Weekday

ON THE SIN OF ANGER
A Sermon by Alphonsus Liguori 5
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ANGER resembles fire; hence, as fire is vehement in its action, and, by the
smoke which it produces, obstructs the view, so anger makes men rush into a
thousand excesses, and prevents them from seeing the sinfulness of their
conduct; and thus exposes them to the danger of the judgment of eternal death.
“Whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment”. Anger
is so pernicious to man, that it even disfigures his countenance. No matter how
comely and gentle he may be, he shall, as often as he yields to the passion of
anger, appear to be a monster and a wild beast full of terror… But, if anger
disfigures us before men, how much more deformed will it render us in the eyes
of God!…
But you will perhaps say: If I resent such an injury, God will have pity on
me, because I have just grounds for resentment. Who, I ask, has told you, that
you have just grounds for seeking revenge? It is you, whose understanding is
clouded by passions, that say so. I have already said, that anger obscures the
mind, and takes away our reason and understanding. As long as the passion of
anger lasts, you will consider your neighbour’s conduct very unjust and
intolerable; but, when your anger shall have passed away, you shall see that his
act was not so bad as it appeared to you. But, though the injury be grievous, or
even more grievous, God will not have compassion on you, if you seek revenge.
No; he says: vengeance for sins belongs not to you, but to me; and when the time
shall come, I will chastise them as they deserve… But let us pass to the things…
which will assist you to overcome this vice…

In the first place, it is necessary to know that it is not possible for human
weakness, in the midst of so many occasions, to be altogether free from every
motion of anger… All our efforts must be directed to the moderation of the
feeling of anger which spring up in the soul. How are they to be moderated? By
meekness. This is called the virtue of the lamb–that is, the beloved virtue of
Jesus Christ. Because, like a lamb, without anger or even complaint, he bore the
sorrows of his passion and crucifixion…
A certain monk once passed through a corn field: the owner of the field ran
out, and spoke to him in very offensive and injurious language. The monk
humbly replied: Brother, you are right; I have done wrong; pardon me. By this
answer the husbandman was so much appeased, that he instantly became calm,
and even wished to follow the monk, and to enter into religion. The proud make
use of the humiliations they receive to increase their pride; but the humble and
the meek turn the contempt and insults offered them into an occasion of
advancing in humility…
The meek are useful to others; because, as… St. Chrysostom says, there is
nothing better calculated to draw others to God, than to see a Christian meek and
cheerful when he receives an injury or an insult… The reason is, because virtue is
known by being tried; and, as gold is tried by fire, so the meekness of men is
proved by humiliation…
When we meet with crosses, persecutions, and injuries, let us turn to God,
who commands us to bear them with patience; and thus we shall always avoid
anger. Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour. Let us
give a look at the will of God, which disposes things in this manner for our merit,
and anger, shall cease. Let us give a look at Jesus crucified, and we shall not have
courage to complain.

5 St. Alphonsus Liguori. The Sermons of St. Alphonsus Liguori – For All the Sundays of the Year.
Rockford, IL: Tan Books and Publishers, INC, 1982. 254-255, 257-259.