Chapter LVII: Dishonesty Arising From Gluttony

SOMETIMES a sort of dishonesty arises from gluttony, from too great desire to enjoy expensive and delicate food. One is not satisfied with ordinary fare, but is all the time looking out for this or that which they fancy will gratify their palate. This leads them to take those things they have no sort of right to, such as cakes, sweetmeats, wines, or liquors.

Many families, who have such things, cannot afford to make them common. They keep them in places under their own control, and for extraordinary occasions. Even the children of the house have no use of them, except by permission. Now, it is, of course, entirely wrong secretly to get hold of and consume such things.

The fact that they are not taken out of the house or given away, but eaten or drunk at home, does not make it less a robbery; for it is well understood that they are entirely removed from your control.

You might as well take money or other things as to take these. And if it be in the houses of the wealthy that these delicacies or expensive things are reserved, it makes no difference; they are as much out of your reach as if in another’s house.

You are entitled to good, wholesome food, and in sufficient quantity to keep up full health and strength. When you have this, you ought to be contented.

I believe domestics in this country have in general very little to complain of in this respect. They share in pretty much all that is in use in the family, and have a diet good enough for any one. If here and there an exception is made and something is kept back, it is only reasonable it should be so.

But it is really too bad when a girl is always complaining of her food, wanting to cook something for herself different from that which is in use in the family, and so making a deal of trouble and vexation.

On Fridays, in Protestant families, there may be room for exception where nothing but meat is provided; but even here it is more edifying and more Catholic, if we cannot readily provide something special or one is refused permission to do so, to get along with bread and butter, or vegetables, or some such substantial food, than to make a great matter of it.

I like very much the remark of an author, who says that domestics should accustom themselves to a very plain and simple diet, and that even if they live in places where the food is delicate and rich, they should avoid allowing themselves to set much store by it. It may very well happen that after living on rich food for some time they may be disgusted at having to take up with what is plainer and more suitable.

Plain diet is best for every one. It is hurtful for kings, queens, rich and noble, to gratify the palate. It ruins health and it ruins peace of mind. We cannot be servants of Jesus Christ and of the belly at the same time.

Nothing destroys the delight of the soul in heavenly things more quickly than this love of eating and drinking. So the Saviour says: “Take heed to ourselves lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting (i.e., over-eating) and drunkenness, and the cares of this life and that day come upon you suddenly” (St. Luke xxi. 34).

You remember, I dare say, the parable of the rich man and the poor beggar who sat at his gate. Now, all that is said of the rich man is that his thoughts and time were taken up in feasting and living sumptuously. It is not said that he committed other crimes, yet when he died his soul went into hell. No doubt he was guilty of deadly sins, but they are not mentioned, because they grew out of his love of pleasure, which was the root of them and caused his damnation.

Oh, then, avoid this sin! According to the Gospel rule, having food and raiment, having sufficient for your health and strength, be contented with it; desire nothing more, and be careful not to set your heart on more, if it come in your way.

Imitate the example of so many of the holy men and women whom the Church has canonized. Of Blessed Sebastian of Apparizio it is related, that when the daughter of his employer used to make cake and pies to present to him, he would never eat them. He said such kind of food was not suitable for a farm-servant, but not knowing how to refuse without giving offence, and at a loss what to do with them, he gave them to the cows and horses. Many of the saints would rather do this than pamper their own appetites with delicate food.

How poor and plain has been the diet of many a high-born lady, whose heart has been pierced with the desire to live for God and His love alone! Of St. Frances of Rome, we read that from a very early age she practised very great abstinence in regard to food. Nothing but water was ever drank by her. She ate no meat, eggs, or any sweet things, but simply boiled vegetables and bread. After her marriage to one of the richest and noblest men of Rome, when she had to sit at the head of a splendid table with every luxury upon it, she carried out the same mode of life; but so quietly and modestly that very few noticed her, or, if they did, thought it owing to her peculiar state of health.

Of another holy woman, Anne of Montmorency, of one of the best families of France, we know that for a long time she lived on what she could beg at the church-door from day to day; then on a little bread and water which she got twice a week by begging; and at last on the wild fruits and vegetables she collected in the woods. How such examples ought to shame us, who think so much on our stomachs and so little on the good of our souls!

To sum up, then: be perfectly satisfied with a good and sufficient diet, no matter how plain it may be; and for the love of God not lay dishonest hands on anything eatable or drinkable out of a spirit of gluttony.