Uncontrolled and bitter anger has always been considered a vice among Christians. In our era it has assumed even more serious proportions due to increases in violent crimes: wife battering, assault, murder, rape, incest to name a few. We are not to let the sun set on our anger, not only because we are to dwell in loving harmony whenever possible, but also because such anger can grow to intense hatred leading to break-up of families, gang feuds, war between nations, and to rebellion against even God himself.
In his Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas distinguishes between righteous anger about injustice in the world and our own legitimate rights, and wrongful anger. It is a sin to let evil reign without protest! About such matters we are right to be assertive. On the other hand, Thomas comes down heavily on anger that is out of proportion – that is cold, vicious, and vengeful. This kind of anger we must pray against and confess before it takes root in our hearts.
Sometimes humor can come to our aid as an antidote to taking ourselves so seriously that everything that stands in our way causes fits of anger.
A good example of humor overcoming legitimate anger can be found in the life of Aquinas himself. It is said that his confreres in the Dominican Order liked to ridicule him for his absorption in philosophical problems and his scrupulous obedience. “Thomas, Thomas,” one cried out, “Come, look out the window. A cow is jumping over the moon!” The portly theologian left his work and rushed to see the prodigy. When the assembled friars laughed at him, he replied, “I would rather believe that a cow was jumping over the moon than that a Dominican would tell a lie!”
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