 A few years ago, Catholic author Colleen Hammond wrote "Dressing with Dignity" a book about the need for feminine modesty, how to achieve it, and why it's so necessary. It quickly became a "must read" in many traditional Catholic circles.For the most part, Hammond was preaching to the choir. Traditional Catholic women already know about modesty. Other Catholic women, however, might sense that there's something amiss in the way women dress for Church. And they're right. Many of these women, however, are missing the point. It's not just about how we dress at Church. It's how we dress everywhere, even within the home and what we do to convey the feminine mystery through modesty.
I can only speak for the parishes located on our seaside community island. Some of the fashion choices are truly hair raising.
I will never forget an adult confirmation during a Sunday Mass. The young woman and her sponsor both wore Indian style halter tops that ended under the bust line. These were paired with see-through gauze skirts that settled low on the hips, leaving the entire abdominal area bare. Oh. I forgot to mention. The young woman being confirmed was about seven months pregnant.
No one said a word to either of them. Not the priest. Not the deacon. |
While we should always look to Mary as our model of modesty, in today's world, it isn't practical to dress in a floor length robe with a veil covering our heads - unless you happen to be a traditional nun or live in the middle east. We can, however, maintain an appropriate level of modest dress wherever we go, particularly in Church. Our Lady of Fatima said, "Certain fashions will offend Our Lord very much." While she wasn't specific, we can't help but wonder how she would feel about women who have completely abandoned feminine dress in favor of a wardrobe consisting entirely of slacks. While they have their place, perhaps, it still makes us cringe to see "extraordinary ministers" dressed in t-shirts and slacks in the sanctuary.
The tide seems to be turning, and young women are beginning to find dresses appealing once again. Girls Gone Mild - Moving Away from Trashy to Classy indicates a trend to modesty among young women. There are some, however, who tend to go a little overboard, seemingly leaving the choices as either Slutty or Nutty. There is a balance.
Nonetheless, until the modesty revolution filters down to the local department stores, it can be difficult finding clothing that flatters while it covers -- and doesn't make you look like someone who has just stepped off a gypsy caravan.
We've put together some resources for modest clothing that are affordable and easy to care for. These are not our products, but if you use the links here, they'll know we sent you. |
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Resources for Modest Clothing
If you've gone shopping recently you'll know that it's tough finding feminine clothing that isn't too revealing but doesn't make you look like you're wearing a feed sack or your grandmother's housecoat. Chances are, if you do find something pretty, it will cost much more than a good Catholic woman should pay. (Modesty extends to excessive luxury, too.)
Here are a few resources that come recommended by friends and family. Be sure to look in the clearance sections of each. You'll be surprised at the markdowns. You can visit them by clicking on the logo or ad to the left of each section. The images to the right are a sampling of what you'll find. If I find coupon codes or discounts, I'll enter them. Please remember that these do expire and I don't always have time to remove the old ones. |
