Is It OK to Hate Someone?

What do we need to do as Catholic Christians to convey that the message of our religion is one of pure love? So often we misrepresent what it means to be Christian, causing many people to just see judgment when they see us upholding our principles. In this video, Fr. Mike emphasizes how important it is to live what we believe, and that means loving people so much that even when they harm us, we continue to love them.

[Davidjune]

I have a really hard time with this one. Truly traumatic events inflicted on you by another person ... it takes a lot of time to let that hate go

[winnie]

I had a series of doctors who made errors in my treatment, almost killed me, and left me with ongoing pain & the loss of my profession. I was a healthy mom and had a career, then they botched my treatment & lied about it. Not hating them feels like a mighty tall order most days. But I know I’m called to not hate them and to forgive. It’s a work in progress. God didn’t hurt me & humans are flawed. I try to use my experiences in pain to discern the hurt in others & reach out to them.

[numzi]

I've felt rage and hate in my heart over the last year towards those I feel are destroying our country. I really needed to hear this.

[AMoniqueOcampo]

"Hate the sin, love the sinner."

[jorgecampos]

The hardest people to love are those with big egos, self-center, huge self-pride, liars that see you like a dumb and have the strongest conviction that misleading you and destroying you is not only their right, but their duty, and no matter how hard I try to seek peace and reconciliation, they keep fighting to keep me submissive. It is really hard to love that kind of people.

[calibanxpable]

Father Mike, you have a nice way of putting things in neat little packages of wisdom. Thank you.

[thelaughingboo]

One of my favorite "church songs" growing up:
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

[JJ-mxdz]

“you can’t go to heaven hating somebody”
—Mother Angelica

[esmeraldaruiz]

"The world will never believe that we actually love people and love God unless we actually start to love people and to love God." -Fr. Mike. Love it!

[JennTheRebel]

Father Mike, WHY....WHY does God use you to speak truth into my heart JUST when I need it?
I was just grappling with someone who has come into my life and has been very much unlovable in their actions and words-to me and those around them. To say I feel some kind of anger towards them is an understatement. My husband has been trying to explain that it's not my job to hate, or be bitter or anything towards this person, but dang it, as you said, it's HARD when all I want to do is claw their eyes out!
But....BUT....God has been convicting me of my internal feelings and your video hit the nail right on the proverbial head. We can justify(i.e. excuse) our human, fleshy reaction towards others....but God calls us to be better than that, to love them as HE loved our sinful, rebellious selves even when we didn't deserve it.
Thank you so much for this message, posted just when I needed it.
If you'll excuse me, I'm going to pick my jaw up off the ground and go get some repenting done😉.
Blessings to you!

[maureenbanks]

Father im in a battle alright! One of hatred in my heart & I don't want it! I was hurt so badly & it was so unjust & I still suffer the losses today. My life was ruined. I'll never be the same again. I'm trying to forgive I promise. Im so stuck. I choose forgiveness. I choose to forgive them. It burns & stings & hurts & aches. I'm sorry I'm such a baby lord. Help me stay in a place of forgiveness lord. Amen. Friends ... please pray for me. I'll pray for you.

[disakasungoh]

Father Mike please make a video on how to stop hating someone 🙏

[littlewingmyoho]

Praying for one's perceived enemies is the most difficult but powerful prayer 🙏

[fundykid]

A prayer uncovered in a women’s prison camp: “Lord, remember not only men and women of good will, but those of ill will. But do not remember the suffering they have inflicted upon us. Remember the fruits we brought thanks to this suffering – our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, the courage, the generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of this. And when they come to judgement, let all the fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.” On a scrap of paper discovered in Ravensbruck extermination camp, 1945.

[Missmarti]

Thank you Father Mike, my heart is full of hate for someone who hurt me. I will try to stop. I needed to hear this.🕊

[johnchan]

The bestest sound bites of WISDOM of Catholic Faith/Doctrine always comes from the voice of Fr.Mike Schmitz

[_Keith_]

This issue, of seeing past a person's sin/mistakenness to know a deeper identity worthy of love and forgiveness, is a prime example of how my personal sense of morality, identity, and things of importance are in alignment with Christianity. That's coming from the background of an agnostic, contemplating probable truth. It is reassuring to have come to the understanding and decision in my own thoughts, prior to accepting it in the words of others, for it's then that to hear it rings true. Thanks Fr. Mike for touching on a point of such significance. A good video, as usual.

[katyarn]

Please never stop doing these. They are such a blessing

[sanctus]

This is such an important message to hear in our day and age. We're so politically and culturally divided that some of us fall into the trap of hating others. As Christians, as Catholics, we have to walk in truth, but we can do so with love, mercy, compassion, and charity. Thank you, Fr. Mike!

[pishquet]

I hate no one, but at one time in my life I did . For yrs I couldn't move on with my life until I forgave this person . The weights dropped from my I find lacking lately in my part of the world are many who do not have common sense, appreciation, respect or dignity and who will go out of their way to make one's life miserable ....
What a miserable existence they must lead . Love is just another 4 letter word to them, unfortunately .
Thank you Father Mike.