WATCH: Christian Mother Forgives Her Son’s Murderer

Rafael da Silva was killed in 2012 by Alisson Lima dos Santos, who was only arrested a year later, together with other men suspected of other crimes.

Rafael’s mother, Maria Nice – an Evangelical Christian – after Alisson’s arrest, and in front of the media, publicly proclaimed her forgiveness of Alisson, who couldn’t bear to keep eye contact with her for more than a brief moment.

“You are forgiven in Jesus’ name. I am a Christian, and I am forgiving you, and I will keep praying, Alisson. […] And you are going to discover that God that I serve. […] I don’t have a drop of hate for you, Alisson.”

Maria Nice started to pray spontaneously for the young man, saying, “Touch his soul, just as you touched mine.” She also prayed for his mother, “because she must be suffering as much as I am.”

The powerful moment ends with Maria Nice thanking God “for everything, in Jesus’ name,” at which point she movingly caressed the boy’s face.

Video subtitles:

Look at me.

You are forgiven, in Jesus’ name.

I am a Christian

And I am forgiving you, and I will keep praying, Alisson.

I am never going to visit you where you are going, because I am not brave enough to go there.

Look at me.

But I will be praying

And you are going to discover that God that I serve

And you are going to serve him, you see?

I don’t have a drop of hate for you, Alisson.

I only pray for you every day.

I waited this whole year, Alisson

This whole year, Alisson, to say this to you.

From the day when I knew that Daniel was dead, and that it was Alisson,

I didn’t know you, and I said, “Lord, take care of him.”

And today I am sad for you, Alisson, because you killed another person.

I’m sad. Look at me, Alisson; you need to look at me.

You didn’t allow me,

You didn’t give me the chance to look into my son’s eyes before he died

Because you killed him before I could see him.

And you know that Daniel wasn’t a bad kid.

You know how good he was, hard-working.

But now I’m here.

I’m going to keep praying for you.

“Lord, be with Alisson wherever he goes, Lord.

Don’t let him go for even a moment, Lord.

Touch his soul, just as you touched mine.

Comfort his mother, because she must be suffering as much as I am.

I thank you for everything, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

[Last text on a black background:]

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.—Luke 6:36-37

Translated from the Spanish by Matthew Green.