Although there is such a thing as righteous anger, most people are not righteously angry, but sinfully angry. By God's grace, we must repent of anger immediately, or we will "be liable to judgment" and risk "the fires of Gehenna" (Mt 5:22). Until we repent of anger, we cannot proceed with worship and prayer (Mt 5:23-24). In anger, we stop communicating with God, which causes our faith to erode and our love to diminish. In anger, our spiritual "vital signs" begin to fail. We are in serious trouble. Therefore, the Lord warns us: "The sun must not go down on your wrath; do not give the devil a chance to work on you" (Eph 4:26-27).

"Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit with Whom you were sealed against the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander, and malice of every kind.  In place of these, be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ" (Eph 4:30-32). "Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for a man's anger does not fulfill God's justice" (Jas 1:19-20).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 23, 1998

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 27, 1998