St. Francis of Paola on Forgiving in Imitation of Christ

The instruction below is from a letter by Saint Francis of Paola, a 15th century Italian friar, miracle worker and mystic who founded the Order of Minims.

"Brothers, I most strongly urge you to work for the salvation of your souls with prudence and diligence. Death is certain, and life is short and vanishes like smoke. Therefore, you must fix your minds on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ who so burned with love for us that he came down from heaven to redeem us. For our sakes, he suffered all the agonies of body and mind, and did not shrink from any torment. He gave us a perfect example of patience and love. For our part, we too must be patient when things go against us.

Put aside hatred and hostility. See to it that you refrain from harsh words. But if you do speak them, do not be ashamed to apply the remedy from the same lips that inflicted the wounds. In this way, you will show each other mercy and not keep alive the memories of past wrongs. Remembering grievances works great damage. It is accompanied by anger, fosters sin, and brings a hatred for justice. It is a rusty arrow spreading poison in the soul. It destroys virtue and is a cancer in the mind. It thwarts prayer and mangles the petitions we make to God. It drives out love and is a nail driven into the soul, an evil that never sleeps, a sin that never fades away, a kind of daily death."

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O most holy Saint Francis of Paola, God gives wisdom to the simple and makes the merest child wise. Pray that He grants me this reward He promises to the humble through your intercession. Help me always to make a good examination of conscience and confession. I resolve to detest sin and all temptations. Amen.