We eat in order to live, not live in order to eat. Alas, now this phrase is becoming irrelevant, for store shelves are bursting with food variety. Simple food is a thing of the past, it is replaced by various delicacies, helping to develop the passion of gluttony.
What it is?
One of eight passions, she is the first on the list. Gluttony is an addiction to tasty and plentiful food. Simply put, the dependence on food delights and tidbits, respected by lovers of delicious food.
Passion forces you to violate the posts, because it is very difficult to control yourself when there are a lot of dishes on the table, and Lent is on the calendar. It is especially difficult to visit when the owners of the house do not fast. That is why it is undesirable to pay idle visits to unbelieving friends and relatives in the post, because they will certainly be invited to the table with fast-food dishes.
What gives birth to gluttony?
What kind of sin is described above. More precisely, the concept of this passion is given, the consequences are not named.
If we turn to the possible consequences of sin, it becomes uncomfortable. It would seem that this is that a person will eat an extra delicacy. Who would he harm? To myself in the first place.
Gluttony gives rise to relaxation. Remember: when it happens to eat well, and even tidbits, it starts to fall asleep. After a hearty meal I don’t want to do anything. To sit calmly so that no one would touch, or go to bed ... This is how the relaxation resulting from the excessive consumption of delicious food looks like.
A saturated man seeks entertainment. He is not enough; he wants more pleasure on the side. Readers realized that we are talking about prodigal adventures. Where there is fornication, there is drunkenness nearby, then it comes to thirst for profit.
Drinking is one of the types of gluttony; under the influence of alcohol, the bloodiest crimes are committed. A man swiftly flies into the abyss, not noticing his fall. A drunkard 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 in their address (sin of foul language). Desperate, the alcoholic goes to theft or murder, just to get hold of money and buy the coveted bottle.
What kind of sin - gluttony is now becoming clear. It should be added that passions are also subject to believers who become idolaters. They put food and drink above God, turning them into idols. This is a violation of the commandment "do not make yourself an idol."
Satiety and drunkenness affect the physical component of a person. Cardiovascular diseases resulting from being overweight, problems with the gastrointestinal tract due to eating too oily, spicy and bitter foods appear. Alcohol affects the nervous system and brain, turning a drunkard into a miserable semblance of a person obsessed with drinking.
How to deal with passion?
When a human individual 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 involves several stages:
Spiritual. Prayer appeal to God and saints, repentance, communion.
Ascetic. Abstinence from gourmet 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 makes himself eat simple buckwheat.
Psychological. First of all, self-discipline and willpower. Labor plays a significant 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 defeat gluttony, described 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 obedience is characterized by high physical activity. The laity working in the offices, for the most part, eat much more often and abundantly than monks. You can justify that the person is weak and weak, but you can pull yourself together and follow some rules when it comes to the meal:
Eat three meals a day, avoid intermediate meals.
From the table to get up a little hungry, not trying to eat everything that is in front of the eyes.
Beware of participating in excess feasts. It is one thing when a family gathers for some kind of celebration, and quite another - weekly gatherings with colleagues or comrades.
Observe the 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 plentiful and tasty food, is described above. Let us dwell in detail on the spiritual method of combating passion.
Man 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 wish to overcome passion. It must be read secretly after reading the prayer for food:
I also pray to you, Lord, save me from satiety, lust for love, and grant me, in the peace of mind, to reverently receive Your generous gifts, and by tasting them, I will receive the strengthening of my spiritual and bodily strength to serve You, Lord, in a few remnants of my life on earth.
This is what the Orthodox prayer for gluttony looks like, read by those who are eager to part with sin.
Prayer of St. Righteous John of Kronstadt
How can you overcome the passion of gluttony? With the help of fasting, prayer, and forcing oneself to restrain oneself from satiety and eating sweets. It is not difficult to turn to the Lord with the words of the prayer of St. John of Kronstadt.
A short life of the saint for those who are not familiar with him: the 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 recover.
The father of the future saint served as a psalmist in the church. He often took his little son with him. John developed jealousy for God and love for Him from childhood.
He studied the future saint at the Arkhangelsk parish school, then - at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. He was married, but there was no carnal marriage. St. John and his wife Elizabeth lived as brother and sister.
All his life he served God and people, died on December 20, 1908, leaving behind a rich spiritual heritage.
Prayer of St. John of Kronstadt:
Lord, the sweetest Our brutal, never perishing, but arriving in the eternal belly: cleanse Your servant from the filth of browning, all flesh created and foreign to Your Spirit, and grant him to know the sweetness of Your life-giving spiritual brush, even though Thine and Holy Blood, holy and Holy, and your effective Word.
