Pope Leo invites us to pray for the prevention of suicide, a deeply personal and heartfelt intention. Many among us have been touched by this sorrow, whether through our own experiences or through the suffering of someone we love. Deacon Gary, who has devoted much of his life to service in the Army and the Police, has spent the past 12 years dedicated to suicide prevention and the promotion of wellbeing. Drawing from his faith and experience, he shares valuable insights on how we can bring the light of Christ to those who are struggling. As you watch this reflection, we invite you to hold in prayer all who carry the weight of despair. May Jesus Christ, the Divine Healer, bring them peace and may we be instruments of His compassion and hope in our communities.
Transcript
Hello there, I am Deacon Gary Stone, and I’ve been invited to share with you Pope Leo’s prayer intention for November, and it’s for the prevention of suicide. And I’m sure all of us watching this have been affected by suicidality in our lives, either as someone who has felt suicidal, or as someone who has been concerned for a loved one, or as someone grieving the death of someone who has completed a suicide. I spent my whole adult life in the Army and the Police, where we have significant suicidality, and for the last twelve years I have been intensely engaged in suicide prevention and promotion of wellbeing, through the ministry of our Veteran’s Care Association. Pope Leo has said, let us pray that those who are tempted to commit suicide might find the life support, care and love that they need, in their communities and be open to the beauty of life. Friends, we are being asked by the Pope not just to pray, but to act intentionally. Each one of you listening can assist in this as first responders. Having studied this phenomenon of suicidality, while in one sense it’s very complex. It invariably involves a loss of hope or purpose in life. It might also involve shame or guilt, or a sense of betrayal or abandonment by others. Many of these people might be isolating or disengaged. Well we can assist in all of these areas. My lived experience is that we need to be boldly proactive, and seek out those that are struggling in life. Trusting the Spirit’s presence in us, we can share our care and concern for them, and at an appropriate time, ask them gently, “Have you been having suicidal thoughts?” “Do you have a plan?” “Do have the means to go through with this”. If the answer is yes, we need to be lovingly present to them and offer to companion them on their journey. While their thinking might be clouded by the negative, we can offer them immediately a positive response, by saying something like, I love you, I want to help you find hope, find a life giving purpose, forgiveness, or whatever you need to see you experience a greater fullness of life. In due course, you could become someone who can learn to save the lives of others. Would you like to help others like yourself? Can I say a prayer with you? I attest that this simple formula has led to saving the lives of more than one thousand veterans in recent years. Obviously, follow up and engagement with specialists should follow, both for yourself and for the person with suicidality. By this caring intervention may strike a spark of hope and bring light into someone’s darkness. Friends, let us all be missionaries of hope and care and concern. Be not afraid to ask, or show concern, but trust in the spirit of Jesus in you, to continue to light the path, to another person’s recovery. In this spirit, please join me now in prayer. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Loving God, we bring before You those that struggle with suicidal ideation, and those of their family and friends that also struggle. Please give us the insight and courage, to be the ones that sense their need and offer them life giving support, care and love that they need. We pray that they find in us, a caring community, and be open to the beauty of life. We pray too for all carers, clinicians and pastoral ministers that work in this space. Sustain us in love, joy and hope, that we may truly be Your missionary disciples. Bless us O Lord, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. May peace be with you all and peace go out from you. Thanks be to God.