Modesty

Modesty usually conjures an image of how we are dressed and how we carry ourselves in the face of success.

From the Latin modestia and first used around 1531, it is defined not only as “propriety and decency in dress, speech and conduct” but also as “freedom from vanity, conceit and boastfulness” and further suggests simplicity and moderation.

It cannot be denied that today’s dress sense can be muddled. For example, little girls and boys are dressed like grown-ups and grown-ups styled to give the impression of youth. In many Catholic churches, despite dress code reminders, we still see a lot of skin-baring.

The Holy Eucharist is most certainly a banquet that deserves to be attended by appropriately dressed guests. And by appropriate we mean especially for women these modesty standards: no see-through, no cleavage or belly or top of the undie exposed, no minis. If members of other religious beliefs attend their services in dignified apparel, why can’t Catholics do something as noble?

Our present culture tends to promote success in varied forms. The capacity to accept failures and learn from them is not given as much room as setting goals and achieving them. There is a drive to be A-1, to be the best, to be appreciated, to be a winner. Media offers a variety of HOW TOs but not much of WHAT IFs.

In schools, modesty may have other names, but does not seem to enjoy the popularity of other topics. Would that Modesty 101 or its equivalent be part of the curriculum. If new subjects can be added to meet government requirements, is it possible to equitably include a few precious hours to catch up on a requirement that will strengthen one’s spiritual muscles, namely, the theory and practice of being modest?

St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians can serve as the first foundation to modesty: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another…forgive each other…above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (3:12-14). The rest follows.

As Joseph Addison says, “Modesty is not only an ornament but a guard to virtue.” Both the internal and external kinds of modesties can help heal wounds and divisions, bridge misunderstandings, but most of all, reflect God’s beauty and harmony.