Sinful Anger

[7violinS]

Ok…I wasn’t in the best of moods when someone opened the door and let the cat inside, and as usual, I’m the one who has to get her out. I was going to give her some dry food to lure her out when my dad said that she (the cat) was hungry and that I should feed her, even though it wasn’t ‘dinner time.’ I’m kinda picky on these things and got angry so I began to argue about how she should be fed at certain times and not whenever she seemed hungry. I stopped though because I felt it was wrong but soon became angrier and just dropped the cat food bag (nothing big or dramatic) after he began to open the dog’s food and say that it doesn’t make a difference. I walked away silently angry but stopped in fear of having committed a sin, I had the impression that this wasn’t right while I was arguing but my anger washed over it. I know the whole situation is stupid but I still feel I commited a grave sin by being temporarily angry at my dad. Would this be reason enough to abstain from the eucharist? I had just arrived from confession a few hours before this happened and feel like I have to go back before taking the eucharist.

 

[Firefox]

That sounds just like the way I think. Ultimately, the reason you got so angry was the health of your cat, correct? It DOES make a difference to give a cat dog food, and it is a good idea to feed the cat at specific times. Now, I do think that the original cause of the argument was unnecessary. The other thing is that you did stop when you felt it was wrong, however, anger is a natural emotion, and does cloud your judgment, especially when it really is a matter of someone (or something)'s health. Just arguing with someone is not a grave matter, I’m almost positive. (I’ve never liked to say I’m totally sure)

Oh boy, do I know what that’s like. I get worried about the tiniest thing, then this nice chain reaction left over from one of my real mortal sins starts in, and no amount of logic or help from others does any good. But that’s my problem; you are probably not that neurotic.

 

[7violinS]

I think you’re right, anger is something I’m learning to deal with. I’d been doing better until this little incident happened but I’m hoping and praying to get it right.

(I think I am just a tiny bit neurotic…just a bit )

 

[Sixtus]

I still feel I commited a grave sin by being temporarily angry at my dad. Would this be reason enough to abstain from the eucharist?

Anger is a serious sin. Was it anger or were you just feeling annoyed or frustrated by the situation?

Personally, I would feel happier about absolution before receiving Him.

But, a priest once told me that Communion is not a reward for being good.

I have also been told that if you desire absolution and have made a personal committment to go, then you are ok to receive.

Personally, I think that once you realised you had sinned [because your conscience told you you had], the best thing is to tell God exactly how you feel. Be open and honest with Him. In my experience, that normally leads me to realising my sinfulness, kneeling down, making a private confession [accusing myself to God], making a good act of contrition then going to the person we have offended and telling them we are sorry.

 

[Sixtus]

If you find you keep on committing the sin of anger, then is the time in my view to go to confession to use the Ministry of the Church get reinforcments to combat the weakness, healing and forgivness.

 

[rpp]

Anger is like a hammer. Use it properly and you can get quite a bit done. Improperly and you can do quite a bit of damage.

It seems that the provocation to anger you described was not very significant. In the whole sceme of things, it probably dies not matter if the cat eats a couple of hours ewarly or not, presuming it does not have a heath problem.

Did the anger help you focus and so help you correct an error, injustice or unfair situation of some kind?

Examples of good anger. A man will not stop hurting a child and you hit him to get him to stop. An example of bad anger would be you decide to keep hitting to “punish” him.

Finally, we are to always shouw great respect to our parents. While there is no commandment about getting angry and hitting people, there is one about treating our parents honorably. This can be very difficult at times and especially at certain times of our lives.

God bless you and pray for peace of mind.

 

[thistle]

Ok…I wasn’t in the best of moods when someone opened the door and let the cat inside, and as usual, I’m the one who has to get her out. I was going to give her some dry food to lure her out when my dad said that she (the cat) was hungry and that I should feed her, even though it wasn’t ‘dinner time.’ I’m kinda picky on these things and got angry so I began to argue about how she should be fed at certain times and not whenever she seemed hungry. I stopped though because I felt it was wrong but soon became angrier and just dropped the cat food bag (nothing big or dramatic) after he began to open the dog’s food and say that it doesn’t make a difference. I walked away silently angry but stopped in fear of having committed a sin, I had the impression that this wasn’t right while I was arguing but my anger washed over it. I know the whole situation is stupid but I still feel I commited a grave sin by being temporarily angry at my dad. Would this be reason enough to abstain from the eucharist? I had just arrived from confession a few hours before this happened and feel like I have to go back before taking the eucharist.

In my view the anger you experienced was more of a venial nature. However we are encouraged to confess our venial sins too.
I don’t think your anger would fall under the Church teaching of anger as a mortal sin.

CCC 2302 By recalling the commandment, “You shall not kill,” our Lord asked for peace of heart and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral.

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.”

 

[7violinS]

Anger is a serious sin. Was it anger or were you just feeling annoyed or frustrated by the situation?

Personally, I would feel happier about absolution before receiving Him.

But, a priest once told me that Communion is not a reward for being good.

I have also been told that if you desire absolution and have made a personal committment to go, then you are ok to receive.

Personally, I think that once you realised you had sinned [because your conscience told you you had], the best thing is to tell God exactly how you feel. Be open and honest with Him. In my experience, that normally leads me to realising my sinfulness, kneeling down, making a private confession [accusing myself to God], making a good act of contrition then going to the person we have offended and telling them we are sorry.

I think it was more frustration than anger. (since this wasn’t the first time something like this happend) I did pray for forgiveness and the stength to avoid such trivial things.