ENVY. - I. NOTION. - Envy (from the Latin invidia) is one of the seven capital sins that originate from the concupiscence kindled in human nature because of original sin. Like all the capital vices, it is, more than a sin, the disordered and therefore evil tendency itself: it is nonetheless called a sin, because it leads to sin, and a capital sin because it is the source or root of many other vices.
Envy is at the same time a passion and a vice. As a passion, it is a kind of deep sorrow that is felt sensibly at the consideration of another's good. This passion is nothing other than the deviation of a useful sentiment, placed by God himself in human nature, namely emulation, a praiseworthy sentiment that leads one to imitate, to equal and even to surpass, with the help of divine Grace, the virtues of one's neighbor. As a capital vice, envy is a kind of spiritual sorrow, determined by the good of one's neighbor, considered as an attack on our presumed superiority, and therefore as an injustice done to us. It is often accompanied by the desire to see one's neighbor deprived of the good that eclipses us. It is a vice that is born of pride, which can tolerate neither superiors nor rivals. The object of envy is principally brilliant gifts, riches, successes, honors, but in many people envy also aims at more solid gifts and even at virtue, as also at the very person who enjoys them. These are the worst forms of envy. Envy is therefore a hateful egoism, which seeks a way to harm one's neighbor, contrary to the love that takes delight in the happiness of others.
When there is grave matter, envy is by its nature a mortal sin, because it is directly opposed to the virtue of charity, which wills that each one rejoice at every grace and every advantage that God rains down upon his neighbor. To envy, moreover, the spiritual goods of one's neighbor is a most grievous sin (Sum. theol., 2ᵃ-2ᵃ, q. 36, a. 4, ad 2), one of the six sins against the Holy Spirit, considered irremissible, inasmuch as one rarely repents of them.
All this is true when the motions of envy are deliberately and fully adverted to. When, instead, one does not it is a matter only of involuntary feelings accompanied by little or no reflection, then the guilt will at most be venial.
II. EFFECTS
In its effects, envy is sometimes quite harmful. It generates feelings of hatred; through it one rejoices at seeing the misfortunes of others, spreads defamation and creates slander against one's neighbor; it produces divisions not only among strangers, but also among members bound by ties of blood or spiritual bonds; it takes away the envious person's peace, driving him to an immoderate pursuit of wealth and honors.
III. REMEDIES
The most effective remedies are two: 1) to consider that we are all brothers and members of the Mystical Body, whose head is Jesus; and that therefore we must rejoice in the excellence of others (I Rom. 12:15-16); 2) to cultivate the sentiment of emulation, which may serve as an incitement to reach others by the loyal and honest means at our disposal.
Bibliography5 works
Francesco Ercolani