Dear Parishioners,

I notice in confession that people often confess the sin of anger. However, I do not think this sin is very well understood. So I would like to write about it for you today.

The Catechism defines anger as follows:

Anger is a desire for revenge. “To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit,” but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution “to correct vices and maintain justice.” If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. The Lord says, “Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.” (CCC 2302)

Notice how anger is defined by being a desire, not an emotion. Merely being annoyed at someone, especially if you don’t act on it, is not a sin. It is also not a sin to passionately defend what is good or to act against injustice. So, keeping this in mind I would also put the following acts under the sin of anger (or at least related to it): acting with a lack of patience, pointlessly quarrelling with someone, talking about someone behind their back, starting fights with others, talking back to someone in authority or harming someone. (Except in self-defense or defending another person.)

Furthermore whenever we confess something, it ought to be with the intention of not continuing to do whatever that action is. If someone confesses anger it should be in recognition that their anger is not justified and they should be less angry with whoever they are angry at. I get the impression that some people confess this sin in order to vent. Instead of relieving the anger, all this behavior does is reinforce the anger and build a bad habit. This is not good for the penitent and the priest really ought to refocus this anger on the mercy of God and making a good confession.

Now some people really do struggle with this sin and are not just venting or trying to make an easy confession with what they perceive as an easy sin to confess. To them I give the following advice. In order to fight against one vice, you need to cultivate in your heart the opposite vice. So, you ought to pray for and try to practice gentleness and charity. Go out of your way to treat others kindly, to not get your own way, to excuse others, to speak well of those you don’t like and above all pray to God for help against this sin. Also, it is good to be aware of the situations that make you angry and instead of confronting it immediately, excuse yourself to deal with it when you cool down.

Remember, we all deserve the wrath of God because of sin. If God is merciful to us, we can show that mercy to others.

God Bless!

Fr. Carter