Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not simply the recitation of the words "that's all right," "I forgive you," or "don't worry about it." Even should these words be spoken from the heart and in all sincerity, this is not the whole of what forgiveness requires. True forgiveness of another is to resist recalling to mind the hurt that was suffered, to nevermore hold the sin against the offender. One hurt suffered years ago, though forgiven in word only once, may require one to forgive it mentally seventy times seven times, over and over, each time it is remembered. If this is not carefully attended to, one may run the risk of holding grudges interiorly (however slight) against those who have offended him, while outwardly professing to have forgiven them.