There are many reasons why forgiveness is an important virtue that we should live. As human beings, forgiveness is important too to have peace. Part of our faith is the belief in forgiveness of sins and also to forgive others.

The Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught his apostles, says, “ As we forgive those who trespass against us”. Jesus knew that forgiveness is a difficult thing to do, so he put it in the main prayer that all Christians say in order to remind us that we need to forgive daily.

God forgives our sins and the cross is a sign of that forgiveness. Throughout the gospel, Jesus forgave sins and healed people. Forgiveness was a very important part of Jesus’ teaching and actions while he was here on earth. He told us to turn the other cheek and love our enemies. Even whilst hanging on the cross, Jesus said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He forgave those people who crucified him. That is extreme love.

God sent his only Son – Jesus to show us how to live good lives and love his Father. Our sins were so great that someone had to pay for them to be fair and just. So God in his mercy and love for us, allowed his Son to be the one to pay for our sins, instead of us having to pay. Jesus paid with his life. That is how great our sins were.

Mother Teresa said “ If we really want to love, we must learn to forgive.”

Gandhi said, “ Forgiveness is the virtue of the brave.” and Martin Luther King Jr said, “ He who is devoid of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love.”

St Francis of Assisi’s prayer says

“Where there is discord, may you bring harmony;that where there is error, may you bring truth; that where there is doubt, may you bring faith; that where there is despair, may you bring hope; that where there are shadows, may you bring light; that where there is sadness, may you bring joy. May the Lord, grant that you may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted; to understand, than to be understood; to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by

dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.”