Thursday, March 17, 2011
A great thought to begin the day . . .
“We will be consumed by love only to the extent that we really surrender ourselves.” ~St. Therese of Lisieux
Not eating can taste pretty good!
Ran across this the other day and have to admit it explained gluttony in a way I never thought about before. I mean, how many times have we grabbed a snack because it was just there or eating something 'in case' we were actually hungry?
I remember in the olden days were there was a lot more fasting requirements in Lent. These days, it is only required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Given the state of the world, that hardly seems to cover the need for any repentance we might require! Not that I'm a holier than thou but I fast the entire six weeks of Lent - two small meals and one regular meal and absolutely no eating between meals. The first day, I had to catch myself because there is such a habit of picking up a cookie, a handful of chips, etc. I stopped myself and realized that I actually wasn't starving and didn't need to eat. Now that I've gotten into the swing of not indulging between meals, I'm finding it rather freeing, especially in the evening. I don't have to think about getting a snack and it keeps me on track with keeping my hands busy with handiwork not pop corn! I may continue even past Easter as it gives me a sense of control of my needs vs. wants.
The Church teaches that there are different ways to commit the sin of gluttony:
Eating when there is no need, eating between meals and for no other reason than that of indulging food.
Seeking delicacies or “daintily prepared meats”
Going beyond either appetite or need, with danger to health.
Eating with greed, after the manner of animals.
Gluttony is a capital sin because it generates easily other sins, especially sins related to the body. He who eats too much, easily lets his guard down and falls into other weaknesses. If these weaknesses are grave sins, even gluttony can be a mortal sin.
“On the other hand, says St. Thomas, if the inordinate concupiscence in the vice of gluttony be found to affect only such things as are directed to the end, for instance when a man has too great a desire for the pleasures of the palate, yet would not for their sake do anything contrary to God’s law, it is a venial sin.”
I remember in the olden days were there was a lot more fasting requirements in Lent. These days, it is only required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Given the state of the world, that hardly seems to cover the need for any repentance we might require! Not that I'm a holier than thou but I fast the entire six weeks of Lent - two small meals and one regular meal and absolutely no eating between meals. The first day, I had to catch myself because there is such a habit of picking up a cookie, a handful of chips, etc. I stopped myself and realized that I actually wasn't starving and didn't need to eat. Now that I've gotten into the swing of not indulging between meals, I'm finding it rather freeing, especially in the evening. I don't have to think about getting a snack and it keeps me on track with keeping my hands busy with handiwork not pop corn! I may continue even past Easter as it gives me a sense of control of my needs vs. wants.
The Church teaches that there are different ways to commit the sin of gluttony:
Eating when there is no need, eating between meals and for no other reason than that of indulging food.
Seeking delicacies or “daintily prepared meats”
Going beyond either appetite or need, with danger to health.
Eating with greed, after the manner of animals.
Gluttony is a capital sin because it generates easily other sins, especially sins related to the body. He who eats too much, easily lets his guard down and falls into other weaknesses. If these weaknesses are grave sins, even gluttony can be a mortal sin.
“On the other hand, says St. Thomas, if the inordinate concupiscence in the vice of gluttony be found to affect only such things as are directed to the end, for instance when a man has too great a desire for the pleasures of the palate, yet would not for their sake do anything contrary to God’s law, it is a venial sin.”
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