"Most importantly, I think that we need to turn to God. We must make the decision that love and forgiveness are God’s way. And then, we must call upon Him to help us. That quick gut reaction, "let’s get them back": I think that that is a base natural instinct. But the way of God is far above that. God’s way involves justice. God’s way involves forgiveness. God’s way involves love. It is more than the natural human reaction. It is the response of a human graced by God. We need him." -- "Forgiveness" - St. Jude Church Lenten Series - March 5, 2002 - Fr. Tom Shoemaker

There is a hard law . . . that when a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive. -- Alan Paton

We do not really know how to forgive until we know what it is to be forgiven. Therefore, we should be glad when we can be forgiven by our brothers. It is our forgiveness of one another that makes the love of Jesus manifest in our lives, for in forgiving we act towards one another as He acted toward us. --Thomas Merton

It is freeing to become aware that we do not have to be victims of our past and can learn new ways of responding. But there is a step beyond this recognition . . . It is the step of forgiveness. Forgiveness is love practiced among people who love poorly. It sets us free without wanting anything in return. -- Henry Nouwen

- quoted in Thoughts about Forgiveness

" Forgiveness is above all a personal choice, a decision of the heart to go against the natural instinct to pay back evil with evil. The measure of such a decision is the love of God who draws us to himself in spite of our sin. It has its perfect exemplar in the forgiveness of Christ, who on the Cross prayed: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34)."-- Pope John Paul II - Message for the World Day of Peace 2002