Catholic Candle note: The
article immediately below is part eight of the study of the Choleric
temperament. The first seven parts can be found here:
1.
Mary’s School of Sanctity – Lesson
#36: About the Temperaments – Beginning our Study of the Choleric Temperament:
https://catholiccandle.org/2024/08/27/lesson-35-about-the-temperaments-the-choleric-temperament/
2.
Mary’s School of Sanctity – Lesson
#37: About the Temperaments – Continuing Our Study of the Choleric Temperament:
https://catholiccandle.org/2024/09/26/lesson-37-about-the-temperaments-continuation-of-the-choleric-temperament/
3.
Mary’s School of Sanctity – Lesson
#38 — About the Temperaments – Continuing our Study of the Choleric
Temperament – Their Spiritual Combat: https://catholiccandle.org/2024/10/24/lesson-38-temperaments-choleric-temperament-their-spiritual-combat/
4.
Mary’s School of Sanctity – Lesson
#39 About the Temperaments – Continuing Our Study of the Choleric Temperament –
That Temperament’s Spiritual Combat – Part IV: https://catholiccandle.org/2024/11/26/lesson-39-temperaments-choleric-temperament-their-spiritual-combat-part-iv/
5.
Mary’s School of Sanctity – Lesson
#40: Temperaments – Choleric Temperament – Their Spiritual Combat – Part V: https://catholiccandle.org/2024/12/30/lesson-40-temperaments-choleric-temperament-their-spiritual-combat-part-v/
6.
Mary’s School of Sanctity – Lesson
#41 – About the Temperaments – Continuing Our Study of the Choleric
Temperament: a Choleric’s Spiritual Combat — Part VI: https://catholiccandle.org/2025/01/27/lesson-41-temperaments-choleric-temperament-a-cholerics-spiritual-combat-part-vi/
7.
Mary’s School of Sanctity – Lesson
#42: About the Temperaments – Continuing Our Study of the Choleric Temperament
– a Choleric’s Spiritual Combat – Part VII: https://catholiccandle.org/2025/02/21/lesson-42-temperaments-choleric-temperament-a-cholerics-spiritual-combat-part-vii/
Mary’s School of Sanctity
Lesson #43 About the Temperaments – Continuing Our Study of the
Choleric Temperament—Their
Spiritual Combat Part VIII
Note: When referring to a person with a choleric
temperament in this article, we simply will label him as a choleric.
In our last lesson we studied more about the nature of
anger, both just anger and unjust anger. We also saw the various ways in which
anger becomes sinful. Since St. Thomas explained to us how the choleric is
prone to anger, it is important to help the choleric analyze his anger.
Since one of our intentions for studying the
temperaments is to gain self-knowledge and improve our spiritual lives, it is
important to make the appropriate connections between the weaknesses found in
each temperament. Making these connections really helps one to find good
strategies on how to conquer his bad tendencies which lead him to sin. Thus,
we need to look at the weakness of anger in the choleric and see how it is
linked to the other weaknesses the choleric has.
St. Thomas tells us that:
The
inordinateness of anger may be considered in relation to two things. First, in
relation to the origin of anger, and this regards choleric persons, who
are angry too quickly and for any slight cause. Secondly, in relation to the
duration of anger, for that anger endures too long; and this may happen in two
ways. In one way, because the cause of anger, to wit, the inflicted injury,
remains too long in a man’s memory, the result being that it gives rise to a
lasting displeasure, wherefore he is grievous and sullen to
himself. In another way, it happens on the part of vengeance, which a man seeks
with a stubborn desire: this applies to ill-tempered or stern
people, who do not put aside their anger until they have inflicted punishment.
In Lesson #42 we spoke of long-lasting anger leading
to the horrible sin of hatred. This, of course, means that the choleric must
work hard to keep a sharp eye on his anger and be able to discern whether his anger
is just or sinful.
Before we discuss ways to help a choleric discern more
about his anger, we need to recall that pride, a prominent weakness of the
choleric,
is directly linked to his anger. Let us briefly look at St. Thomas’s
definition of pride in order to see how pride is linked to the typical causes
of anger which we discussed in Lesson #40.
St. Thomas defines pride as follows:
Pride (superbia)
is so called because a man thereby aims higher (supra) than he is;
whereby Isidore says (Etym. X): “A man is said to be proud, because
he wishes to appear above (super) what he really is”;
for he who wishes to overstep beyond what he is, is proud.
With this definition in mind let us look at what St.
Thomas taught us in Lesson #40. St. Thomas explained, “All the causes of anger
are reduced to slight in these three forms: contempt, despiteful treatment
(i.e. hindering one from doing one’s will), and insolence.”
