Month: December 2019

Be strong and of good courage, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.

– David to Solomon, 1 Chronicles 28:20

Fortitude Enables Diligence to Defeat Sloth

So we know we need to keep on keepin’ on. But how can we keep going when all seems lost? Courage and strength – in other words, fortitude. We grow courage and strength through our day-to-day actions. The little choices we make add up, so let’s start making some good little choices.

Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.

– James 1:12

I find this to be the easiest virtue to understand but among the most difficult to exercise. (Also, it’s definitely the most difficult to sketch or capture in a picture.) Like any other muscle, we must practice being courageous and strong in order to become courageous and strong.

Story Time

I have some habits that tend to annoy people such as telling the truth when they don’t want to hear it, and standing up for even the most unpopular person in the room when they’re subject to cruelty (regardless of whether it may be justified – those situations are awful, but we all have human dignity). I know these things can be bothersome, and I have been working on being more tactful in my honesty and (ill-equipped) defenses of others, but I do them because they’re the right thing to do.

But how am I able to? How does my stomach not churn in a knot and squeeze the contents of my system out in both directions?

Well, it still feels like I’m losing my lunch sometimes, but I’ve come to understand the feeling. It’s certainly not comfortable to be in such a situation, but there’s no magic wand. At least for me, if I don’t want to later regret being in that situation, I need to do something.

Dinner Disruption

My freshman year of college, I was sitting with an acquaintance at dinner. She’d been going around telling everyone that she was dating someone; he decided to denounce and correct the rumors by screaming at her in the crowded commons a number of degrading comments, in addition to providing an exceptionally vulgar, somewhat discriptive account, all while waving his arms broadly, his head jutting out like a turtle away from his body, eyes bulging and veins popping out of his neck.

I repeatedly insisted that he calm down, to which he repeatedly, firmly, borderline-yelled at me to, “Stay out of it!” When I explained that he brought the issue to my table and thus made me a part of it, he screamed the same words at me. I continued to attempt to calm him down, but as she started to cry, his words became more shrill. When she wept openly, in part for how he was describing her, he stepped forward and repeatedly hit the table. I stood up and told him to leave. She told me to let him do whatever; my eyes trained on him, I demanded that he leave.

My friends were standing behind him, looking somber, condoning his actions, and clearly disagreeing with my standing up for her. (That was the most difficult part for me.) I get it; I understood it then just as I do now: she absolutely deserved it. (There was a lot more to the story, including why I of all people should not have protected her.) But that doesn’t really matter. Just because someone “deserves” something, be it a verbal whipping, a literal lashing, or a piece of pie, it doesn’t mean we give it to them. We are all made lovingly in God’s image. Every single one of us has dignity, and we are called to respect that.

That night was so agonizing that now, several years later, just describing the incident is churning my stomach, leaving a metallic taste in my mouth, and drying out the top of my throat. I wasn’t born with it, and it certainly wasn’t comfortable. I worked that muscle in previous occasions and that night it was put to the test.

Thank God he opted to not put his fist through my face; the physical threat was clear enough from his body language, and he absolutely could have sent me to the ER.

Tiny acts of courage. Big things are fine for a nice jump start, so if you have an opportunity, try. You don’t have to succeed in your attempt to be courageous; just trying will get you started.

How did I start? The first report I’m aware of regarding my courage was related to me by an old friend when we reconnected after many years apart.

In second grade, she was new to our elementary school. That morning had been particularly rough for her. She was in a bad mental space from being teased, and she didn’t have any friends because she’d just moved into town. So, at recess, she found a plot of land where nobody was, and she decided to sit alone and stew in her melancholy and try to not cry.

Enter a (totally clueless) me. I saw her sitting alone in the field. I went over to her and sat down a few feet away, saying hi and trying to stare off exactly the same way she was. It was uncomfortable because I didn’t know what she was doing or who she was, and I left a game (of color tag, the second-best recess game ever, with all my favorite friends) to join her. We were in different classrooms, so I was oblivious to the earlier incidents and it was my first time meeting her.

But that was it. She was alone, and I went over to say hi. That takes courage. That builds strength. That flexes the muscle for more strenuous use later.

How Does That Work as an Adult?

Say hello to a stranger in a shop. Are you waiting in a line to order or check out? If they’re getting six packs of your favorite soda, playfully remark that you’d love to be at their party. I was once in front of a couple of women who were only purchasing bubbly and orange juice: “Nice! It’s mimosa day!” They both smiled, and we chatted together happily.

Along the same lines, talk with the cashier. They’re trained to ask how your day has been. Ask them how their days are going – and attentively listen to the answer. Smile and continue to talk with them until the conversation comes to a nice break point. Hold up the line for five seconds if that’s what it takes for the thought to conclude (by carefully folding up your receipt, for example).

