Catechism: the ninth Commandment
Catechism Commentary 60 - The ninth commandment
The 9th commandment, “coveting one’s neighbour’s wife,” is related to the sixth commandment “you shall not commit adultery” and says that Christians should avoid disordered sexual desire, whether of thought, word or deed —and calls for purity of heart. Chastity is the virtue that integrates sexuality within the person, aligning bodily desires with spiritual values, dignity and love. It involves self-mastery, and respect for the human body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Chastity falls under the cardinal virtue of temperance, which moderates the appetites and passions according to reason and Church teaching which is rooted in the scriptures.
It is arguable that rather than being rooted in lust, a great deal of inappropriate sexual desires, fantasies, and activity are rooted in negative emotions such as loneliness, anxiety, low self-esteem, anger, resentment etc., that are neither consciously acknowledged or processed. So, while such offences might be gravely wrong from an objective point of view, there are usually mitigating factors of a subjective kind. It follows that to grow in purity of heart may require a good deal of inner healing and the determination and discipline not to flirt with sexual temptation of any kind. St. Anselm advised: “Do not argue with perverse thoughts or evil desires.” St. Alphonsus Liguori urged people to slam the door on any thought with an “evil look,” without analysing or entertaining it. He likened it to shaking off fiery sparks from your clothes.
The catechism says that envy is opposed to the 10th commandment. The dictionary describes it as: “a feeling displeasure and ill-will at the superiority of another person in happiness, success, reputation, or the possession of anything desirable.” When envious people become aware of the talents and gifts of other people, instead of appreciating and approving of them, they make invidious comparisons and say inwardly, “blast you anyway for making me feel inferior in the light of your superiority.”
It is arguable that the sin of envy is a primordial one in the Bible. There is a theological opinion that the angels who fell envied Mary who would have greater dignity as the Mother of God than they enjoyed. In Wis 2:24 we are told that: “through the devil's envy death entered the world.” In Mt 27:18 we are told that Pilate “knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.” The Jewish authorities were aware of the greatness and goodness of Jesus, but instead of acknowledging it, they resented Jesus and eventually conspired to kill him.
Is it any wonder that St Paul associated envy with life without the Spirit (Cf. Gal 5:21) and the apostle James said that envy “is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (Jm 3:15). St Cyprian echoed the New Testament attitude when he described envy as “the worm of the soul.” St Vincent de Paul referred to it, in an equally vivid image, as “a serpent of the heart.” Although envy is common, it is rarely mentioned in the sacrament of reconciliation, due perhaps, to a lack of self-awareness.
How can we overcome a tendency to be envious? St John Chrysostom once wisely wrote: “Would you like to see God glorified by you? Then rejoice in your brother or sister’s progress and you will immediately give glory to God. Because his servant could conquer envy by rejoicing in the merits of others.” St Teresa of Avila wrote: “If you hear someone being highly praised, do not be envious, but rather be more pleased than if they were praising you. This will become easy if you are humble... To be glad when your neighbour’s virtues are praised is a wonderful thing.”
The CCC warns against covetousness. It is an intense or inordinate desire to possess something—especially something that belongs to someone else. It’s often associated with greed, envy, and a disordered attachment to material goods or status. In Phil 4:11-12 St Paul said about himself, “I have learnt to be satisfied with what I have. I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learnt this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little.” Anyone who learns to be content with what he or she has, in the belief that God who will provide what is needed to live if one seeks first his kingdom and his righteousness as Jesus promised in Mt 6:33
After Christmas, beginning on Wed Jan 14th we will explore the subject of prayer in order to complete our 3-year study of the Catechism.
