To self-indulgence and satiety.
Disordered satisfaction in sensual gratification. Or, the inordinate love of sensual pleasure.
To be as gods.
To redefine for ourselves all the laws, customs and traditions which conflict with our personal preferences, so-called rights and pursuit of happiness.To presumption.
To control and command and order our lives according to our own will and desire... to non serviam. To make oneself an idol, a star, presuming all the while it is God who exults us.
Concupiscence of the flesh, concupiscence of the eyes and pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Art: Temptation of Christ, Sandro Botticelli. Note the devil dressed as a hermit/desert father. Think about that.
The first one always gets me. How much is too much enjoyment of sensual things, like good food, good music, the marriage bed? To read some saints, just about any love or preference for such things is sinful. Some of them sound like even adding spices to food or looking forward to a good meal are self-indulgence.
ReplyDeleteTo me it seems that in traditional Catholicism, the idea is that it's okay to enjoy things if we have to do them in order to live, but to be motivated by the joy of doing these things is sinful. So in that paradigm, drinking a glass of wine because one likes wine is wrong. Adding salt to food because it makes it taste better is wrong, etc.
And ice cream? Forget it!
Here's what I think.
ReplyDeleteDrinking 2 or 3 beers is fine. Adding a bump to them is okay too. Drinking a six pack and a quart of scotch a night is kind of over doing it. Depending upon the nightly beer is a different matter however - not good.
Buzzed driving can be against the law - but getting buzzed isn't necessarily a sin.
Rushing home after work to get romantic with your wife is fine, speeding and reckless driving, not so much. Forcing her against her will, that's not good either. Doing it as often as possible to 'prove' her love or because you need it all the time - that's like depending on the nightly beer - not good.
Staying in bed with the wife is fine, but not getting up for Sunday Mass or work isn't.
Eating sweets and ice cream in moderation is fine too. Giving into cravings at any hour of the day or night is self-indulgence.
I think it's all about moderation, and during Lent, it's a little bit more.
But if you can't do more - just don't sin. Give alms and or do works of charity if you can't or don't want to give things up. And pray.
Eventually the self gets in the way of good works and prayers and you soon learn how to redirect your appetites.
It takes practice.
Terry - you're awesome.
ReplyDeleteI never drink more than 2 beers unless it's a special night with friends, and even then I hardly get buzzed at all :) My pacing is good, I learned that in Germany. I haven't been drunk in a long time, which is good because I used to do dumb things.
And I usually go to evening Mass, but that's because I work late on Saturday nights and often go out with a few friends to blow off steam after work (can't sleep anyway -- too wound up after work). But I haven't missed a Sunday Mass in a long time now.
Actually, so far in Lent I haven't been eating between meals, and have given up several things. But what I really want to do is more charity. I'm planning to call St. Vincent de Paul this week to see if they need volunteers.
Btw, I am reading Fr. Walter Ciszek's "With God in Russia" - what an amazing man (I know you're a fan).
Pray to Fr. Ciszek as you read - I believe he is the most excellent source in modern times to convey the spirituality of abandonement to Divine Providence.
ReplyDeleteBTW - word to the wise - I may have over-poured in my drink section - 1-2 beers probably is more like it.
ReplyDeleteoh, I think I have a different take on this: often our behaviour is such an occasion of sin for others - uncharity, to say the least. I now work in a (Catholic) nursing home, only job I could find: I wash dishes, mop the floor, truly onerous and exhausting - part time or I would be a goner ( I am nearly 60). but - the other part - I work in the dining room, also very grueling - and psychologically draining: as the particularity of people is bizarre, and even though they are old,the specific demands are just so hard: anyway: serveral are nuns, retired, in wheel-chairs, etc: and so demanding, so difficult, so mean, so impossible to please !!!!!!! worse than any of the other old people ! but one little sister, she takes her food as it is presented, she is humble, I see her in deep, deep prayer and she is often the last to leave the room: it is an honor to wheel her out...the demands of the other sisters leaves me sometimes in tears, anxiety-ridden, or feeling very mean myself - I am feeling quite inarticulate about all of this, but may not our indulgences make life very hard for others ? those who must witness our behaviour, live with us, listen to us...btw: the very person "on the bottom" such as I, often gets to witness the silliness and ego as my invisiblity is a factor -
ReplyDeleteso that was my rant. And rather than give this or that up - why do we not practise an excess of kindness when it is hardest - patience when we would rather show our intolerance - why else does God put such people in our way....but to show others the very gifts, qualities he desires in us, to smooth out our own sharpness and rough edges. I am actually grateful to be in this place - surly I can make some amends to God in a small way.
Terry - thanks. Fr. Ciszek's book is fascinating - I would have loved to have met such a man.
ReplyDeleteAnd I said I only drink more than two beers sometimes :) Usually over the course of a longer evening, and my pacing is good.
consolata - I work in a restaurant, waiting tables on the weekends. It's really an opportunity to take abuse, if you will. People, both customers and servers, can get so indignant about things, and some can be outright jerks. I often fail in my efforts to humbly take abuse, and sometimes I can get deeply offended by people's behavior, but I'm able to humble myself here and there, and I'm sure God intends this for me.
