healed of remaining sins and the effects of them in preparation for Heaven. That is, I continue to pray for him and the salvation of his soul, that he will be forever united with Jesus Christ. I choose to live in Hope.

Lastly, there is salutary repentance, mentioned below, which is forgiveness in ways only known to God. This is another reason to choose Hope and pray for the one who died by suicide.

~ ~ ~

A good reference for this is The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition. Here are some useful excerpts.

"1037 God predestines no one to go to hell." [2] 

To "go to hell," a person must willingly turn away from God in a grave manner, and persist in doing so. That is, they must of their own volition commit a mortal sin. Second, people do not actually go to hell. Hell is actually a state of the soul. It is "The state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed, reserved for those who refuse by their own free choice to believe and be converted from sin, even to the end of their lives. [3]" 

On the other hand, heaven is "the state of supreme and definitive happiness. [4]" It is "Eternal life with God; communion of life and love with the Trinity and all the blessed. [5]"

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 the love of 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 [i.e., culpability] of the one committing suicide [and thereby provide hope for the survivors of the one who took his/her life].

2283  We should not despair of the eternal salvation [i.e., getting to Heaven] 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." [6]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, 1997, available online

 

pdf version - Catechism of the Catholic Church (vatican.va) [Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 5]

New & Used - Amazon.com: Catechism of the Catholic Church: 9781601376497: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, USCCB: Books 

Used - Catechism of the Catholic Church book by Libreria Editrice Vaticana (thriftbooks.com)

Abbreviated footnotes:

1. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, 1997, p. 889.

2. Ibid, p. 270.

3. Ibid, p. 881.

4. Ibid, p. 881.

5. Ibid, p. 881.

6. Ibid, p. 550.

image - https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9781574551105_p0_v4_s550x406.jpg

Do Your Part for September Suicide Prevention Week & Month

Do Your Part for 

Suicide Prevention Week & Month

This is one thing I am doing. 

See A New Sun Foundation Suicide Prevention Walk 2019  

It will be my 5th year.

This Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 8:30am! 

Fay Park, Foster Street, Littleton, MA

If you want to join some of us who are walking in support of all those impacted by suicide, DM me. Minimum donation is your $20 registration fee.

Unfortunately, I have had suicides of family members, friends, and acquaintances.

My Dad, cousin1, cousin2, 2nd-cousin, friend's father, different friend's son. I write about them in my self-published book, "Unraveling My Father's Suicide"

Screening of a New Documentary is Saving Lives "Suicide: The Ripple Effect"

"Suicide: The Ripple Effect"  Coming to Marlborough, MA!   .

May 31, 2018 @ 7:30pm Solomon Pond Mall  Regal Cinemas Stadium 15 Please join us for a special screening of this important film followed by an engaging discussion on the topic with an expert panel. Get Tickets Suicide: The Ripple Effect takes you on a journey with Kevin Hines [a Catholic] who survived jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in an attempt to take his life. Since then Kevin has been on a mission to use his story to help others find hope and stay alive. A film by Kevin Hines and Greg Dicharry

Watch this Official Trailer! This film is part of a global mission to help reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts around the world. Through sharing stories of survival and recovery we are creating significant awareness of this health crisis, while helping people find the support they need to stay alive, heal and #BeHereTomorrow!

Baton Rouge World Premier Hear what the audience had to say about the film and get a recap of the event on 2-23-18.

Get Tickets

The film was released worldwide on March 13th Theatrical on Demand and features some of the world’s leading suicide prevention experts, while shining light on people who are using personal experiences with suicide to help others find the hope they need to stay alive.

For more info contact: Kathleen Laplante  at klaplante2@yahoo.com

www.SuicideTheRippleEffect.com

Note: This post is a modified version of an announcement compiled by Stephanie Sikes at suicidetherippleeffect.com  Thank you Stephanie.

Enriching the ProLife Discussion About Babies

In a secular world like ours, it is challenging to be ProLife. So many ProChoicers seem to misunderstand the concept that a child is being murdered in every abortion. Or maybe it's that they understand the concept but deny it. 

What is denial? The action of declaring some truth to be untrue, or,

"Denial is one of the most common defense mechanisms that we all use, pretending that an uncomfortable thing did not happen." - changingminds.org

"Denial...[is when] the individual recognizes or is conscious of the existence of the truth or fact but consciously refuses to accept it as such." - wikipedia.org

As Lisa Smiley says in her video, it doesn't matter. When a woman becomes pregnant, everyone asks how the baby is - from Day 1. Do you know the baby's sex yet? Is the baby kicking or moving around? What names are you considering for the baby? The baby. The baby. The baby. We use that term because it is a baby from Day 1, the moment of conception.

