1.3.2 – Ira, Deadly Sin of Wrath

Ira:
Anger, wrath, rage, fury, ire;
Anger, resentment, rage, wrath, indignation, fury, violence, bad blood
– WordHippo; World of Dictionary

What is Ira? What Constitutes Anger?

Anger: a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.
– Oxford dictionary

Anger. What do you think of when you think of anger?

Sometimes people fly off the handle, maybe flailing and hurling insults, maybe growling and throwing lamps. Many times, the images that come to mind are raging attackers – a crazed Mafioso or an abusive partner. And of course, there are plenty of movies with scenes of wrath and destruction.

Hulk smash!
– Bruce Banner as The Hulk,
any (Marvel) movie with the Hulk in it

I have a rather odd relationship with anger. Whereas others often describe anger as a controlling emotion, I think of it as my control emotion: when I’m feeling something I don’t want to surface, I used to call on anger to block it. (I noticed I haven’t done this recently – meaning I’ve been more prone to crying, something much more uncomfortable for me.)

For example, if someone were to unjustifiably attack my character, I may rage back instead of admitting to feeling cornered and frightened. It’s a rather brilliant defense mechanism because either emotion could be valid, so a simple swap of symptoms covers the perceived weakness well. I would rather display (what I know to be controlled) anger than real hurt because real hurt means real weakness and real weakness means a future target to an assailant.

How do you view anger? To me, anger is a shield. I’ve seen it used as a weapon, but it’s such a blunt instrument that I don’t understand why people would intentionally use it as such. Any time my anger has wanted to act as a weapon, I’ve snapped at it: Stop being stupid. But as a shield, I at least feel in control.

Is Anger Always Bad?

No; God exhibits anger in various places throughout the Bible, and we know that God is good and allows no bad to dwell in Him.

Examples of God’s Anger:

God is a righteous judge,
and a God who has indignation every day.
– Psalm 7:11

The Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight; none was left but the tribe of Judah only.
– 2 Kings 17:18

Apparently it’s not always bad for us, either. Check out what Saint Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you.
– Ephesians 4:26, 31

However, We Should Typically Avoid Anger

There are so many verses warning against anger throughout the entire Bible. Jesus speaks against wrath, saying to make amends with the people you’re fighting with before making any offering to God. Here are some major points:

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
– Psalm 37:8

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
– Proverbs 14:29

A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
– Proverbs 29:11

Be not quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
– Ecclesiastes 7:9

The anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.
– James 1:20

“But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire.”
– Jesus in Matthew 5:22

What’s the Difference Between Sinful and Non-Sinful Anger?

We are called to “peace of heart,” denouncing murderous anger and hatred because they are immoral. This is derived from the fifth commandment, you shall not steal; it also stems from the latter commandments (6-10) as well as the second of the two new commands Jesus gave us:

“Which commandment is the first of all?”
Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
– Mark 12:28-31

The line drawn in the Catechism is that anger is a mortal sin if it “reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor.” So, for example, saying exasperatedly, “I could kill him!” probably doesn’t rise to the level of mortal sin, but being to the point of intentionally wanting someone dead or seriously injured (with or without a verbal cue) is a mortal sin.

Interestingly, the Church includes “or seriously wound” as a mortal sin. I’ve heard on many occasions people say they wouldn’t want so-and-so dead, just, you know, run over by a bus or something. The Catechism goes on to explain that deliberately wishing evil – of any gravity, as no adjectives are used – is contrary to God’s desires and is thus sinful. It appears that the more grave the harm intended, the graver the sin, but any intention of harm is sinful. Before reading this segment of the Catechism, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it; now, I’m thinking I need to do an examination of conscience and perhaps make proper reconciliation before receiving Jesus in the Eucharist.

Summary

Anger is a deadly sin because it triggers other sins. Being angry is not in itself sinful, but wishing any harm is. (The Catechism follows Jesus’s lead in speaking about others, but Jesus loves you, too, so don’t wish any harm on yourself, either.) Deliberately desiring death or serious injury is a mortal sin. In short, be loving even when understanding may be beyond reach; don’t give evil a foothold to crawl in by poisoning yourself with anger.

What do you think? Has your perspective on anger changed at all? How do you keep from being angry?