Do or say something kind. Give sincere compliments to people you meet; more props if they’re totally unexpected. Does that dress look totally chic on the woman walking toward you on the sidewalk? Tell her, genuinely but quickly, and move on. (If you linger, they may suspect you want something in return.) However, there may be times when they want to stop to talk to you to gush about the compliment or the dress or your kind soul; that you should stay for, even if it takes a little extra courage to do so.

Wave to people you recognize – even if you can’t remember their names. I once did this and, in the moment, the couple insisted they didn’t know me, giving me a quizzical look and walking by. The next time I saw them, they came up to me to say how nice it was of me to acknowledge them on the sidewalk, that it helped them to realize there was community for them in town.

Allow others to interact with you. Sometimes being inviting is difficult, but reciprocating is a great way to start. When someone waves at you, wave back; when someone pays you a compliment, thank them. Chat with that person in the grocery store line who said hello to you. Do something to make them think, “I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone.”

Theological Fortitude

We are called to live our faith. This week’s sin specifically relates to not forging forward spiritually. Act like the saint you are meant to be as often as possible.

Saints don’t condemn people; they uplift them. Be kind; temper your frustrations. Be courageous; temper your fears. Be caring; temper your apathy. Recognize the dignity of Christ in others, and use that as your guide for where to start.

Want something more formal? Join groups in the religious community; I relate more about my faith when I have more stories to tell about it. I recommend a Bible study, some sort of outreach program or hands-on help, and a small group; studies prepare the mind, the outreach softens the heart (and gives you fun vignettes), and the small group reminds you why you like the people you’re doing great things with.

The important piece, regardless of how you slice it, is to simply do. Know the Word, but also be an actor on its behalf.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9

Summary

Sloth is not doing what we’re supposed to be doing. Diligence counters sloth, but we need fortitude to power it. Fortitude empowers us to exercise all of the other virtues, but we need to practice it to be able to use it.

Thoughts about what we learned this week? Questions regarding how to use our new knowledge? Ideas on how to better press on? Let me know in the comments!

He told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’ For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

– Luke 18:1-8

Industria – industry, diligence, activity
Industria – industry, purpose/diligence, purposeful/diligent activity, purposefulness

– WordHippo and Latin-Dictionary.net

One of the other words that popped up was assiduity, meaning close attention to the task at hand. As a term fairly low in the likeness list, I mention it instead because it’s a fun word and enabled me to expand my vocabulary today. Other related terms such as this also provide context for the full connotation of the original word. This one just so happens to be convivial to say.

What Is Diligence?

But First, Industry

The first and most direct translation for industria is industry. Let’s start there.

Industry – hard work; late Middle English: from French industrie or Latin industria ‘diligence’

– Oxford dictionary

This isn’t a definition I’ve heard for industry because it’s all but fallen out of use in this way. The only way I’ve heard it used is in reference to some form of economic activity, typically involving the manufacturing of goods on a relatively large scale. However, given that there isn’t an “archaic” descriptor next to our relevant definition, it appears this definition hasn’t yet been relinquished.

But notice that the dictionary refers specifically to diligence as the translation from the French or Latin. The closest word Oxford could determine for industria (at least that isn’t industry) is diligence. From here, we may not know where we’re coming from, but at least that term is recognizable with respect to the topic of virtue.

So What Is Diligence?

Diligence – careful and persistent work or effort; Middle English: via Old French from Latin diligentia, from diligent- ‘assiduous’

– Oxford dictionary

Haha! Our convivial new term re-appears!

Diligence is the intentional effort we put forth to complete a task properly. It’s not enough to finish something, it must be done right. Doing something properly requires close attention to detail and earnest endeavor.

Want just a little more clarification? My pleasure! We have another interesting word to check out!

Assiduous – showing great care and perseverance; Mid 16th century from Latin assiduus, from assidere ‘be engaged in doing’, + -ous.

– Oxford dictionary

Perseverence. Studies are done as to the effects of teaching perseverence, particularly at a young age, and I have yet to stumble into a negative one.

This is part-and-parcel to diligence. To be diligent, we must continue on and do our part, despite the obstacles we may face.

Diligence is the earnest, conscientious application of our energy to accomplish what we’ve undertaken.

– Appleseeds

How We Do Diligence

So, today, our virtue is that of do. Action. Engage.

Don’t wait for the perfect timing for something because the perfect time will never arrive. This sentiment is applicable regardless of the topic at hand. Having kids? Nobody ever is. Taking a test? There’s always more to memorize. Starting a new blog? It takes more time than most realize, so there’s nearly no way to fit it into a schedule. (Well, in my experience, anyway.)

Pay attention to what you’re working on. Regardless of whether it’s a project for the boss or the spouse wants your input, be present. Listen; respond; engage.

