Going to Mass Angry

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lkopteros

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There are times that I am angry about something to do with the church as our church has gone through many changes…loss of a resident priest now talk of closing. I’ve prayed and prayed on it and most days I’m fine but what I need to know is it better to go to Mass angry or just stay home. I feel like I disrespect Jesus when I’m in a mood like I was today, when I can’t even concentrate on the Eucharist so I’m wondering if I should have just not gone. What is the best thing to do?
 
lkopteros said:
What is the best thing to do?
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If you are truly angry and your heart is not well-disposed, consider choosing not to receive that particular day. I’d still always go to mass. If anger is ruling your heart, perhaps it would be good to talk to a priest in confession. When I am at mass and the anger is there I would immediately talk to Jesus. Perhaps you know a perfect prayer for that, or speak to him from your heart…I am so sorry, teach me to be humble like you, I see what you have done for love of me…

Perhaps try this traditional prayer. Kneel before Jesus and say
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before your face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech you to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment, while I contemplate with great love and tender pity your five wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David, your prophet, said of you, my good Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones”
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Go to Mass…It’s required. There is no requirement that you be in a good mood. Also, what better place to pray for humility and the ability to love your enemies (ie. those changing your church).
 
I actually left church before Mass began a few weeks ago, because of an offensive speech and action (directed against a third party, not me) by someone who should know better. Have not been that angry for a long time. I intended to go home and change and attend a later Mass (I came in work clothes to help deal with a water problem caused by heavy rain). Our street flooded in the storm and DH would not let me drive, so I missed Mass after all and had to confess the next day, I also confessed the anger and got immense help from the priest in dealing with anger. I highly recommend confession. Anger is an underlying cause of sin for a lot of us, I suspect.
 
Try a new parish if this one gets in the way of your prayer life. Or ask God how you might be an instrument of peace in your existing parish.

:gopray: God’s love and peace be with you.
 
puzzleannie said:
Anger is one of the 7 capital, or deadly sins, that is, sins that beget other sins.
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newadvent.org/cathen/01489a.htm
Anger is an emotion, not a sin. Read Jesus’ reaaction when He cleared the temple of the moneychangers and animal-sellers; He showed great emotion and anger. Are you telling me He is gulity of one of your “capital sins”. The one you you are confusing it with is avarice or wrath, not anger:

Mark 3:5:
Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

Of course, what you do with the anger is where the sin lies, but not the anger itself. God Bless.
 
Yes go to Mass. God knows we are flawed creatures, and those flaws should never be a reason not to appear before him, in fact it is all the more reason to appear before Him because most of the time thats the only way to have those flaws mended
 
I am sure Satan in some way makes you angry, so you will end up not going to Mass-it sure as heck makes him angry.
If I never went to Mass angry, then I would never go.
I honestly believe Satan is doing all he can to thwart me and my family. There is no better place you can be.Go to confession as often as you can, but do not give up going to Mass, because that is what Satan wants you to do.
 
psteichen said:
Go to Mass…It’s required. There is no requirement that you be in a good mood. Also, what better place to pray for humility and the ability to love your enemies (ie. those changing your church).
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a tad off topic, but this reminds me of a comment by an nun who was CEO of a hospital that had a problem. She publicly toasted someone who messed up and caused the problem. One of those present told her that what she said was not nice. She responded: “I took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and there was not one word in any of it about being nice.”
 
“Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger”
  • Ephesians 4:26
 
I want to weigh in with those who suggest you continue to attend Mass, even if you are dealing with issues related to anger. I’d recommend that you offer up your weaknesses and the angry feelings your battling, give them to Christ, conforming yourself to the cross through this trial you are enduring.

This is a gift you can give Christ, ask him to take it from you and allow his strength to cover your weakness. What’s truly amazing is what happens when we surrender ourselves fully to Christ, admitting our own weakness when it comes to battling our own temptations.

Give it to Him.

