Podcast appearances and mentions of meg hunter kilmer

Arising from the McGrath Institute for Church Life, the Sullivan Undergraduate Saints Fellowship forms Notre Dame students as leaders in the study and spirituality of the saints. We launched this fellowship in 2025 with an inaugural cohort of 12 students selected from a pool of many, many applicants. As part of their fellowship, our saints fellows completed a course this past semester (with yours truly) on praying with the saints. Next year they will become leaders of other undergraduate students, as they form groups of students who pray together and serve together in a manner common to a saint each fellow selects. But in between the course they complete and the year of leadership they undertake, the whole cohort of 12 fellows, along with me and a chaplain, make a pilgrimage to immerse ourselves in the cultures that gave rise to particular saints––cultures which, in turn, these saints renewed and enriched. This year's pilgrimage was to France, specifically: Paris, Chartres, Lisieux, LeMans, Tours, and Lourdes. Today, two of our Sullivan Undergraduate Saints Fellows join me to talk about the meaning and significance of this pilgrimage with the saints. Macy Vance is a rising junior and Kate Apelian is a rising senior at Notre Dame, but really I should let them introduce themselves.Follow-up Resources:Learn more about the Sullivan Undergraduate Saints FellowshipCheck out the wildly popular “Saturdays with the Saints” lecture series“Pilgrimage and the Urgent Question of Faith,” by Leonard J. DeLorenzo, essay in the Church Life Journal“A pilgrimage of sacred art,” by Leonard J. DeLorenzo, article in Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly“Saints who flew, with Carlos Eire,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Encountering Christ on Pilgrimage, with Joan Watson,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“Saints, for Real, with Meg Hunter-Kilmer,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“The Theology of the Saints, with Katie Cavadini and Leonard DeLorenzo,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Today, we are happy to announce that Ignatius Press is partnering with Hallow for the LentPray40. This Lent, be inspired by the story of Servant of God Takashi Nagai, a Japanese physician who survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. On today's podcast, Rose Trabbic sits down with Meg Hunter-Kilmer to discuss Takashi Nagai and how his heroic life witnesses to the redemptive meaning of suffering. They both agree that Takashi's story, as told by Paul Glenn, is truly a life-changing read and can inspire every Catholic who bears great suffering.   Get your copy of A Song for Nagasaki: https://ignatius.com/a-song-for-nagasaki-snhep/ Join Pray40 with Hallow at: https://ignatius.com/pray40/   SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press Podcast. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Follow us on social media: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/IgnatiusPress Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ignatiuspress Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ignatius_press/

We're live with Meg Hunter-Kilmer, Catholic author, talks about her book "Saints Around the World", Mark Brumley, President of Ignatius Press, talks about the book by Peter Kreeft called "What Would Socrates Say?: An Introduction to Philosophy by the Socratic Method" and Terry Dickson, Director of Communication of the Diocese of Biloxi and Editor of the Gulf Pine Catholic newspaper with update.

In this week's episode, we model what it looks like to pray Lectio Divina, which is a divine reading of Sacred Scripture. We begin by sharing the different ways we spend time in Sacred Scripture, how it has impacted our lives, and model how to pray Lectio Divina. We invite you to follow along and join us as we spend time reading and reflecting on John 15:5-8. Sacred Scripture is the voice of God and what He has said is alive forever and relevant to our lives in all situations. We encourage you to journey with us as we deepen our relationship with God through His word. Heather's One Thing - Franciscan University's Austria Study Abroad Program and Guadalupe Pilgrimage Sister Miriam's One Thing - FOCUS film Radiating Joy: The Michelle Duppong Story (trailer here) Michelle's One Thing -  Praying for anyone affected by hurricane Helene Catholic Charities    Other Resources Mentioned:  Steps for Lectio Divina The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina    Announcement(s): We are so excited to announce that we will have new Abiding Together shirts in our shop next week! Follow us on social media for all the latest updates!   Journal Questions: When do I encounter the Scriptures throughout my day? Do I incorporate Lectio Divina into my prayer routine? What obstacles prevent me from entering into Lectio Divina? How can I begin to incorporate Lectio Divina more frequently into my prayer?   Discussion Questions: How have you been nourished by the Word of God? Have you struggled to hear the voice of God in the past? When do you hear the voice of God in this season of your life? What stuck out to you during the Lectio Divina within the episode?   Quote to Ponder:  “It is especially necessary that listening to the word of God should become a life-giving encounter, in the ancient and ever valid tradition of lectio divina, which draws from the biblical text the living Word which questions, directs and shapes our lives.” (Saint Pope John Paul II, Novo Millennio Ineunte, 39)   Scripture for Lectio:  “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit; because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and become my disciples.” (John 15:5-8)   Sponsor - Emmaus Road Publishing: Introducing the Saints Around the World for Little Ones Collection from Emmaus Road Publishing! Building on the success of the original Saints Around the World, this six-volume series is designed for young readers aged 0-8 and presents the lives of 90 saints in an engaging and accessible way. You can purchase each volume individually or save 15% by ordering the complete set. Written by Meg Hunter Kilmer and illustrated by Lindsey Sanders, this collection features saints from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life, showing children that holiness is possible for everyone. Each book focuses on a different group of saints: “Young Saints,” “Adventurous Saints,” “Royal and Warrior Saints,” “Talented Saints,” and more. The vibrant illustrations and simple, captivating storytelling are perfect for family reading time. The books are printed on sturdy, tear-resistant paper, making them ideal for young readers.  Each saint's story includes a summary of their teachings and a map showing where they lived, helping children learn geography while deepening their faith. Whether you choose to buy a single book or the whole set, Saints Around the World for Little Ones will be a cherished addition to your family's library. Order today at stpaulcenter.com/saints and use promo code Abide10 to take an additional 10% off your purchase!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Emmaus Road Publishing 01:09 - Intro 02:01 - Welcome 07:23 - Sacred Scripture in Our Lives 12:45 - How to Pray Lectio Divina 15:37 - First Reading 17:59 - Second Reading 19:23 - Third Reading 21:01 - Reflections 28:23 - One Things 32:06 - Announcement

Join Meg Hunter-Kilmer, author and storyteller of saints, and Deacon David Keene, an archeologist and canon lawyer, as they delve into the fascinating process of uncovering the lives of saints. From researching their stories to studying their relics, they explore the challenges and discoveries that bring these holy figures to life. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Reading helps us and our children to develop empathy and imagination, and can lead us deeper into prayer.  Katie and Cari sit down for a conversation about their favorite books, spiritual reading, reading with children, and offer recommendations for your next read!    Books mentioned:  The Great Divorce by CS Lewis https://www.cslewis.com/us/  Pray for Us by Meg Hunter Kilmer https://www.avemariapress.com/products/pray-for-us  Jesus is Here by Mary E. Wingfield, Ed.D. https://www.leafletonline.com/jesus-is-here-by-mary-e-wingfielod-ed-d-36072  The Berenstain Bears Book Series https://berenstainbears.com/shop/  God's Glorious Girl or God's Brave Boy by Emily Wilson Hussem https://emilywilsonministries.com/my-book  Tiny Saints Board Books (I am Little Too, You Do Not Need to Worry) https://www.tinysaints.com/collections/board-books  Shining Light Dolls Books (Saints on the Go) https://shininglightdolls.com/collections/books  Word on Fire (Bless the Lord) https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/bless-the-lord  The Night the Saints Saved Christmas by Gracie Jagla https://osvcatholicbookstore.com/product/the-night-the-saints-saved-christmas?ga_ref_list_id=undefinedga_ref_list_name=Search%20Results  The Action Bible https://www.theactionbible.com/  My Heart Will Triumph by Mirjana Soldo https://myheartwilltriumph.com/  St. Basil Reading List: https://basilthegreat.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Lit-Living-Guide-Aug-Back-to-School.jpg   The Danger of Hurried Child Syndrome: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/decision-principles/202408/the-danger-of-hurried-child-syndrome?amp    Check Us Out Online: Website: www.basilthegreat.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stbasilthegr8/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stbasilthegr8 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stbasilthegr8 Spotify Music: https://bit.ly/StBasilSpotify

