A Lenten Series on the Seven Deadly Sins - Part 5: Wrath and Jesus’ Last Words on the Cross

03-22-2026Weekly ReflectionJen Arnold, M.A.

It is the final week of Lent before we enter Holy Week. Hopefully, most of us have had a fruitful Lent as we have been reflecting on the seven deadly sins or vices, as defined by St. Thomas Aquinas. Perhaps you have identified areas where you have room for improvement and experienced a conversion of heart (metanoia), which has challenged you to take steps to grow in virtue.

Today, we will finish with the final deadly sin, drawing on practical wisdom from the book The Seven Deadly Sins: A Thomistic Guide to Vanquishing Vice and Sin by Kevin Vost, Psy.D., followed by how the seven deadly sins relate to Jesus’ seven last words as he hung on the cross.

The seventh deadly sin on our list is wrath. Wrath is an emotion that occurs when our reason fails to control our irascible appetite to fight against our wants and desires. St. Thomas links wrath to the heart, and it can often manifest in the body with symptoms such as an increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, or racing thoughts. Not all anger is, however, sinful, and there is such a thing as righteous anger, but all anger, righteous or not, can still inspire sinful behavior. Therefore, wrath requires a careful and honest examination of conscience. How short is your temper, and what are your reactions when it blows? Do you curse in anger? Do you hold grudges, seek revenge, or act unjustly when you feel as if someone has wronged you? Do you mistreat or provoke those with whom you are angry?  Make sure to consider not only your feelings of anger, but also how you respond to them in action.

When discussing which of the sacraments helps most with wrath, St. Thomas considers Jesus’ teaching on anger when he says, “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mat 5:23-24). The Eucharist reminds us that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and that Jesus died so that we might all be reconciled in him. You can also offer your wrath as a sacrifice on the altar, giving it over to him, so that he can take it from you. Of course, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is also to reconcile yourself to God. In the confessional, you will receive the grace you need to overcome your wrath by receiving forgiveness yourself.

Recall that St. Thomas prefers to call the deadly sins “vices” because vices are habits that cause sinful actions. You can choose not to act, no matter how you feel, thereby avoiding sin. Wrath becomes sinful when our emotions overcome our reason to the point that we either cannot control our actions or cannot see that our actions are, in fact, sinful. Dr. Vost offers a few tips for preventing this. First, delay taking any action. Do not act in the heat of the moment. Wait until you have calmed down before making any decisions. Secondly, question the reasons for your anger. Look at the issue from other angles. Perhaps consider the offender’s perspective or motives, or give him the benefit of the doubt. Finally, protect yourself from wrath in advance by going into situations with a disposition of forgiveness. Remind yourself that others do not know your heart, and some may truly fail to recognize the difference between good and evil, so you should not let their behavior disturb your soul.

The best prayer for wrath is in the prayer Jesus himself gave us: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The most important part of this prayer is that it reminds us of our own sins and offences against others. There are times when our behavior or actions have, even unintentionally, hurt or offended someone else, just as the person we are angry with has done to us. If we want God to forgive us, then we are told we must forgive others.

St. Thomas identifies three virtues to combat wrath. The first is patience. Patience is related to the virtue of fortitude in that it helps us to endure the hardships inflicted on us by others. Remaining calm in our thoughts, words, and deeds while offering our suffering up to Jesus will help eliminate wrath. The second is clemency. Clemency is an act of mercy or leniency from an authority and is related to the virtue of temperance. Even when we want revenge, we can choose to mitigate or, better yet, eliminate the punishment. The third virtue is meekness. Meekness is not weakness. It is a willingness to endure injury, which is really a sign of inner strength and self-control, which are qualities that are greatly rewarded in heaven.

Jesus gave us examples of both righteous anger without sin and meekness at a time when righteous anger was warranted. An example of well-moderated righteous anger is the cleansing of the Temple (cf Jn 2:13-17). When the moneychangers inappropriately turned the house of God into a marketplace, Jesus did not simply scold them lightly. Nor did he curse and punch the moneychangers in their faces and let sinful wrath overcome his reason. He flipped the tables to disrupt the business they were conducting and put an end to their sinful behavior. His example of meekness was most clear in his passion and crucifixion when he was unjustly tortured and endured it with patience, knowing that his accusers and torturers did not understand what they were doing and forgave them. We are called to imitate Jesus in how we respond when we are angry.

The following is a list of how the seven deadly sins correspond to Jesus’ seven last words on the cross, as referenced by Dr. Vost in Venerable Fulton J. Sheen’s book, The Seven Capital Sins. Note how Jesus’ words stand in contrast to the sins. Identify the sins that you struggle with most and the words Jesus says in response. Meditate on those words as if Jesus is speaking directly to you.

Wrath - “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34)

Envy – “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk 23:43)

Lust – “Woman, behold, your son!... Behold, your mother!” (Jn 19:26-27

Pride (Vainglory) – “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mat 27:47; Mk 15:34)

Gluttony – “I thirst.” (Jn 19:28)

Sloth – “It is finished.” (Jn 19:30)

Avarice – “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Lk 23:46)

Keys to Combating the Seven Deadly Sins

• Examination of conscience
• Embracing the sacraments
• Watching the steps of our movements toward sin
• Practicing prayer
• Cultivating virtue
• Immersion in the world of the spirit
• Imitation of Christ