Pregnant women across the globe read and sing and play music to their baby in the womb. Why? Because inside her womb is a baby who is capable of internalizing knowledge.

I often sense a visceral tension when I am chatting about abortion with someone who is ProChoice. It is almost as if they know it's a baby in the womb, but they don't want to be found out about it. Instead, they direct the discussion to the mother's right to choose, which is a valid topic, but I recently heard a different talk by Lisa Smiley and she put it well. If a mother abuses her child, is that ok? No. If a mother drives down the street and decides to throw the baby out, is that ok? No. If a mother encloses her child in a small space and fills that space with cigarette smoke non-stop, is that ok? No. Then why is it ok for a mother to kill her unborn baby? It's not, especially when you think about it from the ethical and moral perspectives just discussed. 

ProLife is not about taking choices away from pregnant women. It is about giving pregnant women ethical and moral solutions to manage their crises. 




image - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/baby-growth-during-pregnancy-month-health-claps
11/6/16 - Edited 1st paragraph

Excerpts from "What I Didn't Know When I Stopped Having Sex"

My original post was on Facebook. Thank you, Tori, for your sharing.

"What I Didn't Know When I Stopped Having Sex"

     "...No one told me that sleeping with that guy from the bar would leave me feeling more empty than I thought possible. No one told me that it would make me feel more unworthy and more alone. No one told me that with each one-night stand, my heart was building up walls that would keep everyone out. No one told me that allowing men access to my body would make it seemingly impossible to receive a hug, hear someone tell me that I ambeautiful, or let myself be loved."

     "I stopped having sex and you have the freedom as well...."

     "... despite what the world was telling me, I could stop having sex. I could save it for the proper context and I could regain the part of me that is so precious."

     "The battle is to claim a new life in Christ and to shed away the masks of false identity."

     "...I learned that while on His cross, the Lord saw all those lonely nights when I lay in bed wondering if this is as good as it gets. He bore the pain of my wounds and today allows me to live in the freedom which He has promised."

                                                                                             ~ Tori Vissat, Shalom Tidings, Oct/Nov 2015

To read Tori's article in its entirety, go to to the full article here.

God Bless,
Kathleen +


image - http://madeinhisimage.org/whatididntknowwhenistoppedhavingsex-2/

Hudson author unravels her father's suicide

Praise God. Thank you to Ryan Donovan, Library Director, and Ed Karvoski, Jr., Contributing Writer. Ryan initiated the invite for me to talk and provided great help in preparing for the evening. Ed wrote a wonderful piece about my book and my Author Series presentation at the Southborough Library in Southborough, MA on February 11, 2016. Click title below.

Hudson author unravels her father's suicide

Community Advocate

image - http://www.communityadvocate.com/2016/02/22/hudson-author-unravels-her-fathers-suicide/

*Video Now Available* Book Talk for Unraveling My Father's Suicide

February 11 reminds me of two celebrations and now a third.

     1) Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes,
     2) A friend's birthday, and now,
     3) My first public book talk for my book Unraveling My Father's Suicide.

I gave my presentation on Thursday, February 11, 2016. The talk is available for viewing on youtube here. I hope you find it informative, but I have to say I found the Question & Answer segment encouraging. Some very thoughtful questions about suicide were asked and the audience interacted well with each other.

This was the outline for the talk:

     - How I came to write my book
     - Suicide from two different perspectives (statistics & stories)
     - Readings from the book
     - Q & A session
     - Book signing

I hope you enjoy the show.

God Bless,
Kathleen +

Our Lady of Lourdes

   

Book Cover

Upcoming Book Talk - February 11, 2016 - I Hope to See You There!

I will do some readings from my book and discuss my personal experiences. I will also discuss what drew me to writing this book and how I decided to self-publish. I will talk a bit about both of those processes and end the evening with a Q&A session followed by a book signing for those who choose to purchase one. $10.  Bring a friend!

If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to contact me at klaplante2@yahoo.com   I look forward to meeting with you!

Kathleen Laplante

Libraries & Sad Update to Unraveling My Father's Suicide

LIBRARIES
I am a strong supporter of the public library system throughout our country. Once I discovered the one in my neighborhood, a new world opened up to me. From writing articles on their computers to borrowing DVD movies of all kinds to borrowing books to borrowing books & movies from across the state to attending discussions on stone wall building to giving a presentation about my book to the locals to volunteering for them and learning about cataloging.

