The Lost Virtue of Our Time

Def: MODESTY

The quality, in women, of dressing or behaving in a way that is intended to avoid attracting sexual interest

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/modesty

Modesty. This is one of those topics that many believe to be a subjective notion which relies upon the culture, the era, and the individual’s personal opinion. And so, I am about to embark upon a discussion that will either generate resonating cheers, or a host of negative comments. These are the dangers of writing articles, I suppose. Nevertheless, here I go. And keep in mind that the following is from a Catholic perspective with (hopefully) more than my own personal opinion.

For some background, I am a Catholic who grew up in the tumultuous 60’s-70’s. Put another way, I fully understand the need in some individuals to feel they are unfettered in personal decisions. I have observed my share of rebellious behavior. I even ventured into that arena, to some degree. After all, living in a family with 1st Generation, USA born Italian parents, there was only so much rebellion one could successfully achieve without a firm Old-Country style discipline.

Even so, living in that era taught me a lot about human nature, particularly among teens and young adults. Stretching wings sometimes includes whacking a near-by adult smack dab in his sensibilities. We know this is all part of the growing pains of becoming an adult, hopefully without too much permanent damage done to either the willful young person or the parents.

It doesn’t take much effort to observe the growing lack of modesty as its tentacles reach out to youth and young adults. One stroll through the local shopping mall should give anyone an indication of how pushing the envelope has invaded society. At every turn, one is met with mannequins (most of whom are now faceless or even headless) enticing young women to bow down to morally deficient fashion moguls. There are varying degrees of immoral attire that, in days gone by, would have easily been associated with clothing for women of ill repute. Low cleavage. Skirts that barely cover the top of the thigh. Dresses so tight that you wonder if too quick a move might burst a seam. Perhaps that is why so many mannequins are faceless. They represent a shameful trend, where it is better not to show your face.

Through the years, I have watched an interesting and, in retrospect, disturbing development. As the need for autonomy and independence grew, the need for modesty shrank. I suppose some of that is to be expected. After all, if modesty is a virtue valued by the over 30 crowd, it certainly should be thrown out by those under 30, right?

But what if this particular virtue has a strong basis in godliness? What if lack of the virtue has been spoken of over-time and throughout Church history and even in Scripture? And what if the negative fallout from immodesty has a palpable effect not only on the perpetrator, but on the unsuspecting onlookers? The answers to these questions can shed some light on whether or not modesty is a necessary virtue, particularly among women. Here are some points on modesty to help guide us on the path to holiness.

IN KEEPING WITH THE CATECHISM

One place for a Catholic to discern proper attire fitting a Christian is the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). Here are some excerpts:

2521 Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. It guides how one looks at others and behaves toward them in conformity with the dignity of persons and their solidarity.

2522 Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love. It encourages patience and moderation in loving relationships; it requires that the conditions for the definitive giving and commitment of man and woman to one another be fulfilled. Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice of clothing. It keeps silence or reserve where there is evident risk of unhealthy curiosity. It is discreet.

The CCC has other related topics, such as the need to purify the social climate, the error of moral permissiveness, and that even though the forms of modesty vary in each culture, modesty exists everywhere as even an intuition of the spiritual dignity of mankind. Immodesty, therefore, is an attack on our personal spiritual dignity. At a time when women desire to have respect, it is not sensible for a woman to dress in ways that elicit a lack of respect.

IN KEEPING WITH SACRED SCRIPTURE

But what is the CCC without what is taught in Sacred Scripture?

In Genesis 3, the man and woman after sinning realized they were naked. Their response was to cover themselves with fig leaves. But when they were again in God’s presence, He fashioned complete coverings for them out of animal skins. It indicates just how God views modesty. Once the cat was out of the bag on nakedness, the only real solution was to cover not just part of the body (likely, those private areas). But instead, a full coverage signified complete modesty.

Proverbs 5-27 outlines the kind of enticing behavior that immodesty invokes. Dressing as verse 10 states (like a ‘harlot’) psychologically moves a woman into a less than virtuous frame of mind. The passage describes a scenario where the enticing attire paves the way for illicit and sinful behavior. And even if a woman fights that mind-set, any man with normal testosterone levels who sees such a lack of modesty will have a difficult time not thinking in those terms. It is part of how God hard-wires men and, ultimately, propagates the human race.

