Sins of the Tongue: The Backbiting Tongue

by Fr. Belet

Originally written in French in 1870, Fr. Belet wages war against one of the worst sins of his (and our) time - backbiting - better known to us as detraction (telling the faults of others without cause). Most of us do not realize how evil this sin is. In fact, many of us don't think it's a sin at all. After ruining someone's reputation, or satisfying our anger (and yes, our hatred) by spewing out every bad thing we can say about someone, we justify ourselves by saying, "Well, it's true!" We even think we are acting justly by giving someone what they deserve.. Due to our lack of charity and also to our pride, little do we see things from God's point of view, to whom these are vile sins - a form of hatred of neighbor - a failure to do the two things necessary - to love God and our neighbor (Matt. 22:37-40).

In explaining this sin of backbiting, properly called detraction, Fr. Belet quotes the best men of Western Civilization: Aristotle, Plato, Horace, Seneca, Pliny, the Roman Emperor Constantine, King David, Isaiah, Saints James, Luke, Matthew, Paul, John Chrysostom, Jerome, Cassian, Gregory the Great, Augustine, Bernard, Thomas Aquinas, and many others. A very helpful book for those who wish to know to meaning of backbiting---and how to avoid it.

Genres: Catholic

49 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2015

Reviews

[Cherrye Williams]

Struggling with being a backbiter, a gossip?

I was. I didn't even make it past the first two pages of this awesome book without being immediately convicted of my lifelong habit of being a backbiter and a gossip. In every page thereafter, I saw myself and how I've basically been a two-faced gossip all of my life and I am so ashamed of the horrible things I've said about people all of my life. Whispering things in other people's ears, offering my unsolicited opinion, rolling my eyes and sucking my teeth in derision at other people's sins when I am guilty of sin myself. If this is you, too, I want you to get this book and read it. I recommend it to you because it will do you a world of good, just as it has done me.

[April]

Excellent book. Highly recommended to everyone. Relatively short, and an easy read. This will explain to you why backbiting aka detraction aka gossip is bad. After you read it you'll be far more conscious of what you say. Your enemies will thank you! haha

[Jerry Richardson]

A must read!

My tongue comes off its roller too often. After reading this book, I have been awakened to the suffering a loose tongue unleashes. I will re-read this book often. Very inspiring and insightful.

[Chels S]

"If you praises someone's enemy, they will secretly love you for it."..........Try saying nice things of a rapist to his victim....and see how THAT works out for you, see if she's loves you for it.

[Marybeth Adams]

Shut my mouth!

Extremely insightful admonition for everyone on the dangers of gossip. No one is excluded from needing this reminder. Quick, valuable read.

[Irma Cardenas]

Lesson in life

Good subject
It is however written in old grammar or something so I really had to concentrate while reading it

[William Murat]

Excellent book. Everyone should read it.

Backbiting is spread everywhere and is more extreme these days because all social media and eletronic devices. And we don´t pay attention to the viciousness of this sin. It´s not a little thing, a little sin. It´s a serious one and it stops the progress of a soul, it kills the charity in someone´s heart.