We eat to live, not live to eat. Alas, now this phrase is becoming irrelevant, because the store shelves are bursting with food variety. Plain food is a thing of the past, replaced by various delicacies, helping to develop the passion of gluttony.
What is this?
One of the eight passions, it is the first on the list. Gluttony is an addiction to tasty and plentiful food. In simple terms, addiction to food delights and dainty dishes, respected by lovers of good food.
Passion makes you break fasts, because it is very difficult to control yourself when there are a lot of dishes on the table, and Great Lent is on the calendar. It is especially difficult at a party when the hosts of the house do not fast. That is why it is undesirable to make idle visits to unbelieving friends and relatives during fasting, because they will certainly invite you to the table with fast dishes.
What causes gluttony?
What kind of sin is described above. More precisely, given the concept of this passion,consequences are not named.
If you turn to the possible consequences of sin, it becomes uncomfortable. It would seem that such a thing is that a person will eat an extra treat. Who will he harm with this? Himself first.
Gluttony breeds relaxation. Remember: when it happens to eat well, and even tasty dishes, it starts to make you sleepy. After a hearty meal, you don't want to do anything. Sit quietly so that no one touches, or go to bed … This is what relaxation looks like, obtained as a result of excessive consumption of delicious food.
A jaded man seeks entertainment. It's not enough for him, he wants more pleasure on the side. Readers understood that we are talking about prodigal adventures. Where fornication is, there is drunkenness nearby, then it comes to greed.
Drunkenness is one of the types of gluttony, the most bloody crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol. A man is rapidly flying into the abyss, not noticing his fall. The drunk often does not have money for a bottle, but there is a need to drink. He begins to terrorize loved ones, demanding to buy alcohol, they refuse and receive a tub of insults against him (the sin of foul language). Desperate, the alcoholic goes to theft or murder, just to get hold of the money and buy the coveted bottle.
What kind of sin - gluttony, is now becoming clear. It should be added that believers who become idolaters are also subject to passion. They put food and drink above God, turning them into idols. This is a violation of the commandment "do not make yourself an idol."
Satiation and drunkenness affect the physical component of a person. There are cardiovascular diseases resulting from excess weight, problems with the gastrointestinal tract due to the use of too fatty, spicy and bitter foods. Alcohol affects the nervous system and brain, turning the drunkard into a miserable imitation of a person obsessed with drinking.
How to deal with passion?
When a human realizes that it has gone too far and flies into the abyss, it is able to stop. Man is weak, only the Lord God can help him. The fight against gluttony includes several stages:
- Spiritual. Prayer appeal to God and saints, repentance, communion.
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Ascetic. Abstinence from refined food, eating simple foods. Of course, this is difficult, especially when the neighbor eats an avocado with red fish, and a person who wants to get rid of sin forces himself to eat simple buckwheat.
- Psychological. First of all, self-discipline and willpower. Labor plays an essential role in the fight against gluttony. When a person works and is passionate about his work, he has no time to think about food.
Eating Tips
How to overcome gluttony is written above. Prayer, work and self-discipline are the first helpers in the fight against the passion for food.
Do you know that in many monasteries they eat twice a day? When fasting, food is eaten once a day, while monastic obediences are characterized by high physical exertion. Lay people who work in offices, for the most part, eat wheremore often and more abundantly than monks. You can justify yourself by saying that a person is weak and infirm, or you can pull yourself together and follow some rules when it comes to a meal:
- Eat three times a day, avoid intermediate meals.
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Get up from the table a little hungry, without trying to eat everything in front of your eyes.
- Beware of participating in unnecessary feasts. It's one thing when the family gathers for some kind of celebration, and quite another - weekly gatherings with colleagues or comrades.
- Observe multi-day and one-day fasts established by the church.
Prayer is a spiritual sword
What is the sin of gluttony, how to get rid of addiction to rich and tasty food, described above. Let's dwell on the spiritual method of dealing with passion.
A person must want to get rid of sin. As soon as an understanding of his addiction arises, he begins to ask the Lord for help in the struggle. There is a prayer read by those who want to overcome passion. It must be read secretly, after reading the prayer for eating:
I also pray to You, Lord, deliver me from satiety, voluptuousness and grant me in the peace of my soul with reverence to accept Your generous gifts, so that by eating them, I will receive strengthening of my spiritual and bodily strength to serve You, Lord, in a small remnant my life on earth.
This is what an Orthodox prayer from gluttony looks like, read by those who yearn to part with sin.
PrayerHoly Righteous John of Kronstadt
How can you overcome the passion of gluttony? With the help of fasting, prayer and forcing yourself to keep from satiety and overeating with delicacies. There is nothing difficult in turning to the Lord with the words of the prayer of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt.
A short life of the saint for those who are not familiar with him: righteous John was born in 1829 in a very poor family. The weak and sickly boy was soon christened, for they feared that he would go to God. But after the sacrament was performed, the child began to get better.
The father of the future saint served as a psalmist in the church. He often took his little son with him. John developed a zeal for God and love for Him from childhood.
