Saint Giant Bereta Molla
and her daughter.
The topic of modesty has been fascinating me recently. A century ago, western women covered most of their bodies, perhaps with the exception of hands, ankles, neck and face. (I don't know how the women that lived in the tropics survived!) Then the dresses became progressively shorter, the necklines progressively lower, the fabrics more transparent, more "glued" to the body. The separation between inner and outer garments ceased to exist. Any fabric, color, design that used to be for underwear became fashionably present in street clothes. And any word or thought questioning this change in dressing would quickly be labeled as "outdated", "repressive", "chauvinistic".
But recently, some catholic voices are calling for a "return to modesty". Some provide very elaborate guidelines for dressing, including measurements of the minimum length of the skirt and the sleeves.
I personally, have come to the conclusion that the current way of female dressing of the western culture is a disaster. Yes, I agree with the "outdated" opinion that it is an invitation to impurity. But I would say more: it is an attack on women's dignity. It enslaves women. It robs them of their freedom to be what God called them to be. And I can say this as someone who in an effort not to be outdated, has dressed like the culture dictated, behaved accordingly, and suffered the consequences of that.
So now what? How to get out of this mess? Should I print some guidelines and check sleeve lengths, skirt lengths, get rid of all my pants and shorts? (I am yet to find one of the authors of these guidelines and ask if they swim in long skirts).
"We know that the law is good, provided that
one uses it as law, with the understanding that law is meant not for a
righteous person but for the lawless and unruly, the godless and sinful, the
unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, the
unchaste, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever
else is opposed to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the
blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 1 Timothy, 1,8-11"
So what does that mean? The law is not meant for a righteous person? I believe in this case it means that if I intend to dress modestly, I don't need a law. But if I have been dressing almost like a prostitute, and I have no idea of what modesty in dressing is, then I need a law! I need someone to tell me, in every detail, what I should or should not wear, until I will be able of discerning myself. ( I suppose this someone telling would be the "mom", in case of children, especially daughters, that have been brainwashed by the media).
Now I honestly don't believe that Our Lord is in any way offended by women wearing pants. What's wrong with that???? I've heard the argument that Our Lady didn't wear pants and we should dress like she did.
Can some proponent of this argument please answer me if Jesus wore pants? And since He didn't, shouldn't then by the same logic the men dress like Jesus did and start wearing tunics?
So I am happily serving God wearing pants. Actually mostly wearing shorts. Not too short, not to tight, and quite the opposite of what any fashion police would approve or consider sexy. Just cotton shorts, comfortable and adequate for a mom that lives in a hot country and loves to play on the floor with the kids. Paired with a loose T-shirt often with some message about God or Our Lady stamped, and sandals - flat, comfy and simple like the Franciscans. And of course, the look needs accessories: Brown scapular, crucifix, miraculous medal. And that is catholic modesty to me!
Don't get me wrong: the long skirts, the long sleeve shirts and high necklines are beautiful!!!! And modest and holy! Hooray for the women that wear them out of love for God. But these clothes are just not for me. I hate them, I would feel imprisoned wearing something like that. And I don't think they need to be imposed on people. The most important purity is of heart! If your heart is pure, your wardrobe will certainly follow!