It's confirmation season, and perhaps you or someone you know are struggling with coming up with a confirmation saint name! So, we asked friend of the show, Catholic speaker and author Meg Hunter- Kilmer to help us out.  Meg was an itinerant missionary for 12 years, currently works in campus ministry at the University of Notre Dame and has written several books about saints, including, “Saints Around the World,” and “Pray For Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness.” Meg begins by explaining what she does when helping kids pick a confirmation name, “I say, okay, tell me what kind of saint you're looking for. What are some of your passions? What are some of your hobbies? Do you have an idea of what kind of career you feel like the Lord might be calling you to? What are your family difficulties, your mental illness you struggle with, or chronic illness that you struggle with or disability? Anything that you're like, you know, what, here's a significant thing about me. And some kids come with a list of things that matter to them, and I can say, well, here's the saint who checks a couple of those boxes.” WATCH: Sacraments 101: Why We're Confirmed Meg recommends doing some research on saints to see if there is a saint that really sticks out to you or has some attributes that you identify with. Meg goes on to say, “But if you've got a saint you just love and there's no good reason, that's a pretty good reason to pick them for your confirmation.” Father Dave shares his experience of choosing a confirmation name when he was 13 years old., “Meg, I have to tell you, that when I was 13, and had to pick my confirmation name, I did not have the resources at my disposal . . .so here was my whole discernment:  At the time, I wanted to be a doctor and I heard that Thomas Aquinas was a Doctor of the Church, so I picked Thomas Aquinas.”   RELATED: A Year in the Word: Journaling With the Bible With Meg Hunter-Kilmer The Busted Halo's Show's producer, Krista, and co-host, Brett go on to share their silly reasons for picking their confirmation saint names.  Krista picked St. Angela Merici because she liked the way it sounded in her name. Brett chimes in, “Mine is even dumber and I wish I had the opportunity to go back and change it. . . at the time, people kept asking me what Brett was short for and I would tell them that it was short for Bartholomew, so I just chose St. Bartholomew.” Meg responds by saying, “Here's the beautiful thing, you can pick a confirmation name for a real dumb reason and you're still going to end up with someone awesome.”   

We are excited to offer this bonus episode in honor of YOU + Pentecost and are so grateful to our Guadalupe Circle Members who make things like this possible.Guadalupe Circle is a small but mighty group of donors who give monthly to help sustain From Here and all we create.We humbly ask you to prayerfully consider joining Guadalupe Circle and helping us to continue our mission of encouraging the lay Church as they seek to love God, Neighbor and Self! Join today.We hope you enjoy the deep and wide love and wisdom of Tina and Meg.Thank you for being here!

What places hold significance, and who are the key figures in the narrative of Catholicism in the United States of America? From both a historical and modern perspective, the story of the Church in the US is expansive, diverse, and compelling. Authors Kevin Schmiesing and Meg Hunter-Kilmer share their insights and expertise on the noteworthy locations and influential figures shaping the Church in the United States today. Explore must-visit shrines and churches, delve into the inspiring tales of Americans on the path to sainthood, and embark on a captivating journey through Catholicism in America. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Meg Hunter-Kilmer offers insights into how the stories of the saints can help us more purposefully enter into Advent, preparing our hearts with the witness of faithful men and women who have spent their lives preparing to meet Jesus. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR, author of Prepare Your Heart, explains how the season of Advent is a chance to enter into the heart of Nazareth, a place of respite, rest, and formation. At the beginning of the liturgical year, it's so easy to become consumed with the busyness of the season, the work that must be done for Christmas, and we can forget how this is ultimately a time to prepare to welcome Jesus. Fr. Agustino explains how when we purposefully prepare our hearts, we are joyfully anticipating the gift of Christmas in the best way possible. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

This week on Women Made New, Crystalina sits down with Meg Hunter-Kilmer to talk about the Saints and draws from her book, "Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who sinned, suffered, and Struggles Their Way to Holiness." Also, Crystalina talks about the feeling of being alone and how God loves us and pursues even when we feel alone. Plus get to Confession, make time for Adoration and/or read your Bible. You will never regret the time that you give God.

This week on Women Made New, Crystalina sits down with Meg Hunter-Kilmer to talk about the Saints and draws from her book, "Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who sinned, suffered, and Struggles Their Way to Holiness." Also, Crystalina talks about the feeling of being alone and how God loves us and pursues even when we feel alone. Plus get to Confession, make time for Adoration and/or read your Bible. You will never regret the time that you give God.

This week on Women Made New, Crystalina sits down with Meg Hunter-Kilmer to talk about the Saints and draws from her book, "Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who sinned, suffered, and Struggles Their Way to Holiness." Also, Crystalina talks about the feeling of being alone and how God loves us and pursues even when we feel alone. Plus get to Confession, make time for Adoration and/or read your Bible. You will never regret the time that you give God.

St. Mark Ji Tianxiang was a doctor who lived in the late 1800s, who was martyred for his faith during the Boxer Rebellion. He was also an opium addict who struggled with his addiction for 30 years, and was a drug addict at the time of his death. St. Mark Ji is an example to anyone struggling with addiction, disorders, or mental illness. Support us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/References and further reading/listening/viewing:An image of the statue of St. Mark Ji Tianxiang can be found hereBrian Fraga, "The life of St. Mark Ji Tianxiang: Persevering in faith despite addiction"Meg Hunter-Kilmer, "St. Mark Ji Tianxiang (1834-1900)"Aleteia, "He was an opium addict who couldn't receive the sacraments. But he's a martyr and a saint"Catholic Answers, "Addict, Martyr, and Saint"the Catholic Encyclopedia, "Martyr"the Vatican, "Pope John Paul II's teaching on the Martyrs of our Century"Catholic Answers, "Grace: What it Is and What it Does"Fr. Richard Conlin, "St. Mark Ji Tianxiang"Pints with Aquinas, "The Opium-Addicted Saint"

Good Morning! It's a summer-themed edition of the Son Rise Morning Show. Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Meg Hunter-Kilmer, a “Catholic hobo,” to get an itinerary for a Catholic roadtrip across the U.S. Dr. Regis Martin will give us his list of summer reading picks. Rita Heikenfeld will tell us about Bible herbs that make great bug repellents. Plus Steve Ray on the theology of fishing!

Easter is more than one day on our liturgical calendar, and itinerant missionary, speaker and author Meg Hunter-Kilmer joins the show to reflect on living out the season's joy despite challenging times.

"In this episode Eric sits down with Meg Hunter-Kilmer, an itinerant missionary and storyteller who travels around the world telling people about the fierce and tender love of God. You can find Meg at https://www.piercedhands.com/ As Meg shares her story, the conversion moves towards the importance of personal prayer in the mission. Making a commitment to spend time with Jesus everyday is necessary if we want to be commited to Holiness and to Mission. DIscussion questions: - What stood out to you most from this episode? - While not everyone is called to be a travelling missionary like Meg, we are all called to mission. What might be your mission field? - How have you committed to personal prayer? - In what ways might you want to strengthen your personal prayer? - Pray with Mark 3:13-18 and consider: Jesus chose you, is with you, and sends you out. Proclaim is a movement of the Archdiocese of Vancouver inspiring disciples to proclaim Jesus in their homes and communities. The Proclaim podcast is a space where you listen to inspiring disciples talk all things around sharing Jesus with others, and learn how to step into your own missionary identity. To learn more about Proclaim, you can visit weareproclaim.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @weareproclaim"

Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this final of six new episodes, Alissa welcomes Laura Kelly Fanucci. Laura is an author, speaker, retreat leader, and founder of Mothering Spirit, an ecumenical project on parenting and spirituality. She has authored seven books, including Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting and Grieving Together: A Couple's Journey through Miscarriage. Laura's work has been featured on the Hallow and Ritual apps, and in popular outlets including NPR's Morning Edition, On Being, and the Kelly Clarkson Show. She writes frequently for online and print publications including OSV News Service, Grotto Network, and Give Us This Day. She and her husband live in Minnesota with their children.This episode is packed with all sorts of balm as Alissa and Laura enter into conversation around what feels like "The Great In-Between" of the current time in the Church--a messy and beautiful place of forging a new way of being, while at the same time holding fast to sacraments, Jesus, ritual and one another. They talk of what it is to feel spiritually tired, and offer a few gentle ways forward.  They also chat about:Tending to our collective griefRitual as balmThe power of making space for lamentEUCHARISTComfort and freedom in the grayThe power of ecumenical relationshipsGod as Way-MakerFocusing on our commonalities vs our differences in Christian spacesThe well of personal experience, leading to the aquifer of human experienceClinging to Jesus and the Gospel God in this one momentThe beautiful work of Mothering SpiritYou'll also hear the two reference the wisdom or work of all sorts of folks including: Meg Hunter-Kilmer, Tina Guyden, Erica of Be A Heart Design, Shannon Evans, The Upside Down Podcast, Scott Erickson and Amber Haines.Make sure to follow Laura on Instagram and Mothering Spirit on both Instagram and Facebook. You can join Alissa in supporting Mothering Spirit by becoming a Patron here.Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Universal Voices. We are so glad you are here! An extra shout-out to  our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org. 

