Pradel, St. Vincent Ferrer

Pradel, St. Vincent Ferrer, 1875, pp. 350–351

I. Envy proceeds from pride and ambition. Have I an exaggerated notion of my personal worth? Have I aspired to any superiority?
II. Another source of envy is a disorderly affection for the things of this world. Have I preferred the heritage of heaven and spiritual wealth to the goods of fortune? Have I viewed without pain my neighbour's prosperity? Do I rejoice in the blessings which Providence has bestowed upon him?
III. Self-love, in fine, is the secret root of envy. Have I to reproach myself with feelings of egotism? Have I carefully suppressed them when they sprung up in my soul?
IV. Have I never manifested a spirit of envy in my conversation, by lowering the merits of others? Have I never shown ill-will towards those who display a greater genius, more talent, more virtue than myself, and who meet with greater sympathy from those with whom we live? Have I never adroitly alluded to their defects in order to gratify the resentment caused by the praise that is bestowed on them?
V. Have I gone even further, by forming rash judgments, spreading false reports, undermining their reputation, using a thousand indirect, equivocal, and criminal means to injure their interests?
VI. Have I, through envy, wished evil to my neighbour? Do I rejoice in his misfortunes? To what degree does my dislike of him carry me?