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Do you know what it is that overthrows and destroys concord in families, peace among neighbors, harmony among men? Do you know what sows the seed of discord in towns, villages, and communities; what lets loose the demon of hatred and envy, what leads to enmity, strife, revenge, and even murder? Do you know what plunges innumerable souls into direct misery, into everlasting perdition? Do you know what works all this havoc? It is the insatiable, all-devouring monster, the incurable plague of mankind—the habit of speaking evil of one’s neighbor. On this account one would fain banish this pest from every human heart, from the whole world; but the desire to do this must ever remain a pious wish, which can never be realized. But I know that the hearts of men, and your heart also, are in the hand of God; that He can guide them, as seems to Him best. Therefore do I beseech Him to come to my assistance, that what I am about to say may do something toward preventing you from contracting a habit of evil-speaking.
This pernicious habit of speaking ill of one’s neighbor destroys his good name altogether, or in part at least. A good name consists in the esteem and consideration in which any person is held. He is robbed of this esteem and respect when evil is spoken of him, or when what is good in him is underrated. Since the evil which is said of any one may be either true or untrue, evil-speaking may be classed either as detraction or slander.
By detraction the faults of our fellow men which have been concealed hitherto, either wholly or in part, are disclosed without necessity. To detract from our neighbors reputation in this way is a very common fault. The experience of every day bears witness to the truth of what I have just said. What is it that never ceases from morning till night, from one year’s end to another, in society and in casual meetings, in highways and by-ways?—People’s talk and gossip about one another. When two or more persons get together what do they say? How are you getting on? may be their first inquiry. What do you think of the weather? is perhaps their second question. But the conversation soon gets around to more interesting subjects—Have you heard what So-and-So has said? or done? How is time spent in drinking saloons, or more select social gatherings? It is spent in gossiping about the faults of one’s neighbors.
This kind of gossip, this way of speaking is a widespread, a universal evil. Other sins prevail only among persons of a certain state, or are peculiar to one sex. Wealthy and distinguished individuals have their special sins into which common people do not usually fall; the lower classes, on the other hand, have their own failings, which are not found among those of higher position. But backbiting and detraction are met with everywhere; these sins are committed by all sorts and conditions of men, though more frequently by the weaker sex. Indeed, persons who in all other respects are pious and virtuous are too often not free from this sin.
Attend carefully to what I say, that you may see how great a sin is this habit of evil-speaking. He who speaks evil of his neighbors is guilty of a theft; he robs his neighbor of his good name, which all upright persons regard as a most precious possession; the good name which Holy Scripture so earnestly exhorts us to preserve, because it surpasses in value all earthly riches. Riches and treasures pass from us when our life comes to an end, but a good name remains, and survives after death. Hence it follows that he who by evil-speaking deprives his neighbor of his good name, or, at least, tarnishes it, commits a greater sin than he would commit by robbing him of his property.
And in what various ways is this sin committed! In truth, they may be said to be well-nigh innumerable. You may injure your neighbor’s reputation by attributing a bad motive to his most pious, most innocent actions, by perverting his words and casting suspicion upon him; by saying for instance: Who knows what may have occurred; I do not want to speak evil about him, but it is reported, many people say, etc., etc. You may injure your neighbor’s reputation by a mere gesture, an expression of countenance, or a shrug of the shoulders. You may injure your neighbor’s reputation by remaining silent when you ought to speak in his praise. You may injure his reputation under the pretense that you mention his faults only in order to warn a third person against falling into them, or in order to give him good advice. You may injure his reputation under the pretense of zeal, of compassion, of charity; you may speak of his faults with an outward appearance of pity, but with a secret feeling of malicious pleasure. And there are a hundred other ways of injuring your neighbor’s reputation.
Most shameful, most sinful is slander or calumny. He who attributes to his neighbor evil actions which he has not committed, but which are a lying invention, is guilty of this sin. It is one of such magnitude as of itself to inspire horror; and we cannot but own that evil must be deeply rooted in the heart of anyone who commits it. What a horrible thing it is to impute to a fellow-creature a crime of which he is innocent!
The dissolute old men, in Jewish history, slandered the chaste Susanna and they were stoned. The Jewish people found fault with the blameless life of St. John the Baptist, and misinterpreted the marvelous acts of the Saviour. This nation was rejected by God. The same God still lives, and will visit with severe chastisement all calumniators who so shamefully wrong innocent persons.
It follows as a matter of course that the more worthy of respect the person is, against whom the calumny is uttered, so much greater is the sin. Peculiarly wicked is the conduct of those base and unprincipled Catholics whose unscrupulous tongues do not spare even the priests of God.
Do not misunderstand me! Do not imagine I have warned you so earnestly against evil-speaking and backbiting because I think you have frequently fallen into this sin. I have done so in order to inspire you for the future with a wholesome horror of this widespread vice.
But what are you to do in order never to commit the sin of evil-speaking? There is a simple method, one which may be practiced without very great difficulty. St. Augustine points it out in these words: “Love, and do what you will!” Yes, real, true, honest, unselfish love of all men, or charity, ought to rule your heart, guide your tongue, dictate your speech. Then will no unkind word, no word injurious to your neighbor, escape your lips; then will you faithfully follow the advice contained in the following lines:
Thy neighbor’s reputation most sacred thou must hold;
Judge not his actions rashly, with words unkind or bold.
Another’s praise, not thine, be ever heard from thee;
And thus thy place in heaven a higher one shall be.