Today's Term: Spiritual Gluttony
In one sentence, spiritual gluttony can be defined as an excessive craving for consolations.
From Fr. Tanquerey in his classic work, The Spiritual Life:
a)One seeks them (consolations) even in the practice of austerities, in the discipline for instance, and one importunes one's director for permission to practice mortifications with the hope of thus obtaining consolations.
b)For the same reason, some persons make forced efforts during meditation or at the time of communion, in order to procure a feeling of devotion, or they wish to go frequently to confession with a view of finding some comfort in this exercise. Often these efforts and longing remain sterile, and then discouragement takes hold of these souls, who are more attached to consolations than to God Himself.
(SL, #1265)
We can learn many things from Fr. Tanquerey who bases his writings on the teachings of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Jesus.
Spiritual Gluttony is just one of the capital sins of the spiritual life. I hope to cover the others in future posts. This sin is very easy to succumb to because spiritual consolations can be so deeply enjoyable. However, we must strive to love God for himself and not the spiritual sweetness he sends. As we learn in the writings of our Carmelite doctors of the church, we must go beyond the consolations and embrace the cross, where there is no consolation, only the dying to self.
We can look to the saints, especially the Carmelite saints, who found a type of joy in suffering that is hard for us to understand. A type of joy given in the interior of the soul that helped them suffer with love for Christ.
We can ask ourselves, what is our response when God withdraws consolations? Do we become like spoiled little children who sulk and grow irritable? Do we think we deserve consolations? Is there a certain pride or vanity attached to them-thinking that we have become holy and that is why we enjoy them?
God's mercy rescues us when he sends us the experience of the night of the senses, for this is when he begins his real work in us, by purifying us of attachments to sensible consolations. Do not lose heart, but be very grateful, for if the Lord is purifying us, it is because he desires a greater union with us. Purification leads to holiness!
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie
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