The Benefits of Forgetfulness

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III discusses forgetfulness not merely as a human weakness, but as a deliberate divine gift with deep spiritual benefits on earth and in eternity, preserving inner peace, purity of thought, and helping the person on the path of salvation.

First: The Benefits of Forgetfulness on Earth

• God allows forgetfulness so that a person may forget the offenses of others, preventing hatred and bitterness from entering the heart.
• Forgetfulness protects the person from vain glory, as one forgets the virtues he has done and strives toward greater virtues.
• Forgetting others’ mistakes prevents judgment and preserves their reputation.
• Forgetting trivial matters helps the mind focus on important things, since memory cannot carry everything.
• Forgetfulness is necessary for spiritual life, as it frees the mind from daily distractions that hinder prayer and worship.

Second: The Benefits of Forgetfulness in Spiritual Life

• The spiritual person, especially the monk, trains to forget the world in order to be filled with God alone.
• God allows forgetfulness so that the effects of impure dreams and thoughts may be erased, so they do not become ongoing spiritual battles.

Third: The Benefits of Forgetfulness in Eternity

• In heaven, God erases from human memory all sins and evils known on earth, so the soul may remain pure.
• A person forgets relationships that would cause sorrow, and does not remember those who did not enter the Kingdom, because heaven is a place without sadness or distress.
• Sin itself is forgotten, and humanity returns to a state of innocence and purity, like Adam and Eve before the fall, and even greater.
• All material and bodily desires and earthly ambitions are erased, and the person becomes fully satisfied with God alone.

Conclusion

Forgetfulness is a divine healing work that frees the human being from the burdens of the past and prepares him for a life of purity and peace, both during earthly life and in eternal glory.

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