The future saint studied at the Arkhangelsk parish school, then at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. He was married, but there was no carnal marriage. Saint John and his wife Elizabeth lived as brother and sister.
All his life he served God and people, he died on December 20, 1908, leaving behind a rich spiritual heritage.
Prayer of St. Righteous John of Kronstadt:
Lord, our sweetest Brasno, never perishing, but arriving in the eternal belly: cleanse Your servant from the filth of gluttony, all flesh created and alien to Your Spirit, and grant him to know the sweetness of Your life-giving spiritual Brashn, hedgehog is Flesh and Blood Yours and Your holy, living and active Word.
Prayer to Alexy - the man of God
Saint Alexei- a begging child. His parents, rich and pious, did not have children for a long time. Aglaida - that was the name of the mother of the future saint - earnestly prayed to God for the gift of a son, and a miracle happened. The woman gave birth to a son, to the great joy of her husband.
Named in holy baptism Alexy, the boy studied the Holy Scriptures and church books early. From a young age, he was inflamed with love for the Creator, refusing blessings and luxury. He wore a hair shirt on his body, dressed in rags, ate bread and water.
When Alexy came of age, his parents decided to marry him. The bride was chosen from the royal family. Young people were betrothed and married, but Saint Alexy left the estate of his parents after the wedding.
For many years no one knew what happened to him and where he was. Once, being a beggar, dried up from hunger and labor, Alexy met his father and asked to live at the court of his house. The saint lived there until the end of his days, enduring reproach and beatings from his father's slaves. But until the last day, no one knew that the wretched beggar is a son who disappeared many years ago. Only after the Assumption of the holy saint of God did the father recognize his child in him.
How to get rid of the sin of gluttony? Turn in prayer to St. Alexis - the man of God:
O saint of Christ, holy man of God Alexis! Look mercifully upon us, servant of God (names), and prayerfully stretch out your honest hands to the Lord God, and ask Him for forgiveness of our voluntary and involuntary sins, a peaceful and Christian life, and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ. She, the servant of God, do not disgrace our hope, hedgehog, according to God and the Mother of God, we place; but be our helper and patron for salvation; Yes, by your prayers, having received grace and mercy from the Lord, let us glorify the philanthropy of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and your holy intercession, now and forever and forever and ever.
Prayer to St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
The future saint came from a noble noble family. He received an excellent upbringing and education as a military engineer. The career of Dmitry - the secular name of the saint - could become the most enviable.
But Dmitry fled from fame and worldly goods. After graduating from a military school, he submitted a letter of resignation, and after a difficult and long illness, he became ingrained in the desire to become a monk.
At the age of 20, the future saint enters the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, after 3 years he takes monastic vows with the name Ignatius.
All subsequent years - serving the Lord and the people. The great saint introduced himself at the age of 60, leaving behind numerous spiritual works, the instructions from which believers still use to this day. As for material we alth, after the death of the saint, a few kopecks were found in the pocket of his cassock.
Are you wondering how to get rid of gluttony? Pray to St. Ignatius Brianchaninov:
O great and marvelous servant of Christ, Saint Father Ignatius! Graciously accept our prayers with love and gratitude brought to you! Hear us, orphans and helpless (names), falling to you with faith and love and your warmintercession for us before the Throne of the Lord of Glory asking. Vema, as the prayer of the righteous can do a lot, propitiating the Lord. From the years of your infancy, you have passionately loved the Lord, and having desired to serve Him alone, you have imputed all the red of this world to nothing. You denied yourself and, taking up your cross, you followed Christ. You have chosen the path of a narrow and regrettable life of a monastic will, and on this path you have acquired great virtues. You, with the writings of your hearts, filled people with the deepest reverence and humility before the Almighty Creator, while sinners who fell wise with your words in the consciousness of their insignificance and their sinfulness, in repentance and humility, resort to God, instructed you, encouraging them with hope in His mercy. You did not reject those who came to you, but you were a loving father to all and a good shepherd. And now do not leave us, fervently praying to you and asking for your help and intercession. Ask us from the Human-loving Lord our spiritual and bodily he alth, affirm our faith, strengthen our strength, exhausted in the temptations and sorrows of this age, warm the chilled hearts with the fire of prayer and help us, who have cleansed the Christian demise of this belly with repentance, and get into the palace of the Savior, embellished with all the elect and there with you bow down to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to St. Akhila of the Caves
The Reverend from childhood loved God, deciding to reject all worldly blessings and devote his life to serving Him. At a young age, he came to the Kiev Caves Monastery in order to stay here forever, completelygiving himself up to the Lord.
The monk was distinguished by incredible fasting, his meal was one prosphora a week. He was temperate in water no less than in food. He surpassed many with his feat of fasting. Prayer to Akhila of the Caves from gluttony will help those who firmly believe in her:
Having kissed the fasting life and overlaid with many works from young nails, having been promoted to the degree of deaconship, all-honorably, in which you served in the Church of the Mother of God without blemish, even pray, in our soulbe saved
Kontakion to the Monk Akhila, Deacon of Caves
better, please.
