Posts tagged forgiveness
The Art of Forgiveness
The Art of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the first shape salvation takes in our lives. Through confession we experience forgiveness from God and are initiated into the ministry of reconciliation. We are then sent out to practice this ministry, first in the Church and then in the world. I say ‘practice’ here to cut against the notion that forgiveness is something at which we are immediately skilled. Forgiveness is a journey, the steps of which sometimes take months or years each. But forgiveness is real and it can bring us freedom from the power of our wounds. For this to happen, though, we have to get real about those hurts we would most like to avoid. Forgiveness begins where we really need to forgive, or it does not begin at all.

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Spiritual Formation, Christian LifeFr. Hayden ButlerSt. Matthew's Churchforgiveness, reconciliation, anger, toxic shame, shame
A Good Confession
A Good Confession

In the past, I’ve written that healthy shame will turn toxic unless acted upon and held in health by a power beyond itself. Individuals and communities—including churches—will repeat cycles of toxic shame until someone intervenes. I have seen in pastoral conversations many attempts to ‘manage’ the voice of shame by negating it. We do this either through ignoring it or by trying to persuade ourselves that shame can tell us nothing and is merely a figment of a general atmospheric moralism. But no matter how boldly we shout I am not ashamed! we still are.

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Prayer, Christian Life, SacramentsFr. Hayden ButlerSt. Matthew's Churchconfession, penance, repentence, penetential, lent, holy week, good friday, absolution, forgiveness
A Good Confession
A Good Confession

In the past, I’ve written that healthy shame will turn toxic unless acted upon and held in health by a power beyond itself. Individuals and communities–including churches–will repeat cycles of toxic shame until someone intervenes. I have seen in pastoral conversations many attempts to ‘manage’ the voice of shame by negating it. We do this either through ignoring it or by trying to persuade ourselves that shame can tell us nothing and is merely a figment of a general atmospheric moralism. But no matter how boldly we shout I am not ashamed! we still are.

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Prayer, Christian LifeFr. Hayden Butlerconfession, penance, repentence, penetential, lent, holy week, good friday, absolution, forgiveness