Patron Saint of Weight Loss: Saints for Self-Discipline, Prayer

The Church has never officially named a patron saint of weight loss, but Catholics who want to eat with moderation and care for their health often turn to St. Benedict of Nursia, whose Rule teaches monks to avoid overeating; to St. Ignatius of Loyola, who wrote rules for ordering one’s eating in his Spiritual Exercises; and to St. Gregory the Great, who described the ways we can fall into gluttony. The virtue behind healthy eating is temperance, and the Bible calls the body a temple of the Holy Spirit. Below are these saints, what Scripture says, and a prayer for self-discipline. For any diet or health plan, follow the advice of your doctor.

A short prayer for weight loss and self-control, written for this page:

Lord, my body is a temple of your Holy Spirit.
Give me the strength to eat with moderation, the patience to persevere,
and the peace to accept myself as you made me. St. Benedict, pray for me. Amen.

St. Benedict: moderation in all things

St. Benedict (about 480–547), the father of Western monasticism, wrote a Rule for his monks that is famous for its balance. He allowed enough food for the day’s work, asked that weaker brothers be treated gently, and warned his monks against surfeit, saying nothing is so contrary to the Christian life as overindulgence. His motto of moderation has helped people for fifteen centuries. See the St. Benedict prayer.

St. Ignatius of Loyola: rules for eating

St. Ignatius (1491–1556), founder of the Jesuits, included in his Spiritual Exercises a short set of rules for ordering oneself in eating. He suggested deciding beforehand how much to eat, staying master of oneself in the manner and amount of eating, and keeping the mind on Christ during the meal rather than on the food. These simple rules are still a wise guide. See the St. Ignatius of Loyola prayer.

St. Gregory the Great: the five ways of gluttony

Pope St. Gregory the Great (about 540–604) taught that we can sin against temperance not only by eating too much, but also by eating too soon, too expensively, too eagerly or too daintily. St. Thomas Aquinas later repeated his teaching. Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins, and its remedy is temperance, one of the cardinal virtues. See St. Gregory the Great.

What Scripture says

The body is a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Douay-Rheims):

Or know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own?
For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body.

Eating and drinking for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31, Douay-Rheims):

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God.

The athlete’s self-control (1 Corinthians 9:24–25, Douay-Rheims):

Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain.
And every one that striveth for the mastery, refraineth himself from all things: and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one.

Prayers for weight loss and self-control

Written for this page.

Before a meal

Bless us, O Lord, and this food.
Help me to eat with gratitude and moderation,
and to remember those who have nothing. Amen.

When I am discouraged

Lord, I have failed again, and I feel tired and ashamed.
Remind me that you love me as I am.
Help me to begin again today, one small step at a time. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a patron saint of weight loss?

No saint has been officially named, but St. Benedict, St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Gregory the Great are often invoked for moderation in eating.

What virtue helps with healthy eating?

Temperance, the virtue that moderates our desire for food, drink and pleasure.

Is it all right to pray to lose weight?

Yes. Caring for your health is good, and God wants to help you in every part of your life.

More prayers

Texts and sources

1 Corinthians 6:19–20, 10:31 and 9:24–25 (Douay-Rheims).