Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 396.

YOUCAT Question n. 396 - How does a Christian deal with anger?

(Youcat answer) Paul says, “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph 4:26).   

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2302) By recalling the commandment, "You shall not kill" (Mt 5:21), our Lord asked for peace of heart and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral. Anger is a desire for revenge. "To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit," but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution "to correct vices and maintain justice" (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh II-II, 158, 1 ad 3). If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. The Lord says, "Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment" (Mt 5:22).       

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Anger is initially a natural emotion, a reaction to perceived injustice. If anger becomes hatred, however, and someone has ill-will toward his neighbor, this normal feeling becomes a serious offense against charity. All uncontrolled anger, especially thoughts of revenge, are detrimental to peace and destroy “the tranquility of order”.    

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2303) Deliberate hatred is contrary to charity. Hatred of the neighbor is a sin when one deliberately wishes him evil. Hatred of the neighbor is a grave sin when one deliberately desires him grave harm. "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Mt 5:44-45).  

(The next question is: What does Jesus think about nonviolence?)

Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 395.

YOUCAT Question n. 395 - What is peace?

(Youcat answer) Peace is the consequence of justice and the sign of love put into action. Where there is peace, “every creature can come to rest in good order” (Thomas Aquinas). Earthly peace is the image of the peace of Christ, who reconciled heaven and earth.   

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2304) Respect for and development of human life require peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. Peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and the assiduous practice of fraternity. Peace is "the tranquillity of order" (St. Augustine, De civ. Dei, 19, 13, 1: PL 41, 640). Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity  (Cf. Isa 32:17; cf. GS 78  §§ 1-2).     

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Peace is more than the absence of war, more than a carefully maintained balance of powers (balance of terror). In a state of peace, people can live securely with their legitimately earned property and freely exchange goods with one another. In peace the dignity and the right of self-determination of individuals and of peoples are respected. In peace human coexistence is characterized by brotherly solidarity.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2305) Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ, the messianic "Prince of Peace" (Isa 9:5). By the blood of his Cross, "in his own person he killed the hostility" (Eph 2:16 J.B.; cf. Col 1:20-22), he reconciled men with God and made his Church the sacrament of the unity of the human race and of its union with God. "He is our peace" (Eph 2:14). He has declared: "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Mt 5:9).      

(The next question is: How does a Christian deal with anger?)

Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 394.

YOUCAT Question n. 394 - How do Christians treat the corpse of someone who has died?

(Youcat answer) Christians treat the corpse of a dead person respectfully and lovingly, realizing that God has called him to the resurrection of the dead.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2300) The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy (Cf. Tob 1:16-18); it honors the children of God, who are temples of the Holy Spirit.      

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) It is a traditional part of Christian funeral customs for the remains of a dead person to be buried in a dignified manner in the earth and for the grave to be decorated and tended. Today the Church also accepts other funeral arrangements (for instance, cremation), as long as they are not interpreted in a way contrary to the belief in the resurrection of the dead.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2301) Autopsies can be morally permitted for legal inquests or scientific research. The free gift of organs after death is legitimate and can be meritorious. The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body (Cf. CIC, can. 1176 § 3).

(The next question is: What is peace?)

Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 393.

YOUCAT Question n. 393 - How do Christians assist someone who is dying?

(Youcat answer) Christians do not leave a dying person alone. They help him so that he can die in faith-filled trust, in dignity and peace. They pray with him and take care that the sacraments are administered to him at the right time.   

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2299) The dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity and peace. They will be helped by the prayer of their relatives, who must see to it that the sick receive at the proper time the sacraments that prepare them to meet the living God.     

Reflecting and meditating 

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1525) Thus, just as the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist form a unity called "the sacraments of Christian initiation," so too it can be said that Penance, the Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist as viaticum constitute at the end of Christian life "the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland" or the sacraments that complete the earthly pilgrimage. 

(The next question is: How do Christians treat the corpse of someone who has died?)

Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 392.

YOUCAT Question n. 392 - What sorts of acts violate the human right to bodily integrity?

(Youcat answer) This right is violated by the use of violence, kidnapping and hostage taking, terrorism, torture, rape, and forced sterilization as well as by amputation and mutilation.   

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2297) Kidnapping and hostage taking bring on a reign of terror; by means of threats they subject their victims to intolerable pressures. They are morally wrong. Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately; it is gravely against justice and charity. Torture which uses physical or moral violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty, frighten opponents, or satisfy hatred is contrary to respect for the person and for human dignity. Except when performed for strictly therapeutic medical reasons, directly intended amputations, mutilations, and sterilizations performed on innocent persons are against the moral law (Cf. DS 3722).    

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) These fundamental violations against justice, charity, and human dignity are not justified even when they are backed by government authority. Conscious of the historical guilt of Christians as well, the Church today fights against all use of physical or psychological force, especially against torture.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2298) In times past, cruel practices were commonly used by legitimate governments to maintain law and order, often without protest from the Pastors of the Church, who themselves adopted in their own tribunals the prescriptions of Roman law concerning torture. Regrettable as these facts are, the Church always taught the duty of clemency and mercy. She forbade clerics to shed blood. In recent times it has become evident that these cruel practices were neither necessary for public order, nor in conformity with the legitimate rights of the human person. On the contrary, these practices led to ones even more degrading. It is necessary to work for their abolition. We must pray for the victims and their tormentors.      

(The next question is: How do Christians assist someone who is dying?)