Prayer to Alexy - the man of God
Saint Alexei is a begged child. His parents, wealthy and pious, had no children for a long time. Aglaid - 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 by Alexis, the boy early studied scripture and church books. From a young age, he inflamed with love for the Creator, abandoning wealth and luxury. He wore a hair shirt on his body, dressed in rags, and 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 engaged and married, but Saint Alexy left his parents' estate after the wedding.
For many years no one knew what was with him and where he was. Once, being a beggar, dried up from hunger and labor, Alexy met his father and asked to live in the courtyard of his house. There the saint lived until the end of his days, bearing the reproaches and beatings from his father's slaves. But until the last day no one knew that a poor beggar - there is a son who disappeared many years ago. Only at 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? To prayerfully address Saint Alexy, the man of God:
O Christ's servant, holy man of God Alexy! Look mercifully upon us, servant of God (names), and prayerfully pray to the Lord God for your honest hand, and ask us for the forgiveness of our sinful and unconscious sins, a peaceful and Christian life, and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ. To her, the servant of God, we do not put shame on our hope, according to Bose and the Mother of God, hedgehog; but be our helper and patron for salvation; Yes, with your prayers that you have received grace and mercy from the Lord, we will glorify the philanthropy of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and your holy intercession, now and ever and ever.
Prayer to St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
The future saint came from a noble noble family. He received an excellent upbringing and education of a military engineer. Dmitry’s career - the worldly name of the saint - could become the most enviable.
But Dmitry fled from glory and worldly goods. After graduating from a military school, he applied for resignation, and after a difficult and prolonged illness he took root in his desire to become a monk.
At the age of 20, the future saint enters the Alexander Svir Monastery, after 3 years she takes monastic tonsure 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, of which the believers still use the teachings of this day. As for material wealth, after the death of the saint in the pocket of his cassock, several kopecks were discovered.
You are wondering how to get rid of gluttony? Pray to St. Ignatius Brianchaninov:
O great and wonderful servitor of Christ, Saint Hierarch Ignatius! Graciously accept our prayers with love and thanksgiving to you! Hear us, the orphans and the helpless (names), who come to you with faith and love, and your warmth of representing you before the throne of the Lord of Glory, asking. Vems, as the prayer of the righteous can do much, propitious to the Lord. You, from the years of the infant Lord, ardently loved Thou art, and thirsted for Him alone, all the red of this world did not impute Thou. You have denied yourself and, taking your cross, Christ has followed. You have chosen the narrow path and the regrettable life of a monk of your own will, and on this way you have acquired the virtues of greatness. You have written with your hearts of people the deepest reverence and humility before the Almighty Creator, performed thou, sinners who fell by your wise words in the consciousness of your insignificance and your sinfulness, in repentance and humility, resorting to God instructed thou, encouraging them to trust in His mercy. You have rejected those who flowed to you just the same, but to all the child-loving father and good shepherd was. And now do not leave us, who are praying earnestly to you, and yours asking for help and intercession. Ask us from the Loving Our Lord our mental and physical health, establish our faith, strengthen our strength, exhausted in temptations and sorrows of this world, warm our hearts with the fire of prayer, and help us, by repenting to cleanse the Christian demise of this belly, receive it and decorate the Savior's church with all the elect and tomo with you bow to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to St. Achilles of the Caves
Since childhood, the saint has loved God, having decided to reject all worldly goods and devote his life to His service. At a young age, he came to the Kiev Pechersk Monastery to stay here forever, completely surrendering himself to obedience to the Lord.
The reverend was distinguished by incredible fasting; his meal was one prosphora a week. In water was abstained no less than in food. His feat of fasting exceeded many. Achile Pechersky’s prayer for gluttony will help those who firmly believe in it:
The life of the neighbors was covered with kisses and a lot of labor from the youngest toenails, to the degree of deaconess, he was made, all honestly, in which he served in the church of God a little more than a little later.
Kontakion to the Monk Achilles, Deacon of the Caves
Greatness had indeed abstinence, not so much, and much showed communion, O Achilos, brought back a little one in the weeks, and only a little bit was left to stand and have nothing to do with it.
Prayer Matrone of Moscow
The blessed old woman can be called our contemporary, she died in 1952. Was canonized at the beginning of the XXI century, the relics of the saint of God are in the Intercession convent of Moscow.
Probably every pious Christian knows her life. The righteous woman was born in a poor family, from infancy she was blind. By the 17th birthday, she had become poor, she could not walk, she was only sitting in her corner, highlighted by kind people. Why kind people? Blessed Matron did not have her own home. She traveled around friends, stopping where they gave shelter.
