杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

鈥淢ary experienced the tenderness of God as a daughter, full of grace, in order to share this tenderness as a mother through her union with the mission of her Son.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis offered that reflection in his greetings at the Wednesday General Audience, tying Mary鈥檚 motherhood to that of all mothers ahead of the liturgical feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday.

The 杏MAP导航 pledged his closeness to mothers everywhere, mentioning especially those with children who suffer.

Special prayer for mothers of prisoners

He prayed in a special way for the mothers of young detainees, 鈥渟o that their hope may not die.鈥�

鈥淯nfortunately, there are many people in prison who commit suicide, sometimes even young prisoners,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t times, a mother鈥檚 love can help preserve someone from this danger.鈥�

Prisons and suicide

As the 杏MAP导航 mentioned, suicide rates are much higher in prisons than among the general population.

Some studies say prisoners in the United States are four times more likely to commit suicide, with motivations ranging from fear of other inmates and the consequences of a person鈥檚 crime to the loss of a meaningful relationship. Most suicides occur in isolation cells.

In England and Wales, there were 92 self-inflicted deaths in prisons in 2018 alone.

According to Samaritans, an international charitable network, key risk factors for prison suicide include 鈥渕ental ill-health, past self-harm, traumatic life experiences, and a background of disadvantage鈥�.