What Diligence Isn’t

A quick note about burnout. It’s a problem. Diligence doesn’t require us to go so far that we die early. It also doesn’t mandate that we suffer in other areas of our lives as a result of work. There’s under-working and there’s over-working. As with the other virtues, there is a target, and we want on the board. Preferably we hit the bullseye, but so long as we’re on the board, we’re in decent shape. Just as one can aim too far to the left side with underworking, so, too, can one aim too far to the right and miss the target as well.

Similarly, stressing out over taking on too many projects when you know you can only take on so much is on the far side of diligence. People-pleasers, this is especially pertinent to you. Do your part, but leave something for others to do as well.

Summary

Industria is diligence. Diligence is perseverence through to completion of a task. However, we can also overdo diligence. The key is to work hard, to focus on your work while working, and to always have the necessary playtime to avoid burnout.

What do you think? Do you have any tips on diligence? Let me know in the comments!

Further Reading

• VeryWellMind offers an article discussing burnout and how to spot if you are burned out. It’s a helpful field guide to navigating a self-assessment and general understanding.
• Helpguide offers a similar resource to VeryWellMind. In short, if you need help with burnout, there are sources to consult and more to speak with. Ask for help if you need it!

Acedia – apathy, weariness

– WordHippo

In an interesting plot twist only God could have predicted, the final virtue in our tour counters “the most difficult sin to define.” For a number of reasons, that makes the timing excellent, so let’s begin.

Word Games: a Linguistic Run-Around

It makes sense that it would be particularly difficult to encapture a sin with such a peculiar base term. First, the term was absorbed into English, but it took a path slightly indirect in that it doesn’t hearken specifically to the sin it was originally written to describe.

Acedia – spiritual or mental sloth; apathy

– Oxford dictionary

It appears to be precisely the sin we’re discussing. However, taking a look further, we notice that while there are ties connecting the two, it’s not a synonym.

Acedia – a state of listlessness or torpor… Some see it as the precursor to sloth

– Wikipedia, Acedia

As a precursor to sloth, it cannot also be sloth itself.

… Except for that, in the case of word stealing, we can redefine the term in the new language to mean something other than what it originally meant: the original redefinition of a term was no doubt a linguistic churn of phrase.

What is Acedia?

Acedia – without care… affectlessness, a lack of any feeling about self or other, a mind-state that gives rise to boredom, rancor, apathy, and a passive inert or sluggish mentation… finds expression in laziness, idleness, and indolence

– Wikipedia, Sloth

Been there; done that. Talk about any cozy snow day, and this passage speaks to me. And if you haven’t experienced waking up to a fresh foot of powder with the final round of flakes floating down to earth outside as you move to a better vantage point to cuddle up with a soft blanket and a cup of cocoa in a comfy chair, I recommend a New England trip some winter as it’s quite amazing. It’s like visiting a ski lodge with the hustle and bustle of winter athletes replaced by a thorough tranquility.

I enjoy a good winter storm, but I digress.

The article lists tells – actions betraying the lack of care. Do any of these sound familiar?

• I just want to go to bed!
• I want to work on that other topic now…
• But the deadline isn’t until next week.
• We’ve earned a break, don’t you think?
• But there’s only a self-deadline, not a real one!

I have literally told myself all of these within the last week (easily – probably more recently than that).

These notions aren’t themselves indicative of laziness. If you’ve been working hard all day and you legitimately need rest, then you should go to bed. If, however, you’re in the midst of a project, it’s not even lunch, and you’re hoping to avoid the issue, then it may be an indication of apathy and intentional avoidance.

Why is Sloth Sinful?

One can sin against God’s love in various ways: … acedia or spiritual sloth goes so far as to refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness.

– Catechism of the Catholic Church

Acedia causes us to reject God’s love by refusing His joy and His goodness, gifts He grants to us. As such, sloth is a sin against the first commandment because it’s a rejection of His love. Sloth is a deadly sin because it’s the decision to follow the desires of the flesh instead of fighting for the spirit; this inevitably leads us to run away from God as we seek earthly pleasures in His stead.

Earthly pleasures like what? Perhaps carnal enjoyments, but the most nefarious is nothing so dazzling. Instead, it’s simply the decision to not act in line with or speak in defence of the Good News.

I simultaneously feel like I dodged a bullet and that I need to be more mindful. I stand up for my faith when I think to, and certainly when it’s convenient and I know how, but what about when it’s inconvenient or I don’t know what information to offer or which verse to quote? Am I allowing myself to rely on God to help me through those situations… or am I hoping my ignorance isn’t noticed by way of my silence?

I don’t know. I know I’ve kept silent before because although I was certain of a specific theological concept I did not want to run the risk of ostracizing myself or someone else at the table. But that is acedia. For certain, we are not to badger someone about any tenet of the Faith, purported believer or not, but we must not allow contortions on Holy Mother Church. In the last few years, has the Church not suffered enough?

