ON ANGER
Venerable Ammon of Nitria
"If thou, being offended by anything, dost sense that grief and
wrath have seized thee, preserve silence, and say naught until
unceasing prayer pacifies thine heart."
(source unknown
Elder Joseph the Hesychast:
Never correct someone with anger, but only with
humility and sincere love. When you see anger
ahead, forget about correcting for a moment.
When peace has returned, then your powers of
discernment are functioning properly and then
you can speak beneficially. Since man was
created rational and gentle, his is corrected far
better with love and gentleness. An angry and
irritable man is not accepted into the Kingdom
of God even if he raises the dead. Therefore,
suppress anger with all of your might, and you
will find it weaker the next time.
St. John Climacus:
Nothing is so out of place in a penitent as an unruly spirit, for conversion requires great humility, and anger is an indication of all kinds of presumptuousness.
Saint John Cassian:
What we gain by fasting is not so great as the
damage done by anger; nor is the profit from
reading as great as the harm done when we
scorn or grieve a brother.
Saint Maximus the Confessor, on Charity:
Christ wants you never, in any way, for any reason, to
cultivate a spirit of hatred, bitterness, anger or ill-feeling.
The four gospels proclaim that on every page.
An Elder\'s Counsel to Christians Living in the World:
When you conceive an involuntary feeling of animosity
towards someone, try to conquer this sinful feeling:
force yourself to pray: "Save, O Lord, Thy servant
(name) and by their holy prayers grant peace to my
heart." Make yourself be considerate to this person,
and the Lord seeing your good intention, will not only
uproot from your heart your sinful animosity, but He
will fill it with love.
St. Macarios of Optina:
"Do not reproach a person when he is angry--do not accuse him and do not argue with him. It is better to leave him in peace. Only be attentive to yourself, so as not to fall into discord. When you feel that your heart is irritated, recall the Jesus Prayer to your thoughts, and try to set a guard before your lips."
