I was truly moved by the In Memoriam in which Paul Fericano recounts his experience of moving from soul-killing bitterness toward the late Brother Mario Cimmarrusti for sexually abusing him at St. Anthony’s Seminary decades ago, to the last thing one could imagine: not only forgiveness, but to a relationship, and not only a relationship, but one marked by empathy even though the elderly Cimmarrusti could not or would not actually acknowledge the pain of mind and spirit he’d caused — let alone ask for forgiveness.

Which is why most religions teach forgiveness, because it frees the spirit.

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