Gluttony and Catholic Living: Sin, Temperance, and Marian Intercession
Gluttony: No Such Thing as Sin in Moderation
A few days ago, I was watching one of my wife’s and my favorite shows—a competition where the most talented make-up artists gather to showcase their skills. When the host announced the next spotlight challenge, themed around the Seven Deadly Sins, the contestants squealed and giggled with excitement.
Their reaction reminded me of something a music video host once said: “A little lust, pride, sloth, and gluttony—in moderation—are fun, and that’s what keeps your heart beating.” Today, I want to focus on one of those sins: gluttony.
From pop culture’s playful take to the Church’s deep wisdom, the heart of the matter is clearer when we name what gluttony actually is.
What gluttony really means
In today’s culture, gluttony is almost always associated with overeating. Many religious voices have echoed this definition, but that’s only the beginning.
- Theological meaning: Gluttony is the overconsumption of anything—taking more than your share and wasting what God has given. See our reflection on pride for how excess of honor distorts desire.
- Modern application: It can be equated with any form of addiction. Compare with lust and sloth to see how disordered desire and apathy mirror gluttony’s pattern.
Christian tradition has long warned us about excess; even literature portrays its emptiness with vivid imagery.
Dante’s vision of gluttony
In Dante’s Inferno (Canto VI), the “Third Circle” is reserved for the gluttonous. Here, the damned lie in icy, foul rain, blind and unaware of their surroundings, while Cerberus claws and bites them. This punishment symbolizes the cold emptiness of indulgence—not only in food and drink, but in every kind of excess.
Historically, gluttony has been associated with:
- Pigs
- The color orange
- Punishments such as consuming rats, snakes, and toads—never to be satisfied
The most villainous practitioners of this sin often excuse themselves with the chilling phrase: “I’m a humanitarian.”
Footnote: Dante, Inferno, Canto VI (Third Circle—Gluttony); Cerberus as tormentor.
For a broader view of the seven circles and their moral lessons, read our overview: Seven Deadly Sins: A Catholic Overview.
These images aren’t entertainment—they’re moral mirrors. So can excess ever be practiced “in moderation”?
Can gluttony be practiced in moderation?
The idea of “gluttony in moderation” is simply doubletalk. How can excess be practiced moderately? Moderation is a virtue, but it cannot apply to an action that is inherently immoral.
We may enjoy foods labeled “lite,” “cholesterol-free,” “trans-fat-free,” or “low-calorie.” But is there such a thing as “lite lust” or “gluten-free gluttony”? Of course not.
“To eat too much honey is not good, nor to seek honor after honor.”
—Proverbs 25:27 (NABRE)
To separate joy from excess, we turn to the wisdom of the Church and her greatest teachers.
The Church Fathers on delight and sin
“It is not a sin to take pleasure in the taste of food, for delight is inseparable from the act of eating. The sin lies in eating solely for pleasure, without necessity or moderation.”
—St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, II-II, Q.148, Art.4
Aquinas points us toward balance: delight rightly ordered becomes worship, not indulgence.
Explore temperance further in our guide: Temperance: A Catholic Virtue Guide.
Enjoying God’s gifts without overindulgence
We can enjoy desserts, choice foods, and the good things of life—whether the grandeur of a sunset or the beauty of a ladybug on a summer leaf. But we must not fall for the lie that “a little sinning is all right if done in moderation.”
Overindulgence in anything—from food to ministry, from rest to recreation—must be balanced with self-control.
“In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
—Galatians 5:22–23 (NABRE)
Right enjoyment flowers into virtue when anchored in disciplined love.
The call to self-control
If we truly desire to please God, we will examine ourselves continuously, judging our inner thoughts and motives. We will confess and repent of greed, waste, and excess. We will discipline our actions, remembering:
“Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.”
—1 Corinthians 9:25 (NABRE)
“For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age.”
—Titus 2:11–12 (NABRE)
Take a few moments today to ask God to cultivate in you the virtue of self-control.
Discipline becomes joy when united to grace—lived concretely in Catholic practice.
Final Thought: Living as Catholics in the face of gluttony
Sin in moderation is no more possible than death in moderation. As Catholics, we are called not only to avoid sin but to actively cultivate virtue. Gluttony, like all the deadly sins, tempts us to misuse the good gifts of God. Food, drink, leisure, and even ministry are blessings—but when consumed without measure, they become stumbling blocks to holiness.
Catholic living offers us concrete ways to resist this temptation:
- Sacramental life ✝️: Frequent participation in the Eucharist reminds us that true nourishment comes from Christ, the Bread of Life (John 6:35). The Sacrament of Reconciliation helps us examine our conscience and repent of excess, renewing our resolve to live with discipline. li>Fasting and abstinence 🌿: Learn practical steps in our Lenten resource: Lenten Fasting: Catholic Practices.
- Spiritual discipline 🙏: Build a simple rule of life with our prayer plan: Daily Catholic Prayer Plan.
- Virtue of temperance ⚖️: Temperance, one of the cardinal virtues, guides us to enjoy created goods rightly. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains (CCC 1809), temperance moderates our attraction to pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods.
- Spiritual discipline 🙏: Prayer, Scripture meditation, and acts of charity redirect our desires from self-indulgence to love of God and neighbor. When we discipline our bodies, we strengthen our souls.
Ultimately, Catholic living is about orienting our lives toward the eternal crown promised in Christ. Moderation is not about “a little sin,” but about rightly ordering our desires so that every act—whether eating, resting, or working—becomes an offering to God.
“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
—1 Corinthians 10:31 (NABRE)
Closing Prayer
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
you who lived with perfect humility and temperance,
intercede for us before your Son.
Guard our hearts against the sin of gluttony,
that we may not waste the gifts entrusted to us,
but instead cherish life’s little pleasures
with gratitude and moderation.
Teach us, gentle Mother,
to delight in the beauty of creation without excess,
to savor food, fellowship, and rest
as blessings that point us back to God.
Strengthen us in faith and grace,
that our desires may be ordered toward holiness,
and our lives may reflect the glory of Christ.
O Mary, Seat of Wisdom,
pray that we may walk in self-control,
guided by the Spirit,
and crowned with the eternal joy
that awaits those who live for God’s glory.
Amen.
Haiku for Reflection
Gentle Mother’s care,
guides us through life’s fleeting joys,
faith blooms, grace sustains.
Reflect and share
How do you practice temperance in daily life? Share one small habit that helps you enjoy God’s gifts without excess. Your reflection may encourage someone else today.
If this post helped you, consider reading the next reflection in the series: Pride and Catholic Living.
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