St. Thomas says that each of the three causes of anger
really boils down to some kind of slight. Here are his words:
Each of
those causes amounts to some kind of slight. Thus, forgetfulness is a clear
sign of slight esteem, for the more we think of a thing the more is it fixed in
our memory. [In other words, those things we often think about and which we
care about, we do not tend to forget. So, forgetting about a person suggests
we don’t care much about that person.]
Again, if a man does not hesitate by his remarks to give pain to another, this
seems to show that he thinks little of him: and those too who show signs of
hilarity when another is in misfortune, seem to care little about his good or
evil. Again, he that hinders another from carrying out his will, without
deriving thereby any profit to himself, seems not to care much for his
friendship. Consequently, all those things, in so far as they are signs of
contempt, provoke anger.
There are two other aspects upon which St. Thomas
touches in regard to a cause of anger. He asks two questions, namely, (1) whether
a man’s excellence is a cause of his anger, and (2) whether a man’s defect is
the cause of his anger. St. Thomas answers these questions as follows:
The cause
of anger, in the man who is angry, may be taken in two ways. First, in respect
to the motive of anger: and thus excellence is the cause of a man being easily
angered, because the motive of anger is an unjust slight, as stated above (A.
2). However, it is evident that the more excellent a man is, the more unjust is
a slight offered him in the matter in which he excels. Consequently, those who
excel in any matter, are most of all angry, if they be slighted in that matter;
for instance, a wealthy man in his riches, or an orator in his eloquence, and
so forth.
Secondly,
the cause of anger, in the man who is angry, may be considered on the part of
the disposition produced in him by the motive aforesaid. However, it is evident
that nothing moves a man to anger except a hurt that grieves him: while
whatever savors of defect is above all a cause of grief; since men who suffer
from some defect are more easily hurt. And this is why men who are weak, or
subject to some other defect, are more easily angered, since they are more
easily grieved.
So now let us make a list of the causes of anger and
see how each of them can be infected with pride. It should be noted that these
apply to any human but we are here considering especially the choleric who St.
Thomas has classified as getting “angry too quickly or for any slight cause.”
·
A) Thus, forgetfulness is a clear sign of slight esteem,
for the more we think of a thing the more is it fixed in our memory.
·
B) If a man does not hesitate by his remarks to give pain
to another, this seems to show that he thinks little of him.
·
C) Those, too, who show signs of hilarity when another is
in misfortune, seem to care little about his good or evil.
·
D) He that hinders another from carrying out his will,
without deriving thereby any profit to himself, seems not to care much for his
friendship.
·
E) A man who excels in an area is insulted by someone who
slights his excellence.
·
F) A man who is weak or has a defect is easily grieved
and angered.
The list of slights when attached to pride and what remedies to take: (These
are in connection with the typical pride of the choleric.)
A) When One Feels Slighted Because Someone Has
Forgotten Him.
A proud choleric would assume that his friend is
trying to hurt him or insult him. Thus, if he feels slighted he should first
examine if the offense he feels is real or imagined. He needs to think on a
more objective level. He should take care not to make a rash judgment. One
thing he should do is give the benefit of the doubt to the one he feels
slighted by. There may well be a logical reason why the friend could not
accomplish what the choleric expected.
B) When One Feels Offended Because Of Something That
Someone Has Said.
Here again, a proud choleric would automatically
assume that there was an evil motive and premeditation involved in what was
said to him. He must really make every effort to pull out of the situation and
be objective. He should assume that no ill-will was intended.
He could forgive-and-forget or he could
patiently communicate to the person who made the comment that he (the choleric)
took it the wrong way. This communication is in itself an act of humility and
will help the situation. He should try to “clear the air” and make sure there
is no misunderstanding or hard feelings shown about the comment.
The choleric could also think that if someone said
something that rubbed the choleric the wrong way, this proves that the choleric
is proud and needs to admit to himself that he deserved the comment. Sometimes,
people do not know how to approach a choleric to give him fraternal correction
and consequently an admonishment or instruction can come out sounding harsh.
C) When One Feels Hurt Because Someone Found Humor in
a Mishap/Misfortune that Occurred to the Choleric.
The proud choleric would usually take a great offense
at this. Of course it is against charity to treat someone’s misfortune or
accident as humorous. However, fallen human nature often finds humor in some
silly circumstance and might laugh yet without intending any slight or insult.
What should one do if he should be laughed at? Our
first thought should be of Our Lord who was unjustly mocked and laughed to
scorn. He took it with meekness and forgave His offenders, and so we should do
likewise.
Also, we can thank God for the humiliation and unite
our embarrassment to Our Lord’s. We can remind ourselves that we really do not
deserve any better. This is a good way to make reparation for our past sins
and learn how to love others, especially our enemies.
D) When One Feels Angry Because Someone Interferes with
His Plans, Even Though the Said Someone Does Not Gain Any Profit Thereby.
A proud choleric would typically get very upset about
this situation. What should the choleric do? He should remember that when
something happens that is outside of his control, then it is God’s Will for him
at least at that present time.
