What is Gluttony
The seven deadly sins are essentially natural desires and emotions that have exceeded the bounds of reason and necessity, turning into snares for the soul and catalysts for sinful behavior.
This month we will focus on Gluttony, why it is considered a deadly sin, and how to overcome it with Temperance.
In our modern society, much like lust, gluttony is not really considered a sin. It is a health issue at best but even that idea is becoming taboo with the ever-increasing cancellation of people who “fat shame” and overconsumption is encouraged and glorified. But it’s not about being overweight, a skinny person can be gluttonous. It truly is a long-forgotten sin. After doing research for this, I discovered that I am guilty of this sin in many ways that I have not considered.
Gluttony is a vice that inclines a person toward excess and self-indulgence. It primarily refers to the overindulgence in food and drink but can extend to any form of excessive consumption or addiction.
It can also rear its ugly head in subtle ways like when we are not content with what we have, always wanting more and filling our entire lives with excess; clothes, books, furniture, social media or whatever. It is often a result of boredom. Life is not satisfying and relationships feel empty and we overindulge for a sense of well-being and happiness that should be found in God, true goodness, truth and beauty.
Why is Gluttony Considered a Deadly Sin
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, identified gluttony as a sin because it places pleasure above spiritual well-being and disrupts the balance necessary for a virtuous life. He identifies five form of gluttony.
Five Forms of Gluttony
1. Eating food that is too luxurious, exotic, or costly
2. Eating food in excessive quantities
3. Eating food that is elaborately prepared
4. Eating food when not hungry
5. Eating too eagerly
We eat to live, not live to eat.
Saint Augustine once wrote, "It is not the food, but the love of food, that constitutes gluttony." Gluttony enslaves us to our bodily desires, making us more focused on physical pleasure than on spiritual growth. This sin, though often seen as less severe compared to others like lust or pride, can subtly lead to spiritual apathy, making us neglectful of our duties to God and neighbor.
Saint John Chrysostom also warned against the dangers of gluttony, stating, "Gluttony is the mother of all diseases." This assertion highlights the far-reaching consequences of this sin, including physical ailments, spiritual stagnation, and a weakened will. When we indulge excessively, we become less able to resist other temptations, leading to a cycle of sin and repentance.
The Antidote to Gluttony: Temperance
However, the antidote to gluttony is the virtue of temperance, which moderates our appetites and desires, enabling us to live in harmony with God's will.
The virtue of temperance empowers us to control our appetites and desires, allowing us to use them in ways that honor God. Temperance is not about deprivation but about finding the right balance that keeps our bodies healthy and our souls focused on higher pursuits. It helps us to enjoy God’s gifts without becoming enslaved to them.
Saint Francis de Sales emphasized the importance of temperance, saying, "The virtue of temperance moderates in us the attraction of pleasures, assures the mastery of the will over instincts, and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable." Through temperance, we learn to appreciate the goodness of creation without falling into excess, thereby maintaining the dignity of our human nature and our status as children of God.
How to Cultivate Temperance
1. Prayer and Fasting: Regular prayer and occasional fasting help us to detach from our physical desires and grow closer to God. As Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Fasting teaches us that our spiritual nourishment is far more important than our physical sustenance.
2. Mindful Eating: Eating with gratitude and awareness can transform our meals into acts of worship. By recognizing the source of our food and the labor that brought it to our table, we can eat more mindfully and gratefully, avoiding overindulgence.
3. Almsgiving: Sharing our resources with those in need helps us to practice temperance. By giving away what we might otherwise consume, we learn to value generosity over excess.
4. Spiritual Reading and Reflection: Engaging with the writings of the saints and other spiritual literature can inspire us to live more temperately. Saint Benedict, in his Rule, advised moderation in all things, urging his monks to eat and drink in moderation.
5. Regular Confession: The sacrament of confession offers grace and strength to overcome our weaknesses. By regularly confessing our sins of gluttony and seeking God’s forgiveness, we can receive the grace necessary to cultivate temperance.
In conclusion, gluttony, while often overlooked, is a significant obstacle to spiritual growth. By embracing the virtue of temperance, we can overcome this vice and live a life more pleasing to God. As Saint Augustine reminds us, it is not the food itself but our disordered attachment to it that leads us astray. Through prayer, fasting, mindful eating, almsgiving, spiritual reading, and confession, we can cultivate temperance and find true freedom in Christ.