# Praying for Those Who Have Died by Suicide
*2019-06-05*

> Bill Young reflects on the tragic suicide of journalist Todd Tongen, shares personal experiences of loss, and leads a Day‑One Chaplet of Divine Mercy for Todd and all souls who have taken their own lives.

## Remembering Todd Tongen

Todd Tongen was a longtime anchor for the ABC‑affiliated Channel 10 in Miami. I first met him when he came to my home to record a segment about our pilgrimage to see Pope Francis in Washington, D.C. He was professional, kind, and took the interview seriously. A few weeks later I learned that Todd had died by suicide. His older brother, a doctor, said Todd had long feared the same fate that claimed their mother—declining health, loss of memory, and the sense of being a burden.

## Personal Loss and the Reality of Depression

I, too, lost my mother when I was 17. She was a single parent who fell ill and became depressed, leaving me and my siblings to fend for ourselves. Later, my nephew Matthew, a young man in his early twenties, took his own life; I never even knew he was bipolar. These experiences teach us how isolation and mental illness can drive people to despair, and how we often wonder what we could have done differently.

## How to Help Those in Crisis

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call a suicide‑prevention hotline. In Florida you can dial 988 for the national suicide prevention line, 211 for local resources, or the specific numbers for Broward (954‑567‑8336) and Miami‑Dade (954‑393‑9000). Teens in particular should use the teen line 988‑555‑HELP. Reaching out early can make a difference.

## Divine Mercy for the Dying Soul

Father Chris Adler, a Marian priest, taught me that praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for those who have died by suicide is powerful. God exists outside of time; our prayers reach the soul at the moment of death, offering God’s infinite mercy. The Chaplet asks for the forgiveness of all sinners and entrusts them to the compassionate heart of Jesus.

## Day‑One Chaplet of Divine Mercy

We begin with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed, then repeat the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Your Son, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins and the sins of the whole world.

Ten Hail Marys, each ending with: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

We conclude with the prayer of the Divine Mercy:

“Most merciful Jesus, whose nature is compassion, look upon us with love. Do not judge us by our sins, but by the trust we place in Your infinite goodness. Grant us mercy, now and forever. Amen.”

We offered this prayer for Todd Tongen, for my nephew Matthew, for my mother, and for all who have taken their own lives.

## Closing Thoughts

God’s mercy transcends time; even those who have died by suicide can be welcomed into His love through our prayers. Let us not wait until it is too late—pray, reach out, and bring the light of Christ to those in darkness.

*Our prayers of Divine Mercy can bring hope and forgiveness to souls who have died by suicide, reminding us that God’s love knows no limits.*