On Modesty

Philippians, 4:5

"Let your gentleness be obvious to all, for the Lord is near."

Modesty in the way we think, act and dress has been so secularized that I have put off writing about it for months.  Because purity is the aim of our transformation into women espoused to  Christ, our outer garments matter. As a sister or nun there is no problem they take on a very modest habit when they take their vows. The secular orders have a different job description as they live in the world but are not of the world. We must dress according to our vocation.

According to Jesus and what became immediately obvious to me after He said it, "Women dress in competition with pornography." Wow that hit like a ton of bricks.  Jesus brought me back to the early days when Marylin Monroe was pictured on the big screen. Wasn't she always made out to look so happy? If I remember correctly she died a lonely miserable death. Jesus went on to explain that pornography had and has everything to do with the rampant escalation of child sexual abuse and the violent abuse of women.  80 % of Internet searches are made for Pornography.

So what does that mean for today's woman? I asked the Mother of Jesus how to approach the subject of modesty in the way we dress. I was kneeling before her statue at St Catherine's in Portsmouth, NH. Immediately I heard:  "In 100 years will the statues be wearing tights.?"

I understood that to mean that the tights, leggings culture is not her idea of modesty or the road to Sainthood. I have been haunted by her comment ever since. When ever I have any kind of mystical experience it is like having the light go on and feeling like, "why didn't I think of that?" as I have never been confused by truth.  Anyone can wear tights, you simply need to wear something over them. Leggings are the same, not meant to be worn alone.  What do we expect of the male population when we show up half
dressed?

I should think the simplicity of  A-line or straight skirts to put over the tights would give a look of modesty and gentleness. Rather a man should be attracted to the clear sparkle in one's eyes, or a gentle smile.

~Margaret of Souls for Jesus