Forgiveness and Freedom

“He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.” St. Faustina

Sometimes it is easy to hate. It is easy not to forgive and carry a grudge. One time, a friend told me that relationships cannot be defined by hate and anger. Those are not relationships. It struck me more today at mass when the gospel reminded us of how many times we need to forgive, and the answer was a multiplication number. It is a tall order.

“Forgiveness is above all a personal choice, a decision of the heart to go against the natural instinct to pay back evil with evil.” Pope John Paul II

Then, I read about Blessed Leonella Sgorbati. She died only in 2006 after leaving Italy to work in Africa. Her vocation brought her to Mogadishu where she started a school for nurses which was attached to a children’s village. Her driver and herself were murdered in 2006 being gunned down in the street. She worked to bring joy to others, but she lost her life fighting for Christ. Her last words were, “I forgive, I forgive.” Incredible strength after such an event. She is buried in Kenya. We cannot begin learning about such a great woman by hating her attackers. It cannot be our starting point.

“I am convinced that by keeping my heart uncontaminated, living in faith and in fraternal love towards my neighbour, I will not go off the path. These are my only treasures and are without price. St. Zygmunt

Another saint, Zygmunt, was Archbishop of Warsaw. He took the bishop’s chair in the 1860s when the Russians laid siege to the city. Zygmunt continued his work ministering to the people, reconsecrating the cathedral, reforming the seminary, freeing imprisoned priests. Once St. Zygmunt protested the hanging of a Capuchin; he was sent to Siberia. Pope Leo XIII and the Vatican secured his release from Siberia and the Archbishop continued his work with the poor of his new region. He built a church, school, and convent. No hate was in his heart. He continued to live his faith – even in prison as well.

“The saints had no hatred, no bitterness; they forgive everything and think they deserve much more for their offenses against God.” St. John Vianney

Family, friends, relationships, and casual acquaintances are not easy. Friendship is a work. The saints are our examples. Some suffered so much for Christ. We need to ask ourselves if we need to do the same. We might not think we are capable, but we are sure that Christ loves us. Then we can bring that love to others.

“Forgiveness is the restoration of freedom to oneself: it is the key held in our own hand to our prison cell.” John Paul II