Posted on 04/04/2015 9:45:38 AM PDT by bad company
The holy virtues are like Jacob’s ladder, and the unholy vices are like the chains that fell from the chief Apostle Peter.
For the virtues, leading from one to another, bear him who chooses them up to Heaven; but the vices by their nature beget and stifle one another.
And as we have just heard senseless anger calling remembrance of wrongs its own offspring, it is appropriate that we should now say something about this.
Remembrance of wrongs is the consummation of anger, the keeper of sins, hatred of righteousness, ruin of virtues, poison of the soul, worm of the mind.
Remembrance of wrongs is shame of prayer, stopping of supplication, estrangement of love, a nail stuck in the soul.
Remembrance of wrongs is pleasureless feeling beloved in the sweetness of bitterness, continuous sin, unsleeping transgression, hourly malice.
This dark and hateful passion, I mean remembrance of wrongs, is one of those that are produced but have no offspring. That is why we do not intend to say much about it.
He who has put a stop to anger has also destroyed remembrance of wrongs; because childbirth continues only while the father is alive.
He who has obtained love has banished revenge; but he who nurses enmities stores up for himself endless sufferings.
A banquet of love dispels hatred, and sincere gifts soothe a soul. But an ill-regulated banquet is the mother of boldness, and through the window of love gluttony leaps in.
I have seen hatred break the bond of long-standing fornication, and afterwards remembrance of wrongs, in an amazing way, did not allow the severed union to be renewed. Wonderful sight—a demon curing a demon! But perhaps this is the work not of demons but of Divine Providence.
Remembrance of wrongs is far from strong natural love, but fornication easily comes near it, just as a hidden louse can sometimes be seen in a dove.
[…] Remembrance of wrongs is an interpreter of Scripture of the kind that adjusts the words of the Spirit to its own views. Let it be put to shame by the Prayer of Jesus.
[…] The remembrance of Jesus’ sufferings cures remembrance of wrongs which is mightily shamed by His forbearance.
Worms grow in a rotten tree, and malice finds a place in falsely meek and silent people. He who has cast it out has found forgiveness, but he who sticks to it is deprived of mercy.
[…] The forgetting of wrongs is a sign of true repentance. But he who dwells on them and thinks that he is repenting is like a man who thinks he is running while he is really asleep.
John Climacus
Let me expand on the merits of the “forgetting of wrongs”.
Those grudges haunt you and occupy your thoughts and revenge overtakes your dreams.
In that state, you have no room for love.
It is love that Satan seeks to block.
If you think believing in Christ as your Savior is checking a box, you will be disappointed.
“Belief” means LIVING that faith, in love and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is one thing.
Forgetting repented wrongs is one thing.
People who say - “you MUST forgive and forget” the wrongs of that person who pounds you in the head and steals your wallet EVERY time they see you is quite another.
There does come a time to separate from such individuals; shaking the dust from your feet if you will.
Doesn’t Christ tell us to “love our enemies?”
What good is it to just love your friends, if you don’t “love your enemies?”
This is were I fail as a catholic every time.
“It’s a sicilian thing Michael.”
There are things that one can never forget. There are pains and horrors that can never be forgotten. These maybe placed aside, but these things are always there. This is why forgiveness is something that is not done just once, but continuously. One does not forgive and forget. One forgives again when one remembers and allows the pain, anger, hostility and rage overtake. Then one prays for justice, one prays for strength and fortitude to go on. One does not forgive for the person who committed the offense, the wrong, the sin, the crime against us or a loved one. One forgives so one can have some relief from the pain and go on with life. It does not necessarily mean that one goes to the offender and says “I forgive you.” since unless the offender asks for forgiveness, it may create more conflict and pain in one’s life. One forgives for the sake of self and loved ones. Some might say it sounds selfish to forgive for the sake of one’s self, yet treating one’s self with understanding and compassion is a self kindness that one can then extend to others. One remembers, one knows what happened, one cannot change reality. Instead one lets go of the pain, the anger, the rage and hostility and one learns to go on, remembering yet free of pain through the practice of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a practice not a virtue. Just like patience is a practice not a virtue. It is action an action one takes to care for ones self in order to be well enough to take care of others.
One forgives again and again so one is not destroyed but resurrected.
Love your enemies but not the pain and destruction they cause you.?
That’s what you must forgive, right?
Hmm. Why shouldn’t your enemies learn to love you? Maybe your enemies are only your enemies because they want to be your enemies.
Do we know their motives?
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