www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Danger of anger and the desire for revenge

I was reading the story of a man who, today, kidnapped his daughter, strapped her into the passenger seat in his place, called his ex-wife to let her know that he had their daughter and she wasn't going to get her, and then crashed the plane into his mother in law's house killing them both. All of this to get revenge on his ex-wife.

I just cannot think of a passion more dangerous than anger and a sin more evil than hatred. I am deeply grieved because this is just one of millions of horrible things that happen each year and I feel powerless to do anything about it. She was just a child. Why can't people hellbent on causing such destruction just take themselves out? Why must they inflict as much harm on innocent people as they can? Especially the little ones!

I feel sick to my stomach, not well at all. May God help us all gain greater detachment and self-control.

Joe

Let us all pray the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephriam the Syrian.

Dear brother in Christ,

I agree, and I too got very, very sick in my heart after reading this article... To think of the complete love and trust a child has for his or her parent, and then to think that a parent can do such a thing! Lord have mercy! The evil one attacks through the passions, and he is stronger than ever these days. Let us remember that whenever our own passions get the best of us.

Miller had a very good idea:

�O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.� - Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim

In Christ,
Alice

Aye, thank you Miller and Alice. I was just feeling a little overwhelmed emotionally and writing about it helped. Thank you for reminding me of the prayer we say daily and God bless you.

Joe

I have found this recent summary for the 1st Friday in Lent by Don Marco, a Benedictine Cisterian Monk, at Vultus Christi, very informative and useful to me. It's title is "Anger,The Sin that Voids Every Virtue", please take a look and read...my wife and I had tears flow.

http://vultus.stblogs.org/2007/03/the_sin_that_voids_every_other.html#more

james

James, thanks for posting this article. It is excellent and so true. Unresolved anger can poison all concerned and ruin the health of the one who harbors it...especially for long periods of time.

As the bible says; "...a root of bitterness which defiles many."

Bless your Lent,

Mary Jo