God Bless,

CARose
 
Thanks for the advice. I usually get to church early enough to pray the rosary before Mass and ask Mary for intercession. However, not all of the time but most of the time there are people gossiping in the back (these are Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, parish council members etc). I’ve watched someone go to the Tabernacle to retrieve the Body of Christ to bring to homes without a bow or genuflection, nothing. She just walks up opens it up and grabs the Body. Then like nothing leaves with it. Pillars of the church passing the alter without so much as a bow. Laughing and joking with a priest during the homily the list goes on. There used to be a beautiful statue of Mary in the front of the church which now rests on a filing cabinet in the sacristy, a couple of women don’t want the statue in the church because there’s a wood one in the back in an alcove. I drove the 36 miles to where the priest administrater is to ask him to please allow us to put the statue back but he went along with the parish councel. These people are pushing for Communion services which they will run without a priest. Our entire diocese has changed the catholic church as I knew it. We will no longer have parish names. Most of the county is considered cluster 3 and the parishes are now known as worship sites. There will no longer be St Marks etc they’re thinking of calling the cluster “the community of the Holy Spirit” Does that even sound catholic? It doesn’t matter to change churches I’ve tried but this is throughout the entire state of Maine. I am obedient and whatever the Bishop decides I will accept but without a parish priest I watch people taking more and more control…different than helping the priest. Sometimes when I’m in church what makes me angry is that I just can see Jesus from His cross crying at what His church has become…like the temple. That’s what it is. People selling their ideas with only their best intentions in mind not God’s. I’m sorry to go on and I am praying but I’ve seen so many people leave the church to go to other religions…this can’t be good in the eyes of God. We are the true religion yet we are cold and unwelcoming. But, I’m sure that Christ’s friends were angry with what He went through yet they stood by and watched at His request so I will do the same. God allows this for a reason and I don’t have to understand it, just accept it. I continue to pray on this and thank you for your help.
 
lkopteros said:
Thanks for the advice. I usually get to church early enough to pray the rosary before Mass and ask Mary for intercession.
. . . .
. God allows this for a reason and I don’t have to understand it, just accept it. I continue to pray on this and thank you for your help.
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while you are praying focus on your meditation, ignore the commotion, and pray for vocations. When we have enough priests we will be able to keep parishes open. In dioceses like yours where there are not enough priests, or where congregations are dwindling it is simply not economically or physically possible to keep all the churches open. Our sad times. Anger, resentment, bitterness and recrimination will do absolutely nothing to resolve the lack of vocations, promote reverence for the True Presence of Christ in the Tabernacle, or any other worthy goals. Anger damages the person who indulges in the emotion, and is useless in redressing any grievances or problems.
 
HailMary said:
“Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger”
  • Ephesians 4:26
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From the catechisms
Anger - Revenge - Hatred (2302-2303)
Jesus denounced murderous anger and hatred. When anger is a desire for revenge, it is illicit. However, restitution can be imposed “to correct vices and to maintain order” (St. Thomas Aquinas). Anger is grave when it becomes a desire to kill or seriously wound another. “Anyone who is angry with his brother, shall be liable to judgment” (Mt 5:22).
Hatred is sinful when the person deliberately wills harm to another. The sin is grave when the person desires grave harm. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44).
Biblical Directive (2261-2262)
Scripture specifically says: “Do not slay the innocent and the righteous” (Ex 23:7). The deliberate murder of an innocent person is gravely contrary to man’s dignity, to the golden rule and to the holiness of God. This law is universally valid, obliging everyone at all times and all places.
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus went further. He prohibited anger, hatred and vengeance. Later, he asked his disciples to love their enemies. In his Passion, he did not defend himself and he told Peter to put away his sword.
The Seven Capital Sins (1866)
Some sins are called “capital” (according to St. John Cassian and St. Gregory) because they engender other sins. The seven capital sins are pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth.
[wrath = anger]
Passions To Good And Evil (1767-1768)
Passions in themselves are neither good nor evil. They become good or evil as they lead the reason and the will to make a choice. Passions become voluntary when the will commands them or places no obstacle to them. “Moral goodness exists when passions are governed by reason” (St. Thomas Aquinas).
Strong feelings do not decide morality. They are only the inexhaustible reservoir of images and affections. Feelings are good when contributing to good acts. They are evil when leading to evil acts. These feelings can be lifted up by virtues or perverted by vices.
 
Today as I was praying I think that I realized where this anger is coming from…grief. The church is a body, when one church closes it’s like losing an arm, you grieve the loss of your arm but then come to appreciate that you still have one arm and two legs left. Then when another church closes you grieve the loss of the second arm then come to appreciated the two legs and so on. I grieved the loss of our first church years ago and came to appreciate the two that are left. I greived losing a resident priest but came to appreciate the administrator and vicars who live far away but come to celebrate mass for us. So now I am grieving the anticipation of losing the last two churches, one possibly this coming summer and the final one by 2010. In a way I think I would just like them to get it over with and close them both now so that I can grieve just once and come to the acceptance quicker without all of these individual losses. I’m much less angry and feel the strength of God’s love around me. I think we are all (the people of my parish) children dealing with loss and however we deal with it will be in our own way. Some children run away, some cry, some get angry while others try to take over the place of the parent they’ve lost. One way is no better or worse than the other, they just simply are. God will one day bring us out of the ashes. I pray for this and pray for all of you who have taught me. Thank you.
 
very perceptive comments about grief.
as I recall, anger is one stage in working through grief.
 
lkopteros said:
In a way I think I would just like them to get it over with and close them both now so that I can grieve just once and come to the acceptance quicker without all of these individual losses.
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I’d be beside myself if they were to threaten to close my parish. It is my home in so many ways. I’d miss it a lot.
 
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