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In Roman Catholic theology, envy is considered one of the seven deadly sins. It is defined as a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages, coupled with a desire to have them for oneself. This feeling goes beyond simple jealousy, as it includes the belief that another's good fortune diminishes one's own, leading to a desire to harm that person's happiness.12

Envy can manifest in two forms:
* Material envy: Resentment towards those with greater material wealth, talent, beauty, or social connections.2
* Spiritual envy: Resentment towards others' spiritual goodness or progress in holiness, considered more severe than material envy.2

Historically, envy has been linked to significant negative events, including the Fall of Man and biblical stories like Cain's murder of Abel and Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery. It is also forbidden by the Ten Commandments.2

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