Confused with Gluttony

[SnowAngels]

Hello!

I have a very hard time figuring the difference between committing the sin of gluttony, and not. I have been to confession for gluttony many times before. Sometimes I think I actually commit the sin, but looking back, I know I was acting out of scruples. If you are full, but you eat a bit more because you enjoy food, is that gluttony? I have tried talking to my confessor about this before, but, as the confessions are always behind a screen, we can’t really get too personal as he doesn’t know who I am. I always go to the same priest though. I have a Spiritual Director, but I don’t think I’ll be able to have a meeting with him in the near future. Tomorrow, after Mass, I am going to stop by and say hi to him with my family, and I was thinking of asking if I could have a word with him. I feel so bad if I am not hungry and I eat the smallest thing. I do penances to make up for my sins, so that eases my anxiety a bit. Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut!

• SnowAngels

 

[suissemissed]

To me, gluttony is just eating with wanton disregard for one’s own health. As long as one isn’t risking serious physical problems or significant weight gain with how they eat, I don’t think there’s an issue. If eating when one’s not hungry is a sin, I imagine a LOT of people would be constantly sinning in that way, myself included

I think you just have scruples, personally… I struggle with scruples myself on occasion as well. I’ll say a Hail Mary for you

 

[ClearWater]

Hello!

I have a very hard time figuring the difference between committing the sin of gluttony, and not. I have been to confession for gluttony many times before. Sometimes I think I actually commit the sin, but looking back, I know I was acting out of scruples. If you are full, but you eat a bit more because you enjoy food, is that gluttony? I have tried talking to my confessor about this before, but, as the confessions are always behind a screen, we can’t really get too personal as he doesn’t know who I am. I always go to the same priest though. I have a Spiritual Director, but I don’t think I’ll be able to have a meeting with him in the near future. Tomorrow, after Mass, I am going to stop by and say hi to him with my family, and I was thinking of asking if I could have a word with him. I feel so bad if I am not hungry and I eat the smallest thing. I do penances to make up for my sins, so that eases my anxiety a bit. Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut!

• SnowAngels

Would you consider speaking to a counselor about this? You might have some kind of eating disorder. I’m not sure if you are underweight or overweight, but still there seems to be a psychological component to this might be best addressed by a professional.

 

[Lasting_faith]

To have some more of good food, even if you feel you don’t need it, is normal, it is not gluttony and not a sin. Then, if you keep on eating and eating because you, for instance, don’t want to share it with someone, that is gluttony and a sin. But I would not worry about that, if the food is good and you want some more, eat, enjoy the food. On the other hand, if you think you have some form of eating disorder, go to see a doctor, not a priest. To be sick is for sure not a sin.

 

[ClearWater]

Hello!

I have a very hard time figuring the difference between committing the sin of gluttony, and not. I have been to confession for gluttony many times before. Sometimes I think I actually commit the sin, but looking back, I know I was acting out of scruples. If you are full, but you eat a bit more because you enjoy food, is that gluttony? I have tried talking to my confessor about this before, but, as the confessions are always behind a screen, we can’t really get too personal as he doesn’t know who I am. I always go to the same priest though. I have a Spiritual Director, but I don’t think I’ll be able to have a meeting with him in the near future. Tomorrow, after Mass, I am going to stop by and say hi to him with my family, and I was thinking of asking if I could have a word with him.** I feel so bad if I am not hungry and I eat the smallest thing. I do penances to make up for my sins, so that eases my anxiety a bit**. Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut!

• SnowAngels

I outlined what concerned me about what you said.

You said you feel about eating even “the smallest thing” when you are not “hungry”, that you’ve had a problem with scruples. So, this could very well be an eating disorder, not really about gluttony.

Even if it were overeating, I still think there’s a strong psychological component, either way, and that’s why I think getting some kind of help would be a good idea.

 

[ready]

Then just stop eating when you are full and that will be the end of your problem. When you eat just for the sake of eating I think that this is supposed to be sinful. Many, many people do this I’m sure, but eating just for the sake of eating is something we must avoid. If our eating is based **solely **on pleasure – and I mean solely – then that is not right. We should eat to sustain our bodies and when we seek a treat like a dessert, we should eat it not solely for the pleasure of eating it, and not all day, but in moderation and for the purpose of gaining some refreshment. Everything in moderation and with the right intention should be your goal. The right intention of all our actions should always be to please God and for His greater glory. So if what you are about to eat will not please God or be conducive to His greater glory, pick something else to eat or do. God bless you.

