Contact :

'Saccidananda'
Capuchin Provincialate
Dr. Rajkumar Road, P.B.No.1060, Rajajinagar, Bangalore-560 010
Karnataka, India.

Tel:
+91-080-23377790
+91-080-23470178

Fax:
+91-080-23474342

E-Mail
cappro@rediffmail.com
psecretary@rediffmail.com

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  Circular-PC 06/07    |    Circular-PC 05/07 
  Circular-PC 04/07    |    Circular-PC 03/07 

Message from the Provincial Minister

THE SIN OF ENVY
(Admonition No. VIII)

According to Francis of Assisi every good deed emerges from the Lord and there is no actual doer except the Lord. This statement actually is an “act of faith”, namely we live in the Spirit and all the good that we do has to be finally attributed to the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3). Hence the statement of the scripture: “There is no one who does good, not even one” (Rom 3:12). This being the case one who envies against the good done by a brother, envies actually God himself, hence envy is (according to Francis) a sin of blasphemy. What therefore should be our right attitude? All the good that is done in this world by all human beings is actually done through the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit and hence we should constantly praise the Lord for all good that we do. No good need to be attributed to ourselves as it amounts only to selfishness.

This means that though we are the agents of our actions, we are not capable of doing good with our own efforts but all the good that we do is through the power of God. It is God who inspires us and gives us grace and strength to do good. Secondly, we need not envy because our neighbour is doing more good than myself; whether it is done by me or by my neighbour, the source of all actions is only one, God himself. The best attitude we can have is to praise and thank the Lord constantly for all the good that is being done by all of us.

This attitude will promote brotherhood, it will enhance collaboration and cooperation among us, and we will be inclined to support, encourage, and appreciate our brothers who are engaged in doing good. At the end it will attenuate envy, jealousy, backbiting and rumours. What we need therefore is the eyes of faith to discern God’s presence amidst us who is constantly at work in us. For this we need to be God centred personalities who experience and see his Spirit active in the world.

- Br. Vincent Gabriel Furtado OFM Cap