This week on #Women Made New, Crystalina sits down with Meg Hunter-Kilmer to talk about the Saints who sinned, suffered and struggled on their way to #holiness. We are all called to be saints regardless of our past. #Catholicism #Jesus

This week on #Women Made New, Crystalina sits down with Meg Hunter-Kilmer to talk about the Saints who sinned, suffered and struggled on their way to #holiness. We are all called to be saints regardless of our past. #Catholicism #Jesus

Knowing that He would raise Him from the dead, WHY did Jesus still WEEP over Lazarus? Meg Hunter-Kilmer answers the question.

Learn about the amazing story of how Simeon waited for Jesus.

In this lively episode with Meg Hunter-Kilmer we cover a lot of ground. From sanctification, sacrifice, counter-cultural living, finding friendship with the Saints, and the beauty and gift of God's Word, Meg shares her wisdom in a way that left me changed. Inspired, motivated, and gently nudged towards holiness, I have a feeling Meg has this effect on many. I forgot every note I had and instead just leaned in to sit at her feet. Don't miss out! Find more from Meg at https://www.piercedhands.com Subscribe/Rate Never miss out on an episode by subscribing to our channel here (https://m.youtube.com/c/AllisonSullivan?sub_confirmation) Help other people find the show by sharing this video on your social media. Thanks! Connect with Allison:

