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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
Again, to live in luxury does not seem to be a manifest and admitted crime; but then it brings forth in us great evils,—drunkenness, violence, extortion, and rapine. For the prodigal and sumptuous liver, bestowing extravagant service upon the belly, is often compelled to steal, and to seize the property of others, and to use extortion and violence. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Since many women choose widowhood in order to indulge themselves with greater independence, he says: the pleasure-loving (σπαταλῶσα) woman, though she appears to live this sensual life, has died in spirit. But if it is impermissible for a woman to give herself over to pleasures, where in any case both nature and age often prove weak, what shall pleasure-loving men say?
Ignatius of Antioch
Let no one addicted to idleness eat, lest he become a wanderer about, and a whoremonger. Let drunkenness, anger, envy, reviling, clamour, and blasphemy "be not so much as named among you." Let not the widows live a life of pleasure, lest they wax wanton against the word. Be subject to Caesar in everything in which subjection implies no [spiritual] danger. Provoke not those that rule over you to wrath, that you may give no occasion against yourselves to those that seek for it. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
And there is a death which the apostle denounces, saying of the widow, "But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." Therefore the soul, which was before ungodly and is now godly, is said to have come alive again from the dead and to live, on account of the righteousness of faith. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, for she who lives in pleasures is dead while she is living, he gives the reason why she should devote all her time to prayer, namely, because it is impossible for the soul never to be occupied with some pleasure. And since the soul of an idle person is not occupied with useful things, then it must be occupied with carnal things. …
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