Prayer to Matrona of Moscow
The blessed old woman can be called our contemporary, she died in 1952. She was canonized at the beginning of the 21st century, the relics of the saint of God are in the Intercession Convent in Moscow.
Her life knows, probably, every pious Christian. The righteous was born into a poor family, from infancy she was blind. By the age of 17, she had been decapitated, she could not walk, she just sat in her corner, allocated by kind people. Why good people? Blessed Matrona did not have her own home. She traveled through acquaintances, staying where they gave shelter.
Despite her own infirmities, the old woman helped the sick and suffering. Through her prayers, some were healed, others got jobs, and others got married. Mother refused no one, except for those who came to laugh at her, not believing in the Lord at all.
To this day, numerous miracles are performed at the relics of Matronushka. Here is the text of the prayer to the Matrona from gluttony and other needs experienced by a person.
Prayer to Matrona of Moscow (first)
O blessed mother Matrono, now hear and accept us, sinners, praying to you, having learned to accept and listen to all the suffering and grieving in all your life, with faith and hope for your intercession and the help of those who come running, quick help and miraculous healing giving to everyone; let your mercy not fail now to us, unworthy, restless in this many-fuss world and nowhere to find comfort and compassion in spiritual sorrows and help in bodily illnesses: heal our sicknesses, deliver us from the temptations and torment of the devil, passionately fighting, help me convey my worldly Cross, to endure all the hardships of life and not lose the image of God in it, preserve the Orthodox faith until the end of our days, have strong hope and hope in God and unfeigned love for neighbors; help us, after departing from this life, reach the Kingdom of Heaven with all those who please God, glorifying the mercy and goodness of the Heavenly Father, in the Trinity of glory, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to the Matrona of Moscow (second)
O blessed mother Matrono, soul in heaven before the Throne of Godcoming, but resting their bodies on the earth, and by the grace given to you from above, they exude various miracles. Look now with your merciful eye on us, sinners, in sorrows, illnesses and sinful temptations, our dependent days. Comfort us, desperate ones, heal our fierce ailments, from God to us through our sins, deliver us from many troubles and circumstances, beg our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us all our sins, iniquities and sins, we are from our youth even to this day and we have sinned for an hour, but having received grace and great mercy by your prayers, let us glorify in the Trinity the One God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever.
Prayer to Xenia of Petersburg
Another Russian saint, especially revered by the people. The life of Blessed Xenia of Petersburg is complete self-denial, renunciation of worldly goods and the feat of foolishness. Left a widow at the age of 26, the young woman dressed in her husband's clothes and ordered to call herself Andrei Feodorovich. Having given a rich estate to a woman who once rented a room from her, Xenia remained homeless. Dressed in rags, without a roof over her head, she wandered around the outskirts of St. Petersburg, causing ridicule from the inhabitants. Adults beat her with words, children threw stones and dirt. The saint endured many insults and humiliations before people realized that before them was a very wise and reasonable person, to whom the Lord reveals a lot.
Even during her lifetime, the saint became famous for miracles, and they still occur today at the grave of Blessed Xenia. To whom to pray from gluttony?Of course, Blessed Xenia of Petersburg:
Oh, holy all-blessed mother Xenia! Under the shelter of the Almighty, who lived, guided and strengthened by the Mother of God, suffered hunger and thirst, cold and heat, reproach and persecution, received the gift of clairvoyance and miracles from God and rest under the shadow of the Almighty. Now the Holy Church, like a fragrant flower, glorifies you: coming at the place of your burial, in front of your saints, as if you live with us, we pray to you: accept our petitions and bring them to the Throne of the Merciful Heavenly Father, as if you have boldness for Him, ask those who flow to you eternal salvation, and for good deeds and undertakings, our generous blessing, deliverance from all troubles and sorrows, appear with your holy prayers before our All-Merciful Savior for us, unworthy and sinners, help, holy blessed mother Xenia, babies with the light of the Holy Illuminate baptisms and seal the gift of the Holy Spirit, bring up the youths and maidens in faith, honesty, God-fearing and chastity and grant them success in teaching; Heal those who are sick and ill, send down family love and consent, worthy of a monastic feat to strive for good and protect from reproach, affirm the pastors in the fortress of the spirit, preserve our people and country in peace and serenity, beg for those who are deprived of communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ in the dying hour: you are ours hope and hope, speedy hearing and deliverance, we send thanks to you and with you we glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer in the temple
We talked about home prayer for the saintsGod, can it be done in the temple?
How to get rid of gluttony? Be sure to attend Sunday liturgies, ask for deliverance from addiction during church prayer. There is no need to cry out to the Lord, an inner cry for help is enough.
Come often to the sacraments of confession and communion, order prayers to the above saints, asking them for help. The main thing is to force yourself to fight, nothing will work without effort.
Conclusion
The article is coming to its logical conclusion, we talked about how to get rid of gluttony. Three components of the fight against passion - prayer, fasting, self-discipline.
Avoid idleness, for it is the mother of all vices. Work, pray and ask the Lord for help, as well as His saints.