He should first thank God for the cross. He should
examine whether his plans were good for his salvation in the first place. If
he finds that the plans were not conducive to his salvation then, of course, he
should immediately abandon that plan.
If he is not sure whether his plan was good or not, he
must pray for enlightenment from God. He should also seek advice and get help evaluating
the situation. He could also use St. Ignatius’s technique of considering the
plan as someone else’s. Then the choleric would ask himself if this plan is
conducive to salvation. Likewise, he should ask himself what he would have
wanted to do if he were on his deathbed and about to die. Then he could
implement the results of his internal inquiry.
All of these thoughts would certainly curb his first
inclination to get upset or angry.
E) When One Who Has a God-Given Talent Has Been
Insulted by Someone Who Slights his Excellence.
A proud choleric is very prone to get upset and angry
when his talents are not recognized. One could say that the proud choleric
wants the whole world to acknowledge his talents. This may seem like an
exaggeration to make a point, but we would have to admit knowing some choleric
somewhere who acts exactly like this. What should this choleric do? First of
all, if one has talents, he must give the glory to God. Our Lord and Our Lady
are perfect examples of how to magnify God for the excellence they possessed.
As St. Paul said, “What hast thou that
thou hast not received? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory, as if
thou hadst not received it?” 1 Corinthians, 4:7.
We all have to thank God for what we have received. The
choleric must do all he can to foster humility in himself and should try to
form the habit of thanking God often for all the benefits he has received from
God.
He should be meek and offer up the cross of being
insulted. This is a great way to make reparation for his past sins and to
imitate Our Lord.
He must remember that the insult may be a way for
someone to subtly point out the choleric’s pride concerning his talents. So
this is another reason for the choleric to be thankful that someone has
insulted him. His conscience will undoubtedly tell him that he may really
deserve the insult to curb his pride.
Of course, the choleric should forgive the person who
insults him and this forgiveness must be with his whole heart. Otherwise he
might get the temptation to harbor a grudge against the offender.
F) When a Man Who Is Weak Has his Defect Pointed Out.
A proud choleric who has a natural weakness and/or a
defect will find himself, as St. Thomas says, very easily irked and
spontaneously lashes out if anyone makes a reference to his problem(s). Naturally,
his pride does not want to face the fact that he has a problem. The most
obvious reason for this is that the problem he has could in most circumstances
be addressed and fixed. If someone points out his shortcomings, his conscience
reminds him that his lack of effort to amend is the cause of the
weakness/defect still abiding in him. The old adage, “God helps those who help
themselves” is involved here. If the choleric worked hard, first to face
himself, then to seek the means to improve and to take those means, then he
would be on his way to overcoming the weakness and/or defect(s).
We all have tendencies which need to be conquered in
us. As St. Paul says, “But I see another law in my members, fighting against
the law of my mind, and captivating me in the law of my sin, that is in my
members.” Romans, 7:23.
Of course, St. Paul here is talking about the
concupiscence of the flesh which we all must deal with. Consequently, St. Paul
exhorts us numerous times to use our reason. God intends each person to use
his reason to avoid sin and to conquer the natural weaknesses which are in his
temperament.
Therefore, the proud choleric, when his weakness and/or
defect is revealed, should force himself to humbly be grateful to the person who
makes it known.
We can readily see that if one does not view himself
correctly, he would easily take offence at anything that he perceives as
negative to him. It is truly a great blessing of God to help us see ourselves
the way we really are, especially our defects. God often uses others as His
tools to show us what we need to work on most in our souls. Therefore, we
should not shun fraternal correction but embrace it to help us conquer pride.
A Short Self-Examination to Check if Pride is
involved in One’s Anger (based on our
discussion above)
➢ Do I feel slighted?
➢ Is this slight sent to me to show me that I need to
amend some aspect of my life/character?
➢ Should I not take this opportunity to examine my
conscience? {Because this occasion may seem to me to be a slight only because
it pricks my conscience about one of my failings and in my pride I do not want
to see myself as I really am.}
➢ Am I imitating Our Lord if I am unjustly accused?
➢ Am I offering up this humiliation for the Glory of
God?
➢ Would it not be better to simply say a prayer for the
person I feel slighted by and then forget about the incident?
This short examination can be very helpful to keep in
mind the next time one, especially a choleric, feels like he is beginning to
boil inside. When one humbles himself, especially seeing all things as coming
from the Hands of God, then one can crush angry feelings which are often linked
directly to pride.
In our next lesson we will deal more with various ways
that a choleric can work on humility to restrain his anger. We will see more
how pride greatly influences the choleric’s frame of mind. We will connect our
investigation of slights (see above) with an examination of how a choleric can
slow down his impulsive tendencies to take offense, get angry, and cling to anger
for long periods of time.