03-03-2021, 07:56 PM
To Christian modesty it is not enough to be so, but to seem so too.”
Tertullian, on woman’s dress
CHAPTER SEVEN (Part 1):
Modesty, what else does it include?
Modesty is a fruit of the Holy Ghost, so St. Paul tells us in Gal. 5:22-23. St. Thomas Aquinas explains it to us this way, “that the fruits (of the Holy Ghost) tend to lift man to what is greater than himself…beyond the reach of natural reason.” 20. Therefore, we can assume, that this fruit of the Holy Ghost is one that should be cultivated as all other fruits such as charity, peace, faith, and others. Modesty is the safeguard of chastity, whereas chastity means control of the sex instinct or appetite in accordance with the sixth commandment. 15.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent gives us many reflections to deter us from sinning against the sixth commandment. On page 436, it tells us how the Bible abounds in examples of God’s punishments among the various tribes that practiced impurity including the destruction of Sodom and neighbouring cities, punishments of the Israelites, slaughter of the Benjamites and more. These examples alone should deter us from practicing what the Council of Trent calls impurity, ‘a filthy sin’.
Thus, we should mention that modesty encompasses body, mind and will. A wonderful resource that details much of what modesty is, in ‘The Spiritual Life’ by Adolf Tanquerey. Let us read his wonderful words of wisdom… “Our Lord recommended to His disciples the moderate practice of fasting and abstinence, the mortification of sight and of touch.” He goes on to quote St. Paul who says, “But I chastise my body and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.” 1 Cor. 9:27. He explains that for the soul to be of services to the body it must be cut off from the yearnings of the flesh, which is best accomplished by mortifying the senses. “The senses are but many openings for forbidden pleasure” he says. So, without mortifications we will become weak toward forbidden pleasures. Now here is the real motive for practising modesty.
It should be noted, that if it is one’s intention to willfully tempt others to impurity by one’s immodesty, it is always, objectively, a mortal sin no matter how slight the immodesty may be. At the very least it is venial, and this is a good enough reason for practicing modesty in dress and deportment, both personally and socially.
But just how does one practically apply these standards and practice modesty?
Well little Jacinta, so moved by the numbers of souls lost each day decided to give up dancing, something which she loved. One day she announced, “I am not going to dance anymore.” When Lucia asked why not, she replied, “Because I want to offer this sacrifice to Our Lord.” Now remember this was not the dancing we see today. These were the folk dances popular during the time and in the country where she lived, but she decided to give them up anyhow as a sacrifice. I would say that today, considering the awful dances that have been invented and the great danger to purity they represent that it would be fitting for dancing today, to be given up as well. The twist, which is a much tamer version than the newer dances of today, is much the same as the sensual tribal dances of primitive people. Mary Reed Newland in, “Children Grow Up” says, “A missionary friend told us of working with Indians in the Northwest who annually held a tribal gathering at which they danced to music not unlike rock and roll with its persistent beat, performing steps and motions much the same as those used in contemporary dancing, and all for the purpose of assuring that the young men and women of the tribe would mate…” This sounds much the same as the impure dancing of today where people are doing much more than the twist! Parents be strong and forbid your children any type of dancing, or impure music as well! And if you are a young adult reading this be sure to steer clear of this for the sake of your purity! It is a great start to learning the beginnings of mortifications which are necessary to the spiritual life.
Well, not all of us like to dance so some more common ways of mortifying one’s sense would be to observe faithfully the prescriptions of modesty presented here. Mortifications and sacrifices are always asked of us by Our Lady at Her apparitions. “Prayer, penance and courageous sacrifices can soften the Father’s anger…” Our Lady of Akita said. 25.
Quoting Fr. Tanquerey once again, he goes on to say that our rule to follow is where St. Paul says, “Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ…that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost?” 1 Cor. 5:15, 19. So, as we consider the God that dwells within us we should have no problem adorning ourselves with simply and plain attire that is befitting to our place in life. There should be no question about following the latest fashions which are obviously made for no other purpose than to incite evil thoughts in those around us!
When we feel attracted to these modern fashions, we should stop for a moment and consider just why it is that we are attracted to them. What is it that is really attracting us? Is it perhaps a style, that, although modest on most points, is a style that is “teasing” to those who would see us? The fashion industry is very clever in making styles like this and we must be aware and prayerfully consider the purchases we make especially when we are trying to buy within the fashions of today. In an address of Pope Pius XII to the Latin Union of High Fashion in 1957 the Pope said, “Among the objective elements that concur to make an immodest style here is, first and foremost the evil intention of its makers. Where these seek to create unchaste ideas and sensations through their fashions there is present a technique of disguised malice.” This could have been said today for the immodest styles that are promoted as being ‘in’. For instance, the eyes are naturally drawn to areas of contrast so when a hem is placed against bare skin, or a bodice designed in such a way as to emphasize the bust area, these areas will be centers of attention. Fashions even though seemingly modest, have been made immodest. In this way modern fashion lines can completely cover but still manage to draw attention to areas we should want hidden. Sticking to simple classic styles will help us avoid falling into the trap of wearing clothing that may not meet the guidelines of modesty. Classic styles are always ones that are never ‘out of style’.
Again, in the same address by Pope Pius XII we read, “The garment must not be evaluated according to the estimation of a decadent or already corrupt society, but according to the aspirations of a society which prizes the dignity and seriousness of its public attire.” How true these wonderful words ring, spoken so long ago but so relevant for today!
The Pope goes on to mention that good deportment is also an excellent way of mortifying the flesh without endangering our health or drawing attention to ourselves. Examples would include things like poor posture and ungraceful movements and avoiding anything that makes us lack poise. Isn’t it amazing how there is an overall lack of good posture today? In fact, it is the ‘style’ to walk only half erect and look as if one has just rolled out of bed! Are we, literally, evolving into the animal they like us to believe we evolved from?
In ‘Children Grow up’. Mary Reed Newland says that “For a girl to sit in a ladylike way is not a matter of prudishness but is the ancient wisdom respecting the quality of stimulation that affects a boy…Precautions seem to be prudishness only when one is too naïve or too ignorant to understand the pattern of courtship…” We can see her wisdom here, for there is a general lack of femininity in most girls today and there is a good reason for it to be revived again. Boys are less excited by a girl with good deportment who carries herself well and does not draw attention to herself unnecessarily, compared to a girl who looks like she just rolled out of bed and is generally immodest.
Modesty it has been said, is practiced through all our senses. When practiced through all our senses it “defends the stronghold of the pure soul by putting up fortifications on all sides.
It the enemy of pure would wishes to attack to purity of heart, he will first of all have to batter down the forts that modesty has put up in defense of purity. So long as, with the grace of God, these forts remain unconquered, purity of heart and mind will be safe from all harm.” These are the words of Rev. Renold Kuehnel in ‘Conferences for Young Women’.