Bishop Tobin on Forgiveness and Being a Christian

"Mercy and forgiveness must not remain as pleasant words but must be manifest in daily life. (Pope Francis)

"As Christians we often hear about and speak about forgiveness - God's forgiveness of our sins and our need to forgive one another. And yet the practice of forgiveness is one of the hardest things about being a follower of Jesus. Various aspects of our human nature - our pride, our narcissism, our instinct for self-defense - militate against the virtue. But it's a challenge we cannot ignore. As Pope Francis said, 'Mercy and forgiveness must not remain as pleasant words but must be manifest in daily life.'"

In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the importance of forgiveness in the life of a Christian - believing that God forgives him/her, forgiving oneself, and forgiving others.

To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:

Without A Doubt: The Hardest Thing About Being Christian (3 MAR 15)