Cassian wrote about anger, 'de spiritu irae' around 419-26. Anger for him was not conducive to a sound spiritual life. It causes strife and confusion. Angry monks (yes, they do exist!) can easily stir up quarrels with irritating words, even to the extent of wanting to do bodily harm. Our understanding of passive-aggressive behaviour has shown such reaction is possible. Though he never uses the word 'passive-aggressive' he writes about anger as a 'twisted and harmful food for the soul' which causes problems with its 'deadly savour'. He outlines a number of remedies to combat the evil of anger in community living like avoiding angry persons or eradicating bitter thoughts. He points out ways in which we can control our anger by practicing humility and honesty. For me, his most powerful antidote for overcoming anger is simply by love. "Give wrath its place." he writes. "Do not let your hearts be confined in the straits of impatience and cowardice; so that, when a fierce storm of passion rises, you cannot endure it." He advises in his book, Conferences: "Enlarge your hearts." "Receive the adverse waves of anger in the wide gulf of that love."
Obviously there are many more areas in which we can explore the reason(s) for anger. It is not so simple to replace 'spiritus irae' with love. Yet to teach our children (ourselves) how to handle anger, how to use our understanding of right and wrong rather than our fears is constant work. Cassian endorses much patience. From his perspective, a peaceful spirit can only emerge from obedience to God.
May we as "partakers of life" overcome our anger or any vestiges of it by love. +Don Ronaldo
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