"Fr. Scott Hurd has provided a wonderful manual concerning the need for and the procedures to forgive."
About this Book:
Whether we are uncertain what real forgiveness looks like, are tired of forgiving, or don't know where to start, Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach offers spiritual considerations and practical guidance.
"In Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach, Father R. Scott Hurd writes of the spiritual, psychological, physical, and social benefits of learning how to forgive and find peace. Drawing from his pastoral experience, in twenty-four short chapters, Father Hurd examines how human weakness affects such things as our ability to forgive and reconcile, our capacity to trust, and how we cope when a plea for forgiveness is rejected by a person we have wronged. We learn that through these very experiences, we find in Jesus Christ and the sacraments a way to move forward toward healing.
"The first question Father Hurd addresses is one that perplexes many people, "why forgive?" Here we learn that forgiveness is essential for human growth and flourishing. Forgiveness is not only a human experience; it is an expression of God's love and mercy. Forgiveness is at once deeply personal and an opportunity for sharing the Good News. As participants in the New Evangelization, our acts of forgiveness and reconciliation offer people an experience of God's love. Father Hurd writes, "Forgiveness from our hearts can turn others' hearts toward God."
"All of us know that there is more to forgiveness than simply saying "I'm sorry." In the section entitled, "Hallmarks of Forgiveness," Father Hurd deftly outlines seven such marks of forgiveness that reflect the teaching and example of Our Lord. In Jesus, we learn how to forgive others as God has forgiven us. Forgiveness is a decision, a process, and a gift.
"Equally challenging today is the question of how to forgive. In Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach we find an entire section on this topic. With priestly wisdom, Father Hurd examines a wide variety of experiences of forgiveness and reconciliation. With examples from Scripture, Church tradition, literature, and his own ministry, he offers a useful ten-step process to aid people ready to make the decision to forgive."
-Cardinal Donald Wuerl, from the Introduction
Features & Benefits:
- A practical guide to understanding forgiveness
- The seven characteristics of forgiveness
- Scripture and stories that illustrate the process of forgiveness
- Tips for avoiding common pitfalls on the road to forgiveness
- A ten-step process toward forgiveness
More Resources on Forgiveness:
Watch the Trailer
Watch Fr. Scott Hurd on video: Windows to Forgiveness
Check out Ten Tips on Forgiveness
Connect with Fr. Scott Hurd on Facebook
About the Author:
Reverend R. Scott Hurd is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Archdiocese's Office of the Permanent Diaconate, assists at St. Hugh of Grenoble Church in Greenbelt, Maryland, and is liaison with the USCCB for the implementation of the Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum coetibus. Fr. Hurd began his ordained ministry as an Episcopal priest and entered the Catholic Church in 1996. He holds degrees from Oxford University and the University of Richmond. He and his wife Stephanie live in Virginia with their three children.
What Are People Saying about this Title?
"I absolutely love this book! Fr. R. Scott Hurd has given us all a straightforward, honest, and practical guide to a Catholic understanding of forgiveness. This book is not simply to read as one would read a novel; rather, it is in the form of a spiritual retreat: at once exhortative, prayerful, and insightful. I found myself reflecting on the important issues Fr. Hurd raises on almost every page, and that reflection continues long after the reading is done. Forgiveness, as Fr. Hurd reminds us, is not for the faint of heart. It lies at the very heart of Christian metanoia and discipleship. This is a book from which everyone can benefit, and it is truly a wonderful gift from an experienced minister of the Gospel to be shared with all."
- Deacon William T. Ditewig, PhD, Professor of Theology & Religious Studies, Saint Leo University
"This book links together the need to forgive with what St. Thomas Aquinas calls the deepest desire of the human heart - the desire for happiness. Drawing from real life examples, Fr. Hurd sets before us the self-inflicted misery of a constricted, unforgiving heart and the deep joy and spacious happiness that forgiveness bestows. It is a very wise and practical book that clears up the confusion that results from equating forgiveness with being reconciled and offers a ten-step program on acquiring a forgiving heart and the consequent happiness that we all seek."
- Marc Foley, OCD, author of The Context of Holiness and Peace of Heart
"Fr. Hurd wraps Scripture, theology, and story together to offer readers the gift of a thoughtful examination of the process of forgiveness. Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach is a resource for preachers and spiritual directors and a manual for people looking for guidance in taking the first steps."
- Susan M. Timoney, PhD, Executive Director Department of Evangelization and Family Life, Archdiocese of Washington
"Forgiveness is one of the most godlike things that we can do, yet it is so much easier in theory than in practice. Fr. Scott Hurd has provided a wonderful manual concerning the need for and the procedures to forgive. He draws upon Sacred Scripture, the wisdom of the saints, and pastoral experience to provide an honest and profound understanding of what true forgiveness means. He carefully warns the reader how to avoid some of the pitfalls and myths of the process of choosing to forgive others and even oneself. He blends psychological with spiritual insights, providing the best of both points of view. This book could easily be used as a source of reflections for a retreat or simply as a reminder of whom and what God has called us to be: sacraments of the mercy of God (visible signs of an invisible reality)."
- Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv, author of I Cry To You O Lord!
Product Details:
Binding: Paperback
Category: Spirituality /Personal Growth
Trim size: 5 ¼ x 8
Pages: 128
Keywords:reconcile