 

[SnowAngels]

Then just stop eating when you are full and that will be the end of your problem. When you eat just for the sake of eating I think that this is supposed to be sinful. Many, many people do this I’m sure, but eating just for the sake of eating is something we must avoid. If our eating is based **solely **on pleasure – and I mean solely – then that is not right. We should eat to sustain our bodies and when we seek a treat like a dessert, we should eat it not solely for the pleasure of eating it, and not all day, but in moderation and for the purpose of gaining some refreshment. Everything in moderation and with the right intention should be your goal. The right intention of all our actions should always be to please God and for His greater glory. So if what you are about to eat will not please God or be conducive to His greater glory, pick something else to eat or do. God bless you.

Thank you! This is this along my line of reasoning. One question I have about your response is what is the difference between eating some out of pleasure vs. For the purpose of refreshment? Thank you for your response!!

 

[SnowAngels]

I outlined what concerned me about what you said.

You said you feel about eating even “the smallest thing” when you are not “hungry”, that you’ve had a problem with scruples. So, this could very well be an eating disorder, not really about gluttony.

Even if it were overeating, I still think there’s a strong psychological component, either way, and that’s why I think getting some kind of help would be a good idea.

Thank you for your response, and your concern. I don’ believe this is an eating disorder becuase, when there is no religious component involved, I have no problem packing it away! Again, thank you for your concern. I have contacted a priest to help me with this issue.

 

[ready]

Thank you! This is this along my line of reasoning. One question I have about your response is what is the difference between eating some out of pleasure vs. For the purpose of refreshment? Thank you for your response!!

Well, if you want to eat a dozen donuts for the pleasure of it, then this would not be pleasing to God and it would not be for His greater glory – or even for some refreshment for it would be to overload food in your body in a gross unhealthy way, it would be pure gluttony. It would not please God because twelve donuts in a row is too much – too much sugar, too much dessert, and very unhealthy – not a refreshment/ something fitting to celebrate with or to help you to perform your other duties better. It is something that brings you down to a base unhealthy level – to the level of an animal I’d say. If you decide to eat a donut in between meals when you are not hungry at all but solely want to eat it for the pleasure of it, then do you think that God is pleased by this act? Does it contributes to HIs greater glory? or do you think it just feeds your base appetites and caters to your animal senses? Do you think it would help you to pray better or worse? (Abstinence from food/fasting is supposed to be very helpful to prayer.) Do you think that it offers you a little boost to help you better perform your tedious duties? or do you think it is a waste of money to put food into your mouth that you don’t even need in order to do your duties well? It would be alright in God’s eye to snack on a donut if you started to feel a little hungry, but He’d be even more pleased if you chose to give up this pleasure for the love of Him or if you’d rather snack on a sweet orange when you start to feel hungry and want a sweet dessert (If you are so used to eating many desserts you may be addicted to the sugar and should start having a sweet orange instead of your sweet chocolate or pudding while you’re craving, which would please God because it is good food for your health and sustenance, and a meritorious act of mortification when done for the love of Him. If, on the other hand, you have a piece of cake for dessert after a meal – or two pieces, and you have room for it, and look forward to the sweet refreshment it will bring you or wish to celebrate some person or event with it, and will be thankful to God for it while eating it and afterwards, do you think that God would be displeased? or would he not be pleased that you are eating moderately and for the purpose of celebrating with thanksgiving offered to Him or for the purpose of giving yourself a little break of refreshment with thanksgiving offered up to Him? Of course, it would please Him more if you said no to the cake as an act of mortification for the love of Him, and this would be more for His greater glory. But I think He still would be pleased by your eating moderately and for the purpose of celebrating or of seeking a break/lift to cheer you in your trials WHEN YOU DO SO WITH THANKSGIVING TO HIM FOR THE GOOD/REFRESHMENT/JOYFUL CELEBRATION HE GIVES YOU IN THIS FOOD YOU ARE EATING. The bottom line is that we must give thanks to God when we eat anything we eat, and we should eat in a way that is as healthy for us as possible, eating sweets in moderation and always with a spirit of thanksgiving – often substituting sweet fruit for sweet desserts in a spirit of penance or denying ourselves a sweet for the love of God and for the benefit of our soul. In this way we will not be eating solely for pleasure, but in order to offer back up to God with thanksgiving our love and appreciation of Him for all the good He provides for us. God bless you.

P.S. It is very late here where I live and I am very tired as I write this; I hope this is written well enough.

 

[Petaro]

I really believe that your concerns are less a symptom of an eating disorder, or sin; but rather a symptom of scruples.
Gluttony is associated with selfishness and ignoring the needs of others rather than overeating which we are all guilty of, especially over Christmas.
Consider your approach to the poor. Surely the price of a good meal could go to the SVDP in your area every once in a while to offset your doubts.
I fear you are too hard on yourself, but your concerns show us something of your kind and giving nature. Do little acts of kindness as an offering to Our Lord and have a sticky bun as a reward! In other words, love yourself a little bit.