The Irish standard., 1894-09-15
THE QUESTION OF SUICIDE.

A great many nave contributed to the
discussion of suicide since it began, but
no one has pointed out. the grievous
character of the sin more luminously
than Father G.. NJ. Searle at the Church
of the Paulists in New York recently,
says the Catholic Mirror. Catholic
preachers rarely take note of the subjects
of the day in their sermons; but in this
instance Father Searle very wisely did
SO, as many persons were in danger Of be-
ing misled by the letters in the World,
and there must also have been On the
part of not few curiosity to know from
good authority the position of the Catho.
lie Church on the topic in question.
Father Searle remarked in the begin
ming Of his admirable sermon that it was
not necessary to remind his hearers that
the Catholic Church declared suicide a
sin and erievons and mortal sin. sand
not only that" said the reverend speaker;
"but among Catholics, suicide is consld-
cred as specially great and grievous
among mortal sins, self murder being of
the same nature as the murder of some
one. else; and yet more, as in one sense
the most deadly OF all mortal sins, since
it ordinarily implies dying in the very
act of sin, and therefore shuts out the
hope of repentance or pardon.
"Of course, however, we allow it to be
possible that this most fatal Of all acts
may be committed in a fit of temporary
insanity, which may greatly reduce or
even entirely remove its criminality, or it
may be committed by one who, though
sane, is not aware of the teaching of the
Church and of right reason ON the mat
ter, or, without fault on his own part does
not believe in that teaching. .~
Also it is quite possible that even
though death should seem to follow inn
mediately, there may yet be time for en-
lightenment by Gods grace and repent
ance for the act. So in no case can we
absolutely assume as certainty that the
soul of suicide is indeed lost, or even
that the act was in itself mortally culp-
able, as it appeared In the mind of the
one committing it.'
It is not uncommon for suicide to
cut his throat or shoot himself and then
Immediately to show return OF sanity
and repentance; the flow of blood reliev-
ing the brain pressure. In this case a
priest would administer the rites of the
Church very rapidly, and would be bound
to do so. Even, as Father Searle sug-
gests, where death appears to be instan-
taneous there may still be an instant Of
returned reason and time for pang of
contrition. Death is still mystery and
much may happen in little while; per-
sons drowning have testified to seeing
their whole lives pass before them in a
minute or so; and it was the Holy Father
himself who remarked, when he heard
that Reann had died impenitent, that
God in His goodness might still have
given him time as he reached the edge Of
eternity to form prayer for mercy.
It is presumption, however, for any
one living in sin to depend upon hope
of this kind. Those who do so run an
enormous risk.
Father Searle concluded his sermon
with striking argument. He said:
eve should remember that naturally
the whole creation belongs to Him, who
created it. We may acquire right to
some part Of it as against other men, but
we can never, by any act, or exertion of
our own as against Him by whom il was
drawn from nothing.
"He has the right to claim all we have
at any moment, for it fundamentally be-
longs to Him. Common sense as well as
sanctions the words OF holy Job
in his affection: .The Lord gave, and
the Lord hath taken away; as it hath
pleased the Lord, 50 is it done; blessed