May 2, 2021
Dear Friends in Christ,
In our Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. Its origins are varied, going back to the 1300’s. Some of it was to Christianize the secular feasts. But overall, it was to bring appropriate honor to Mary and her role in salvation history. Next weekend on Mother’s Day weekend, we will have the Rite of Crowning of an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary Within Mass. Refer to p. 7 for more info on Mary in the month of May.
I encounter many families who have to deal with the challenging issue of someone they love experiencing a form of mental illness. It may be from depression to dementia. It may affect a younger or an older person. Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. The month of May is known as National Mental Health Awareness Month which attempts to bring more awareness to this challenging issue, to fight the stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness & their families. Families feel so alone & isolated, reserved in even sharing this reality with others, fearing what others may “think.” Unfortunately, people do not understand this type of illness. But it is an illness that affects the mind, akin to any other illness that affects other organs like cancer, heart problems, etc.
Mental illness is a huge reality in our society today. Most people who suffer with mental illness can be helped and are not dangerous. Sad to say, many do not recognize their illness. But for those who do, often the case is when they take their medicine, they are fine and can be productive. But when they begin to feel better and no longer want to take their medicine, it causes havoc in their lives and the lives of those they love. Many of our street people also suffer from mental illness. We need to face this tragedy and address this problem in society.
Are we aware that depression affects 25 million people in the U.S. alone? Are we aware more Americans suffer from depression than coronary heart disease, cancer, and HIV/AIDS? Most people who suffer with depression and seek treatment respond positively. At its worst, depression can result in suicide. Suicide is up some 24% since 1990. In 2019, there were 47,511 suicide deaths, with 1.38 million suicide attempts and some 12 million having thoughts of suicide. Currently, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., while homicide does not even make the top 10. Every day, approximately 130 Americans take their own life. Anglo males consist of 69.83% of all suicide deaths in 2019, affecting the most in their middle ages. Suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 - 34 years old in the U.S. (Source: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics).
FYI: The Church does allow a Catholic funeral service including Mass when a person commits suicide. In the past, society including the Church did not understand suicide fully. In the past and even today, both society and the Church view it as not as a good, but as something that is disruptive and harmful to all concerned. But society and the Church are now recognizing with greater medical understanding that the mind is complex, and the majority of people who commit suicide are not acting with complete free will and full knowledge of their actions.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate life….(but) Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide” (CCC #2281-2282). Though suicide is still “objectively wrong,” these various circumstances or personal conditions make us realize that the person may not be totally culpable for their action. We never know what is in the person’s mind prior to and during the actual act of suicide. Only God knows the mind and heart of such a person. So, the Church prays for all who have died.
We have some of our young people receiving their First Holy Communion this weekend. What a wonderful event for these children & for their families! May we be all reminded to receive Holy Communion with great reverence for the Real Presence of Christ.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!
Fr. Lawrence W. Jozwiak
Pastor
“The Cross is the school of love.”
—St. Maximilian Kolbe
“There is no greater love, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” John 15: 13