Summary  In this episode, Dr. Peter reviews the limitations of current Catholic resources on anger, and then reviews secular resources, including interpersonal neurobiology and the structural theory of dissociation.  We examine the role of the body in anger responses, and discuss more wholistic ways of working constructive with parts that experience anger, rather than trying to dismiss anger, suppress it or distract from it.   Lead-in William Blake, A Poison Tree: I was angry with my friends; I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.  We've all experienced anger and we've all experienced angry people  We know it's a problem.  And global data suggest that it's getting worse.   Gallup world poll from 2021: 140 countries  Did you experience the following feelings during a lot of the day yesterday? How about anger?  17% of US respondents agreed 26% of women worldwide up from 20% from 10 years ago  20% of men -- flat from 10 years ago.   Harm can come from anger Mark Twain “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”  CCC 2302  By recalling the commandment, "You shall not kill," 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." 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."   "Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment."  And who hasn't been angry -- including Jesus himself?.  We have got to unpack this There is so much misunderstanding about anger in the Catholic world, so much of the way that Catholics have approached anger has been limited, misinformed, and misguided When I think about why the Catholic Church in the US, in Canada, in Europe and Australia, in the entire Western World, there are many factors.   Brandon Vogt  New Stats on Why Young People Leave the Church  based on his book Return:  How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church One critical factor is that cradle Catholics, especially young Catholics do not believe that the Church can help them with their problems.  Diocese of Springfield Exit Surveys (2014)  68% – Spiritual needs not met67% – Lost interest over time Only 7% of Millennials raised Catholic still actively practice their faith today (weekly Mass, pray a few times each week, say their faith is “extremely” or “very” important) 6.5 people leave the Catholic Church for every one that joins 66% of “nones” agree that “religion causes more problems than it solves” That's why so many fall away from the Faith.  The Church doesn't seem relevant to them because she doesn't seem like she has the answers to the real issues they face. 10% of American adults are former Catholics Nearly half of those who fall away from the Church become "nones"  And another quarter become Evangelical Christians.   79% of former Catholics leave the Church before age 23.   50% of Millennials raised Catholic no longer identify as Catholic today  And it's about topics like anger -- we are not doing a good job meeting the needs that Catholics have today, human formation needs.   Intro I am Dr. Peter Malinoski, a.k.a. Dr. Peter, clinical psychologist, trauma therapist, podcaster, blogger, cofounder and president of Souls and Hearts -- but most of all I am a beloved little son of God, a passionate Catholic who wants to help you to taste and see the height and depth and breadth and warmth and the light of the love of God, especially God the Father and  Mary our Mother, our spiritual parents, our primary parents.  To really absorb your identity as a little child of God and Mary.   I want you to enter much more deeply into an intimate, personal, loving relationship with the three Persons of the Trinity and with our Lady. That is what this Interior Integration for Catholics podcast is all about, that is what Souls and Hearts is all about – all about shoring up the natural foundation for the spiritual life of intimacy with God, all about overcoming the natural human formation deficits and obstacles to contemplative union with God our Father and our Lady, our Mother  We are on an adventure of love together. And one thing, one major, big, huge thing that gets in the way of being loved by God and Mary and loving in return is anger.  Anger.   This is Episode 103 of Interior Integration for Catholics.  Interior Integration for Catholics is part of Souls and Hearts, our online outreach, check us out at soulsandhearts.com.   Anger: one of the seven deadly sins, one the lethal vices that can kill your soul.  Anger.   So much confusion about anger.  The Burden of Anger:  June 10, 2021 Catholic-daily-reflections.com The first level of sin is simply to be “angry” interiorly. The sin of anger is an interior attitude of disgust toward another. Jesus says that the consequence of having anger toward another is that you will be “liable to judgment.” Humility.  I could be wrong.    The offerings from Five Catholic writers on anger are a case in point.   The most popular book Fr. T.G. Morrow, Overcoming Sinful Anger  303 Amazon Review, mostly positive, #16  on the list of bestsellers in Catholic Theology, put out by Sophia Press in 2015 And it's not very good.  I can't recommend it.   First off, Fr. Morrow admits that he doesn't understand why people get angry We've all encountered people who explode when they feel angry. It baffles me how often the sort of anger rears its ugly head in marriages – even in allegedly Christian marriages. (p. 9).   I am often surprised to discover Christians who pray ardently, receive the sacraments regularly, we've and attend Mass daily, and yet have an anger problem. (p. 10) Presumes a homogeneous, single personality.   Easy to explain with part.   Why do people explode in anger? There are many reasons, but I think the top three are power and control, a refusal to take responsibility, and habit. (p. 13). Very simplistic view of psychology, and no consideration of neurology, traumatology,  Confusion about the causal chain in anger.  Where anger fits in a sequence of events  Little genuine interest in anger.  Anger is something to essentially get rid of.   Not much consideration of the unconscious and unconscious anger.  Acknowledges that suppressing anger is problematic, but there still is an assumption that if I'm not feeling anger, it's not there.  Disconnect.   "Irrational anger"   Very focused on the will and will training -- naïve assumptions about sympathetic arousal. Nike Spirituality -- Just do it.   Romans 7:15:  I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.   Spiritual Bypassing  Definitions John Welwood: American clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, teacher, and author, known for integrating psychological and spiritual concepts  Using “spiritual ideas, words and practices to sidestep or avoid personal, emotional ‘unfinished business,' to shore up a shaky sense of self, or to belittle basic needs, feelings, psychological wounds and developmental tasks.”  Blogger Rose Hahn:  Spiritual Bypassing: What It Is & How To Avoid It  Bypassing occurs when spiritual ideals get elevated to the realm of absolute truth in such a way that our real, lived experience is somehow denied. Rather than doing the work of healing deep wounds, we may use these ideals to deny, devalue, or avoid meeting our more human needs – such as emotional bonding, love, and esteem. In other words, rather than risk opening ourselves to real human connection, and possibly get hurt, we adopt a more enlightened, spiritual way of relating to the world that doesn't rely on human relationship.  Not a lot from a specifically Catholic perspective, but this is from Katharina, who styles herself "The Bohemian Catholic" We are supposed to uplift each other, and treat each other with love and respect - like icons of Christ, as God's creation… BUT if you find yourself trying to tell someone that their faith should keep them "happy" all the time, then you aren't helping them.  Using spiritual words, spiritual means, spiritual concepts -- all to whitewash or put a Band-Aid on significant psychological or emotional problems in the natural realm  Bypassing the natural realm and going to the spiritual realm.   Essentially saying -- You should not feel this way.  Which is what Fr. Morrow is saying.  He promises to "I will offer some ideas, which I consider quite novel, on how to avoid angry explosions." (p.4) Tips So, as a first step in overcoming passive-aggressive anger keep reminding yourself that you want to be a Christian, and therefore you can't take revenge anymore. (p. 9).  First, take the time to calm down and figure out why you're angry…. One of the tactics often recommended is to count to ten before deciding what to do. (p. 20).  Better still, say a short prayer before acting. The next step is to ask yourself if your angry feeling is been caused by something significant. Most angry fights in marriage are caused by trifling things. (p. 20).  Or perhaps use humor to make your point.(p. 20).  Offering your angry feeling as a sacrifice is not suppressing it but doing something with it. It is making a bad situation into a beneficial one. That is what it means to embrace the cross. (p. 23-24).  If we can forgive others, we can pull the rug out from beneath our anger most of the time. Unforgiveness is the main culprit behind anger. (p. 25).  … Refocus your thoughts away from the things that made you angry to some very positive thoughts. For example, thank God for the beautiful weather for the ability to read or buy things you need. (p. 30).  I often encourage people with an anger problem to daily for humility. It works. (p. 36).  Chapter 7: Thanking God, praising God  Consider your future. One key way to change her behaviors to work on in your mind just what your life will be like if you don't change your angry behavior. (pp. 72-73)  If you struggle with an anger problem write on an index card all the negatives of continuing your anger and read that list several times a day. (p. 74).   Fr. Joseph Esper, Saintly Solutions to Life's Common Problems  99 reviews on amazon.  #138 in Roman Catholicism.  2001 Book -- First Chapter is on anger.   St. Thomas of Villanova: "Dismiss all anger and look into yourself a little." (p. 7) "St. Francis de Sales advises that, to avoid the sin of anger, you must quickly ask God to give peace to your heart when you're angered and then turn your thoughts to something else. Don't discuss the matter at hand or make decisions or correct other person while you're angry. When a person angers you, St. Francis advises, consider the person's good qualities rather than the words or actions you find objectionable." (p. 7) When we have to speak to someone with whom we are angry, we should first pray for the Lord's guidance and help. It's often more effective to speak in terms of asking favors, rather than making demands or giving orders…" (p. 5-6) ...rehearse possible responses and evaluate which ones which might help you. (p. 7) Tommy Tighe St. Dymphna's Playbook: A Catholic Guide to Finding Mental and Emotional Well-Being 2021 book,  #57 in Christian Pastoral Counseling, 66 reviews, mostly positive.   Doesn't discuss anger.  Discusses irritability as a symptom of depression and resentment as a problem in relationships "However, the more I have experienced depression in my own life and in my work as a clinician, the more I have seen the symptoms of irritability and anger is predominant features of depression." (p. 13).  That's one way, not the only way.   So often depression results from  Recommendations "…go for a walk, take some time to meditate, watch or read something that lightens our mood. (p. 13)  "Keeping a diary of our emotions and reactions to those emotions is a great place to start… Look back on a situation, slow it down, and examine what exactly happened….We might ask ourselves: What is it that has led to my irritability? Is it because I'm depressed and trying to stuff that feeling down rather than address it? What am I thinking in that situation? (p. 15).  "We draw this all out on paper, examine what was really behind our emotional response, and then explore ways of thinking that will restructure our reactions and response. And we write these down! Simply thinking about these things isn't going to help. The whole point is to get them out of our head and onto paper so that we can work them out. Consider it an emotional "show your work" kind of exercise." (p. 15).  Then, after a really brief introspective process, we can catch that the real reason for our irritability is our depressed mood, and we can interject coping skills for depression to stave off our irritability. (p. 16).  Changing the focus of our thinking is key when we try to battle against depression and irritability that inevitably rears its ugly head. You've probably heard people suggest keeping a gratitude list to help you feel more positive, much along the same lines as St. Paul's advice. It works. (p. 18).   Steps in the process Visualize yourself from the perspective of compassionate observer.  Notice from the outside whole feelings xare upsetting you and how they are reflected in your appearance.  Try to let the warm feeling of compassion and desire to help arise within you.  Say to yourself: "It is understandable that you feel that way. You are experiencing a natural response to depressing thoughts. But I'm going to help you."  Visualize putting your hand on your shoulder or hugging yourself to soothe and comfort yourself. Give yourself a friendly smile.  Think about if there are other things you want to tell yourself that would energize and encourage you to cheer up.  Taking time to say those things. When you feel it is appropriate, begin saying goodbye to yourself and remind yourself that you come back anytime you want. (p. 16-17). For resentment: Active listening  Tommy Tighe: to fend off resentment, we have to communicate with things are important to us and why. We can't expect our partner to read her mind. We have to tell them the things we value, what things we have grown to expect in relationships because of our past experiences and we have to tell them why. (p 113)   Rhonda Chevrin Taming the Lion Within: 5 Steps from Anger to Peace 2017  16 ratings  is a Catholic author, international speaker and Professor of Philosophy. She is the author of over 60 books concerning the matters of Catholic thought, practice and spirituality,  Take a secure thought -- use your imagination to think of ways out of annoying or enraging situations   Avoid exceptionality.  Accept the averageMove your musclesHumor is your best friendF.I.S.T.  Feelings, Impulses, Sensations, Thoughts:  What it signifies is that we can control our immediate impulses and sensations when hurt or frustrated, but if we control our thoughts we can control her impulses.Put your mental health firstPeace over power:  Many times you can't win, and it doesn't matter if you lose.  It's not worth the effort to put up a fight.  They are not doing it to you; they're just doing it! – Much is not done on purposeNot a 911  Not everything is an emergency,.Be Group minded Anger at GodForgiveness  Fr. Spitzer Angry with God? Here's Fr. Spitzer's Advice on How to Overcome Anger God understands your anger.  Don't dwell on it.  Don't go there.   Choose instead to: Three step process in the YouTube clip Angry with God:   Stop comparing to the way you once were.   Stop comparing yourself to others.   Stop having expectations for your suffering.   Offer it up.  Stop the questioning.   Saints' behaviors  Meg Hunter-Kilmer - published on 09/28/17Aleteia September 28, 2017, What We Probably Don't Know about St. Jerome Is Just What We Need to Know St. Jerome was known to carry around a stone that he would hit himself with every time he lost his temper.     If these are helpful to you, great.  I don't want to put up roadblocks.  Might be helpful to many people.   As a Catholic psychologist, I am not comfortable recommending any of these Catholic sources Very simplistic view of psychology, and no consideration of neurology, traumatology,  Confusion about the causal chain in anger.  Where anger fits in a sequence of events  Little genuine interest in anger.  Anger is something to essentially get rid of.   Very focused on the will and will training -- naïve assumptions about sympathetic arousal.  And they don't get that anger has a protective function -- to protect us against shame.  Not one of those sources connects anger to shame.  And that's the primary connection we need to understand if we want to resolve anger, not just try to shoo it away.   What are we talking about when we discuss anger -- let's get into definitions of Anger Focused on vengeance secondary to a desire -- more than an emotion.   Written discussions of anger in the western canon go back as far as fourth-century BC in Greece when the philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) argued that anger is a rational and natural reaction to being offended and thus is closely associated with reason. In the Rhetoric (1991, p. 1380) he defined anger as “a belief that we, or our friends, have been unfairly slighted, which causes in us both painful feelings and a desire or impulse for revenge.” 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia:  Anger:  The desire of vengeance. Its ethical rating depends upon the quality of the vengeance and the quantity of the passion. When these are in conformity with the prescriptions of balanced reason, anger is not a sin. It is rather a praiseworthy thing and justifiable with a proper zeal. It becomes sinful when it is sought to wreak vengeance upon one who has not deserved it, or to a greater extent than it has been deserved, or in conflict with the dispositions of law, or from an improper motive. The sin is then in a general sense mortal as being opposed to justice and charity. It may, however, be venial because the punishment aimed at is but a trifling one or because of lack of full deliberation.  Likewise, anger is sinful when there is an undue vehemence in the passion itself, whether inwardly or outwardly. Ordinarily it is then accounted a venial sin unless the excess be so great as to go counter seriously to the love of God or of one's neighbor.   CCC 2302  By recalling the commandment, "You shall not kill," 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." 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."  Contradiction that aggression (or vengeance) and anger have to go together  Lot of research to tease about anger and aggression: Ephesians 4:26:  Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger   APA Dictionary of Psychology: an emotion characterized by tension and hostility arising from frustration, real or imagined injury by another, or perceived injustice. It can manifest itself in behaviors designed to remove the object of the anger (e.g., determined action) or behaviors designed merely to express the emotion (e.g., swearing). Anger is distinct from, but a significant activator of, aggression, which is behavior intended to harm someone or something. Despite their mutually influential relationship, anger is neither necessary nor sufficient for aggression to occur.  Psychologist Paul Ekman. (1999). Basic emotions. In T. Dalgleish & M. J. Power (Eds.), Handbook of cognition and emotion (pp. 45–60). John Wiley & Sons Ltd  Due to its distinct and widely recognizable pattern of face expression, anger has always been included in the repertoire of basic emotions.   Benefits of Anger  Farzaneh Pahlavan Multiple Facets of Anger: Getting Mad or Restoring Justice?  Chapter 3:  The Neurobiology of RAGE and Anger & Psychiatric Implications with a Focus on Depression Daniel J. Guerra1, Valentina Colonnello and Jaak Panksepp As a basic emotion, anger emerges early in life and has a unique adaptive function in motivating, organizing, and regulating behavior. No other emotion can match the consistency and vigor of anger in mobilizing high-level energy and sustaining goal-directed activity. Anger serves a variety of regulatory functions in physiological and psychological processes related to self-defense as well as to interpersonal and societal behaviors. Through socialization processes, it plays an important role in the development of personality and individual differences in responding to environmental challenges, which can be more or less adaptive.  (p. v).   Aristotle:  Aristotle: Nichomachean Ethics: It is easy to fly into a passion – anybody can do that – but to be angry with the right person into the right extent and at the right time and with the right object in the right way – that is not easy, and it is not everyone who can do it  In themselves passions are neither good nor evil. They are morally qualified only to the extent that they effectively engage reason and will….It belongs to the perfection of the moral or human good that the passions be governed by reason. CCC 1767  CCMMP: Catholic-Christian Meta-Model of the Person  DMU Paul Vitz, William Nordling, Paul Craig Titus.    p. (294)  to remain in the virtuous middle ground requires being disposed to a righteous anger that will stand up to injustice, and use a good measure of anger in ways that are corrective of the evil, preventive of further injustice, and indicative of a balance to mean between extremes. Emotions are good when, as reactions antecedent to reasoning, they make us conscious of reality and prepare us for a more complete reaction and moral action. Emotion and choice then serve moral flourishing (e.g., when we have an appropriate spontaneous reaction of anger at injustice). Second, emotions are good as felt reactions that also follow the intellectual evaluation of the situation. Emotions can be expressive of rational decisions. Emotions can thus participate in our life of reason and will (Gondreau, 2013). For example, when we choose to rectify and injustice, a balanced expression of anger can help us to act decisively will being restrained enough that we do not overreact. Through a righteous or just expression of anger, we entered rectify injustice, will finding a just and rational mean between excessively weak or exceedingly strong emotional displays. (p. 650). Emotions are viewed as informing people about their cares and concerns. To prepare the body for action, directing our thoughts to ways that will appropriately address the issues at hand. They can signal and manipulate other people in ways that suit the person's emotional needs (Parrott, 2001). Being disconnected from emotional experience, therefore, means being cut off from adaptive information (Pos et al., 2003). (pp. 650-651). Digression into justification of secular sources Question may arise, "OK, Dr. Peter, as you already noted, anger has been recognized for a long time, going all the way back to Aristotle and way before that in Sacred Scripture.  You emphasize that you are a Catholic psychologist, so why are you even looking at these secular sources like the American Psychological Association? There is a lot about anger in Scripture, in the Church Fathers and the saints about anger in the spiritual life.   Discalced Carmelite Abbott Marc Foley in his excellent book The Context of Holiness: Psychological and Spiritual Reflections on the Life of St. Therese of Lisieux "One…misconception is that the spiritual life is an encapsulated sphere, cloistered from the realities of daily living….we have only one life composed of various dimensions.  