No one committed suicide in the Middle Ages

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6: 22-29)

What is essential is invisible to the human eye. If, in fact, mankind were defined by material needs alone, why was suicide practically non-existent in the Middle Ages while today it is so widespread in wealthy societies that have overcome material poverty? Evidently, there is another kind of poverty today: a spiritual one. Therefore, we must contemplate more than just the material wonders worked by Jesus, but descend into their deeper meaning, thus nourishing our spiritual soul which is destined for eternal life.