Summer is here and the modesty articles are upon us. I’m all for modesty, but there are debates within
the debate on how women should dress that complicates the matter.
the debate on how women should dress that complicates the matter.
Our Lady of
Fatima is often invoked from one of her messages to the 3 shepherd children: “The
sins which bring most souls to hell are the sins of the flesh. Certain fashions
are going to be introduced which will offend Our Lord very much… the
Church has no fashions; Our Lord is always the same…”
Fatima is often invoked from one of her messages to the 3 shepherd children: “The
sins which bring most souls to hell are the sins of the flesh. Certain fashions
are going to be introduced which will offend Our Lord very much… the
Church has no fashions; Our Lord is always the same…”
Is there a Modest Dress Code?
If
you wish to visit the Vatican, shoulders and knees must be covered for both men
and women. It’s the same at the Shrine
of the Most Blessed Sacrament built by Mother Angelica in Hanceville,
Alabama and is also sometimes the case at other Catholic shrines and events.
you wish to visit the Vatican, shoulders and knees must be covered for both men
and women. It’s the same at the Shrine
of the Most Blessed Sacrament built by Mother Angelica in Hanceville,
Alabama and is also sometimes the case at other Catholic shrines and events.
Dothose dress codes mean women (and men) should always dress like that? Is it wrong to show your knees or
shoulders?
Recently, a friend posted on Facebook about the challenge of finding modest shorts for
her long-legged teen daughter. Someone suggested mom shorts and posted a
creative humorous music video. (Warning: song
will get stuck in your head.) The “mom
shorts” topic ignited a debate on what kind of shorts are appropriate for
women. Many posted pictures of
themselves; some in mom shorts and others in short shorts.
her long-legged teen daughter. Someone suggested mom shorts and posted a
creative humorous music video. (Warning: song
will get stuck in your head.) The “mom
shorts” topic ignited a debate on what kind of shorts are appropriate for
women. Many posted pictures of
themselves; some in mom shorts and others in short shorts.
Bad Attitudes
I’m actually not
going to weigh in on the dress issues. Instead, I want to address two troubling
attitudes in the debate; one on each side.
going to weigh in on the dress issues. Instead, I want to address two troubling
attitudes in the debate; one on each side.
The women who posted showing off their legs,
admitted doing so. “I worked too hard
for these legs to hide them,” one lady said with her photo. No doubt some women wear short shorts because they are in style and it’s what is at the store, but for the ones proudly posting pictures, they admitted it wasn’t about comfort but about wanting attention for their legs. So aside from modesty is the issue of vanity. “Look at my legs everyone because they are amazing!”
admitted doing so. “I worked too hard
for these legs to hide them,” one lady said with her photo. No doubt some women wear short shorts because they are in style and it’s what is at the store, but for the ones proudly posting pictures, they admitted it wasn’t about comfort but about wanting attention for their legs. So aside from modesty is the issue of vanity. “Look at my legs everyone because they are amazing!”
Such talk
always reminds me of Ash Wednesday’s warning: “You are dust and unto dust you
shall return.” Revealing part of the
body to attract admiring glances is not a move towards holiness. No one is saying women should roll themselves
up in burlap, (well, not in Catholic circles) but making an idol out of
your body for attention is spiritually harmful for all concerned.
always reminds me of Ash Wednesday’s warning: “You are dust and unto dust you
shall return.” Revealing part of the
body to attract admiring glances is not a move towards holiness. No one is saying women should roll themselves
up in burlap, (well, not in Catholic circles) but making an idol out of
your body for attention is spiritually harmful for all concerned.
Two-piece or One?
Many years
ago, I was hired for a short-term project at a newspaper. While working at a
computer near a few female reporters, the subject of swimsuits came up: two-piece
or one piece? One piece, I
answered. One of the ladies expressed
surprised. “Why wouldn’t you wear a two-piece,” she asked me. “I would if I
could get away with it.”
ago, I was hired for a short-term project at a newspaper. While working at a
computer near a few female reporters, the subject of swimsuits came up: two-piece
or one piece? One piece, I
answered. One of the ladies expressed
surprised. “Why wouldn’t you wear a two-piece,” she asked me. “I would if I
could get away with it.”
I explainedthat I had recently finished 3 years as a houseparent at a group home for
delinquent teenage boys. (I have degrees in social work and public
administration.) We sometimes took the boys to lakes or a water park. Surrounded
by adolescent boys with raging hormones, the last thing I wanted to do was hang
out with them, literally speaking that is. I had no desire to attract lustful
teenage glances. (Not that all one-piece swimsuits are modest.) It made me realize that dressing to get
people to look at my body was not a goal I wanted.
The lady
reporter thought a moment. “Oh, I see your point,” she said.
reporter thought a moment. “Oh, I see your point,” she said.
Contempt
is Not a Virtue
is Not a Virtue
An issue on
the opposite end of the spectrum is women who wear their modesty on their sleeves while expressing contempt for others. I know it’s a fine line between practicing
virtue and judging, so we must tread carefully.
the opposite end of the spectrum is women who wear their modesty on their sleeves while expressing contempt for others. I know it’s a fine line between practicing
virtue and judging, so we must tread carefully.
Coincidentally,
I also recently came across a Facebook post about a formal event that a woman’s
family had attended where she felt all the young ladies (and some not so young)
except her daughter had ignored the announcement requesting modesty. She was disgusted and posted a link to the
event’s website. A debate ensued with
many saying there were plenty of modest dresses and posting those examples. The
original woman in turn posted numerous photos of women she thought dressed immodestly.
I also recently came across a Facebook post about a formal event that a woman’s
family had attended where she felt all the young ladies (and some not so young)
except her daughter had ignored the announcement requesting modesty. She was disgusted and posted a link to the
event’s website. A debate ensued with
many saying there were plenty of modest dresses and posting those examples. The
original woman in turn posted numerous photos of women she thought dressed immodestly.
I was shocked that she would publicly attack people she knew in that way. Many of her friends would recognize the people she criticized—it was a
local event after all. My guess is that she caused a lot of anger and resentment. Such
things often go with the Christian life but did she convince people to dress more
modestly that way or just anger them?
local event after all. My guess is that she caused a lot of anger and resentment. Such
things often go with the Christian life but did she convince people to dress more
modestly that way or just anger them?
I personally
think that putting people up for public criticism probably did more harm than
good. Maybe some people disagree with me and think she was courageous. But regardless of what you are wearing this summer,
don’t forget your Christian virtues of charity and humility. Wear them
well. God bless the rest of your summer!
think that putting people up for public criticism probably did more harm than
good. Maybe some people disagree with me and think she was courageous. But regardless of what you are wearing this summer,
don’t forget your Christian virtues of charity and humility. Wear them
well. God bless the rest of your summer!
~~~~~~
For more inspiration check out Patti’s latest book: Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven. Other books include: Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families and the best-selling Amazing Grace Series.
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