The recent decades of suffering of the Church is no doubt caused by acedia. We the lay people must stand up for what is good and right and true lest the corruption and wickedness that has seeped in continue. Not protecting the Church, against threats foreign (outside the Catholic Faith) and domestic (inside the Faith), is acedia. We are called upon to act, and our inaction is sinful.

I feel like I just went a little Church Militant up here… If it protects the Faith, I quite hope so.

Summary

Acedia roughly translates to sloth. However, sloth or laziness is not pointed to the particular area of interest. This sin specifically relates to our spiritual health and activity. We are called to act on behalf of God to our neighbors to help others find Christ. If we are not testifying to our faith, particularly in our actions, we are succumbing to the desire of the flesh instead of the will of the spirit; such a decision for current comfort over eternal salvation is acedia.

Thoughts? Ideas? Concerns? Let me know in the comments!

Further Investigations

• Father Mike Schmitz: Acedia: The Noonday Devil
  “I’m doing everything except the one thing I’m supposed to be doing.” Procrastination. Are we doing what we’re supposed to be doing?
• The National Catholic Register asserts that the true concern regarding acedia is that we neglect the “go” of the Bible; that’s 1,514 times we are called to be witnesses to the Good News of Christ, and we ignore it. The signs of acedia listed are loss of joy, lukewarmness of comfort, and indifference toward the salvation of others. Here’s the article for more detail.

The man who shuns and fears everything and stands up to nothing becomes a coward; the man who is afraid of nothing at all, but marches up to every danger becomes foolhardy. Similarly the man who indulges in pleasure and refrains from none becomes licentious; but if a man behaves like a boor and turns his back on every pleasure, he is a case of insensibility. Thus temperance and courage are destroyed by excess and deficiency and preserved by the mean.

– Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics

Balance: The Name of the Game

Balance is key to bearing fruit. Too much rain and the roots rot, too little and the tree withers and dies. The same is true with almost everything else: courage (foolhardy to coward), pleasure (hedonist to killjoy), stress (lack of motivation to burn out), workouts (muscle atrophy to chronic fatigue), sleep (which has many of the same consequences on both sides of the spectrum of oversleeping to undersleeping).

I include the modifier “almost” because of one thing: love. Is there such a thing as too much love? Honest, legitimate, kind, true, steadfast love?

Notwithstanding, moderation is a key to living life well. But then we have the logistical question: what is too little or too much?

Where to Begin Finding the Zenith

For several centuries, … it was considered natural to experience pleasure when eating… [yet] essential to control one’s appetite and behaviour at the table, and to make meals a time for conviviality. Codifying table manners allowed for a managed fondness for food to be acceptable.

– Alimentarium

One of the reasons I enjoy this quote is because it explains the arena rather well, despite that it references the past in a way connoting that things are different now. I see little evidence of the connoted change; we’re certainly encouraged to enjoy our meals, but I can’t recall the last time it was acceptable, for example, to lick remnants of a meal off a plate at a restaurant. Taking a less extreme example, it’s not proper to eat extremely rapidly or with such flourish that it distracts other patrons. This is part of why some restaurants are adults only, despite the division the topic causes.

How do we know we’re in the right place with moderation?

Relationships

Many of us enjoy not only good food but sharing good food with good company. I prefer to not eat alone at restaurants because I feel like there’s something integral to the experience missing. Some people feel self-conscious about going out to eat alone; I don’t, I just don’t understand the point of it. There are exceptions (traveling, for example, or clearing your head may be greatly aided by a restaurant stop), but going to a restaurant just for the sake of going sounds to me like work.

Like many experiences, eating is best when accompanied by people we want to share our lives with. We pass the broccoli because we want to see the face someone makes when they try it blanched because they’ve only ever had it steamed. We break bread with friends because we want to share the experience with them.

Conviviality – the quality of being friendly and lively; friendliness.

– Oxford dictionary

One day, my Mom and I were off on a short road trip. I was in the driver’s seat, and she climbed in, talking as she was buckling. As I pulled out of the driveway, she victoriously held up two strawberry Pop-Tarts treats, perfectly toasted. Delighted, she bit into one hungrily and offered me the other. I politely declined, she attempted to politely insist, and I admitted to disliking strawberry flavoring. Her face fell: she’d been looking forward to sharing the experience with me. “It doesn’t taste that good anymore.”

If I’d known my refusal was going to cause that crestfallen experience, I’d’ve eaten it. Why? Because she turned from childlike giddiness to a host of negative emotions in under a second. Her excitement wasn’t over the pastry, rather, it was over sharing a pleasant experience with me.

This is good. This is right on target. We should look forward to pleasure not for our own sake, but for sharing the experience with others. Our focus should not be on the experience itself, but on the experience of those we’re with and on our growth with them.