Our emotional life, intellectual life, social life, work life, sex life, spiritual life are simple ways of speaking of the different facets of our one life.  (p. 1).  We have one life.  One life.  We don't have a spiritual life that is separate from our emotional life.  We have one life.  If we are angry, that affects our whole life.   The Church herself encourages us to look to all branches of knowledge and glean what is best from them in order to live our one life better.  From the CCC, paragraph 159  "Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth." "Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are." And from the Vatican II document, the Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World, paragraph 62 reads:  In pastoral care, sufficient use must be made not only of theological principles, but also of the findings of the secular sciences, especially of psychology and sociology, so that the faithful may be brought to a more adequate and mature life of faith. Remember that we are embodied beings -- we are composites of a soul and a body. The 17th Century Philosopher Rene Descartes' popularized what is called mind-body dualism.  Mind-body dualism is the idea that the body and the mind operate in separate spheres, and neither can be assimilated into the other.  And that is false.  Demonstrably false in a lot of ways, be we so often assume it to be true.  We have one life.   In the last several years we are realizing just how much of our mental life and our psychological well-being is linked in various ways to our neurobiology -- the ways that our nervous systems function.  And the relationship between our embodied brain and our minds is reciprocal -- each affects the other in complex ways that we are just beginning to understand.  In other words, brain chemistry affects our emotional states.  And our emotional states and our behaviors affect brain chemistry.  It's not just our minds and it's not just our bodies and it's not just our souls -- it's all of those, all of what makes me who I am, body, mind, soul, spirit, all of it.   And since Scripture, the Early Church Fathers, the Catechism and so on are silent on neurobiology, neurochemistry, neurophysiology and so many other areas that impact our minds and our well-being, as a Catholic psychologist I am going to look elsewhere, I'm going to look into secular sources.  I just don't think it's reasonable to expect the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican to be experts in these areas -- it's not their calling, it's not their expertise.  St. John of the Cross in his  Prologue of Ascent of Mt. Carmel: "I will not rely on experience or science…[but] I will not neglect whatever possible use I can make of them.  Fr. Marc Foley, OCD : The Context of Holiness:  As St. Thomas wrote of St. Augustine's use of Platonic philosophy in the Summa: "whenever Augustine, who was imbued with the doctrines of the Platonists, found in their teaching anything consistent with the faith, he adopted it and those things which he found contrary to the faith he amended." (ST I, q. 84,a. 5) p.4 And St. Thomas himself drew on so much of Aristotle's thought in his writings, bringing it into his body of work.   Abbot Marc Foley.  In short, we should never swallow the school of thought whole; we should sift the wheat from the chaff, separate truth from falsehood. p.4 We want the best from all sources.   Emphasis on biological processes:   From Heidi Crockett Anger Management with Interpersonal Neurobiology  Discussed Interpersonal Neurobiology at length in  Episode 92 of this podcast Understanding and Healing your Mind through IPNB In interpersonal neurobiology, anger as an emotion is viewed from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience. And cognitive neuroscience states that cognition and emotion are dynamically combined with physical arousal. When anger is induced as an emotion in humans, it can unconsciously affect physiological and neural resources. Affective states of anger are subsequently expressed in the brain as well as the body, and these neural and physiological changes can influence the cognitive processes. Many studies and resources have been expended on studying the emotions of happiness, sadness, and fear, which align with psychopathological states of hypomania, depression, and anxiety. Kathy Steele, Suzette Boon, Onno van der Hart:  Treating Trauma-Related Dissociation: A Practical, Integrative Approach:  Anger is an affect to derived from activation of the sympathetic nervous system, geared to energize the body for maximum effort to fend off perceived danger. Psychologically, it protects from awareness of vulnerability and lack of control, and therefore from shame. And fight mode, we are all primed to perceive cues of danger rather than cues of safety and relational connection. In such a heightened state of arousal, it is easy to misunderstand the intentions of others. (p.332). Polyvagal theory and anger  A critical period for experience-dependent development of the feelings of safety during early infancy: A polyvagal perspective on anger and psychometric tools to assess perceived safety  Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience July 2022 article   Andrea Poli, Angelo Gemignani, Carlo Chiorri and Mario Miccoli Brief primer here on some neurology.  Don't worry.  I will keep it simple.   Neurons are specialized cells that receive and send signals to other cells through fragile and thin cellular extensions called axons. Myelination:   a membrane or a sheath around the axons on neurons.   Myelinated axons often have a larger diameter Myelinated axons are insulated Myelination allows for much faster transmission of electric impulses Presence of safety during the critical period (first year of life).   Decreased unmyelinated/myelinated cardioinhibitory fibers ratio in adulthood Ventral Vagal complex is able to have a greater impact on reducing the Sympathetic Nervous System arousal -- decreasing anger  VVC is able to have a greater impact on reducing Dorsal Vagal Complex fear and shutdown responses -- the freeze response.   Greater capacity for self-regulation.   Absence of safety during the critical period  Increased unmyelinated/myelinated cardioinhibitory fibers ratio in adulthood Ventral Vagal complex has a lesser impact on reducing the Sympathetic Nervous System arousal -- less able to decrease sympathetic arousal, including anger  VVC has a lesser impact on reducing Dorsal Vagal Complex fear and shutdown responses -- less able to reduce the freeze response.   Less capacity for self-regulation.   Dampened VVC activity reduces the capacity of adaptive inhibition of SNS and DVC (Dorsal Vagal Complex), and emotional self-regulation. Hence, environmental detection of unsafety cues may preferentially trigger SNS-mediated anger in order to avoid DVC-mediated immobilization with fear. Young children exposed to five or more significant adverse experiences in the first three years of childhood face a 76% likelihood of having one or more delays in their language, emotional or brain development. (6) As the number of traumatic events experienced during childhood increases, the risk for the following health problems in adulthood increases: depression; alcoholism; drug abuse; suicide attempts; heart and liver diseases; pregnancy problems; high stress; uncontrollable anger; and family, financial, and job problems. (6) 7 ways childhood adversity changes a child's brain Donna Jackson Nakazawa Acestoohigh.com website September 8, 2016 Epigenetic Shifts  gene methylation, in which small chemical markers, or methyl groups, adhere to the genes involved in regulating our stress response, and prevent these genes from doing their jobs.  Size and Shape of the Brain stress releases a hormone that actually shrinks the size of the hippocampus, an area of our brain responsible for processing emotion and memory and managing stress.  Chronic neuroinflammation can lead to changes that reset the tone of the brain for life   Brain connectivity:  Dr. Ryan Herringa, neuropsychiatrist and assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, found that children and teens who'd experienced chronic childhood adversity showed weaker neural connections between the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. Girls also displayed weaker connections between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. The prefrontal-cortex-amygdala relationship plays an essential role in determining how emotionally reactive we're likely to be to the things that happen to us in our day-to-day life, and how likely we are to perceive these events as stressful or dangerous. Including anger.   Wiring of the brain and nervous system matter -- they matter a lot Brain activation in anger  Distinct Brain Areas involved in Anger versus Punishment during Social Interactions  Olga M. Klimecki, David Sander & Patrik Vuilleumier Scientific Reports 2018. 25 men fMRI study anger induced in an in inequality game designed to be unfair.   In the present study, we found that the intensity of experienced anger when seeing the face of the unfair other was parametrically related to activations in amygdala, STS (superior temporal sulcus), and fusiform gyrus (related to facial recognition). The STS has been shown to produce strong responses when subjects perceive stimuli in research areas that facial recognition   Farzaneh Pahlavan Multiple Facets of Anger: Getting Mad or Restoring Justice?  Chapter 3:  The Neurobiology of RAGE and Anger & Psychiatric Implications with a Focus on Depression Daniel J. Guerra1, Valentina Colonnello and Jaak Panksepp Rage emerges when specific environmental stimuli arouse the neural circuitry of the RAGE system. Even if the anger-thoughts and the related expression are modulated and regulated by higher cortico-cognitive areas, the human basic circuitry of anger is still subcortical. Since the early description of rage in decorticated cats (Dusser De Barenne, 1920) and dogs (Rothmann, 1923) and their responses to inoffensive stimuli, it was clear that the rage expression is i) dependent on subcortical areas, i.e. the ancient regions play a crucial role more than the higher neocortical regions; ii) independent of an intact cortex. p. 11  Among the higher limbic regions of this network, the medial nucleus, the basal complex, and central and lateral nuclei of the amygdala play a key role in the modulation of RAGE.  p. 1   All this happens far away from the frontal cortex in the limbic system of your brain.   Kathy Steele, Suzette Boon, Onno van der Hart:  Treating Trauma-Related Dissociation: A Practical, Integrative Approach   Why of Chronic anger.   Anger is the primary emotion of the "fight" defense.  When (parts of) the patient become stuck in this defense, anger becomes chronic.  Thus, the first intervention is safety.  332 As long as a fight reaction remains unresolved, anger will remain chronic. (p.332).  Almost no one seems to understands that anger is a defense against fear and shame.  It's a way of trying to protect oneself.   There are several reasons that anger and hostility become chronic in dissociative patients. First, patients typically have been severely invalidated, ignored, heard, betrayed, and sometimes even tortured over extended periods of time, while helpless to stop it. In itself, this is enough to generate enormous rage in anyone as part of the naturally occurring fight defense. Second, as children, patients often had little to no help in learning how to regulate and appropriately express normal anger, much less how to cope with it. Often it was unacceptable for many patients to express any kind of anger as children, while the adults around them were uncontained and highly destructive with their anger. Others had no limit set on their angry behaviors. (p. 330). Angry dissociative parts are feared and avoided internally by most other parts, particularly those that function in daily life. After all, angry behaviors toward self and others may interfere with functioning in a variety of personal and social ways. An ongoing vicious cycle of rage and shame ensues internally: the more patients avoid their angry and destructive dissociative parts, the angry these parts become, and the more they shame other parts and are shamed by them. (p. 331). … Angry parts have a deep shame and are highly defended against the strong belief that they are very bad. Their defense is reinforced by the shame of patients that such parts of themselves even exist. These parts of the patient are terrified of attachment to the therapist and you the relationship is dangerous, mainly because they are afraid that the therapist will never accept them. (p. 331-332). Whether the anger is part of a fight response or not, it is often a secondary emotion that protects the patient from feelings of sadness, extreme powerlessness, shame, guilt, and loss. (p. 333).  (add grief) Parts of the patient that developed  controlling-punitive strategies will be angry with others to get what they need,  while those that have controlling-caregiving strategies will punish themselves for being angry or having needs. (p. 333).  This is often the case in hostile parts such as those of self-injure or encourage other parts to self-harm, prostitute themselves, abuse drugs or alcohol, or engage in other self-destructive behaviors. They are often stuck in destructive and harmful behaviors that are an "attack self" defense against shame. (p.333). Finally, the rage of the perpetrator is often an embodied experience from which patients cannot yet escape without sufficient realization and further integration. Some dissociative parts imitate perpetrators internally, repeating the family dynamics from the past with other parts in a rather literal way. (p.333). "Getting the anger out" is not really useful, as the problem is that the patient needs to learn how to effectively express anger verbally rather than physically, and in socially appropriate and contained ways, so the patient can be heard by others. It is less the fact that patients express anger, but how they do so and whether that expression allows him to remain grounded in the present, to retain important relationships, and to avoid being self-destructive. (p. 334). Expression of anger is not necessarily therapeutic in itself. It is how (parts of) the patient experience and express it that is important; whether it is within a window of tolerancex in a socially appropriate and safe. Therapist must learn when expression of anger is therapeutic and when containment of anger is more helpful. (p. 334). Working with anger an angry parts (p.335). Take the time to educate the patient as a whole about the functions of anger and angry parts. Although they may seem like "troublemakers," they can be understood as attempting to solve problems with ineffective or insufficient tools.  Encourage all parts of the patient understand, accept, and listen to angry parts, instead of avoiding them.  Make efforts to understand what provokes angry parts. There are many potential triggers.   Not direct quotes Do all parts feel the same way as the angry part?  If not, can those parts listen to and accept angry parts perspective?  Would the angry part be willing to listen to the other internal perspectives?  Invite other parts to watch and listen if possible.  Can set limits with the angry part  the angry part and all parts need to learn that healthy relationships do not include punishment, humiliation, or force  Use titration, helping the person experienced as a small amount of anger will remain grounded in the present   Parts and imitate a perpetrator often literally experience themselves in our experienced by other parts as the actual perpetrator. Thus they understandably induce fear and shame within a patient as a whole, and sometimes fearing the therapist. (p. 345). The functions of perpetrator-imitating parts are (1) protect the patient against threats of the perpetrator, which continue to be experienced as real in the present; (2) defend the patient against unbearable realizations of being helpless and powerless as a child, (3) re-enact traumatic memories from the perspective of the perpetrator, as mentalize by the child; (4) serve as a defense against shame through attacking the patient and avoiding inner experiences of shame; (5) provide an outlet for the patient's disowned sadistic and punitive tendencies; and (6) hold unbearable traumatic memories. (p. 346). Suzette Boon, Kathy Steele, Onno van der Hart 2011 book  Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists Destructive expressions of anger include persistent revenge fantasies or actions, hurting self or others, "taking it out" on innocent people (or animals), or destruction of property. (p. 265).  Dissociative parts of a person that are stuck in anger may experience this feeling as vehement and overwhelming, often without words. They may have irresistible urges to act aggressively and have great difficulty thinking and reflecting on their feelings before acting. Angry parts have not learned how to experience or express anger and helpful ways. There are two types of anger dissociative parts. The first are parts that are stuck in a defensive fight mode, ready to protect you. Their anger at original injustices may be legitimate and naturally accompanies a tendency to strike out and fight, which is an essential survival strategy. However, such parts have become stuck in anger, unable to experience much else. They rigidly perceived threat and ill-will everywhere and they react with anger and aggression as their only option of response. Although these parts of you may not yet realize it, anger is often a protection against vulnerable feelings of shame, fear, hurt, despair, powerlessness, and loss. The second type of angry part may seem very much like the original perpetrator. They imitate those who hurt them in the past, and they can be experienced internally as the actual perpetrator. This experience can be particularly frightening, disorienting, and shameful. But be assured this is a very common way of dealing with being traumatized. In fact, although these parts may have some similarities to those who hurt you, they also significant differences: they are parts of you as a whole person, who is trying to cope with unresolved traumatic experiences. (p. 267)   Tips for coping with anger (p, 269 to 271) recognize how to make distinctions among the many gradations of anger, from mild irritation to rage, so that you can intervene more rapidly.  Understand your tells around anger, which may include a tight or tense feeling in your body, clenched jaw's or fists, feeling flushed or shaky, breathing heavily, heart racing, a feeling of heat, a surge of energy.  Empathize with her angry parts, recognizing they have very limited coping skills, and very limited vision. They've been shunned by other parts, left alone with their hurt, fear, shame, in isolation. This does not mean you have to accept their impulses toward inappropriate behavior  Once you start feeling some compassion toward these parts you can begin to communicate with them, listening with an intention, with curiosity to understand what lies underneath the anger  Angry parts have a strength, that they could transferred to use and more positive ways  Become more curious about why anger is happening.  Try creative and healthy nonverbal ways of expressing your anger, such as writing, drawing, painting, making a collage  Physical exercise may help as an outlet for the physical energy generated by the physiology of anger  Work on understanding your anger, by reflecting on it, rather than just experiencing it, being immersed in it. You might imagine observing yourself from a distance, and getting curious about why you feel the way you do.  Give yourself a time-out, that is, walk away from the situation if you're getting too angry. Counseling to 10, or even 200 before you say or do something you might regret later.  Calm breathing may help  Listen to each part of you, about what might help that part with anger. You can have in her conversations with parts of yourself about anger and how to express it. Small and safe ways to express anger can be negotiated that are agreeable to all parts of you  Watch safe people in your life and seal they handle their own anger. Do they accept being angry? Are they are respectful and appropriate with her anger? Are there particular strategies that they use that you could practice for yourself?  Healthy anger can get positive strength and energy. It can help you be appropriately assertive, set clear boundaries, and confront wrongs in the world. Anger can pave the way to other emotions, leading to the resolution relational conflicts.  We learn the most common triggers of your anger. Once you learn these triggers, you can be more aware when they occur and more able to prevent an automatic reaction of anger. Establish intercommunication among parts of yourself to recognize triggers and negotiate possible helpful strategies to cope with them rather than just reacting.  You can try allowing yourself to experience just a small amount of anger from another part of yourself: a drop, a teaspoon, 1% or 2%. In exchange you can share with angry parts feelings of calm and safety.  Inner safe spaces can be very helpful for childlike parts that feel terrified   My parts Feisty Part-- defends against shame -- Melancholio.   Good Boy  Challenger  Creative-distracting me.   Closing Mark your calendars.  Next Live Experience of the IIC podcast will be on Friday, January 13, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern time on Zoom (repeat) -- All about Anger -- dealing with your anger.  Going beyond what books can do.  Experiential exercise.  Links to register have gone out in our emailed Wednesday Reflections.  Can get the link on the IIC landing page as well, SoulsandHearts.com/iic  December 28, 2022  Reflection at soulsandhearts.com/blog  From Rejecting to Embracing Aging Reach out to me Crisis@soulsandhearts.com  Conversation hours:  cell is 317.567.9594 conversation hours 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Eastern Time Every Tuesday and Thursday.   Resilient Catholic Community -- you do not have to be alone.   Why a deep intimate personal relationship with God our Father, Mary our Mother -- spiritual parents   By claiming our identity as beloved daughters and sons of God the Father and Mary our Mother. Identity is freely given.   How By dealing with the natural level issues we have, the human formation issues we have that have spiritual consequences.  Grace perfects nature  So many spiritual problems have their roots in the natural realm, in human formation.   If this kind of exercise is helpful to you, we have nearly 100 of them in the Resilient Catholics Community.   120 Catholics like you already on board, already on the pilgrimage -- just had 47 apply for the December 2022 cohort, excited to get to know our new applicants.   Closed December 31 -- wait list should be up soon for the June 2023 Cohort.   Get to know your own parts Get to love your own parts If interested, contact me.   Crisis@soulsandhearts.com 317.567.9594 conversation hours 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Eastern Time Every Tuesday and Thursday.    

