78 SIN 



of sadness which is extolled as a virtue. Cf r. Ps. 

 CXVIII, 136: "My eyes have sent forth springs 

 of water, because they have not kept thy law." 

 Matth. V, 5 : "Blessed are they that mourn, for 

 they shall be comforted." 2 Cor. VII, 9 sq. : 

 "Now I am glad, not because you were made sor- 

 rowful; but because you were made sorrowful 

 unto penance. For you were made sorrowful ac- 

 cording to God. . . ." 30 Sadness combined with 

 selfishness, however, is always sinful because in- 

 compatible with, nay directly opposed to, charity. 

 The envious man seeks to injure his neighbor 

 rather than advantage himself, whereas charity 

 inclines us to rejoice in the wellbeing of others. 

 Through the envy of the devil sin and death came 

 into this world. 31 Envy inspired the first re- 

 corded murder and the crucifixion of Christ. 32 

 It is the lowest form of selfishness because it aims 

 solely at destruction. This vice is mortally sin- 

 ful in itself, but admits of a parvitas materiae. 



Envy engenders hatred, revenge, malignant joy at the 

 misfortunes of others, calumny, slander, and crimes 

 against life and property. 33 More than any other vice 

 envy entails its own punishment, for it destroys peace of 

 mind and sometimes even injures the body. 34 Sacred 



30 Cfr. St. Augustine, Serm., 254 32 Cfr. Matth. XXVII, 18; 1 Cor. 



(a/. 151 de. Temp.), n. 2; St. X, 24; XIII, 4 sqq.; Gal. V, 26. 



Thomas, Summa Theol., 2a 2ae, qu. 83 Matth. XXVII, 18-25; cfr. 



36, art. 1-4. Gen. IV, 8; XXVI, 14 sq. ; XXVII, 



si Cfr. Gen. Ill, 1; IV, 5; Wisd. 41; XXXVII, 4. «. 



II, 24. 34 Matth. XXVII, 18-25. Cfr. 



Gen. IV, s-6; XXXI, 2-5. 