Since May 2015, I have donated several copies of my book to the libraries in my area. If you would like to donate one to a library in your area anywhere in the United States, please contact me with their mailing address and I will gladly ship them an autographed copy, noting your name as well. My Email: klaplante2@yahoo.com

SAD UPDATE to UNRAVELING MY FATHER'S SUICIDE

It is with much sadness that I share the following news. My cousin Ethan (pseudonym) took his own life on Christmas Eve in the same location his older brother took did the same several years ago. My older cousin shot himself at the top of the Rock Rimmon ledge, while the most recent suicide was done by jumping off that same ledge. Ethan is mentioned on pp. 38 & 50 as having ongoing struggles with suicidal ideation.

I was shocked. For some reason, I thought the suicides in my family tree would stop with the completion of my book. There is no logical reason for that, just an unconscious desire, I guess. I hope you rest in peace, cousins. +

Click here for Amazon listing.

Images - http://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-Fathers-Suicide-Kathleen-Laplante/dp/0692409882/
- http://www.manchester.lib.ia.us/images/signoutside
- http://www.wherehistorylives.org/App_Uploads_Img/Manitowoc%20Public%20Library/Manitowoc%20Public%20Library%20Inside.jpg

New Book Review on Amazon (Unraveling My Father's Suicide)

Click here for Amazon listing.

Overall Rating: "5.0 out of 5 stars.

Honesty and candor about understanding suicide.

ByVeronique on January 8, 2016

"This is a difficult subject to talk about. Many people have pre-prejudicial thoughts toward people who have tried to commit suicide or had family members who have taken their own life. That is so unfair as one cannot possibly understand the frame of mind a person must be in to think about suicide unless you been there yourself. Kathleen's book is courageous in opening her life to help people understand about her father's suicide and her own attempt. Read it with an open mind. This author also writes with hope for those struggling and how faith plays an integral part of the healing process. There is a tremendous amount of nourishment in her words for anyone who battles with suicide ideation or has lost a friend or family member. Thank you Kathleen for your powerful written account." - http://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-Fathers-Suicide-Kathleen-Laplante/dp/0692409882/ - w/correction

Faith & Suicide Story on WBUR 90.9FM Public Radio Today

‘Everything Is Grace': Looking To Faith For Answers To Suicide 
by Lynn Jolicoeur

This is a story relating faith and suicide. It was aired this morning on WBUR 90.9FM public radio as part of the series, Suicide: A Crisis in the Shadows. You can read the transcript at the link, and you can also click on the white triangle in the blue box and listen a replay.

"Kathleen Laplante wrote a book about how her renewed Catholic faith helped her heal
from her father’s suicide and her own struggle with being suicidal. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)"

I am honored to be included with the other people in this story. I agree with much of what they said, but I do feel the need to clarify that this is a story from different viewpoints. For example, Morning Star Baptist Church in Mattapan, Bishop John Borders, says he does not think suicide is a mortal sin. The Catholic Church still teaches that it is. I also think none of us knows anyone's final judgment, so the door to hope is left open. That means we should pray for all who have taken their lives by suicide, because God's mercy may be present. We just don't know.

Hope is one of the virtues that psychologically and spiritually brought me back to life after I was challenged with suicidal thoughts for years. It is one of the virtues that helped me recover from my own attempt at suicide several years ago. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we know that hope centers on eternity:

Catechism of the Catholic Church
1817 Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." "The Holy Spirit . . . he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life." - http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a7.htm

I am grateful to Lynn Jolicoeur for inviting me to participate in her ongoing series, Suicide: A Crisis in the Shadows. Her perseverance is bringing the different facets of suicide, and the challenges facing survivors who remain behind after a suicide, into new light.



image - http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2015/10/faith-religion-suicide
http://thechildrenarewaiting.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Hope-is-an-anchor.jpg

Eight More Days For Giveaway of My New Book

      Ever wish you knew what goes on in the minds of suicidal people? Unraveling My Father's 
      Suicide is a new, powerful, and easy-reading book that can give you some insight. Kathleen 
      Laplante is the author whose father committed suicide on her twenty-first birthday. She 
      discusses her struggles with that, with her own attempt at suicide, and with life in general. 
      She reveals how her spiritual conversion back to Catholicism helped her find faith and hope.

Join the other 216 people who have entered the 
Goodreads Giveaway 

for my new paperbook, Unraveling My Father's Suicide.

                                          (If you don't have a Goodreads account, you'll have to create
                                                                one (FREE) to register for the drawing. Click here.)

If you don't win the drawing, you can purchase the book at a reasonable price at the following websites:

Amazon (6 reviews)

Barnes & Noble (2 reviews)

CreateSpace

And remember to check in on the Facebook Page. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Kathleen+


image - https://chrismcmullen.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/giveaway-w.jpg