Gluttony and the Monastic Life

By Sr. Claire Agnes, OES

It has been a very interesting few years for me. I began my monastic practice with the standard Seeker and Novice periods of six months and one year respectively. It has been three months today sine I took my first vows. I feel it fitting to be writing this post today. It’s a milestone of sorts, but I digress.

In my year and a half as a Nun I feel I have found my path. I feel at peace with my decision to become a Monastic. One thing I’ve discovered while developing my practice is that I require very little in way of material possessions to sustain myself. Before becoming a Monastic my life was very simple. I lived each day for my Coca Cola, chocolate and take out. Gluttony if you will. (The word Gluttony comes from Old French, and means habitual excess or greed in eating.)

It does not sound bad but it was. It was also my biggest challenge to living a simpler more frugal life… One that was focused on God and not personal gratification. This process took over a year to “perfect” and is ongoing.

To be honest I’ve only really been successful in my attempts to limit my gluttony since they changed the recipe of my Coca Cola which was my biggest vice. Since being able to overcome this is have been able to focus on other things and not my cravings.

If you're attempting to develop a Monastic practice and gluttony is your main vice whether it be eating out in restaurants and Coca Cola like myself or something else, I encourage you to keep at it. It can and with time will be overcome.