This morning at Mass Father talked about fasting. He said food and drink aren't bad things in and of themselves even though fasting from them was a good thing. He suggested fasting from pornography and sinful images that objectify human beings was better. Of course he put it so much more eloquently than I just did.
ReplyDeleteEvery Lent I have grand plans where I think I can survive on bread and water for breakfast and lunch with a small dinner in the evening. Then I ate 4 chocolate bars yesterday. I've decided to fast from criticism instead - this is proving harder than fasting from food. Also fasting from sarcasm - I feel I've cut off my right arm - I didn't realize how often I depend on it in my conversation. I guess I won't talking much (if at all) this Lent. And that's telling me something.
A.M.
Consolata - you have the best job. You remind me of St. Therese. The crankier ones are the ones most in need of mercy, love and kindness.
ReplyDeleteThis post is so helpful to me, especially Consolata's comment, which does remind me of St. Therese... It's the little things that can be great in the eyes of God. And when I am tempted to rely on my own strength I always think of Fr. Cisek, and his abandonment to God in his weakness. Thanks all for the good inspirations.
ReplyDeleteConsolata, I, too, thought of St. Therese, but also of my mom's neighbor, who is one of the demanding and cranky ladies at the nursing home. My mom thinks she yells because she was pampered and is accustomed to a lot of attention. The result is that sometimes she gets ignored because she's like the little boy who cried wolf.
ReplyDeleteYou do wonderful work, and while you may think it's all you can get, it's a grace to be able to care for those who can no longer care for themselves.
I went to Mass this morning, came home to make soup, and brought it to my mom. She waited for my soup in her room, not bothering to investigate their meal. I'm not saying that my soup is all that, but she really wanted it and ate a big bowl, along with a piece of baguette.
I meant to comment on the three temptations. Aren't they shoes, chocolate and diet coke?
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone - I think about St Therese too and it helps so much: but also - I learned that St Anthony of Padua started out as a dishwasher ! how often I pray to him. I do consider this job a great blessing, plus it is Real Work, not involving office politics and all the stuff that goes with jobs like that. I must say though: the nurses and aids do ignore the ones who ask 'too much' for help etc: it Is like seeing the residents punished, which I hate. and the residents get 'talked over', treated like objects so often: I Know they are 'in there' and aware, and so dependant on everyone - I wanted to have a job like this after the years of taking care of my folks -
ReplyDeletebut: more than 7.91 an hour would be nice - to whom would I pray... ;)
Nan, often family members join their parent for a meal, or arrange to eat alone with them in another room, which is very special for an elderly person, it seems that they feel safer having everyone 'see' that they Have Someone in their life. There have been times I just cry in that room when they all leave. Some days...it is like...we ware-house the elderly, even in up-scale places like this one.
Mercury: I happily 'take the fall' for other's mistakes in the kitchen - I can see now this can be a joy. - Let God be our only defense.
and yeah - lots of rough stuff among workers, everywhere - we can really join Jesus, can't we, when we 'take it'.
How will Our generation deal with all of this, I wonder. Peace everyone.
consolata, that's our boy the Infant of Prague, St, Joseph who cared for our mama and the baby Christ and Our Lady of Good Remedy who is patron to the Trinitarians. Also St Nicholas.
ReplyDeleteYour true saint may be St. Lawrence, who was entrusted with the treasure of the Church; when tasked with bringing it to his execution under Valerian, he brought the poor, crippled, blind and sick.
My mom is fortunate in having consistent visitors; my sister and I spend a lot of time with her, my aunt usually visits with her 4/yo granddaughter weekly, and my cousin brings her family every 4-6 wks. She has friends who periodically visit also, and a former neighbor is in the same place.
+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteWill you be painting one with the devil depicted as a blogger? If you need any help, I'll pose for it!!!
Terry -- wonderful post. Read just before Downton Abbey last night. Just before having my heart. broken. sigh. I know everyone is saying Matthew was silly, but I liked him and Mary together. oh well.
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to read He Leadeth Me (Ciszek)for a couple Lents now, this reminded me to just get the thing and do it!
Consolata - I have worked that exact job and I know what you are saying. At worst, you have a built-in suffering to offer, and at best, you are the person that sees these poor souls as human beings loved by God, and help to make up for the terrible way they are looked upon by the other workers. You may find certain ones will begin to seek you out for a bit of comfort and love. God Bless you -- even for all the back breaking work and poor salary, it is a good thing you are doing.
Well, this blog post depresses me. Makes me think and know that I suck. Speaking of which, I really haven't decided on anything for Lent. The fact that I'm even willing to do the basics this year is a big deal.
ReplyDeleteI want to thank everyone for their many encouraging words and support: it has been a pretty big deal in my life to undergo a first job after so many years 'at home', taking care of my own elders. I was up today at 4 am and at work at 6 and got through the day well, I do pray a lot and that helps so very much. I think I have found 'my niche', for now, and I Do love these old people. what indignities they go though: I pour their drinks, set up their meals etc: and for anyone who has not yet encountered 'Thickened' liquids....you have a real treat in store...not. my father had to drink this. One nun valiently drinks all of her 'thickened' drinks, & nary a word. anyway - thank you all. what a novelty to me to be understood !
ReplyDeletehey Charlotte....you are in pretty good company here, you know...we all think we suck here !