the great symphony of forgiveness
"Forgive and you will be forgiven." —Luke 6:37, RNAB
When Jesus was dying on the cross, He prayed: "Father, forgive them" (Lk 23:34). When Stephen, the first martyr, was being stoned to death, "he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them' " (Acts 7:60). After St. Patrick was kidnapped and enslaved, he forgave his enemies. All martyrs forgave those who murdered them. Every day millions of people receive the miracle of forgiving others. Let us join in Christ's great symphony of forgiveness which has been sounding throughout the world for almost two-thousand years.
Thank God for your enemies. If you accept God's grace to forgive them, your enemies will be your way to holiness and eternal happiness. Love your enemies (Lk 6:35), for the Lord is using them to help you. Pray for your enemies, for they too will stand before the judgment seat of God. Forgive your enemies, for in doing so we imitate Jesus in a most special way.
Forgiveness is the key to love, holiness, healing, victory, and peace. Accept the miracle of forgiveness and be among the saints forever.
Prayer: Father, through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Forgiveness, may I forgive as Jesus forgives and be forgiven as I forgive (Mt 6:12).
Promise: "Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may Your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low." —Ps 79:8
Praise: St. Patrick taught forgiveness to his enemies who would, in turn, be the very people God chose to evangelize Europe.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflets, Unforgiveness is the Cause... and Fourteen Questions on Forgiveness, and the Novena of Mary, the Mother of Forgiveness or our audio tapes AV 41-1 or AV 106A-1, AV 106A-3, AV 106B-1 or AV 104-1, respectively.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, August 1, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 7, 2002