Forgiving the Harm as an Act of Mercy

Abstract

The article discusses the issues of moulding a human ability of forgiving the harms. The point of departure is the contents of one of the “spiritual works of mercy” expressed in the imperative: “to bear wrongs patiently”, which in Italian goes: “forgive the wrongs”. A harm is a consequence of deed directed against human dignity. This kind of deed is always harmful and the harm requires healing. This process is completed in forgiveness. The author sees the ability of forgiving as a significant regulator of interpersonal relations, starting with these most basic (family) and ending with more complex ones (different types of groups, communities, nations). In his search for the model of forgiveness, the author reaches to the Holy Scripture and the experience of the Gift of Unity by Chiara Lubich, showing forgiveness from the theological perspective. He also offers an act of loving and pact of mercy as specific educational tools in relation to forgiveness, introducing them as applicable also among believers of other religions and non-religious people.