Table Manners

This is a manifestation of the relationships discussion. Table manners are the result of people getting together to figure out a set of rules to encourage the fostering of relationships with people while also allowing us to enjoy our food. The basic principle is whether doing something will foster relationships with the others sharing your table or entice them to pull away.

For example, it’s impolite to speak while simultaneously chewing food. It’s better to wait until the morsel is swallowed, or, if small enough, tucked into the cheek. Why? Because the sound of chewing while talking can gross people out, as can the view of half-chewed food. Similarly, we may ask for something to be passed from the other end of the table to prevent the need to disturb another person’s personal space. It boils down to fostering our relationships with others by showing them consideration and kindness.

Tacking to Temperance

So how to we get there from here?

Again, it’s not about giving up pleasure entirely, but training ourselves to not be slaves to our passions. God wants us to experience pleasure, but He doesn’t want it to draw us away from Him. God gave pleasure to us in the first place; He wants it to bring us nearer to Him.

Jesus Provides an Example

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.

– Jesus in Matthew 11:18-19

This was part of our Gospel reading this morning. (Right on time.) The priest pointed out in the homily that Jesus was known for sitting down to eat with people: his first miracle was the wedding at Cana, fed thousands with five loaves and two fish (and then again with seven loaves), and even turned His Last Supper into an event to never be forgotten.

Jesus connects with His people with food. He was so well known for it that they called Him a glutton! Thankfully, we know better than those jealous of Him; He’s a perfect example for us, so connecting to people with food is good.

Now we can take the time to reflect:
Why is the Eucharist the perfect meal to share fellowship with God on Earth?

– Homily on the Solemnity of Saint Lucy (today)

Goldilocks Zone

So we know there’s too much, and we know there’s too little, but how do we know what’s just right?

Tacking.

It’s a sailing term used when you’re traveling against the wind. Basically, you have a target, but you have to go back and forth to reach it. While backwards in theory (in sailing, you know where you’re going but you have to use an indirect route to get there), it’s a great analogy. First, you go hard to starboard to find your best wind, then hard to port, and you work back from the two extremes.

In other words, once you’ve had one Thanksgiving meal where you ate so much you felt sick, you probably veered back and didn’t indulge quite so much the following year. It’s not that the food was any less delicious, but that you didn’t like the consequences. You found a boundary. Tack away.

Similarly, you’ve probably swung the other direction at some point. How long have you gone between meals before your stomach pitched a tantrum that left you doubled over? That’s also a not fun situation – another boundary. Tack back.

It can be the same with other things – personally going too far or not far enough – or we can accept guidance and not have to hit those railings ourselves. Regardless, we can get (back) on track wherever we are. Remember that you are loved, and let God help swing you back toward Him.

Summary

Gluttony is an extreme over-indulgence in something. There’s an extreme other end, never accepting pleasure, which is also dangerous. Temperance is in the middle there – our target – and allows us to enjoy ourselves by loving other people.

What do you think? What are your tips on fighting off gluttony, be it of food, shows, or other indulgences? How has temperance impacted you?

Temperance – abstinence from alcoholic drink; Middle English from Anglo-Norman French temperaunce, from Latin temperantia ‘moderation,’ from temperare ‘restrain.’

– Oxford dictionary

Look, look! We have a cardinal virtue with a name that looks like the name of the principal virtue! There is exactly one on the list, and we’re here. Jackpot! We can explore this concept a little deeper than we had a chance to yesterday.

I’m so tempted to use my beautiful stick figure Paint-ing painting from yesterday, but I’ll spare you the repetition.

Diving Into Temperance

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.

– Catechism of the Catholic Church

Temperance is a key ingredient in honor. Well, that’s an interesting way to put it. It’s true, though it’s not among the first connections I’d make. So why is temperance honorable?

Sometimes, what we want is good and noble and right. Sometimes. Other times, it may not be. And still other times, what we want is fine, but we may want it in a way or amount that isn’t proper.

Temperance means that we can control our appetites.

– Fr. Ben Bradshaw

Let’s take an example.

The Case of Pumpkin Delight

For Thanksgiving, we got together with friends for a potluck. My brother made a pumpkin roll (seen below). He invited my mother and I to have slices off the ends for breakfast because the ends make the confection appear unfinished. It still tastes wonderful, but the frosting and the folding doesn’t appear as aesthetically impressive with the ends on it.

Knowing that he was planning to bring this treat to share at the big Thanksgiving meal, I sliced off the end as little as possible while still removing the frosting dips and any other un-evenness. It was delicious. I wanted more but I didn’t have more because it is good to share yummy delights: I wanted others to be able to experience it as well. I tempered my want because I wanted others to experience that excitement of a bite of the treat. Sharing delight is a good, noble, and kind thing to do. But as great as sharing is in and of itself is, I wanted to share because I wanted our family and friends to share in this experience of delight.

