Chapter XXV: Envy

tem illum, qui sunt ex parte illius (By the envy of the devil death came into the world).—WIS. ii. 24.

THE fourth of the deadly sins is envy, jealousy. Let us see in what this vice consists, why we must abhor it, and what is the remedy for it.

I. Envy consists in grieving at the success of others and rejoicing in their misfortunes. When this passion develops in a heart it fills it with a bitter melancholy and an implacable hatred for merit and virtue, particularly if these good qualities dazzle or eclipse the envious. The mixture of these frightful and unjust sentiments forms the proper character of envy. We must not confound the vice of envy with emulation, which is the virtue, the sentiment of a noble heart. Emulation is a desire to equal, to surpass the good qualities of our neighbor; envy is an enemy which would destroy them.

This vile passion springs from a secret pride which makes one believe himself lessened by the elevation of others. Hence the very different impression experienced by the envious at sight of their neighbor's happiness and at sight of his reverses. If he succeeds they are grieved and regard him with an evil eye. If he fails or meets with a humiliation they triumph with a malicious joy which they conceal in the depths of their hearts.

Envy is the mark of a bad nature and is never to be found in a generous heart. A noble heart shares the joys as well as the sufferings of his neighbor; he rejoices in his happiness and grieves at his misfortunes: Gaudere cum gaudentibus, flere cum flentibus (Rom. xii. 15). The envious, on the contrary, rejoice in the tears and feed upon the humiliations and misfortunes of their brothers.

We sin through envy in several ways: 1st, by yielding to the evil sentiments which this vice inspires; 2d, by speaking under its influence, holding conversations dictated by envy, changing words of blame, criticism, and detraction into affected praise, the better to conceal and insinuate the venom of disparagement and detraction.

II. Motives for flying envy. 1st. Envy is a base passion which lodges in wicked, ignoble hearts. Wherever it appears it is despised and abhorred; it blushes for itself, and it is for this reason that it always seeks concealment.

2d. Envy engenders a multitude of sins: rash judgments, detraction, malicious joy at sight of the faults or trials of others, hatred, vexations of every kind, frequently even murders and the most atrocious cruelties.

3d. It is the crime of the evil one, of Cain, of the brothers of Joseph, of the Jews: Pilate knew that for envy they had delivered him (Matt. xxvii. 18).

4th. Envy poisons the peace and happiness of life; once it fastens upon a heart it consumes it as the worm does the wood, it corrodes it like rust upon iron.

III. Remedy. The remedy for this detestable vice is fraternal charity, contempt for earthly goods, and Christian humility. . . . Should you find yourself the victim of the envy of others, beware of manifesting contempt or hatred, which would only imbitter them; you should, on the contrary, conduct yourself with that humility, that Christian charity which appeases envy and which overcomes evil by good (Rom. xii. 21).