Envy
The Catechism of the Catholic Church covers envy in its section
48
on the tenth commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor’s
goods. “Envy is a capital sin. It refers to the sadness at the sight of
another’s goods, and the immoderate desire to acquire them for oneself,
even unjustly. When it wishes grave harm to a neighbor it is a mortal
sin: St. Augustine saw envy as ‘the diabolical sin.’ ‘From envy are born
hatred, detraction, calumny, joy caused by the misfortune of a neighbor,
and displeasure caused by his prosperity.’” (CCC 2539)
So envy causes us not only to desire another’s possessions, it causes us to
wish their destruction as well. Envy is, therefore, different from jealousy.
Jealousy, while not good, can incite one to positive action, seeking to
acquire a thing by just means. So envy is dangerous, indeed. The Book
of Wisdom says, “By the envy of the Devil, death entered the world.”
(Wisdom 2:24)
The Catechism goes on: “Envy represents a form of sadness and therefore
a refusal of charity; the baptized person should struggle against it by
exercising good will. Envy often comes from pride; the baptized person
should train himself to live in humility.” (CCC 2540) And, “The tenth
commandment requires that envy be banished from the human heart.”
(CCC 2538)
The remedy for envy is the virtue of kindness. The Catechism tells us,
“The baptized person combats envy through good-will, humility, and
abandonment to the providence of God.” (CCC 2554)
For further study:
CCC 1866, 2538-2540, 2553-2554 • Wisdom 2:24