Controlling our appetites can mean inviting others to share joy with us.

It is not a fault to feel pleasure in eating: for it is, generally speaking, impossible to eat without experiencing the delight which food naturally produces. But it is a defect to eat, like beasts, through the sole motive of sensual gratification, and without any reasonable object. Hence, the most delicious meats may be eaten without sin, if the motive be good and worthy of a rational creature; and, in taking the coarsest food through attachment to pleasure, there may be a fault.

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, The True Spouse of Jesus Christ, Or, The Nun Sanctified by the Virtues of Her State

Warmth of the Blaze

Here’s another example.

Waking up Thanksgiving day, the power lines were down and the electricity was out. The heating system doesn’t work without electricity, and we had no generator to pick up the slack. I rolled into the living room to find a fire going to keep the climate inside relatively temperate.

Wood is the fuel of the fire, and it generates heat by burning up. I noticed that the fire was getting low and fetched more logs. Opening up the screen, the whoosh of hot air greeted me wholesomely: it felt so good! (People had been in and out cleaning off vehicles and shoveling, so the temperature inside was around 50-55°F, or 10-13°C.) That gush of warmth was definitely welcome.

I did feel chilled, and I wanted more of the fire. I marveled at how much heat the screen blocked, but I still closed it after adding the logs. Cold though I may have been, I tempered the desire to put my toes right up close to the fire, or stick my hands in the fireplace to warm up. Why? Because there’s a good chance that if I stick my hands in the fire, I’m going to get burned literally.

That was temperance. I stilled my inner desire to basically jump into the fire. I controlled that appetite because I didn’t want to deal with the consequences of burning myself.

Moderation is the key of lasting enjoyment.

– Hosea Ballou, Treatise on Atonement

Aside

Bless the workers who went out to repair all the lines on Thanksgiving day! Those conditions were awful, it was no doubt dangerous, and they were giving up family time to help us stay warm. God bless them for all that they do!

Summary

Temperance is our ability to control ourselves regardless of emotions or hormones or any desires. Temperance helps us fend off our most ignoble desires and decide to be whom we are called to be, our best version of ourselves.

What do you think? What does temperance mean to you? Does temperance bring to mind quelling a stomach’s demand for food, or a certain activity, or alcohol? (The tee-totaling definition threw me for a loop; is that a common usage of the term now?) Let me know in the comments!

Temperantia – restraint; temperance, temperature; moderation; self-control

– WordHippo

Between my flaky internet connection and my exhaustion, this is going to be a relatively short post. Thankfully, this virtue is easily understood once its vice is in hand.

So What is Restraint?

Restraint – a measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control or within limits; the action of keeping someone or something under control; unemotional, dispassionate, or moderate behavior; self-control

– Oxford dictionary (emphasis added)

So, simply, it’s not going bonkers. Why not? Isn’t going a little crazy fun?

But that’s just it: going a little crazy can be fun, but going a lot crazy isn’t. At all. And it’s likely to have consequences that are very far from the realm of fundom.

Let’s Break This Down

The fundamental division in the soul or psyche is at the root of our need for moderation.

– Harry Clor, On Moderation: Defending an Ancient Virtue in a Modern World

Let’s take an example, shall we? (We shall.) Water is essential to all life as we know it. Humans are recommended to drink water above any other beverage, and going without water for an extended period of time can prove lethal. (Estimate three days of zero consumption until fatal dehydration.)

But that doesn’t mean you should go try to drink an entire lake. The body can only process so much water. Drinking too much results in hypoatremia, also known as water poisoning, water intoxication, or, as most of us would say in a fatal case, drowning. (Keep your consumption under a liter per hour to stay on the safe side.)

So we can’t just quit water, but we can definitely go overboard, too.

Too Little, Too Much, Then Goldilocks

Our outer boundaries are basically to not die, but we can do better than that. So, as for water, it’s best to aim to drink a cup or two (8-16 ounces) per hour: that’s well within our bounds and is generally associated with good health.

But what about other stuff? How do I know when it’s too much or too little?

There are no hard and fast rules. The question you have to ask yourself – and honestly answer – is whether your relationship with that thing – food, exercise, the new board game parlor on Elm street, or whatever – is negatively impacting your life. It’s the same mental inquiry used for checking for addiction: is your relationship with this thing hurting you?

Every time we give of ourselves in some way, we necessarily can’t give ourselves that same way. Think of experiencing time: when you spend a moment doing something, you can’t spend that same moment doing something else. There’s no way to get that moment back. (So why waste a moment on a whine when you could instead use it for a laugh?)

But sometimes these moments are well spent. For example, how many hours does America spend traveling for Thanksgiving festivities? A lot. I spent days (about 33 hours) on travel time this year just getting to and from regions. That doesn’t include going to any events upon arrival, just my town to the target town and back on either side of visitations.

