Male Modesty

[dominic]

Just a suggestion to the males, especially the young males, here about male modesty in this warm weather. Uncovered flesh is a temptation to women and some men and it is our duty just as much as women's duty to dress with Catholic modesty in public at all times.

[PenitentElaine]

Just a suggestion to the males, especially the young males, here about male modesty in this warm weather. Uncovered flesh is a temptation to women and some men and it is our duty just as much as women's duty to dress with Catholic modesty in public at all times.

It was great to see someone make that point. A lot of persons, both women and men, are too quick to place that burden solely upon women. It's also worth pointing out, I believe, that it's not solely an issue of not causing temptation. (Though that issue is a very important one, and that would be reason enough for dressing modestly.) I'm not so vain to think that lots of women or men would be inflamed with lust at the sight of my middle-aged shoulders or arms. I believe that the way we dress says a lot about how we view ourselves and about what is important to us. Exposing our flesh implicitly says that we wish to be seen as flesh. Sensual dress, whether it inspires lust or not, says that we see ourselves as sensual creatures. Plain, modest dress is a way of saying that it is our mind and spirit that are important to us, not our flesh.

Elaine, a sinner

[dominic]

Thank you. I am young enough for both reasons to be important. There is a third as well, which is to curb sinful personal feelings of pride in my appearance. This can lead to sinful acts sometimes.

My rule is that my limbs must be covered. So no short trousers or short sleeved shirts. Also shirts to have no more than one button undone. The exception is that I have a commitment to pray on bar knees so I do wear shorts at home. And I have some pairs of trousers which (following the ven Matt Talbot, to whom I have a devotion) with a discreet vertical cut in the knee so that I can pray on my bare knees at Mass.

[Scholastica]

Thank you. I am young enough for both reasons to be important. There is a third as well, which is to curb sinful personal feelings of pride in my appearance. This can lead to sinful acts sometimes.

My rule is that my limbs must be covered. So no short trousers or short sleeved shirts. Also shirts to have no more than one button undone. The exception is that I have a commitment to pray on bar knees so I do wear shorts at home. And I have some pairs of trousers which (following the ven Matt Talbot, to whom I have a devotion) with a discreet vertical cut in the knee so that I can pray on my bare knees at Mass.

There is nothing wrong with feeling proud of your appearance, if you are able to give the thanks and credit for that appearance to God, rather than retaining it to yourself. We are each of us perfectly and wonderfully made, but none of us can claim to have made ourselves.

As part of that, you are right to set your own standard of dress, and to do this before God, as part of your devotion to him.

[dominic]

I think the key is that if one has pride it must be acceptable pride - looking neat etc - AND all the good must be offered up to God. But it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling that one's body looks good and it is that which can lead to sin.

[Scholastica]

I think the key is that if one has pride it must be acceptable pride - looking neat etc - AND all the good must be offered up to God. But it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling that one's body looks good and it is that which can lead to sin.

I can see what you are saying, but rest assured ugly people are just as prone to sin as stunningly gorgeous ones like you and me.