One point to consider is this. If we understand the inherent nature of men (that area in which they have no control as it is physiologically determined), we women have a responsibility never to behave or dress in a way that might lead them into sin, whether in thought, word or action. In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus says: “You have heard it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” If a woman is dressing in a provocative way, her lack of modesty can easily lead a man’s thoughts in a dangerous direction. It is the charitable choice to dress in ways that do not cause a man to stumble via his eyes. It is our duty as sisters to others in Christ that we try to safeguard the virtue of men who see us. Scanty clothing does the opposite.

Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” If we truly understand St. Paul here, he is asking us to go beyond our own imperfect desires, and to embrace the will of God. Certainly, ‘this age’ is a time when too many girls and woman conform themselves to fashion, without discernment as to what might be the will of God in their choice of clothing.

Galatians 5:19-21 states: “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery…I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” In order to understand immodesty in the context of these sins listed, we need to realize that the showing of one’s body in an immodest manner is both immoral and impure. We are vessels that have the Holy Spirit within us. No act that defiles us, such as immoral attire, should ever be considered appropriate.

IN KEEPING WITH THE CHURCH, SAINTS, AND DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH

Until recent years, the Catholic Church had some influence on the types of movies produced, and had its own rating system. In 1933, the Catholic League of Decency was formed. Its sole purpose was for “purification of the cinema.” Their ratings included A-1 for completely acceptable, to 0 for morally offensive. Ratings of C and O were considered provocative and controversial.

There were other Catholic organizations that had some success during earlier years in swaying movie producers to tone down film indecency. The National Catholic Office for Motion Pictures and the International Catholic Organization for Cinema (now SIGMA) both had influence in the 1960’s and 70’s. For instance, the first version of Bonnie and Clyde had a scene of full-frontal nudity. When the producers were confronted by these Catholic watchdogs, they clipped those 10 seconds out of the film.

Whether you agree or not, whether you think this to be a form of censorship, the bishops were attempting to give guidance and protect the flock from moral decay. Morality is an area that creates the chance for the occasion of sin, and it was in keeping with their mandate to ‘feed my sheep’ that these bishops were involved in this way. Ironically, even today’s movie ratings (though in need of reform) might be viewed as a form of censorship. But the Catholic Church paved the way for at least some standards to emerge, giving warning to unsuspecting movie-goers.

Catholics have always looked to the saints and doctors of the Church for timeless wisdom and guidance. It is no different with respect to the believer’s need to embrace the virtue of modesty. In addition to St. Thomas Aquinas, who believed modesty to work in concert with chastity, popes and saints throughout the ages give us the guidance we desperately need today:

Pope Benedict XV: “One cannot sufficiently deplore the blindness of so many women of every age and station. Made foolish by a desire to please, they do not see to what degree the indecency of their clothing shocks every honest man and offends God…” (1914-1922)

Pope Pius XI: “A dress cannot be decent which is cut deeper than two fingers breadth under the pit of the throat, which does not cover the arms at least to the elbows; and scarcely reaches a bit beyond the knees. Furthermore, dresses of transparent materials are improper.” (Sacred Congregation of the Council under Pope Pius XI, January 12, 1930)

Jacinta Marto of Fatima: “Those who keep the Law of God should not follow fashions.” (at 11 years old)

Pope Pius XII: “Now, many girls do not see anything wrong with following certain shameless styles (fashions) like so many sheep. They would surely blush if they could only guess the feelings they evoke (arouse) in those who see them.” (July 17, 1954)

Pope Pius XII: “Yet, no matter how broad and changeable the relative morals of styles may be, there is always an absolute norm to be kept after having heard the admonition of conscience warning against approaching danger: style must never be a proximate occasion of sin.” (“Moral Problems in Fashion Design”, 1957)

One last example of Saints who championed modesty is a more contemporary saint: St. Padre Pio. As fashions became more immodest in his later life, he became more adamant that modesty prevail. By 1967, he refused to allow women he judged as immodestly dressed to enter his confessional. Eventually, his fellow brothers posted a sign of warning on the door: “By Padre Pio’s explicit wish, women must enter the confessional wearing skirts AT LEAST 8 INCHES BELOW THE KNEE. It is forbidden to borrow longer dresses in church and to wear them to confession.” This last point is well within Padre Pio’s standard of the soul being sincere and prepared before confession; to borrow a longer skirt would not truly represent a person’s submission and penitent heart.

