How the Saints Teach Us to Forgive Our Enemies – Jun 16 – Homily – Fr Michael

 

Fr. Michael M. Gauvreau, FI gives the homily on Jun 16, 2026, reflecting on the transformative power of divine mercy and the Christian call to unconditionally forgive our enemies, drawing inspiration from the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the heroic examples of the saints.

Fr. Michael Gauvreau reflects on the boundless nature of divine mercy, beginning with God’s mercy toward the wicked King Ahab. This mercy finds its ultimate expression in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which invites believers to transcend the Old Testament law of retaliation (Matthew 5:38) and instead love and pray for their enemies (Matthew 5:44).

To illustrate this heroic virtue, Father highlights several saints who chose forgiveness over vengeance. St. Stephen prayed for his executioners (Acts 7:60), while St. Maria Goretti and her mother forgave her murderer, Alessandro, leading to his eventual conversion. St. Edmund Campion saved the life of the friend who betrayed him, and St. Francis de Sales pleaded for the release of a man who attempted to kill him, demonstrating that mercy must be offered even when it is rejected.

Drawing pastoral wisdom from the doctors of the Church, Father shares St. Augustine’s teaching that forgiving offenses is the greatest way to obtain pardon for our own sins. St. Philip Neri suggested mentally practicing forgiveness to prepare for real-world trials, while St. Teresa of Avila noted that experiencing God's mercy naturally compels us to forgive others. Ultimately, Christian victory is won not by the sword, but by the heart. By extending mercy to both the good and the bad (Matthew 5:45), we align ourselves with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and claim the promise of the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" (Matthew 5:7).

Pope Francis 2015 – God surpasses strict justice by freely extending divine mercy – https://airmaria.com/go/EeQvif
Pope John Paul II 1984 – Authentic repentance recognizes personal sin like the humble publican – https://airmaria.com/go/2hRLa7
Acts 7:60 – Saint Stephen forgives his executioners before dying – https://airmaria.com/go/rNGJYe
Matthew 5:7 – The merciful will receive God's mercy – https://airmaria.com/go/6GNjBk
CCC 2843 – Christian forgiveness must come from the heart – https://airmaria.com/go/mzbkMK
CCC 2262 – Christ forbids anger and commands brotherly love – https://airmaria.com/go/7rJCHq

00:00 - God's Mercy to King Ahab
01:46 - The Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy
03:03 - Loving Our Enemies and Leaving Justice to God
04:00 - The Witness of St. Stephen and St. Maria Goretti
07:02 - How the Saints Practiced Forgiveness
09:48 - Spiritual Exercises for Cultivating Mercy
11:14 - Overcoming Bitterness and Remembering God's Kindness
12:40 - Blessed Are the Merciful

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday 11th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061626.cfm
1st: 1 Kings 21:17-29 - Seizure of Naboth’s Vineyard
Resp: Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 11, 16 - Repentance and Divine Mercy
Gsp: Matthew 5:43-48 - Love of Enemies

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1626

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_pUxrc2m7k