Catholic Solutions for Anger
11 16 , 22:19 Filed in: Solutions
“Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger.” - Eph. 4:26. Is it so wrong to be angry? Can we not be righteously angry when we are seemingly surrounded by incomprehensible wickedness? Well, let's study Ephesians 4:26 for a moment, the Haydock Commentary reads,
Ver. 26. Be angry, and sin not, as it is said Psalm iv. 5. Anger, as a passion of the mind, may proceed from a good motive and be guided by reason; as our Saviour, Christ, (Mark iii. 5.) is said to have looked about at the Jews with anger, i.e. with a zeal against their blindness and malice. --- Let not the sun go down upon your anger. If moved to anger, return without delay to a calmness of mind and temper. (Witham) --- Be angry when reason or necessity compels you; but even then, so restrain your anger that you neither offend God nor scandalize your neighbour. Moreover, lay it aside as soon as you are able, so that the sun go not down upon your anger. (Jansenius)
Notice that the early Church Fathers, as well as Christ Himself, understood that there is a place for anger, even in a righteous setting. This 'righteous anger' often comes from zeal or profound love and obedience for the faith that when the faith is trod upon swells great anger for the zealous one. But this anger is not to linger nor is it to swell so as to offend God or neighbor (become a sin) as unbridled anger does give place to the demonic influence and possible infiltration. But what if we are in that very temptation of anger that would offend God and neighbor? What shall we do to overcome?
“When we have to reply to anyone who has insulted us, we should be careful to do it always with meekness. A soft answer extinguishes the fire of wrath. If we feel ourselves angry, it is better for us to be silent, because we should speak amiss; when we become tranquil, we shall see that all our words were culpable.” --Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church
"When you feel the assaults of passion and anger, then is the time to be silent as Jesus was silent in the midst of His ignominies and sufferings. O holy silence, rich in great virtues! O holy silence, which is a key of gold, keeping in safety the great treasure of holy virtues!” --St. Paul of the Cross
I find that the greatest solution to harmful anger is silence. These two great Saints were not the only ones to agree with such a tactic but I found these quotes to be simple and to the point concerning such a temptation. However, the solution is not simply silence but rather a plea to Christ for assistance with your anger. In your silence, you may save yourself (and others) from certain wrath. In these heated moments, will all diligence say nothing aloud and if you can take refuge to a quiet location. Either way, in the midst of your silence, contemplate on the crucified Lord and envision yourself complaining your anger to Him in that state. Work diligently to understand that your harmful anger has no place in front of Christ and has no place in you if He is to be enthroned in your heart. For those who suffer from out bursts of wrath, this may take a while as prayer and the practice of virtues such as patience is key. Make also a spiritual contract with Christ when you recognize your swelling anger. Once you have understood you are reaching that point, make the sign of the cross slowly and deliberately over yourself so as to force yourself to think of Christ while suffering from your anger. This, like all things, takes practice and prayer. If you find that this is too difficult on your own, look for assistance among loved ones as a kind of accountability-buddy. If you choose this route, make sure to also pray for this assistant so that their patience with you does not wear thin. Make use of silence with or without anger so that if the demon of wrath should tempt you, God and all of heaven will be there to calm you first. Amen.