Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

Suicide rates are rising—and almost all of us have been touched by it. If you’ve ever wondered “What happens to someone who dies by suicide?” or felt crushed by fear, guilt, or unanswered questions, this episode will bring you real hope.

I sit down with Fr. Chris Alar, author of After Suicide, to unpack what the Catholic Church actually teaches: why suicide is grave matter, why that does not automatically mean someone is damned, and how God can work mercy in ways we can’t see.

Our conversation also touches briefly on the lie behind assisted suicide and Fr. Chris tells a beautiful story that explains the power of offering up your suffering as a prayer for the living and those who have died.

We also talk about practical warning signs and what to do when someone is struggling with suicidal ideation.

If you’ve lost someone, love someone who’s struggling, or you’re carrying silent pain yourself—this conversation is for you. God's mercy is real—and it's powerful beyond our human comprehension.

Get Fr. Chris' book "After Suicide": https://www.amazon.com/After-Suicide-Theres-Hope-Them/dp/1596144343

Highlights:

0:00 Intro

5:00 The myth: “Suicide = automatic hell”

9:45 Catechism 2282: mitigating factors & God’s mercy

22:45 Catechism 2283: don’t despair—God can act in ways we can’t see

29:10 Your prayers can still matter (even when it feels “too late”)

37:03 Why some people prefer legalism over mercy

42:12 Suicide today is not an epidemic but a pandemic

44:35 The #1 risk factor for those considering suicide

46:13 Warning signs + what to say when you’re worried about someone

50:11 “I’m a burden” — the lie behind assisted suicide/euthanasia

56:18 Closing prayer + blessing

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or considering self-harm: please call 988 (U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or your local emergency number right now. If you’re outside the U.S., look up your country’s crisis line and reach out immediately.

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Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to the new Living Peace study series: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

Chapters

(00:00:11) - How to Help Someone Who's Suicidal
(00:00:56) - Missionaries of Joy
(00:04:49) - Read Your Own Book
(00:05:03) - After Suicide: The Catholic Church teaching
(00:06:53) - Is Abortion a Mortal Sin?
(00:11:08) - Mission at Joy
(00:16:22) - The Vocation of a Priest
(00:21:53) - The Life of Padre Pio
(00:26:45) - The Crucified Prayer Card
(00:31:01) - In the Elevator With Father Spitzer
(00:35:40) - "I struggle with impatience"
(00:36:40) - The message of divine mercy in the Catholic Church
(00:42:07) - Why Suicide Is an Epidemic
(00:46:11) - How to Talk to Someone About Suicidal Thoughts
(00:50:09) - Abused Suicide and Euthanasia
(00:55:12) - A Suicide by Dignity

I recently had the honor of being at the funeral of Micah Kim, the five-year-old son of my friend Paul J. Kim. And I don’t use the word honor lightly.

Because while the pain of losing a child is unimaginable…what I witnessed there was just as unimaginable: JOY.

At Micah’s wake, Paul stood next to his son’s casket—his little body dressed in cowboy boots—and he pointed and said:

“That’s my son’s body. He’s not there. My son is alive.”

Paul said they gave Micah the greatest gift a parent can give: baptism. His passport to heaven. And then I watched this family walk down the aisle behind the casket—hands on it, tears streaming down Paul’s face—and his other hand lifted high in praise as we sang Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

Listen to my reflection to hear how Paul's witness of joy in the face of tragedy and Micah's brief life are both tied to the truth of our baptism—that we are beloved children of God and he wants us to live forever with him.

In baptism, we are sealed in this identity and receive our ticket to heaven. We just need to lean into his love and let his grace transform our lives.

Our days here are numbered. But heaven is real, it lasts forever, and you don't need to prove yourself to earn God's love. Receive it!

Follow Paul J. Kim on Instagram to see how God is already using Micah for his glory: https://www.instagram.com/heypjk

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever witnessed faith lived out powerfully in the middle of suffering? What impact did it have on you?

2. Do you think our culture understands joy the way Christianity does? Why or why not? How does the Christian understanding of hope differ from simply “staying positive”?

3. Does your baptism shape your identity? What does it mean to you that, at baptism, the Father looks at you and says, “That’s my son. That’s my daughter”?

4. Where in your life do you find yourself trying to earn God's love or prove your worth? How can you work against that mindset?

5. What can you do this week to live like holiness is your top priority? What needs to change?

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Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Joy of a Five-Year Old's Funeral
(00:01:50) - The Sacrificial Baptism

When most people think about where God is, they look to the sky or point to a mountaintop. God is ON HIGH, right?

But the reality of the incarnation flips that vision upside down.

