Suffering from Mental Distress? Servant of God Fr. John Hardon, S.J. Gives Us Answers

Building Bridges Between Theology and Psychology

In Part 1 of our series, "How Prayer, Confession and Submission to the Will of God Can Ease Anxiety," we explored the growing crisis of mental distress in modern society—a challenge recently addressed by the U.S. Bishops’ National Catholic Mental Health Campaign. We examined how the insights of theologian Servant of God Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. (alongside Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen) bridge the gap between psychology and theology, reframing emotional struggles as spiritual battles requiring supernatural remedies.

Specifically, we looked at how frequent Confession serves as a powerful psychological and spiritual antidote to anxiety, stress, and guilt. By aligning our fragile human wills with God's divine will, the Sacrament of Penance grants us authentic peace of mind and heart, strips away the burden of hidden guilt, and provides the grace needed to cultivate deep humility, self-control, and patience when dealing with life's daily tribulations.

Here are some other insights and actionable steps on the topic of mental distress.

The Nightly Examen

In his book, Spiritual Life in the Modern World, Father explained that deep interior joy is possible despite the sadness and sorrow all around us, provided we surrender ourselves without reserve to the Providence of God.

In an article, “What is the Key to Holiness,” he strongly recommended the daily examination of conscience as essential for the Christian. Following the Ignatian practice, there are three parts to this:

1. Gratitude for graces received—both graces that are pleasant and those that are painful. You may think of some other person, “You are the most painful grace in my life.” Thank God for the painful graces.
2. Sorrow for sins. Where have I failed in generosity? Anticipate the next day; plan what you are to do the next day. What are the things I’ve been putting off, not doing? Promise our Lord you will do it. Keep an agenda. Ask God for the grace to put it into practice.
3. Do not hesitate to put your resolution into writing.

How can we help others experiencing anxiety?

In the same article, Fr. Hardon said,

“Christ uses only peaceful people, those with peace of heart, to bring peace to others. There are two kinds of peace, peace of mind and peace of heart. The only people who have peace of mind are those who live and experience the truth. Seventy million Americans are living on prescribed tranquilizers. Their minds are starving for the truth and we have it.”

Choose wisely, then do it

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One of Fr. Hardon’s pieces of advice is certain to calm the anxiety of many of us who second-guess our decisions – even when reached with wise thinking and backed by prayer.

Fr. Hardon said,

“Once you have decided that you should put into practice some idea that you consider correct, and have mentally excluded the opposite as wrong, no longer discuss the idea with yourself, especially not before the time of execution. Remember what I am saying. You’ve thought about this; you’ve prayed over it; you’ve made a decision. Then turn off the mind tight—be sure it’s tight—and do it.”

— “How to Live in the Presence of God” .

Other advice from Fr. Hardon:

“Maintain peace of soul. I don’t hesitate saying, and this is a patented statement of both Vincent and Ignatius and Alphonsus Ligouri that I remember: Consider every worry, every anxiety — provided your trying to do God’s will — consider every anxiety and worry as a temptation, to be dealt with accordingly.”

— Lecture on St. Vincent de Paul

Cultivating Patience and Humility

This is a primary text of his on interior peace:

“Here the absence of conflict and the presence of tranquility are inside of us. Thus we are at peace with God when our hearts do not reproach us for being in sin or at odds with His known will in our regard. We are interiorly at peace with others when we hold no grudge against them, no ill feeling or enmity, and when they do not disturb us.

“We are finally at peace with ourselves when the two parts of our being, the higher and the lower, are in harmony; when our desires do not exceed our needs; when our passions are responsive to reason and our freedom is in control; when our conduct agrees with our conscience and our conscience is totally subject to God.”

Read more of Fr. Hardon’s article on interior peace.  

Actionable Steps

Besides all of this, we suggest these simple steps, inspired by the writings of Fr. Hardon and other spiritual writers:

1. Go to Confession frequently: Even for "smaller" struggles, to receive the grace of clarity.
2. Perform a Nightly Examen: Briefly review your day to release stress and put you on the right track with God.
3. Practice Short Aspirations: Use quick prayers like "Jesus, I trust in You" or "Thy will be done" when you feel a spike in anxiety.
4. Focus on the Task at Hand: If you are gardening, be entirely in the garden; if you are working, be entirely in the work. Do not let your mind "time travel."

Moving Forward

There is still much groundwork to be done in bringing the insights of psychology to the aid of a solid Catholic spirituality regarding mental health. And, while each of us must navigate the interior trials of a fallen human nature, we do so with the enduring hope that God has planted deep within our souls. In the face of every mental and emotional struggle, our ultimate anchor remains: "Jesus, I trust in You."

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