Hey friends, Merry Christmas season! I love that this episode drops in your podcast feed the day after Christmas, and I hope it finds you well rested and joyful. Our little Langr crew has been sick this past week, so we're enjoying quiet family time and praying for everyone soon. But this episode also finds you just a few days before the first day of 2023. There are many resolutions that I've made throughout the years, but one that I keep making ….and failing…is reading the Bible from cover to cover. Some years, I've tried to read from Genesis to Revelations, falling off the wagon sometime around Leviticus. Then, I tried reading through with Fr. Mike Schmitz and his podcast and I made it PAST Leviticus, and then just stopped listening. I WANT to read through the Bible, and you might too - but how?! And where do we find the motivation to get past the boring parts (I'm looking at you, descriptions of the ark of the covenant), the run-on sentences from St. Paul, and the parts that just leave you confused? In this episode, I'm sitting down with Meg Hunter-Kilmer. She's an itinerant missionary and the author of a brand new Bible Journal. Oh, and she's just wrapping up her 21st read through the entire Bible, so she has some great advice if that's your goal this upcoming year, to! We're talking about what Meg's very first read through scripture looked like (she was thirteen! It took her five years!) and the unique way she recommends reading the Bible so you don't get bogged down in 1st and 2nd chronicles and Meg shares one of my new favorite saint quotes on scripture that I hadn't heard until our conversation today. If you want to spend time in God's word every day and grow in your knowledge and love of Scripture, sister, this letter is for you. Topics we talked about in this episode: Meg's life as a hobo missionary and how she surrenders and trusts God to provide How Meg wrote her new book, A Year in the Word Catholic Bible Journal on Instagram How Scripture has impacted Meg from her first read through at age 13 to today Meg's recommended reading plan to help you make it from Genesis to Revelations What to do with Scripture passages that confuse (and bore!) you The Bible verses Meg keeps close to her heart How Meg lives out the feminine genius Resources you should check out after listening to this episode: Grab a copy of A Year In the Word Catholic Bible Journal Explore Meg's website Listen to Meg and Chloe's previous conversations about surrender and the saints Pick up a copy of the Letters to Women book Check out the sponsor for today's episode, The Little Catholic Box Subscribe and Review Letters to Women in iTunes Are you subscribed to Letters to Women? If not, you should subscribe today! You don't want to miss any of the upcoming episodes. Click here to subscribe in iTunes.

