Angry on someone while Praying

[remed]

Hi. I know, that it is not good to Pray, when I’m angry on someone. Is that means, that if I can’t forgive someone, and I’m angry on someone, i can’t Pray, and if I will Pray, it will be a sin? Please, answer me.
Thanks.

 

[Newbie2]

You can pray when you’re angry…but it’s not the best time to pray. The problem is that anger at someone or something or some situation distracts us from our communication with the Lord.

So, while it’s not sinful to pray when you’re angry, it’s good to keep in mind “…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…”

 

[LilyM]

You can pray when you’re angry…but it’s not the best time to pray. The problem is that anger at someone or something or some situation distracts us from our communication with the Lord.

So, while it’s not sinful to pray when you’re angry, it’s good to keep in mind “…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…”

On the contrary, it’s actually the best time to pray - as long as that prayer is prayer for the person or situation you’re angry with, and for yourself to make good and constructive rather than destructive use of that feeling of anger.

And if praying stops you from kicking the cat or punching someone’s lights out - then it’s the opposite of sinful, it’s helping you avoid sin.

 

[Newbie2]

On the contrary, it’s actually the best time to pray - as long as that prayer is prayer for the person or situation you’re angry with, and for yourself to make good and constructive rather than destructive use of that feeling of anger.

And if praying stops you from kicking the cat or punching someone’s lights out - then it’s the opposite of sinful, it’s helping you avoid sin.

Good point, I agree.

I guess it’s a matter of judgment as to whether one is sufficiently distracted or helped by anger in prayer.

Once or twice I was very angry at my teenaged kid(s) and decided not to go to mass with them on Saturday, choosing to go by myself on Sunday. For me, that seemed to work out best. On those occasions, I was consumed by anger, so much so that I would have thought of lilttle else but my selfish anger during mass…and making the sign of Peace with my kid would have been little more than an empty gesture. Going the next day gave me a chance to reflect and cool down, and I actually was much more forgiving than if I had gone with them on Saturday. This only happened once or twice, and I don’t make a habit of it.

This I know for myself, as I did choose once to go when I was very angry and mass was very empty and shallow for me. However, others in a similar situation would find it better to go to mass immediately. I guess as we get older we get to know ourselves better and better.

Have you ever seen the movie “The Apostle”? There’s a great scene in there where Robert Duvall, who plays an evangelical preacher, is mad at the Lord and rants and raves at him in the middle of the night. Powerful scene; excellent movie.

 

[Barbkw]

As above, it is the best time to pray for the help of the Holy Spirit. Take the anger and the problem to Him and then listen. As He did with Elijah, you will hear the Lord God through His “still, small voice.”

Pray always

 

[dailey]

On the contrary, it’s actually the best time to pray - as long as that prayer is prayer for the person or situation you’re angry with, and for yourself to make good and constructive rather than destructive use of that feeling of anger.

And if praying stops you from kicking the cat or punching someone’s lights out - then it’s the opposite of sinful, it’s helping you avoid sin.

Agreed!

 

[remed]

Thank you for your answers. I hope they will help me.
And I will say, that I pleased help to be not angry on people or person while Praying. It’s helped me, but some time later, I’ve start to do that too often, and, I probably think, that this was not sincere Prayer, but just word speaking. Well, still, again thank you all.

 

[Bookcat]

Distinguish between “feeling angry” and “consenting to sinful anger”.

Often times we can not set the feeling so easily aside…but can make an act of forgiveness etc…

 

[Catholic_EC]

Distinguish between “feeling angry” and “consenting to sinful anger”.

Often times we can not set the feeling so easily aside…but can make an act of forgiveness etc…

A very good priest told me in the confessional " Anger is the shortest lived emotion, any feelings after the first fifteen minutes can usually be identified as drama"

I get angry with many people in business who I feel have wronged me in some way and you know what I can tell you honestly at time any thing after the first fifteen minutes is in most cases drama created by me.

As another poster had stated praying for that person who angered you is a good thing to do.