Despite her own weaknesses, the old woman helped the sick and suffering. Through her prayers, some were healed, others got a job, still others got married. Mother did not refuse anyone, except those who came to laugh at her without believing in the Lord at all.
To this day, the relics of Matronushka have performed many miracles. Here is the text of the Matron prayer from gluttony and other needs experienced by man.
Prayer Matrone of Moscow (first)
O blessed mother Matrono, now hear and receive us sinners, praying to you, skilled in receiving and listening to all those who are suffering and grieving in all your life, with faith and hope for your intercession and help of those who come, quick help and miraculous healing are all giving; may your mercy not fade even now to us, unworthy, troubled in this much troubled world, and nowhere finding comfort and compassion in our sorrow of souls and help in bodily illnesses: heal our disease, save us from the temptations and torment of the devil, we’re passionately fighting, help me bring it The cross, to demolish all the hardships of life and not lose the image of God in it, preserve the Orthodox faith until the end of our days, hope and hope in God that you have strong and unfeigned love for your neighbors; help us, upon departing from this life, achieve the Kingdom of Heaven with all those who pleased God, glorifying the mercy and goodness of the Father in Heaven, in the Trinity of Slavimago, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer Matrone of Moscow (second)
O blessed mother Matrono, the soul in heaven before the Throne of God is coming, the body is resting on earth, and given above grace, various miracles exuding. Consider now your gracious eye upon us, sinful, in sorrow, sicknesses and sinful temptations, your dependent days. Consolate us, desperate, heal our cruel ailments, let God through our sin, save us from many troubles and situations, implore our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us all our sins, lawlessness and fall, we are from our youth even to the present day and sinning hours, and with your prayers having received grace and great mercy, we will glorify in the Trinity the Unified God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever.
Prayer to Xenia of Petersburg
Another Russian saint, especially revered by the people. The life of the blessed Ksenia of Petersburg is a complete renunciation, a renunciation of worldly goods and a feat of foolishness. Remaining a widow at the age of 26, the young woman put on the clothes of her husband and ordered them to call themselves Andrei Feodorovich. Having given a rich estate to the woman who once rented her room, Ksenia remained homeless. Dressed in rags, without a roof over her head, she wandered around the outskirts of St. Petersburg, causing ridicule from residents. Adults beat her with words, children threw stones and mud. The saint endured many insults and humiliations before people understood that they were a very wise and rational person, to whom the Lord reveals a lot.
Even during his lifetime, the saint was famous for miracles, they occur today at the grave of Blessed Xenia. Who should pray from gluttony? Of course, blessed Xenia of Petersburg:
Oh, holy blessed mother Xenia! Under the shelter of the Almighty, the living, guided and strengthened by the Mother of God, was smooth and thirsty, cool and hot, endured reproach and persecution, she received the gift of perspicacity and miracles from God, and under the almighty Almighty rests. Now the Holy Church, as a fragrant color, glorifies thee: appearing at the place of your burial, before your saints, as we live, living with us, we pray: accept our petition and bring them to the Throne of the Mercy of Heavenly Father, who has boldness towards Him , ask the eternal salvation flowing to you, and for good deeds and undertakings, our generous blessing, deliverance from all troubles and sorrows, appearing by your holy prayers before our Merciful Savior about us unworthy and sinful, help me, blessed blessed mother Xenia, ml Dentsu light of Holy Baptism ozariti and print Gift of the Holy Spirit impress, boys and girls in the faith, honesty, piety and chastity Upbringing and success in teaching them darovati; heal and harmless, cure family love and harmony, honor the holy monastic deed and fight against vilifications, establish the shepherds in the fortress of the spirit, save our people and country in peace and tranquility, pray for those deprived of us in the dying hour of Communion: hope and hope, a speedy hearing and deliverance, we send thanks to you and praise the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit with you, now and ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer in the temple
We talked about home prayer to the servants of God, is it possible to carry it out in the temple?
How to get rid of gluttony? Be sure to attend Sunday liturgies, ask for deliverance from addiction during church prayer. It is not necessary to appeal to the Lord in a voice; an inner cry for help is enough.
Often proceed to the sacraments of confession and communion, order prayers for the above saints, asking them for help. The main thing is to force yourself to fight, nothing will work without labor.
Conclusion
The article is coming to its logical conclusion, we talked about how to get rid of gluttony. The three components of the fight against passion are prayer, fasting, and self-discipline.
Avoid idleness, for she is the mother of all vices. Work, pray and ask for the help of the Lord, as well as His holy saints.