Article V. On gluttony

425. Below, in the treatise on the virtue of temperance, there will be a fuller discussion of this vice, and especially of that species of it which is called drunkenness. Here the following things are briefly noted.

Notion. Gluttony, voracity, greediness, daintiness, gastrimargy, is the disordered appetite of eating and drinking. This disorder can occur in five ways, "too soon, sumptuously, too much, ardently, studiously," namely with respect to:

a) the substance of food, that is, by seeking excessively sumptuous foods;

b) quantity, that is, by devouring too much food with detriment to health;

c) quality, that is, by seeking foods prepared or seasoned too delicately and expensively; this is the same as to exceed studiously in eating and drinking;

d) the manner of taking, that is, to eat or drink too voraciously and greedily or ardently;

e) time, that is, when someone anticipates the time of eating or eats and drinks longer or more often than is fitting, which is the same as too soon.

426. Malice. Gluttony from its genus is a venial sin.^85a The reason is that the disorder found in it is not so great that it destroys charity. Accidentally, however, gluttony becomes a grave sin, namely a) by reason of grave bodily harm, if namely someone on account of greediness gravely injures bodily health; b) by reason of grave harm to the soul, if namely on account of gluttony a man neglects grave duties of his state.⁸⁶ Concerning those gluttons it is said: "Whose God is their belly" (Phil. 3, 19).

Voluntarily to indulge gluttony even unto vomiting is held by some to be a venial sin,⁸⁷ but Wigandt⁸⁸ deservedly says: "Such gluttons, who pour in so that they may pour out; drink so that they may vomit; vomit so that again they may drink immoderately, lest they seem conquered, but conquerors, scarcely seem able to be excused from mortal sin, both of scandal, and against love of oneself, and because through that vomiting, as being most violent, they gravely injure the stomach and health."

^85a Cf. S. theol. 2, 2, q. 148, a. 2.

⁸⁶ Cf. S. Thomas, De malo q. 14, a. 2.

⁸⁷ Cf. S. Alph., Theol. mor. l. 5, n. 73.

⁸⁸ Trib. confess. tr. 5, exam. 3, n. 70.

427. Daughters of gluttony. Five daughters of gluttony are enumerated:

1. Dullness of mind, according to the old saying: "A full belly does not study willingly." Almost the whole force of a gluttonous man is consumed in the digestion of food taken and in the delectation during the taking itself, so that such a man gradually becomes unfit for fixing the sharpness of the mind on a spiritual work.

2. Foolish gladness. Amid cups and banquets joys are often sought which are not only foolish but also indecent.

3. and 4. Much-speaking and buffoonery, that is, disorder both in words and in exterior acts; this chiefly happens in that species of gluttony which is drunkenness.

4. Uncleanness, "which can be considered either according to the disordered emission of any superfluities whatever, vomit and other excretions, or specially as to the emission of semen."⁸⁹

⁸⁹ S. theol. 2, 2, q. 148, a. 6.

428. Remedies against gluttony are: 1. Consideration of the evil consequences which are wont to follow from gluttony: illnesses of the body, acceleration of death, dullness of mind, contempt inflicted by good men, etc.

2. Flight from occasion, especially if it concerns an intoxicating drink. 3. Exercise of temperance, insofar as any superfluous delectations whatever in food and drink are strongly rejected.