forgiveness – Page 2 – Madison Catholic Herald

During October, which is observed as Respect Life Month in the U.S. Catholic Church, we publish a number of articles in the Catholic Herald about issues dealing with respect for life at all stages.

Perhaps one of the most difficult issues to discuss is the death penalty. If we admit it, I think many of us subscribe to the Old Testament belief in “an eye for an eye” when it comes to punishing those who harm others.

If someone murders another person, we may feel the death penalty is justified. After all, the murderer took someone’s life, so his life must be taken, too.

What’s wrong with this point of view? Quite a bit, if we start to look at it carefully.

On May 4, 2017February 15, 2022

Julianne Nornberg

Honoring our earthly and spiritual mothers

Whether you are one, have one, or are married to one, mothers affect every person in the world.

My eight siblings and I have been blessed with a very gentle mother who simply and genuinely reflects many of the same characteristics of Our Blessed Mother.

Lasting memories

My earliest memory of my mom was when I was “helping” her bake a cake by moving the small plastic containers of decorative sprinkles from one side of the kitchen to the other.

On April 13, 2017

Robert Enright and Msgr. John Hebl

Forgiveness — the heart of mercy


	Robert Enright and Msgr. John Hebl

Seventh in a series of seven articles on forgiveness.

This final forgiveness essay is a collaboration of both writers. Previously we discussed what it means and what it does not mean to forgive others; how one goes about forgiving; how forgiveness is viewed within the Catholic faith; and how it appears within schools and families.

Today, in conclusion, we will examine how forgiving might be planted for good in our communities.

On April 6, 2017

Robert Enright

The family as forgiving community: leaving legacy of love to future generations


	Robert Enright

Sixth in a series of seven articles on forgiveness.

It is so special that the Second Vatican Council referred to the family as “the domestic church” (Lumen Gentium #11).

On the Feast of the Annunciation this year (March 25), Pope Francis, in a talk to 27 heads of government, stated, “Europe finds new hope when she . . . invests in the family, which is the first and fundamental cell of society.”

Family: crossroads of our legacy

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, it is in the family that children learn to love.

It is so sad that the family also is the first place where too many children (and adults) learn conflict and division and discord.

On March 30, 2017

Robert Enright

Forgiveness education for children, adolescents


	Robert Enright

Fifth in a series of seven articles on forgiveness.

All of a sudden, Martha, age 28, found herself unable to cope with life.

Until now, the challenges were few and manageable. She grew up in a stable two-parent household, was an excellent student, and graduated from a university. She married and was blessed with two young children.

Difficulty coping

Four weeks ago, her husband suddenly and unexpectedly asked for a divorce. This is something for which Martha was unprepared.

She is having trouble sleeping, sometimes is not patient with the children, and is constantly tired. She wishes to forgive, but she is unsure how to accomplish this. “I am confused, angry, and scared. I do not know how to even start forgiving him” is her honest response.

On March 23, 2017

Msgr. John Hebl

A Catholic approach to forgiveness


	Msgr. John Hebl

Editor’s Note: During Lent, a series of articles on Forgiveness will be presented by Msgr. John Hebl, pastor emeritus and charter member of the International Forgiveness Institute (IFI), and Robert Enright, University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, author, and founder of the IFI. This will help introduce the first ever International Conference on Forgiveness in July 2017 which IFI is sponsoring in the Holy City of Jerusalem. This is the fourth in the series of seven articles.

A number of years ago, an elderly priest in one of our neighboring dioceses began his Lenten homily by telling the people, “I hope I don’t die in the confessional.”

After pausing to get the parishioners’ attention, he added, “because they probably wouldn’t find my body for three days!”

What he meant, of course, is that many Catholics are not making use of the sacrament of God’s forgiveness commonly known as Confession. So the priest sits there all alone.

On March 16, 2017

Msgr. John Hebl

Helpful hints on forgiving others


	Msgr. John Hebl

Editor’s Note: During Lent, a series of articles on Forgiveness will be presented by Msgr. John Hebl, pastor emeritus and charter member of the International Forgiveness Institute (IFI), and Robert Enright, University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, author, and founder of the IFI. This will help introduce the first ever International Conference on Forgiveness in July 2017 which IFI is sponsoring in the Holy City of Jerusalem. This is the third in the series of seven articles.

Pope Francis declared 2016 as a Jubilee Year of Mercy. However, few people realized that human mercy had its inception about 2,300 B.C, that’s 4,300 years ago, when Hammurabi reigned as the sixth king of the Babylonia Dynasty.

He noticed that people often wanted to “get even” when someone offended them. It had a snow ball effect as many times retaliation ended in a fashion of extreme violence.

On March 16, 2017

Msgr. John Hebl

Helpful hints on forgiving others


	Msgr. John Hebl

Editor’s Note: During Lent, a series of articles on Forgiveness will be presented by Msgr. John Hebl, pastor emeritus and charter member of the International Forgiveness Institute (IFI), and Robert Enright, University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, author, and founder of the IFI. This will help introduce the first ever International Conference on Forgiveness in July 2017 which IFI is sponsoring in the Holy City of Jerusalem. This is the third in the series of seven articles.

Pope Francis declared 2016 as a Jubilee Year of Mercy. However, few people realized that human mercy had its inception about 2,300 B.C, that’s 4,300 years ago, when Hammurabi reigned as the sixth king of the Babylonia Dynasty.

He noticed that people often wanted to “get even” when someone offended them. It had a snow ball effect as many times retaliation ended in a fashion of extreme violence.

On March 16, 2017

Msgr. John Hebl

Helpful hints on forgiving others


	Msgr. John Hebl

Editor’s Note: During Lent, a series of articles on Forgiveness will be presented by Msgr. John Hebl, pastor emeritus and charter member of the International Forgiveness Institute (IFI), and Robert Enright, University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, author, and founder of the IFI. This will help introduce the first ever International Conference on Forgiveness in July 2017 which IFI is sponsoring in the Holy City of Jerusalem. This is the third in the series of seven articles.

Pope Francis declared 2016 as a Jubilee Year of Mercy. However, few people realized that human mercy had its inception about 2,300 B.C, that’s 4,300 years ago, when Hammurabi reigned as the sixth king of the Babylonia Dynasty.

He noticed that people often wanted to “get even” when someone offended them. It had a snow ball effect as many times retaliation ended in a fashion of extreme violence.

On March 8, 2017

Robert Enright

Clearing up misconceptions about forgiving


	Robert Enright

Second in a series of seven articles on forgiveness.

Lent is a time of seeking forgiveness for sins and then practicing forgiveness toward those who have been unfair to us.

When we forgive, we give the gift of goodness to those who have not been good to us. As we are forgiven, we forgive, as the Catholic Church teaches (Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 2838).

Sometimes, when people reflect on this link between being forgiven in the Sacrament of Penance and then forgiving others, there may be some apprehension in now extending that forgiveness to those who have been hurtful.