The hard Truth
I've been thinking lately how I've let these pages grow overly quiet - even more quiet than I'd expected, given my track record. So when Jack Dunphy at The Corner got to the subject of forgiveness and Catholic faith, and seemed to have a hard time reconciling the idea of forgiveness for murderers, I could not resist the urge to respond to him here.
It occurred to me that the question on its face could best be answered by Christ himself, who during the process of being murdered himself, forgave his murderers.
And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. But they, dividing his garments, cast lots. (Luke 23:34)But are we always expected to do likewise?
As with most such questions, I was led to the online version of the Catholic Encyclopedia. Since there is no specific article on "forgiveness", I poked around a bit. The closest I came in the Encyclopedia proper was the entry for Contrition, which really wasn't much help.
Finally, I found the following sermon by St. Augustine, that pretty well summarizes the concept.
Do you rejoice at the death of your enemy? Thou doest ill. But haply both to your friend the life you wish him is not for his good, and to your enemy the death you rejoice at has been for his good. It is uncertain whether this present life be profitable to any man or unprofitable: but the life which is with God without doubt is profitable. So love your enemies as to wish them to become your brethren; so love your enemies as that they may be called into your fellowship. For so loved He who, hanging on the cross, said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34 For he did not say, Father let them live long, me indeed they kill, but let them live. He was casting out from them the death which is for ever and ever, by His most merciful prayer, and by His most surpassing might. Many of them believed, and the shedding of the blood of Christ was forgiven them. At first they shed it while they raged; now they drank it while they believed."In this we know that we are in Him, if in Him we be made perfect." Touching the very perfection of love of enemies, the Lord admonishing, says, "Be therefore perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 He," therefore, "that says he abides in Him, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6 How, brethren? what does he advise us? "He that says he abides in Him," i.e., in Christ, "ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." Haply the advice is this, that we should walk on the sea? That be far from us! It is this then, that we walk in the way of righteousness. In what way? I have already mentioned it. He was fixed upon the cross, and yet was He walking in this very way: this way is the way of charity, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." If, therefore, you have learned to pray for your enemy, you walk in the way of the Lord.I wasn't aware until now that so much of the texts from the Church Fathers were available alongside the Encyclopedia. What a treasure they are!