Forgiveness has long had a prominent place in theological and ethical systems. Current psychological theory about and research on interpersonal forgiveness further suggests that forgiveness is an important part of both mental and physical health. Both forgiver and offender benefit when genuine forgiveness is offered with love and accepted with humility and gratitude. Although professionals in psychology cannot force clients to be merciful, practitioners will be assisting individuals and society if they promote understanding of what authentic forgiveness is and encourage others to practice this virtue.