And yet I wouldn’t trade any of it. The five days with my brother, his wife, and my niece? Priceless. Worth every headache. Worth the middle seat on the plane both directions. It balanced out.

And that’s the trick: balance.

So What are We to Do About Gluttony?

The rule of fasting is this: to remain in God with mind and heart, relinquishing all else, cutting off all pandering to self, in the spiritual as well as in the physical sense. We must do everything for the glory of God and for the good of our neighbor, bearing willingly and with love the labours of the fast and privations in food, sleep, and relaxation, and foregoing the solace of other people’s company. All these privations should be moderate so as not to attract attention and not to deprive us of strength to fulfill the rule of prayer.

– Theophan the Recluse, The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology

We are called to cling to love. Love may make demands on us for ourselves or for others, and we should respond lovingly to those demands. Enjoy whatever it is that suits your fancy – so long as it isn’t hindering your ability to love yourself or others.

Summary

Temperantia isn’t about giving something up entirely; it’s the notion of balance in our lives. Just as there can be too much of something, there can also be too little of it. We neither want to drown nor die from dehydration, but rather, we want to flourish by indulging the right amount in water.

What do you think? Do you have any tips on moderation? Let us know in the comments!

Song of the Day

• Run Devil Run by Crowder
  This dose of “caffeine for your ears” helped me to get through tonight. (It’s been a long few days.) It’s a fun little ditty, definitely worth a 3minute-and-45second listen!

Gula – gluttony; throat; appetite; gullet; palate; engorgement

– WordHippo

Well that certainly sets the stage, doesn’t it? The Latin gula covers everything we think of when we traditionally think of gluttony and then some. (Of course there’s more to it than we immediately think of; this is life, mind you!)

So what exactly does it mean?

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An Aside: It’s Complicated – Gluttony, That Is

In my research, I’m finding that I’m not the only person confused by gluttony. (Thank you, God!) Some sources seem to conflict, and at least one appears to self-conflict, so sorting through this stuff is interesting to say the least. Given the nature of the contradictions, I’ll use the always-reliable sources sources – the Bible, the Catechism, Saint Thomas Aquinas – and sources that neither conflict with these nor with themselves (nor muddy the waters). I’m sifting, but please forgive me if I miss a mark, and if you spot something, please help me out by letting me know what’s off base; I’m trying to better my understanding.

(I literally ex-nayed a source because it said to not add salt, butter, “or anything that enhances the flavor of food.” And then, if you get light-headed because you skip lunch, “tell yourself that you will be eating again” later. Are you kidding me? If I get light headed, the next stop tends to be dizziness, and I’m not driving home from work with my head spinning because that’s dangerous. Don’t hurt anyone – yourself or others – because an ill-planned thought would rather have you endangering lives than to be tempting gluttony. More on this tomorrow.)

Anyway, here’s to God making my efforts worth something!

Gula = Gluttony

Why is Gluttony so Confusing?

Gluttony – habitual greed or excess in eating

– Oxford dictionary

This seems simple enough… except that many standard definitions are preoccupied with food. Gluttony is much more akin to greed than these definitions recognize because it’s not specific to food. I rather struggle with the idea of separating the two except for thoughts of Parker from Leverage: she’s firmly in the greed realm because she wants money not for things, not to use it to get other stuff, but rather like a collection that she insatiably wants to add more and more to. In contrast, someone with gluttony would use what they have to excess – either by buying stuff or by swimming in their fortune like Scrooge McDuck.

It’s easiest to dive into the gluttony topic with food, though, because that’s the way we understand it. So, let’s start there with the understanding that it’s a starting point, not the whole of the sin.

How long could we allow this beast
To gorge and guzzle, feed and feast
On everything he wanted to?
Great Scott! It simply wouldn’t do!
However long this pig might live,
We’re positive he’d never give
Even the smallest bit of fun
Or happiness to anyone.

– Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl shows his talent for simplifying making the topic accessible, identifying the crux of the issue for us: indulging such that it detracts from our relationships with others as well as with ourselves because the only thing that matters is the indulgence. Let’s return to our definition of sin.

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Review: What is Sin, Again?

Here are our working definitions:
– Theist: sin is intentionally acting against the will of God.
– Secular: sin is intentionally doing wrong.

– 1.0.2: What Is Sin?

Stress on “working definition;” I made these up as a baseline. It’s nice to know there’s a foundation for the base, though, so for those so inclined to more thorough explanation and explained thought, I’m also popping the Catechism’s definition here:

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods.

– Catechism of the Catholic Church

Generally speaking, it’s sinful to do draw ourselves away from love – love of God, love of others, and love of ourselves. Yes, ourselves, too – and we may need to use tough love on ourselves by trying, trying again. Regardless of the form it takes, we are called to love, and anything that we allow to interfere with that is sinful.

