Overcoming Envy by Kindness
Part four of the Spiritual Exercises: Becoming Beloved Disciples. In today’s meditation, we face the capital sin of envy.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
✠ Amen
Heavenly Father, in the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, may we abide in you and you in us, in one accord… with our minds, hearts, bodies, and souls at rest, in your Peace, present to the moment… so that we may have ears to hear, eyes to see, hearts to understand.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
✠ Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
✠ Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now, and at the hour of our death.
Glory Be (Gloria Patri)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
✠ Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, we thank you for the virtue of Kindness which helps us to deny ourselves making room for your indwelling love.
✠ Our Lady of Kindness, pray for us.
✠ St. John, St. Mary Magdalene, and all you Beloved Disciples pray for us.
Seven Scriptures to take down Envy
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” 1 Corinthians 13
✠ Love is kind
“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:14-17
✠ Love is kind
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated, and hating one another.” Titus 3:3
✠ Love is kind
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” 1 Peter 2:1-2
✠ Love is kind
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” Matthew 6:24
✠ Love is kind
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30
✠ Love is kind
“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:17-18
✠ Love is kind
Seven-fold Repentance
For the sins of:
envy ✠ Lord Have Mercy
bitterness ✠ Lord Have Mercy
prejudice and racism ✠ Lord Have Mercy
selfishness and self-righteousness ✠ Lord Have Mercy
confusion ✠ Lord Have Mercy
division ✠ Lord Have Mercy
gossip and slander ✠ Lord Have Mercy
✠ Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
All Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.
Seven-Fold Protection
St. Michael Prayer
“Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. ” ✠ Amen.
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians: 6:10
By the Belt of Truth: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Breastplate of Righteousness: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Shoes of Peace: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Shield of Faith: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Helmet of Salvation: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Sword of the Spirit: ✠ Lord save your people
By the Mantle of Our Lady ✠ Lord save your people
Deliverance from Envy
“Behold, I give you power to trample underfoot snakes and scorpions, and all the power of enemies”. Luke 10:19
Lord Jesus, you drove away legions of demons by which the people of God were healed. These you commanded to depart and not to return again. You have defeated all the armies of our invisible enemies and freed your faithful.
In the Name of Jesus, by the Blood of Jesus, by the Power of his Word we take authority over the stronghold of envy including evil spirits promoting bitterness, prejudice, racism, lying, gossip, stealing, and self-serving ambition.
Remove the stronghold of envy and strengthen us by the virtue kindness.
Where there has been envy, ✠ let there be kindness.
Where there has been bitterness, ✠ let there be goodwill.
Where there has been prejudice and racism, ✠ let there be open-mindedness and integration.
Where there has been selfishness and self-righteousness, ✠ let there be God’s righteousness
Where there has been confusion, ✠ let there be truth.
Where there has been gossip and slander, ✠ let there be guarded speech.
Where there has been worldly ambition, ✠ let us seek the kingdom of God
Seven-Fold Cleansing
“So, he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” Kings 5:14
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Name of Jesus
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Blood of Jesus
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Word of Jesus
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By Jesus’ Breath of Mercy
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Living Waters of the Holy Spirit
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Fire of the Holy Spirit
Cleanse us Oh Lord ✠ By the Light of Christ
Closing Prayers
Most Holy Trinity, in your mercy we are delivered, cleansed, and renewed, fully clothed and in our right minds.
Lord, grant me courage to accept the yoke of Kindness, so I can learn to deny myself, take up the cross daily and follow you, and enter into your rest.
Most Holy Trinity, we praise you for showering blessings upon us, replacing our vice of envy with the virtue of kindness, giving us new hearts, perfect abodes of your indwelling love, so that abiding in love and unity, together, we may renew the face of the earth. ✠ Amen
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit .
✠ Amen