Gluttony

[TwoNames]

Hello all!

Today, at work, when we went to eat, I ordered a meal and I knew it will be pretty big, because I always get a big meal when I order this particular food (I could have ordered 1/2, of the normal portion).

I ended up eating all of it. Then a thought came in my head that this is gluttony and that I have committed a mortal sin of gluttony. I knew it was a mortal sin before I ate the food. It was 1 plate, filled with food.

[EDIT] Let me add, that I feel a little tired after eating.

Was this a mortal sin in my case?

God bless

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

Ask yourself if you really think you completely severed your relationship with God because you had a big lunch. I mean, really? Sometimes applying some common sense is all you need to do.

 

[TwoNames]

When would gluttony be so bad, that it would completely destroyed my relationship with God?

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

When would gluttony be so bad, that it would completely destroyed my relationship with God?

If you become obsessed with food and it becomes the focus of your life. Way beyond “Wow, didn’t think I could finish that whole sandwich.”

 

[TwoNames]

thank you

 

[Crusaderbear]

From an old EWTN post…

Gluttony
Question from Pat on 2/13/2002:
The Church teaches that gluttony (over-indulgence in food or drink) is a vice, damaging to the body when performed consistently over a long period of time. However, is it a sin to overeat at a meal once in a while, perhaps a few times monthly? For instance, holiday feasts and banquets are normally very plentiful meals. Is it sinful to eat to the point of being almost too full? And if it is, what is the degree, mortal or venial? Thank you for any answer you can supply. God bless you.

Answer by Fr. John Trigilio on 4/12/2002:
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.

COPYRIGHT 2017

 

[HelenRose]

When would gluttony be so bad, that it would completely destroyed my relationship with God?

When food became your obsession and love.

I struggle with this as well and I think that it would be helpful if there was more help from the Church for those who do. A priest, as he should be, is full of compassion for people who are struggling with drugs and alcohol. There should be an equal amount of recognition for people who struggle with food.

Having said all that, gluttony does not always refer to food. It is a form of greed and inordinate desire to consume what is before us.

It may be helpful for you to talk with a priest about this if you habitually desire and consume large amounts of food.

Also if this is habitual, you might want to talk to a doctor and make sure you do not have an underlying physical problem.

 

[Renan]

Saint Thomas Aquinas has the answer: Summa Theologica, II-II, question 148, article 2.

However, when someone really thinks something constitutes grave matter (even if it isn’t grave matter) and still deliberately does it, there’s a mortal sin. It isn’t for the matter itself (it may be venial matter), but for deliberately doing something that was really believed to be a great offense to God. Of course, I’m not talking about people who have overly scrupulous consciences. I don’t know yourself well enough to say anything, but I’d confess it if I were you.

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

Of course, I’m not talking about people who have overly scrupulous consciences.

OP is wondering if he committed a mortal sin by eating the full portion of an entree instead of the half portion. I’d say he qualifies as scrupulous, at least in this regard.

 

[Renan]

From an old EWTN post…

I think his answer wasn’t really good. I suggest reading Saint Thomas Aquinas, as I mentioned above.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I struggle with this as well and I think that it would be helpful if there was more help from the Church for those who do. A priest, as he should be, is full of compassion for people who are struggling with drugs and alcohol. There should be an equal amount of recognition for people who struggle with food.

Eating disorders, such as bulimia and compulsive overeating, have only recently been recognized as a disorder with a psychological component that needs treatment. I think in the past there was a tendency to think people with these conditions were sinful “gluttons” or “greedy” just like there was a tendency to glorify fasting, which taken to extremes can be the psychological disorder of anorexia rather than anything saintly.

I think if you suspect you are having one of these conditions, it would be better to skip the priest and go straight to the mental health professionals. If the priest wishes to help he can pray for your recovery, but the traditional Christian views of eating that I listed above are not helpful to someone having a struggle with food.

Having said all that, gluttony does not always refer to food. It is a form of greed and inordinate desire to consume what is before us.