I suppose we as Catholics needing guidance in 2023 might ask, “Where are the bishops today who can call us back to modesty?” But that is a different topic for a different time. I will say that I heard of at least one priest who insisted a girl with a low cleavage go home to change her clothing to something more modest before approaching Our Lord in the Eucharist for communion. Bravo!

IN KEEPING WITH THE DIGNITY OF WOMEN

The slippery slope of immodesty in dress has many drivers. First, is the culture; women see it as simply keeping up with the times. Next, there can be a situational ethics mind set; I’m more comfortable, especially in summer, if I am dressed this way. Another factor is an inherent degree of low self-esteem; dressing immodestly may make a person without much confidence feel as though she fits it. But finally, as attention is given a girl or woman when scantily dressed, there can be a psychological affirmation that convinces her, perhaps subconsciously, that she is more desirable dressed in this way.

This is the real beginning of the slippery slope. It can begin a cycle where at first, the attention one gets is a boost to the ego. Yet, as time goes on, the attire is not enough. Where men are visual in nature, women tend to be moved by affection. And so, as the provocative clothing begins to attract the visually-driven male, he is well aware of the woman’s need to feel loved. This is where the slope accelerates. And this is where women misjudge a man’s signals for desiring intimacy for love. Ask yourself, ‘What’s love got to do with it?’ Likely not much.

Where does the dignity of women factor into this domino effect of falling into sin? If we look at the most desirable women in history, we see in the women of faith their true identity and dignity emanating not from their clothing or style, but instead through their deep relationship with God. There we find our true value and worth. Yet in following the culture of immodesty, we find a false self-worth. Looks are fleeting (ask any woman of a certain age.) Keeping up with fashions or culture is like a dog chasing its tail. You are moving around, but you never quite get there. And in all these temporal pursuits, we miss out on the true dignity the Lord desires for us.

If we Catholic women desire self-worth and dignity that does not depend upon the latest fashion show runway, we need look no further than the decency and modesty modeled not by the styles of the day, but instead by the guidelines we know to be true throughout all time. Look to Christ and the Church, and especially to the Blessed Mother. She is the epitome of female dignity, the perfect model of modesty and purity.

IN KEEPING WITH THE WORDS OF THE BLESSED MOTHER

Our Lady of Fatima was pretty vocally opposed to immodesty in attire. She warned that in our time Atheists, Satanists, Communists and Secular Humanists would chip away at society. We certainly have seen that in the areas of abortion, attacks on traditional marriage, cohabitation, and gender dysphoria. Along with her warning of the errors that would spread from Russia (a whole other topic of disobedience which hailed in Socialism and Communism), she had another warning disclosed to Sister Lucy, specifically meant for women of the future: “There will be fashions that will offend my Divine Son.” This was at a time when modesty was the norm, so why exactly was Our Lady warning us?

Certainly, as the years progressed there grew a trend for women to dress in pants instead of skirts, which is another interesting topic. But even more so, Our Lady alluded to the changes in appropriateness of clothing. Her words even today are a warning bell, which few heard then and even fewer hear now: “more souls go to hell for sins of the flesh than any other reason.” And as discussed in the section on the Dignity of Women, sins of the flesh often begin with immodesty in clothing.

IN KEEPING WITH HEEDING THE WARNINGS

It’s funny how we humans tend to disregard these kinds of messages from God, either through Scripture, Magisterial teachings, the Saints, Popes, and even the Blessed Mother herself. Mary tried to give us insight on how to prevent dangerous behavior through sins of the flesh. Of course, our minds immediately go to things like pre-marital relations and the many ways of undermining a marriage through impurity. But immodesty is a gateway to many sins of impurity…or as discussed previously, leading others into impure thoughts.

Chastity and Modesty are both connected to the virtue of Temperance. This is one of the four Cardinal Virtues to which all Catholics should aspire. Remember, St. Thomas Aquinas treated modesty as part of chastity, not separate. It all ties together, and as we walk this road to Sainthood, our goal should always be to become more holy unto our final perfection. We know that Satan prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to destroy the children of God. The imperfections in living out our lives in modesty, chastity and temperance are a stronghold for sin.

By all observations, modesty seems to be lost on this culture. But anything of value that has been lost can, with some effort, be found again. Is it a sacrifice to dress modestly? Many times, it is. Everyone seems to be wearing scanty clothing. And in the heat of summer, we might find it a situational ethics reason. But before you put on that extra-short, V-neck plunging summer dress that shows way too much of your cleavage, remember these words from Sacred Scripture:

“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.” (Rom. 12:1)