So what does this have to do with gluttony?

What Makes Gluttony Sinful?

Gluttony turns us away from love of people by expending all of that love instead on stuff, often food. It’s not necessarily the love of, but the excessive interest in. It’s okay to enjoy or dislike your meal, but it shouldn’t be all-consuming either for or against the food. Food exists to nourish us, and we should use it as a tool to that end.

Gluttony is a disordered use of food and of the pleasure that eating and drinking gives us.

– Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC, When Does Eating Become Gluttony?

Think of it like a hammer. If you’re building something and you use a hammer, it’s nice to have a nice hammer: good, sturdy, a pliable grip on a firm handle. Maybe you can appreciate its balance, its beauty, and the tone it makes when it strikes the nail – or maybe it makes no difference to you to use a rock. Either way, it gets the job done, and once the job is done, you put the tool away for the next time you need it.

Hopefully you’re not obsessing about the hammer: is it trendy enough, pretty enough, the best available, something your friends will admire – or something they’ll judge you negatively for using. The question is whether or not it got the job done. Yes? Good. No? Put a new hammer on your Christmas wishlist for Santa and move on. Or maybe you have a hammer on your wishlist and like your friend’s, so you ask where you can get one. But the internal conversation ends here.

It’s the same with food: we shouldn’t spend unnecessary time or energy on obsessing over it. Maybe you enjoyed an experience; that’s great! Maybe you didn’t; it’s something to learn from, at least. The problem is the refusal to let it go. In common vernacular, we are called to live to eat, not to eat to live.

Again, this can go to the other extreme as well. Specifically, we can loathe food and the pleasure it brings. This can be for a number of reasons: our struggles with our relationships with food, or with others, or with ourselves, for example. If food has such a negative connotation that it preoccupies the mind, that, too, tends toward a form of gluttony.

It’s Not Just Food

Food is the most well-recognized offender of gluttony, but there are other venues as well. Gluttony is the excessive interest or indulgence in something, and that can take many forms. An example Father Mike Schmitz gives is with television.

Do you enjoy television? What are your favorite shows? Have you been sucked into anything lately? Maybe you discovered an awesome new series accidentally when taking a break from writing your term paper… and suddenly it’s been six hours and that term paper isn’t nearly as complete as the season you’re working through.

That’s gluttony. It’s the preoccupation with or indulgence in something that sucks you away from (tough) love of yourself, the work you have to do. That’s why many parents limit the screen time of their kids: to teach them to control just such urges (and improve overall health).

Habits that are generally recognized as healthy can also be avenues for gluttony, too. A solid workout each day is stellar, but if your workout routine starts taking over the rest of your life, it might be time to re-think it. An hour run in the morning, a long lunch for a gym break, and then a full evening on the machines may cross the line from overkill to gluttony depending on your mental state.

Does Gluttony Hurt Anyone?

Yes. First of all, it hurts you: this preoccupation with food – or other stuff – squanders your resources. It’s probably pretty unhealthy, too – even if it’s healthy. (Your muscles need rest, too.)

Second of all, it detracts from your relationships with others. Where would that energy go if instead of spending it on indulgence you spent it on loved ones? If you watched one fewer episode, who would you spend those forty-two minutes with? If you took back your nights from the extra workouts, which friends would you reconnect with? If you weren’t waiting on the restaurant to get that crème fraîche dessert perfect, how would you spend that half-hour with the person across the table?

Again, it’s not the thing itself that’s sinful, it’s the giving into its draw away from love.

For many… live as enemies of the cross of Christ: their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

– Philippians 3:18-19

Summary

Gluttony is an inordinate or unhealthy interest in indulgence that detracts from our lives. Food is often cited, but it can come in many forms. We should enjoy things, but we cross the line into gluttony when something gets obsessive and damages our relationships with ourselves and others. Gluttony is the love of an indulgence more than the love of love.

Further Investigations

This section must be renamed! At least for today, “reading” doesn’t apply to everything: we have a video/podcast on the list. :-}

• Father Mike Schmitz: What is the Sin of Gluttony?
  Everything Father Mike does is gold; I highly recommend checking out his work with Ascension Presents or Bulldog Catholic. This is a six-minute video explaining gluttony simply yet in ways I’d never thought of, and his presentation style is fun and relatable. And addictive – it’s difficult to watch just one. (Also available on podcast with an extra 30 seconds – but you miss the epic “humph!” face about halfway through the video.)
• Alimentarium is a foundation dedicated to the history of the human relationship with food. It fittingly offers a fascinating article about gluttony, presenting a feast of information citing to sources throughout the ages, compiling it in a short and interesting read. It even leaves a sort of cliffhanger as we don’t know what tomorrow will bring! (And, of course, the cool name has a meaning, too: it’s taken from the system that makes food absorbable into the body.)