Today, starts the second week of my seven week series on Capital Sins and their corresponding Virtues (see Introduction to the Devote Life by St. Francis De Sales).
What does covetousness mean? (Covetousness is a word we don't often hear outside of the Ten Commandments:"Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's goods.")
Dictionary. com offers:
In other words, "covetousness" is greed. It is the desire and subsequent action to have "in excess". It is an addiction to "not having enough".
What is the opposing virtue?
Many conclude charity.
Charity is my favorite virtue; I understand it to be the virtue of highest perfection and the culmination of all virtues. However, it seems to me that most people understand charity to mean almsgiving or kindness.
While, I do see that almsgiving, kindness, and selflessness are all opposed to greed, I think that gratitude is what underlies these actions and most counteracts the greedy mindset.
Gratitude is being thankful for what one has or what one is given. It is appreciating possessions and talents in an appropriate way.
Therefore, while almsgiving and kindness are practical means to overcome covetousness, I believe that a grateful heart is the true cure.
What does covetousness mean? (Covetousness is a word we don't often hear outside of the Ten Commandments:"Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's goods.")
Dictionary. com offers:
cov·et
verb (used with object)
1.
covet
to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others: to covet another's property.
Word Origin & History
covet
early 13c., from O.Fr. coveitier, probably ult. from L. cupiditas"passionate desire," from cupidus "very desirous," from cupere" to long for, desire."
In other words, "covetousness" is greed. It is the desire and subsequent action to have "in excess". It is an addiction to "not having enough". What is the opposing virtue?
Many conclude charity.
Charity is my favorite virtue; I understand it to be the virtue of highest perfection and the culmination of all virtues. However, it seems to me that most people understand charity to mean almsgiving or kindness.
While, I do see that almsgiving, kindness, and selflessness are all opposed to greed, I think that gratitude is what underlies these actions and most counteracts the greedy mindset.
Gratitude is being thankful for what one has or what one is given. It is appreciating possessions and talents in an appropriate way.
Therefore, while almsgiving and kindness are practical means to overcome covetousness, I believe that a grateful heart is the true cure.
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