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Cathmomof6
Guest
How can I distinguish between the sin of gluttony and simply overeating? I have a crazy sweet tooth and struggle with “stopping after just one…or two or three or more for that matter”!!
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pianistclare
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There’s a difference between over-indulging and gross overeating. I found this excellent blog entry, and have permission to post it here:
*So how do you fight the battle of gluttony? I think it must be fought mainly not with the word “No” but with an alternative “Yes.”
It is very interesting to me that there are so many food and taste analogies in the Bible for God himself:
"Taste and see, I am the Bread of Life, Come to me, all who thirst, etc. "
The implication here is that if we give ourselves to being satisfied with spiritual bread, wine, and milk, then physical hunger will lose its supreme power.
The main way to fight cravings that we don’t want is to experience higher cravings and have them master us.
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Say you’re sitting down at the table, and you’re very hungry. You know that if you give yourself free reign then you’ll eat two or three helpings of everything, get up stuffed, gain weight, and feel guilty. Why are we tempted to do that?
One very practical reason is that we are bored, and nothing is happening after supper that is more exciting than supper. Therefore staying at this table and eating feels really good, whereas leaving the table to do whatever is next on our agenda feels boring. Very practically then, I would plan something after supper that you want to do. It can certainly be something spiritual, but it can also be a type of exercise or a visit with a friend.
A lot of gluttony is born of boredom. Life is not satisfying or stimulating, relationships feel empty, and work is boring, but food is always there and tastes so good.
So we need to cultivate a range of appetites for great and good things, things like good literature, people’s fellowship, reading the Bible, nature, work, etc. Discover these other appetites so that things other than food can satisfy you. Then pray earnestly and cultivate and nurture these satisfactions. *
*So how do you fight the battle of gluttony? I think it must be fought mainly not with the word “No” but with an alternative “Yes.”
It is very interesting to me that there are so many food and taste analogies in the Bible for God himself:
"Taste and see, I am the Bread of Life, Come to me, all who thirst, etc. "
The implication here is that if we give ourselves to being satisfied with spiritual bread, wine, and milk, then physical hunger will lose its supreme power.
The main way to fight cravings that we don’t want is to experience higher cravings and have them master us.
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Say you’re sitting down at the table, and you’re very hungry. You know that if you give yourself free reign then you’ll eat two or three helpings of everything, get up stuffed, gain weight, and feel guilty. Why are we tempted to do that?
One very practical reason is that we are bored, and nothing is happening after supper that is more exciting than supper. Therefore staying at this table and eating feels really good, whereas leaving the table to do whatever is next on our agenda feels boring. Very practically then, I would plan something after supper that you want to do. It can certainly be something spiritual, but it can also be a type of exercise or a visit with a friend.
A lot of gluttony is born of boredom. Life is not satisfying or stimulating, relationships feel empty, and work is boring, but food is always there and tastes so good.
So we need to cultivate a range of appetites for great and good things, things like good literature, people’s fellowship, reading the Bible, nature, work, etc. Discover these other appetites so that things other than food can satisfy you. Then pray earnestly and cultivate and nurture these satisfactions. *
I
InNomineDomini
Guest
St. Thomas Aquinas writes (Link):
Fr. John Trigilio’s thoughts on overeating and mortal sin (Link):" … Gluttony denotes, not any desire of eating and drinking, but an inordinate desire. Now desire is said to be inordinate through leaving the order of reason wherein the good of moral virtue consists … "
Finally, an article by Edward Sri has this to say (Link):Mortal sin would require FULL FREEDOM and SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE. Hence, one must INTEND to overeat and have the freedom to refuse in order for it to be a mortal sin. Grave matter is presumed in all of the capital sins. If someone eats to the point where they literally get sick and/or where a substantial amount of food is wasted and not suitable for re-use, then that is full blown gluttony. If somebody imprudently consumes more than their stomach can digest or if their ‘eyes are bigger than their stomachs’, that would normally be a venial sin. Mortal sin requires full freedom and some deliberation, i.e., a person must KNOW and reflect on what they are doing. IF accidental or inadervent, then no mortal sin. IF someone INTENDS to ‘pig out’, that is gluttony just as if someone intends to ‘get plastered’ and ends up drunk: mortal sin.
Gluttony is an inordinate desire for food and drink. Some people who are not overweight, however, might think they do not have to worry about this vice. Yet slender people who do not eat a lot of food might actually be more gluttonous than someone who is obese. There are many ways one can fall into gluttony other than overeating. St. Thomas Aquinas explains that to avoid the trappings of gluttony, one must be concerned not only about how much one eats, but also, what, how, and how often one eats.
B
Bookcat
Guest
Reason, the virtue of temperance, and good judgement of conscience can guide one in ones eating. Though it is to be noted that what is contrary to temperance for one is not for another and as at least one Saint reminds us–this is a area that is a difficult one where many struggle.
Also note that often one is dealing with venial sin --not serious (an example of serious gluttony is loosing ones reason via being drunk…). It is important to note this for some get confused on this subject.
We should seek to live by virtue here and to eat reasonably…
Individual acts of overeating…intemperance (gluttony in this sense) are ordinarily a* venial matter for venial sin*… (see Benedict Ashley OP - “Living the Truth in Love -A Biblical Introduction to Moral Theology” - Alba House 2001)
(Now certain uncorrected habits that cause at least in the short term -serious problems -can become grave…like perhaps your doctor tells you if you keep eating 7 pieces of cake a day you will seriously harm your health or drop dead in three months…)
A confessor can assist one.
CCC
1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: “Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart.” Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: “Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites.” In the New Testament it is called “moderation” or “sobriety.” We ought “to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world.”
scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a7.htm#1809
The Capital sins - yes can be grave sins - but most of them also deal with venial matters.
Also note that often one is dealing with venial sin --not serious (an example of serious gluttony is loosing ones reason via being drunk…). It is important to note this for some get confused on this subject.
We should seek to live by virtue here and to eat reasonably…
Individual acts of overeating…intemperance (gluttony in this sense) are ordinarily a* venial matter for venial sin*… (see Benedict Ashley OP - “Living the Truth in Love -A Biblical Introduction to Moral Theology” - Alba House 2001)
(Now certain uncorrected habits that cause at least in the short term -serious problems -can become grave…like perhaps your doctor tells you if you keep eating 7 pieces of cake a day you will seriously harm your health or drop dead in three months…)
A confessor can assist one.
CCC
1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: “Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart.” Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: “Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites.” In the New Testament it is called “moderation” or “sobriety.” We ought “to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world.”
scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a7.htm#1809
The Capital sins - yes can be grave sins - but most of them also deal with venial matters.
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