Teachings on Forgiveness (Catholic)

• Bible clearly instructs Christians to forgive: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgive.” Luke 6:37
• Lord’s Prayer emaphasises importance of forgiveness - we ask avid to “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” - meaning we Dan expect forgiveness from God if we forgive others.
• In the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches about importance of forgiveness - “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7
• The Atonement - Jesus’ words from the cross: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”
• Jesus told Peter that you should forgive not just once, but many times - 70x7
• Parable of the Prodigal Son:

  • teaches forgiveness and repentance
  • son demand inheritanc, spends all and comes home, father welcomes him back, despite wring doing.
  • teaches God will always welcome us back and forgive if we turn back and are truly sorry.
• Parable of the Unmerciful Servant emphasises having to grant forgiveness to get forgiveness:

  • servant refuses to forgive a friend for borrowing small money when he had been forgiven by his master for borrowing a much larger amount of money.
  • teaches to forgive infinitely as they’ll be forgiven by God for all their many sins.
• Believe forgiveness can only be granted by God.
• Jesus forgave those who crucified him and prayed for those who persecuted him
• For Catholics, confession is an important part of their faith because it allows them to confess their sins to a priest, receive absolution, and make amends with God through penance.
• Jesus forgave an adulterous woman, telling her to “go and sin no more” John 8:1-11