Catholic Word of the Day: SUICIDE, 05-12-12

CatholicReference.net ^ | 05-12-12 | Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary

[Salvation]

Featured Term (selected at random):

SUICIDE

The direct killing of oneself on one's own authority. It is a grave sin against the natural and revealed law. The suicide offends against the divine precept "You shall not kill." One causes grave injury to the welfare of society and violates the virtue of charity to oneself. God is the supreme and exclusive owner of all things, so that exercising ownership over life is lawful only to God. He alone can take human life when he wills. The one who directly takes his or her own life violates the rights of God. (Etym. Latin sui, self + cidium, a killing.)

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[Salvation]

Someone was just asking me about this.

[Salvation]

Catholic Word of the Day – links will be provided later by another FReeper.  (Would anyone like to help with this?)

 

Santa Maria Maggiore	Doctrine	Eugenic Sterilization
Via Dolorosa	Seven Dolors	Authority
Western Schism	Sick Call	Plain Chant
Palm Sunday	Malabar Rites	Nonjurors
Appellants	Diocesan Chancery	Chrism
Book of Common Prayer	Bridal Veil	Canonicals
Conflict of Rights and Duties	Celestines	Onan
Psychophysical Parallelism	Eucharisticum Mysterium	Keys
Soutane	Mensa	Gilead
Antistes	Material Co-operation	Suicide

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[the invisib1e hand]

the virtue of charity to oneself.

now there's something that you don't hear about as much as, say, "self indulgence" or "self love" or "self esteem".

[annalex]

For consideration in-depth, see Suicide in the Catholic Encyclopedia. An insert on the top of the old article contains a quote from the today's Catechism:

• "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."
• "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."
• "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."
• "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."

(Paragraphs 2280-2283)

There are also exceptions. Martyrdom is refusal to betray Christian faith in the face of death; a related scenario is heroic act of war, leading to death of the hero. These, since the death is not the desired outcome but merely a price for the outcome that is virtuous, are not suicide.

Mental illness is an excuse of many sins and it excuses this one, if the victim cannot control his actions.

During the Civil War in Russia the Russian Orthodox Church would excuse suicide of soldiers that killed themselves in order to to be captured by the Red Army and endure certain torture. They were given proper last rites. That was not a dogmatic decision but rather a judgement by the clergy attached to the White units, who knew what the men were facing.

[Salvation]

Thanks to both of you for your thoughts and research.