“The forgiveness of God is one thing, but the proof that we want that forgiveness is the energy we expend to make amends for the wrong.”
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

For Reflection:
To what extent do I expend energy to make amends for a wrong to God, to others, to myself? How does this help me reconcile guilt and demonstrate remorse?Â

“I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.”
C. S. Lewis

For Reflection:
Guilt is a good response to sin. Morbid guilt is not. What is the difference between healthy remorse fueled by good guilt and despair fueled by morbid guilt?
( See tomorrow’s Grace Line for one way to measure good guilt and healthy remorse.)

“Our will -freely choosing to hold on to anger, bitterness, resentment, and hostility – becomes an impenetrable fortress preventing God’s life from entering our heart, which, through the privation of grace, becomes stony, hard, and cold. This interior reality eventually affects all aspects of our being.”
Johnnette Benkovic

For Reflection:
How is our free will an integral part of the forgiveness process? What am I choosing in relation to those who have disappointed, hurt, offended, or injured me? Is my heart stony, hard, and cold toward them? How is this affecting me in other ways?

Regarding the boy who stabbed her to death when she would not cooperate with his desire to rape her:

“I forgive Alessandro. I forgive him with all my heart; and I want him to be with me in heaven.”
St. Maria Goretti

For Reflection:
If this precious young woman can forgive her murderer, who am I to hold on to the offenses committed against me?

“The saints had no hatred, no bitterness. They forgave everything.”
For Reflection:
Do I truly want to be a saint?
(See tomorrow’s Grace Line for a young girl who did and proved it.)

“We should love and feel compassion for those who oppose us, since they harm themselves and do us good, and adorn us with crowns of everlasting glory.”
St. Anthony Zaccaria

For Reflection:
I will reflect on this quote and meditate on its wisdom. How does this change my attitude and disposition of heart toward those who offend, injure, or hurt me?

“An insult is either sustained or destroyed, not by the disposition of those who insult, but in the disposition of those who bear it.”
St. John Chrysostom

For Reflection:
St. John Chrysostom gives good advice on how to short-circuit the need to forgive. What is my disposition when I am insulted? Does it “sustain” the insult or “destroy” it? What disposition would destroy it?
(See tomorrow’s Grace Line for one saint’s suggestion.)

“You rehearse your brother’s trespasses, and forget about you own.”
St. Barsanuphius

For Reflection:
What two insights does this saint give us about sabotaging our forgiveness efforts? Do I do these? Today, I will make a conscious effort to stop the thought processes leading to these ends whenever my offender comes to mind.
(Tomorrow’s Grace Line gives more help as well.)

“A man who is well disposed toward and loves those who revile and abuse him and cause him harm, and who prays for them, in a short time attains to great achievements.
St. Simeon the New Theologian

For Reflection:
In this quote, St. Simeon gives us insight into two steps in the process of forgiveness. What are they? How can I implement them toward one who has caused me harm or hurt me in some other way?
(See tomorrow’s Grace Line for some more help in the process.)

“I’ve heard people say that forgiveness is for wimps. Well, I say then that they must never have tried it. Forgiveness is hard work. It demands diligent, self- discipline, constant corralling of our basest instincts, custody of the tongue, and a steadfast refusal not to get caught up in the mean-spiritedness of our times.”
Marietta Jaegger- Lane
Mother of a murdered child

For Reflection:
Am I willing, with the grace of God, to enter into the hard work of forgiveness? Of the necessary demands Marietta outlines, which one do I most need to acquire? I will start to ask God to supply my need this minute and make this my prayer request until I begin to manifest it in my life.
(See tomorrow’s Grace Line for a help along the way.)