The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between guilt-/shame-proneness and self-forgiveness. The study is based on the Hall and Fincham's self-forgiveness model which indicated guilt and shame proneness as emotional predictors of self-forgiveness. The sample consisted of 300 participants. They completed online self-report questionnaires related to shame and guilt-proneness (TOSCA-3), self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale) and self-forgiveness (State Self-Forgiveness Scale). The multiple mediation models were developed to assess the extent to which self-compassion mediates the relationship between shame- and guilt -proneness and self-forgiveness. The results showed that self-compassion mediated the link between shame-proneness and self-forgiveness (Total indirect effect B=-0.24 CI95% [-0.331 -0.164]), shame-proneness and self-forgiving feeling and action (Total indirect effect B=-0.15 CI95% [-0.195 -0.101], and shame-proneness and self-forgiving beliefs (Total indirect effect B=-0.10 CI95% [-0.149 -0.051]). Shame activated during a transgression leads to less understanding, forbearance and compassion toward oneself. This attitude inhibits self-forgiveness.