It would, however, be foolish and unrealistic not to recognise that it is one thing to talk about forgiveness and quite another thing to practise it. When the root of bitterness goes deep down into the heart – and sometimes it can go very deep indeed – one can be, not so much reluctant to forgive as resolutely opposed to the very idea.

When we find ourselves in that sour and unhappy state; when in our own power we cannot forgive a wrong, then all we can do is to bring the whole thing to Our Blessed Lord and ask him to forgive the wrong through us. And the next thing we have to do – and this may require a great effort and a sacrifice of the unholy joy of harbouring hatred – the next thing we have to do is to pray daily, or at any rate regularly, for those who have injured us.