 7 Deadly Sins & 7 Life Giving Virtures "Let us not be...envious of one another." The word envy seems to flow from two Latin words: in + videre, which might be translated as "to look askance at." Webster's defines envy as "painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage." This definition reflects that of Chaucer, who describes envy as "sorrow at the prosperity of others and joy in their hurt." St Thomas says that the reason we grieve over another's good is that somehow we see that good as lessening our own value or excellence, somehow we see our neighbor's possessions as not only surpassing ours but also as taking away some of our prestige. For this reason he states that we are usually "envious of those goods about which people like to be honored or esteemed." While envy is often directed toward material possessions of others, envy may also extend to resentment over spiritual gifts and graces as well. In close-knit parishes or prayer groups we find the kind of envy whereby some persons resent the special gifts or charisms of others, their reputation for being holy or close to God. Envy and jealousy are often used interchangeably. Jealousy generally has to do with persons. Envy is more concerned with things. Jealousy is a fear of losing another's exclusive or special love. Envy is sorrow over or a desire to possess what another has. Jealousy is resentment at being replaced by a rival. Jealousy is a kind of spiritual sickness, which easily turns trust to suspicion, love to hate, peace to fury. And it is a spreading sickness. It infects the jealous person but also the person who is the object of the jealousy and often times many other people as well. -thoughts taken from Choosing Virtue in a Changing World: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins Please Email Us With Any Comments or Feedback At ©2005 CopperCountry.com,Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. |