The first Mexican American Saint may very well end up being the man they called the Bishop of the Barrio. The cause for canonization of Alphonse Gallegos was opened in 2005, and in 2016 Pope Francis authorized the bishops and cardinals of the Congregation of Saints to grant him the title of Venerable. In this special episode of Church Life Today, Meg Hunter-Kilmer introduces us to Venerable Alphonse Gallegos through the memories and stories of people who knew him.  Meg Hunter-Kilmer is the inaugural fellow of the Sullivan Family Saints Initiative here in the McGrath Institute for Church Life. This special episode was funded by the Sullivan Family Saints Initiative, which seeks to renew scholarship on the saints and increase devotion to the saints.Follow up Resources:●      “Bishop of the Barrio: Venerable Alphonse Gallegos” byMeg Hunter-Kilmerin the Church Life Journal.●      “Sullivan Family Saints Initiative welcomes inaugural fellow”Church Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Catholics come in all shapes, sizes and walks of life, each of us with our own calling. Today we're chatting with this year's Diocesan Women's Conference capstone speaker, Meg Hunter-Kilmer, about hearing God's call and answering without hesitation.   

This season's first episode shares the journey of Meg Hunter-Kilmer '04, '06 M.T.S., an author, speaker, and itinerant missionary, who describes her understanding of God's radical love and what that has compelled her to do with her life.

