The Power of Gossip

'It is my belief that the sin of spreading gossip involves all that's most evil and wicked. Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, this sin includes the poison of all the vices: the meanness of vanity, the venom of jealousy, the bitterness of anger, the malice of hatred, and the flightiness and irresponsibility unworthy of a Christian.... It breaks up friendships; hinders enemies from reconciling their differences; disturbs the peace of homes; turns brother against brother; husband against wife, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law, and son-in-law against father-in-law. How many harmonious households have been turned upside down by one evil tongue, so that their members couldn't bear to see or to speak to one another? And only one malicious tongue, belonging to a neighbor, man or woman, can be the cause of all this misery.'
        

                                                                                  St. John Vianney


Painting: Pieter de Hooch