Hello, my name is Father Gregory Pine, and I'm a Dominican friar of the province of St Joseph.

I teach at the Dominican House of Studies and I work for the Thomistic Institute, and this is Pines of the Quinas.

In this episode, I want to talk about suicide. is a very sensitive issue and it can be a very sensitive issue and it can be a very

painful issue especially for those who have contemplated it for themselves or who have lost a beloved member of their family or

close colleague to suicide in the past. So we approach the topic with a kind of

fear and trembling. But I want to approach it,

because sometimes the church's teaching and practice

can be a little bit confusing to people

or a little bit discouraging to people.

So perhaps you've heard it said that the church teaches that suicide is a grave sin,

or the church practices include kind of differentiated funereal rights or burial rights for those who have

committed suicide. To some people it can seem like a little gratuitous. It's like

for instance let's say you get in a car accident and then the police officer shows up and then at the end of the exchange he gives you a ticket for reckless driving. You're like, what the heck? My car is already destroyed. Did you need to do that as well and I think

that's sometimes how people can feel about the church's teaching and practice

so I want to approach it with a kind of openness to what it might reveal and

even to the grace it can mediate.

So that way we can come to know God better and come to live the Christ life with greater

fullness.

So how about we say a little prayer and then just talk about it?

Here we go. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Grant us grace, a merciful God to desire ardently all that is pleasing to thee, to examine it prudently, to acknowledge it truthfully,

and to accomplish it perfectly, for the praise and glory of thy name who live and reign forever and ever.

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