St. Thomas Aquinas on Anger

(thread) (1/ )

As #Catholics we want to be careful about justifying our anger.

At the same time, in the episode with the moneychangers in the temple (Matthew, chapter 21), Christ DOES share a lesson about holy anger.

And the Angelic Doctor has a few things to say on the topic. (2/ )

St. Thomas says, "Thus envy ... denotes an evil, since it is displeasure at another's good, and such displeasure is in itself contrary to reason: wherefore, as the Philosopher remarks (Ethic. ii, 6), 'the very mention of envy denotes something evil.'" (3/ )

As I read him, Aquinas means that envy is ALWAYS an evil because it necessitates the denial of a good (i.e., someone else's good). Anger, on the other hand, is not always evil.

Again, we are seeking a holy kind of anger.

Aquinas continues, (4/ )

"Now this does not apply to anger, which is the desire for revenge, since revenge may be desired both well and ill. Secondly, evil is found in a passion in respect of the passion's quantity, that is in respect of its excess or deficiency... (5/ )

"...and thus evil may be found in anger when, to wit, one is angry, more or less than right reason demands. But if one is angry in accordance with right reason, one's anger is deserving of praise."

I take the Saint to mean that the just exercise of anger can be discerned. (6/ )

He writes, "We must beware lest, when we use anger as an instrument of virtue, it overrule the mind, and go before it as its mistress, instead of following in reason's train, ever ready, as its handmaid, to obey."

And this is the crux of the matter for me. (7/ )

Reason must remain in the proverbial "driver's seat". Anger cannot, under any circumstances, be allowed to take the wheel.

In that case, anger can in fact be used as an INSTRUMENT OF VIRTUE according to our Holy Saint.

As far as its holiness, Aquinas writes, (8/ )

"...inasmuch as the movement of the sensitive appetite is directed against vice and in accordance with reason, this anger is good, and is called 'zealous anger'."

In short when reason is abandoned, anger is evil. When reason is maintained, anger can be good. (9/ )

So how to know when anger is "bad"?

Aquinas answers, "...if one desire the taking of vengeance in any way whatever contrary to the order of reason, for instance if he desire the punishment of one who has not deserved it, or beyond his deserts,... (10/ )

"...or again contrary to the order prescribed by law, or not for the due end, namely the maintaining of justice and the correction of defaults, then the desire of anger will be sinful, and this is called sinful anger." (11/ )

And, "...the order of reason in regard to anger may be considered in relation to the mode of being angry, namely that the movement of anger should not be immoderately fierce, neither internally nor externally;... (12/ )

"...and if this condition be disregarded, anger will not lack sin, even though just vengeance be desired."

To summarize:

• Don't desire vengeance on anyone who doesn't deserve it
• Don't desire vengeance beyond "just deserts" (13/ )

• Don't desire vengeance contrary to the law
• Don't desire vengeance outside of what is required to maintain justice and correct fault
• Do not desire vengeance that is immoderately fierce

Pray for us, St. Thomas Aquinas! (14/14)

You can read more St. Thomas Aquinas on Anger at @newadvent's "Summa Theologica".

https://newadvent.org/summa/3158.htm