Comments on: How About an Apology? http://catholicexchange.com/2009/05/11/118341/ Catholic News, Catholic Articles, Catholic Apologetics, Catholic Content, Catholic Information Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 By: Cooky642 http://catholicexchange.com/2009/05/11/118341/comment-page-1/#comment-39826 Cooky642 Tue, 12 May 2009 05:44:45 +0000 http://catholicexchange.com/?p=118341#comment-39826 Deacon Don, thank you for a profound response to my post. I've been married (yes, to the same man!) for a year longer than you, and it's true that an I'm-sorry without a please-forgive-me doesn't quite get the band-aid to stick. I was trying to get my thought across in "shorthand": thank you for enlarging it. Bruce, I agree that your 4 parts are necessary to instructing children in the art of asking for and giving forgiveness. However, it seems to me that we should "put away childish things" and have enough maturity to make "I'm sorry" mean all the rest. That's why I tried to relate it to confession. A confession is certainly not a good one (is it even valid?) if you don't have the intention of doing things differently/better next time. I wish I had been raised by parents who know what you know and cared enough to share it. Deacon Don, thank you for a profound response to my post. I’ve been married (yes, to the same man!) for a year longer than you, and it’s true that an I’m-sorry without a please-forgive-me doesn’t quite get the band-aid to stick. I was trying to get my thought across in “shorthand”: thank you for enlarging it.

Bruce, I agree that your 4 parts are necessary to instructing children in the art of asking for and giving forgiveness. However, it seems to me that we should “put away childish things” and have enough maturity to make “I’m sorry” mean all the rest. That’s why I tried to relate it to confession. A confession is certainly not a good one (is it even valid?) if you don’t have the intention of doing things differently/better next time. I wish I had been raised by parents who know what you know and cared enough to share it.

]]> By: Peter M. Calabrese http://catholicexchange.com/2009/05/11/118341/comment-page-1/#comment-39821 Peter M. Calabrese Mon, 11 May 2009 18:02:29 +0000 http://catholicexchange.com/?p=118341#comment-39821 They are not sorry that is why they will never say it or get to even the first of Bruce's Four Statements. They are happy; they wanted this. They are not sorry that is why they will never say it or get to even the first of Bruce’s Four Statements. They are happy; they wanted this.

]]> By: Bruce Roeder http://catholicexchange.com/2009/05/11/118341/comment-page-1/#comment-39820 Bruce Roeder Mon, 11 May 2009 15:20:09 +0000 http://catholicexchange.com/?p=118341#comment-39820 I don't even remember where I picked this up, but I have taught my children there are four parts to this, which they must say -- out loud: 1. "I made a mistake." (If you don't recognize you made a mistake, you can't fix it.) 2. "I'm sorry." (Even when you recognize you've missed the mark, you have to WANT to hit the mark.) 3. "Please forgive me." (Then, you have to make yourself vulnerable to allow the other person to respond and restore the relationship which has been damaged.) 4. "I'll try to do better in the future." (Finally, you have to change direction and go forward in an improved, Christ-like way. Most of us are far, far from this model; but that doesn't mean we shouldn't practice it. I don’t even remember where I picked this up, but I have taught my children there are four parts to this, which they must say — out loud:

1. “I made a mistake.” (If you don’t recognize you made a mistake, you can’t fix it.)

2. “I’m sorry.” (Even when you recognize you’ve missed the mark, you have to WANT to hit the mark.)

3. “Please forgive me.” (Then, you have to make yourself vulnerable to allow the other person to respond and restore the relationship which has been damaged.)

4. “I’ll try to do better in the future.” (Finally, you have to change direction and go forward in an improved, Christ-like way.

Most of us are far, far from this model; but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t practice it.

]]> By: Deacon Don Bourgeois http://catholicexchange.com/2009/05/11/118341/comment-page-1/#comment-39813 Deacon Don Bourgeois Mon, 11 May 2009 12:40:24 +0000 http://catholicexchange.com/?p=118341#comment-39813 Saying you are sorry is important but I believe we must go further than a simple "I'm Sorry." We need to include, "Please forgive me," as we ask our Lord to forgive us. Being married for 46 years I have had to ask my wife's forgiveness more than I would like to admit. For without the asking for forgiveness there cannot be true healing. Sorta like confession, don't you think? Saying you are sorry is important but I believe we must go further than a simple “I’m Sorry.” We need to include, “Please forgive me,” as we ask our Lord to forgive us. Being married for 46 years I have had to ask my wife’s forgiveness more than I would like to admit. For without the asking for forgiveness there cannot be true healing.

Sorta like confession, don’t you think?

]]> By: Cooky642 http://catholicexchange.com/2009/05/11/118341/comment-page-1/#comment-39808 Cooky642 Mon, 11 May 2009 05:37:28 +0000 http://catholicexchange.com/?p=118341#comment-39808 "If only it were so!" I've learned over the years that saying I'm sorry--with the sincere intent not to re-commit whatever error was involved--is a whole lot easier than defending an untenable position. The writers of the movie were SO wrong! Love is saying you're sorry every time it's needed, and meaning it. Sorta like confession, don't you think? “If only it were so!”

I’ve learned over the years that saying I’m sorry–with the sincere intent not to re-commit whatever error was involved–is a whole lot easier than defending an untenable position. The writers of the movie were SO wrong! Love is saying you’re sorry every time it’s needed, and meaning it.

Sorta like confession, don’t you think?

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