Yes. If you were obsessed with buying shoes and had hundreds of pairs more than you could reasonably wear, that would also be gluttony. Of course, if you suffered from shopaholism, then that would be a psychological disorder too and some mental health counseling would be good for that.

Coming back to the food aspect, let’s not forget that in history there have been periods when rich people were eating (and wasting) sumptuous, costly meals that took hours or days to prepare while poor people were literally starving on their doorstep, or in the countryside where the rich people took all the food from. In ancient Rome, people would excuse themselves from meals to go puke so they could return to the banquet and eat more food. We don’t see these things as much today in Western culture, but we do see a lot of waste of food, and people who are obsessed with trying out all the latest foodie trends and restaurants; those things could be gluttony.

 

[truetofaith]

We already have a Topic on Gluttony…shouldn’t these two be combined??

 

[Renan]

Oh, let us not forget the canons 1249 - 1251 of the new Code of Canon Law. Gluttony would be a mortal sin if we broke them.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I think his answer wasn’t really good. I suggest reading Saint Thomas Aquinas, as I mentioned above.

His answer is essentially a more detailed version of what St. Thomas Aquinas said.

Also, in this case, the OP did not sit down and think before eating the food that eating the whole plate would a mortal sin and proceed to do it anyway. The OP had the thought and began to worry after the food was all consumed. There was no advance intent to commit a sin of any sort. All I see is a person who was hungry and then was overly scrupulous.

 

[1ke]

Hello all!

Today, at work, when we went to eat, I ordered a meal and I knew it will be pretty big, because I always get a big meal when I order this particular food (I could have ordered 1/2, of the normal portion).

I ended up eating all of it. Then a thought came in my head that this is gluttony and that I have committed a mortal sin of gluttony. I knew it was a mortal sin before I ate the food. It was 1 plate, filled with food.

[EDIT] Let me add, that I feel a little tired after eating.

Was this a mortal sin in my case?

God bless

Get help for your scruples. This is not your first post on “gluttony”.

Asking “is this a sin” every time you eat is not something you should be doing here. You need some help from your pastor, and maybe some counseling.

 

[Mary_Estelle]

A lot of ‘it depends.’ If the work you do requires spending a lot of energy or if you were to eat less at a later meal(s) or go back for ‘seconds’ of a full meal. For instance I had a ‘big’ breakfast, but I also know it will be my main meal of the day. Use common sense as to what and how many calories you need and the expenditure of energy for work and the day. I won’t fault you because each of us have different needs, however it would be best to consult with your Dr. or priest. Peace.

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

One way to lose your appetite is to think of what it is you are eating.

In my case I can’t eat lobsters that were boiled alive. I just can’t. I don’t particularly like meat that much either. And if it has a face forget it. (Like fish that have not been beheaded yet.)

 

[truetofaith]

One way to lose your appetite is to think of what it is you are eating.

In my case I can’t eat lobsters that were boiled alive. I just can’t. I don’t particularly like meat that much either. And if it has a face forget it. (Like fish that have not been beheaded yet.)

How about unpeeled shrimp?

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

Maybe this is helpful: food is to gluttony as booze is to alcoholism. Would you call someone an alcoholic because, once in awhile, they have a few drinks and get a little silly? (Not blackout drunk, just mildly tipsy) Most people would say, no, of course not. Now, if this person were getting falldown drunk on a regular basis, then yeah, most people would say they have a problem.

Think of food and gluttony in the same way. Are you a glutton because once in awhile you have an extra slice of pizza? No. If you’re constantly overeating and using food as a coping mechanism, then yeah, maybe you have a problem.

Of course, there is also the health aspect, if you find yourself packing on the pounds. But that’s a different question.

I also think it’s worth noting what Tis Bearself said. When theologians discussed this issue in the past, many of them were doing it at a time when starvation was a much more common problem in the Western world. You having an extra plate of food might mean your neighbors kids go to bed hungry. In that situation, you’d be morally obligated to forego the pleasure of eating more and share with the family next door. But today, it’s easier for poor people to get fat than it is to be a healthy weight. Cheap calories abound. Starvation just isn’t as big of an issue anymore, at least in the West.