The Irish standard., 1888-03-17
THE SIN OF ENVY.
=" It Tends to Eface that Natural Love The
Finger Of God Has Written on the
Human Heart"

Human Heart"
Rev. Father Corbett delivered most
impressive sermon at the Church of the
immaculate Conception on Sunday last.
Iia YVES listened to With marked attention
throughout, and during the course Of
his sermon said:
Envy is displeasure at our neigh.
bos's success, whether in regard to his
Temporal! or eternal concerns. Envy is
the yexation at the prosperity and the
triumph OF tho adversely Of our fellow
being. However, every joy one expert
epces at another's grievances does not
constitute The sin OF envy. 70 rejoice
at the temporal losses Of another, with
the hope that sach trials shall occasion
his retnrn to God, IS not envy. but char
ity. To be sad al the elevation OF q per-
son 10 position which others merit
more and could better fulfill is not envy,
but brotherly zeal. To be mentally af-
flicted at the elevation of person to an
Office, who, on well-founded pres imp
ton, will misuse his authority to the
detriment Of society, ia not envy. bat a
legitimate fear. Neither does the SOY
row caused by the lack Of mutual regret
OF any good constitute envy. Such a
sorrow is emulation, laudable senti-
ment. and especially when found among
The young. Emulation is u great slim
ulant to we'll. dong.
Envy consists in this: That man re-
joica, because OF the misfortuues that
befail his fellow being. on account Of
hatred on account OF pride, on account
OF avarice.
Indeed, envy tends to efface Chat nat
ural love which the finger Of God has
written on the human heart, to break
asunder the booas of union, and to
weaken the spirit Of Christianity. Those
petty contentious and regrets, the fall
ings-out among the members of the
same community, often spring from
jealousy,
Envy causes the downfall OF good as
sociations, whose laudable object is the
material and spiritual advancement Of
mankind. An organization whose menu
bers nourish a spirit of lusinuation, Of
critlc,sm, Of fault-fnding- organi~
cation shall crumble Yea, the work OF
the evil one it will do. 'tFor God is not
the God Of dissension; but OF peace"
says St. Paul The envious man is a
pest to social, national and religious
progress. His fellow being, fearing his
sarcasm aud malicious interpretation Of
his words and actions, often remains
neutral in the propagation OF virtue and
tr1th.
Perfect harmony, fraterual union and
material hid should prevail among men,
both es Christians and members Of soci-
ETY., Our neighbor's joy should be our
JOY; ous neighbours SORROW should be
our SORROW. "Reiolce with them that
REJOICE says st. Paul, tsand mourn
with them chat mourn A helping
hand We should lend our brother iii
need.
Goo has chosen men kings OF the visit
Ole creation. But the envlous person,
forgetting the high dignity of bis neigh
hcr, wishes to possess all himself.
Should bis fellow being by hard labor
en,leavor to build himself up i'll life, the
envioas man works against him either
by detrachon or calumny. Should his
fellow being desire lucrative position
Or make 4 good contract, the euvious
Man uses stratagem to injure his repn-
tation. The very gifts of Divine Prav,-
denee the enyioue mau percaiyes i'll
others he holds in ridicule and cou-
tempt. He would have no equal, no
superior. The good of others makes
his torture.
Envy gives it's victim no rest. For to
live for the world is to live for dlsoon-
tent; to live for reputation, to live for
vain phantom. Popularity is as mans
shadow. Does he desire to catch it, it
-,:as away from MIN, does ne RIM away
from it, it follows him.
Indeed, eSx5 i| tss aas IS as ,nasny
evils. "W4Sfe sna!j tious
exist says :S sill iucoas;