Christ dwelt among us. God came to the lowest of places to meet us in our brokenness and heal our sin.

Did you know the spot where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River is literally one of the lowest places on earth? That can't be an accident.

It reminds us that even when we are at our lowest point—a medical diagnosis, marital issues, problems with our children, job loss—God is right there alongside us. He doesn't want us to walk these trials alone.

Hear the words God spoke at Christ's baptism. They are meant for you, too:

“You are my beloved son… you are my beloved daughter… with whom I am well pleased.”

If you find yourself in a low place right now, take it to the Lord. He's already there next to you.

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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk
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Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

-----

Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Low Places of the Holy Land
(00:06:39) - The Words for When You're in the Lowest Spot

Have you ever noticed that when God shows up, he often does so in ways that are...completely ordinary?

Think about the Epiphany of the Lord that we are celebrating today. Angels fill the sky. A star bends the universe. Heaven breaks into earth. Kings come to pay homage.

And at the center of it all? A poor child. A nursing mother. A scene you could walk right past.

Fast forward two thousand years and God is still so often hiding His glory in plain sight, but we've lost the ability to contemplate and truly SEE him in the ordinariness of the world around us. God made Himself small—so ordinary that only the humble can see Him. And that’s exactly why so many of us miss Him.

We’ve trained ourselves to scroll past miracles. To numb ourselves when big questions stir in our souls. To distract instead of contemplate. And in doing that, we don’t just lose silence—we lose wonder.

As we enter the new year, let's cultivate a contemplative heart that recognizes Jesus in the bread and the wine...and in our spouse, family, friends, and coworkers. When you become humble enough to see God in the ordinary, life becomes a constant epiphany.

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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk

-----

Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

-----

Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Secret to Christ's Birth
(00:06:28) - The 7 Joys of Mary

Why do we keep confessing the same sins… making the same resolutions… and falling back into the same patterns?

In this practical and powerful episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Fr. Peter Mussett, a priest who has heard thousands of confessions—and has lots of advice to share about human nature, change, and mercy.

In this conversation, we talk about real sins and real solutions so you can make real changes in your life.

Fr. Peter explains:

-Why most people don’t actually change
-The hidden link between unforgiveness, victimhood, and temptation
-Why willpower alone never works
-How habit stacking, conscience, and mercy work together
-Why God sometimes allows us to keep struggling
-And the one mindset shift that finally makes real change possible

If you’re frustrated with yourself, tired of starting over, and feel like you can't conquer your vices, I hope this interview will give you hope, clarity, and a true path forward.

Highlights:

0:00 Why real change is so hard

2:08 Why priests see what most people never notice

7:00 The beauty of Confession

16:58 The movie-scene insight that reveals how people change

19:18 Conscience: where God actually speaks

24:13 Why “deliver us from evil” is where change starts

27:27 The difference between passion-driven and reason-driven living

29:23 Habit stacking: a spiritual key to breaking bad habits

33:31 How unforgiveness fuels temptation

39:28 Why mercy—especially toward yourself—changes everything

57:33 “You are not your sin” (John Paul II’s powerful reminder)

1:07:36 A prayer for anyone frustrated with themselves

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Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk

........

Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to the new Living Peace study series: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

........

Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

Chapters

(00:00:00) - New Year's Resolutions with a Priest
(00:00:43) - Chris Stefan
(00:01:26) - Peter Musset on My Favorite Person In the World
(00:01:53) - How to Change Your Life
(00:07:20) - What is your favorite experience in confession?
(00:08:01) - How Do People Change?
(00:08:22) - Mission: Joy
(00:09:45) - I Stole The Sacrament Of Confirmation
(00:12:52) - I Had A Fake Confirmation Certificate
(00:15:56) - What Have You Learned About Human Nature While Preaching?
(00:21:34) - The Power of the Our Father
(00:24:57) - God's 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
(00:28:44) - How to Make a Friend Feel Okay
(00:29:11) - Atomic Habits: Habit Stacking
(00:33:29) - Forgiveness and Temptation
(00:35:35) - Culture: The Conflict of Values
(00:38:56) - The Prison of Unreveal
(00:42:53) - How to Stop Sinning
(00:46:37) - How to Get Comfortable With Your Pain
(00:49:14) - Wine and the Real World
(00:53:33) - Setting Us Free From Trauma
(00:55:18) - Reasons to Change Your Mind (Metanoia)
(01:00:15) - Real Talk: Change the Mind
(01:03:51) - A friend confesses his sins to one another
(01:04:56) - The Reasons Why God Allows Personal Struggles
(01:05:49) - The Gifts of Reading Souls
(01:07:33) - Prayer for Repenting Sinner People