Judith Gives a Lesson on True Beauty

     Growing up, all the way into my mid twenties, I held the belief that attention to my appearance should be minimal. I wore comfortable, easily modest clothes, never wore makeup, and kept my hair short for three years. Ironically, this gave me a sense of pride because I thought I wasn't being vain. What I had actually done was reduced myself to a style that portrayed my carelessness about the reality of being a woman, to the point of being frumpy and at times androgynous. The way I presented myself was a direct reflection of my discomfort in being a woman.

     My perspective changed when I met my husband. Exploring the depths of our beings together, I found myself overjoyed to be a woman because he was a man. He cultivated my new found love of femininity by gifting me tasteful dresses that outlined my womanly figure, and by encouraging me to try makeup. Gradually I found myself celebrating my womanhood by putting care into my appearance. Now I staunchly support the virtues of using cosmetics and fashion. In the Catholic Church I found an abundance of support for my endeavor to present the physical beauty of my womanhood, from the Bible, the Catechism, and beyond. Each week I'll present a source and what I learned from it, starting with the Old Testament.

     This week I begin with the Book of Judith, named for the woman it portrays. It presents a good example of virtuous beauty. Judith, a widow, is noted for her piety and her beauty, “She was beautiful in appearance and very lovely to behold…No one had a bad word to say about her, for she feared God greatly” (8:7-8).* During the third year of her widowhood, the Israelites come under siege by the Assyrian general Holofernes. Additionally, all the neighbors of the Israelites joined forces with the Assyrians, so that they were completely surrounded by people who hated them. Thirty-four days into the siege, the Israelites were weakening and decided to give God an ultimatum: save them in five days, or they would surrender to their enemies. Upon hearing this plan, Judith calls the rulers and elders to her home and chastises them, saying, “Do not impose conditions on the plans of the Lord our God. God is not like a human being to be moved by threats, nor like a mortal to be cajoled. So while we wait for the salvation that comes from him, let us call upon him to help us, and he will hear our cry if it pleases him” (8:16-17). Taking matters into her own hands, she prays to God to use her as an instrument in His plan to save the Israelites. Then Judith prepares herself physically to do the will of God by adorning herself from head to toe, “She took off the sackcloth she had on, laid aside the garments of her widowhood, washed her body with water, and anointed herself with rich ointment. She arranged her hair, put on a diadem, and dressed in the festive attire she had worn while her husband, Manasseh, was living. She chose sandals for her feet, and put on her anklets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and all her other jewelry. Thus she made herself very beautiful, to entice the eyes of all the men who should see her” (10:3-4). Then she goes over to the Assyrian’s camp, and uses her physical beauty combined with eloquent words to gain the trust of Holofernes, “Her words pleased Holofernes and all his attendants. They marveled at her wisdom and exclaimed, ‘No other woman from one end of the earth to the other looks so beautiful and speaks so wisely!’” (11:20-21). Throughout her three days in Holofernes’ camp, Judith maintains her humility and modesty by keeping to her tent except to bathe and pray in private. She also practices temperance by only eating and drinking from a modest supply of food and wine she brought with her to the camp. In contrast, on the fourth night of her stay, Holofernes hosts a banquet for Judith, at which he drinks himself into a stupor. Seizing this opportunity, Judith beheads him and returns triumphantly to the Israelites shouting, “Praise God, give praise! Praise God, who has not withdrawn his mercy from the house of Israel, but has shattered our enemies by my hand this very night!” (13:14). Finding their leader beheaded, the Assyrians and their allies flee in confusion. The final chapter of her story begins with Judith singing a hymn of her own composition where she both praises God and expresses joy at her part in His work:

“The Assyrian came from the mountains of the north,

with myriads of his forces he came[…]

But the Lord Almighty thwarted them,

by the hand of a female!

Not by youths was their champion struck down,

nor did Titans bring him low,

nor did tall giants attack him;

But Judith, the daughter of Merari,

by the beauty of her face brought him down. (16:3, 5-6)

     Finally, Judith dies at an advanced age, having maintained and continually grown her reputation for being a beautiful and good woman.

     I like the example of Judith because she is beautiful and she knows it! She is a very interesting example of feminine beauty because she shows it's potential to be used for good in every situation, even the most unimaginable. She knows her beauty makes her approachable, a fact she uses in her endeavor to share her wisdom with the Israelites, and to gain the trust of general Holofernes, all as part of God's plan of salvation. A model of the virtue of prudence, Judith uses her loveliness as a backdrop for her good works and knows how to use every feminine means, including cosmetics and fashion, to serve the will of God. Her prudence allows her to dress for every occasion, so that even when she sets aside her mourning and penitential garments in favor of the festive garments of her young bridal days, Judith still clothes herself with modesty, letting it grace her every action. I take Judith as an example for myself on how to apply virtue to all I do as a woman, including dressing up. I don't wear makeup every day, and I don't dress up every day, but I certainly do everything I can to adorn myself for Mass, where it's the greatest occasion to receive the Holy Eucharist with my husband. Not content with only being physically beautiful, Judith industriously cultivates spiritual and intellectual beauty as well. Like Judith, I strive to cultivate total beauty, to use my beauty for good. I'll let my beauty be approachable. In all humility I admit my loveliness so that I may reflect through my body the resplendent nature of my soul and mind.

     Next week I'll examine Esther, another Old Testament woman who used her beauty to save the Israelites.

*All quotes are taken from the New American Bible Revised Edition, available at bible.usccb.org/Bible.