(art: Siblings, Paul Klee, 1930) The REACH Forgiveness Process developed by Everett Worthington and taught through Live and Forgive is a research-validated individual level approach to forgiveness. A critical component of the REACH process is having the forgiving person cultivate empathy for the person they are forgiving based on their basic human sameness. The idea … Continue reading Forgiveness is Seeing Fraternity with Love of Christ
compassion
Our Own Anger is Still Not Good for Us
(art: Church of St. Nicetas, Macedonia, 14th cent.) Whenever the Gospel accounts of Jesus driving out the money changers from the temple come up in the Liturgy of the Word, I often see an article or hear someone asserting that the Gospel account is proof that anger can be righteous and even a virtue. It … Continue reading Our Own Anger is Still Not Good for Us
Fr. Hugh Duffy: Forgiveness When There’s No Apology
(photo: Capilla Sixtina, Jorge Valenzuela, 2011) "Not long before his death, Pope Francis gave a startling speech to the Curia — the Church’s central administrative body. Before a room full of high-ranking officials, he spoke honestly about the hypocrisy, gossip, and careerism that had crept into the Church’s leadership. His words cut deep. The assembled … Continue reading Fr. Hugh Duffy: Forgiveness When There’s No Apology
Forgiveness is a Constant Invitation to Rebirth in Love
Today's Liturgy of the Word includes a reading from the Gospel of Luke (17:1-6) that is a cornerstone for forgiveness as Christian faith in action. In this section of the gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples: If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.And if he wrongs you seven times in one … Continue reading Forgiveness is a Constant Invitation to Rebirth in Love
Love & Forgiveness: Research-Informed Action is the Way Forward
Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, the director of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, recently published an article in Psychology Today, which was also shared as a research update from the Human Flourishing Program. Both the article and the research update recapitulate main points of the recent research by VanderWeele and Lee (2025) on the possibilities … Continue reading Love & Forgiveness: Research-Informed Action is the Way Forward
Perfectionism Works Better with Self-Forgiveness
(photo: Al Shahed Press, 2025) My spiritual director was a priest in his elder years who had "seen it all, done it all." During one of our meetings, he commented, "I have heard confessions - thousands of them, maybe more, who knows how many? In all of that time what I saw was that I … Continue reading Perfectionism Works Better with Self-Forgiveness
Your Empathy Makes Your Forgiveness
(photo: Čeština, Mikhail Gorbunov, 2012) There are two scientifically validated forgiveness processes, and empathy of the forgiver toward the person being forgiven is the key in both of them. One forgiveness process is the REACH Forgiveness Process developed by Everett Worthington, and the other is Guideposts for Forgiving developed by Robert Enright. In both processes, … Continue reading Your Empathy Makes Your Forgiveness
Acceptance and Self-Forgiveness: Keys to Personal Growth After Trauma
(art: Le Bal Bullier, Sonia Delaunay, 1913) Research continues to confirm the important role of forgiveness and forgiveness processes for persons recovering from traumatic experiences, and for personal growth after traumatic experiences (post-traumatic growth, or "PTG"). In a recent article published in Spirituality in Clinical Practice, researcher Margaret Poandl and colleagues (2025) at Virginia Commonwealth … Continue reading Acceptance and Self-Forgiveness: Keys to Personal Growth After Trauma
Forgiving Just As Forgiven
(photo: Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) From lauds (morning prayer) in the Liturgy of the Hours for today (Ephesians 4:29-32): Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things people need to hear, things that will really help them. Do nothing that will sadden the Holy Spirit with whom you were … Continue reading Forgiving Just As Forgiven
A New Paradigm of Love for Understanding Human Flourishing & Forgiveness
(photo: Tom Delaney. Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) The heat of the days is giving way to coolness, and the hours of sunlight have declined. All living things are now drawn into a time of taking their rest. Everywhere you can see the wisdom of Jesus' words in the Gospel of John (12:24): Amen, amen, I … Continue reading A New Paradigm of Love for Understanding Human Flourishing & Forgiveness
Live and Forgive 