 A weekly program produced by the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa. SHOW DESCRIPTION: Catholics come in all shapes, sizes and walks of life, each of us with our own calling. Today we're chatting with this year's Diocesan Women's Conference capstone speaker, Meg Hunter-Kilmer, about hearing God's call and answering without hesitation.

Many Catholics want to have a deeper understanding of the Bible, but are intimidated to just dive in. Father Dave welcomes back friend of the show Meg Hunter-Kilmer to discuss her method of reading the Bible in her new book, “A Year in the Word: Catholic Bible Journal.”

In this reflection for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer reminds us that we are beloved, and that we are children of God. The post Enkindle 122 – 09.04.22 – The Gospel Can Change People appeared first on numinous.fm.

In this reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer reflects on how the readings show that God has chosen us to be his own, and what that means for us. The post Enkindle 118 – 08.07.22 – Given the Kingdom appeared first on numinous.fm.

For this reflection for Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Meg Hunter-Kilmer inspires us to ask for a deeper joy that only comes from Jesus. The post Enkindle 115 – 07.17.22 – The One Thing Necessary appeared first on numinous.fm.

For this reflection for Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Meg Hunter-Kilmer inspires us to ask for a deeper joy that only comes from Jesus. The post Enkindle 114 – 07.10.22 – It is Good to be Good appeared first on numinous.fm.

For this reflection for Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Meg Hunter-Kilmer inspires us to ask for a deeper joy that only comes from Jesus. The post Enkindle 113 – 07.03.22 – Deeper Joy appeared first on numinous.fm.

We wrap up Part 2 of our discussion with Catholic missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer about the Eucharist. This time we talk about the intimacy of Jesus in the Eucharist, God's Love shown in the Eucharist, Black Catholics and Faithfulness, and young people and the Eucharist. The post Redeemer S3E3 – Meg Hunter-Kilmer Part 2 appeared first on numinous.fm.

This week, Danielle is joined by author Meg Hunter-Kilmer. Meg shares stories and inspiration from the lives of little-known saints that can also be found in her new book Pray For Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled Their Way to Holiness. Snippet From the Show The lives of the saints help us to know the reality of God's love for every single one of us. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends.

Meg Hunter-Kilmer's talk on the Eucharist June 15, 2022 at Corpus Christi parish.

We talk with Meg Hunter-Kilmer, missionary and hobo for Christ, about the Eucharist, Servant of God Jean-Thierry Ebogo, our hope in the Eucharist, Venerable Matt Talbot, going to daily Mass, and Eucharistic thinking. The post Redeemer S3E2 – Reckless Generosity with Meg Hunter-Kilmer appeared first on numinous.fm.

In this reflection for Pentecost Sunday 2022, Meg Hunter-Kilmer shares how the the Holy Spirit is the gift of life that empowers us to come to life in the ways that God intended for us as his children. The post Enkindle 109 – 06.05.22 – Power of the Spirit appeared first on numinous.fm.

Meg Hunter-Kilmer helps us get to know some saints whose struggles can help us with our own. Her book is Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness.   Today's episode is brought to you in part by Caritas Press.

*In MAY* Sarah tells Annie about a cool feature on the Hallow app in May - Asian saint stories from Meg Hunter-Kilmer's book Pray For Us, read by Asian American Catholics! Why is this cool, you may ask? Because these saints are BALLERS of the faith, and their stories are such a gift. Also because Sarah Ku, voice of Asian Catholic Woman, pitched the idea to Hallow and she reads two of the stories and she's Sarah's son godmother.

This episode is another in a monthly series called “What Are the Sisters Reading?” Sisters from the Daughters of Saint Paul will review and reflect upon spiritual books that will help Catholics grow in relationship to God. In today's episode, Sister Sean Mayer, FSP, and Sister Kathryn Hermes, FSP, are the guests. Here's what they are reading: Sister Emily shares about "The Journey of our Love: The Letters of St Gianna Beretta & Pietro Molla." You can purchase it by clicking here.  Meanwhile, Sister Kathryn reflects on “Pray For Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness” by Meg Hunter-Kilmer. You can purchase it by clicking here.  To check out more books on the Catholic faith and religious items of interest at the Pauline Books and Media Center at 1025 King Street in Alexandria, please click here.

Encounter is a night of praise, testimony, worship, and Confession. Special Guest: Meg Hunter-Kilmer is an itinerant missionary and storyteller who travels the world telling people about the fierce and tender love of God. You can read more of her work in Saints Around the World (an international Saint storybook for children) or Pray for Us: 75 Saints who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness.

Meg Hunter-Kilmer speaks at the Kingdom Builders Conference.

Interviews: Donna Marie Cooper OBoyle, author, "The Miraculous Medal: Stories, Prayers and Devotions" & Meg Hunter Kilmer, author, "Pray for Us"

Interviews: Donna Marie Cooper OBoyle, author, "The Miraculous Medal: Stories, Prayers and Devotions" & Meg Hunter Kilmer, author, "Pray for Us"

In this episode, we will be talking with Meg Hunter-Kilmer, who describes her apostolate as being a Hobo for Christ. She is an author and speaker who, after 5 years as a full-time religion teacher, quit her job and packed everything into the trunk of her car to drive around the country and fly around the world as a hobo missionary. So, since June 2012, she has traveled the country and internationally, speaking to anyone who'll listen about the goodness of God, Catholic apologetics, Christian morality, and the life of prayer.

Today's episode features Meg Hunter-Kilmer (@mhunterkilmer). Meg is a Catholic speaker, writer, and self-proclaimed hobo for Christ (She really dives into what that means in this episode!).⁠⁠ We talk a lot about Jesus and radical trust. ⁠⁠ She wrote a beautiful letter in the "Receive" section of our exciting new book: A Place to Belong: Letters from Catholic Women and you can find out more about her and her ministry at https://www.piercedhands.com/ We know the audio quality is a little wonky this week, but the content is incredible! So...enjoy today's episode!   Enjoy today's episode! PRE-ORDER "A Place to Belong: Letters from Catholic Women" here: https://paulinestore.com/place-to-belong STAY IN TOUCH WITH US! Twitter: @DaughterStPaul and @PBMPublishingInstagram: @DaughterStPaul and @PaulineBooksAndMedia Thank you for listening. Leave us a rating and review on your favorite platform so that others can discover and listen to us too! Thank you to our supporters on Patreon who make this podcast possible!Support us and find out more: www.thedaughtersproject.com