Work in Progress: Modesty Resources

[Shin]

Modesty and Purity Resources

'The Virgin Mother, all pure and all white, will make her servants pure and white.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Quotations Pertaining to Modesty and Purity

'Beyond fashion and its demands, there are higher and more pressing laws, principles superior to fashion, and unchangeable, which under no circumstances can be sacrificed to the whim of pleasure or fancy, and before which must bow the fleeting omnipotence of fashion. These principles have been proclaimed by God, by the Church, by the Saints, by reason, by Christian morality.'

Pope Pius XII

Letter of the Congregation of the Council

'Let parents keep their daughters away from public gymnastic games and contests; but if their daughters are compelled to attend such exhibitions, let them see that they are fully and modestly dressed. Let them never permit their daughters to don immodest garb.'

St. Padre Pio's Rules for Modesty

Signs on the doors of San Giovanni Rotondo:

"The Church is the house of God. It is forbidden for men to enter with bare arms or in shorts. It is forbidden for women to enter in trousers, without a veil on their head, in short clothing, low necklines, sleeveless or immodest dresses."

"By Padre Pio's explicit wish, women must enter the confessional wearing skirts AT LEAST 8 INCHES BELOW THE KNEE. It is forbidden to borrow longer dresses in church and to wear them to confession."

St. Thomas Aquinas on the Nature of Modesty from the 'Summa Theologica'

'Whether modesty is a part of temperance? Whether modesty is only about outward actions? Modesty as consisting in the outward movements of the body. Modesty in the outward apparel. Whether there can be a virtue about games? Whether there can be sin in the excess of play? Whether there is a sin in lack of mirth?'

Certain Fashions Threaten to Retard Mary's Triumph & World Peace by Rev. Bernard Kunkel

'Is it a sin to wear shorts, strapless dresses, short skirts, pants, modern swimwear, etc.? . . . True traditional Catholics, mindful of the virtues of Christian modesty and purity, refuse to be stampeded by "the crowd" into accepting the hedonistic fashions. They know that the Blessed Virgin Mary will never approve of these pagan styles which are so contrary to Christian tradition on modesty.'

Rev. Bernard Kunkel

The Society of Jesus Crowned with Thorns of Fr. Emmanuel Andre

'The crisis of vanity is decisive for a woman. Once it is brought to a successful issue, her salvation is assured.'

Fr. Emmanual Andre

Letter to the Congregation for Religious

'. . . His Holiness denounced once again the danger which, by its seductive fascination, threatens so many unwary souls, who profess to belong to the flock of Jesus Christ and to His Holy Church.'

Thoughts on Modesty by Anonymous

'Modesty is a beautiful virtue, one which fills the soul with calm and peace. It sets at ease those who behold it, it brings pleasure and not harm to all in good spirit. It quells fears, removes dangers, reassures the timid, relaxes the agitated, truly within modesty is the soothing of the soul and true peace.'

Some Standards for Modest Clothing

'Being based on natural law, and the examples of modesty from religious virtue.'

[Shin]

Just a preview, the links are not active/links yet..

Double-Checking my sources to verify their accuracy, doing what I can that way -- sometimes there're only single sources and that's that -- some of this will definitely be added to, some of it perhaps subtracted before it's all done.

I want to include a good deal of information on veiling, quote concordances on the various aspects of modesty (of the eyes for example, and of bearing, etc.), and so forth.

Suggestions of material welcome if any found.

It's too bad I don't have any physical copies of Fr. Kunkel's publications. So much modesty material simply not available anymore.

[Brigid]

I think this is a wonderful idea!

 I would also like to see added to it chastity of the heart info since I think they are related.

[Shin]

I truly think modesty if applied to the roots, solves and cures so many branches. 

[Brigid]

I truly think modesty if applied to the roots, solves and cures so many branches. 

Amen.

[martin]

I truly think modesty if applied to the roots, solves and cures so many branches. 

Amen.

I think this is so so true.. Many people there are who are doing all the correct things, receiving the sacraments, praying daily and trying to be good Catholics but don't see themselves improving or making ground in holiness.
I know because I've been there - and maybe still am-  but the very thing that was impeding progress was staring me in the face all the time.. In my case and thousands of cases it was TV.
Modesty or rather lack of it I believe could be another one of those hidden obstacle for many more. 

[Brigid]

Well, modesty (or lack thereof) certainly has to do with TV.

[Shin]

Well, modesty (or lack thereof) certainly has to do with TV.

Yes, I was just reading Prof. Schieler's 'Theory and Practice of the Confessional' during a discourse on the various types of places when because of near occasions of mortal sin, absolution must be denied to those who frequent them. He then goes on to discuss theatres, books, dancing, etc. all whenever there is a near occasion of mortal sin, absolutely must be ceased to go to, and when simply venial, there still must be firm counsel at the least. There can be various sins accompanying these -- scandal, impurity, everything under the sun truly. And so every reason to avoid.

Quoting:

'Very many modern dramas are of the latter kind, and full of dangers, treating as they do of anti-religious subjects or of such as are hostile to faith, or lascivious; degrading the Catholic faith, distorting historical facts to its detriment, extolling the enemies of the Church, holding up holy rites and even the Sacraments of the Church to mockery and contempt, calumniating priests, making vices, such as adultery, revenge, suicide, and sins of the flesh, appear lawful or even glorifying them; characterizing religion in general as ridiculous, superstitious, etc., treating not only of obscene and dangerous subjects, but also offending decency in the manner of representation. If, therefore, the dramas in question are Religioni notabiliter contraria, or if the subject-matter or the manner of representing it are nimis turpia, attendance is certainly a grave sin. For what may not be seen, or heard, or read, extra theatrum, without great sin, cannot be, as the Angelic Master expresses himself, ratione theatri leviora.

The actors in immoral and godless plays cannot, of course, be admitted to the Sacraments till they have either given up their profession, or no longer take part in such performances, for they are peccatores publici, publicum scandalum praebentes.'

But you see modesty obliges a person to avoid all these things in and of itself, before even going into considerations of 'near occasion' or 'mortal' or 'venial', simply because of the content. It knows that everything contained in these things is the opposite of its own meek nature, and of the Lamb. Of course, other virtues and reasons apply too, more than a few..

But modesty solves the problem simply and naturally. Modesty seeks modesty, and avoids what is alien to it.

[nelsonbk23]

I was interested in knowing more than one article by Father Bernard Kunkel: "Certain Fashions Threaten to Retard Mary's Triumph and World Peace". I would like to know the source where you got the article. Thank you in advance.

[Shin]

Hello!

It's good to hear from a new face!

I am afraid as you might have noticed from when this thread was originally posted, it was about 13 years ago, I no longer recall the original source it was retrieved from. I retrieved it online that much I recall, this website is not the original online provider for it. I think if you search for Fr. Kunkel's name and the Marylike Modesty Crusade you may find the information you seek or some other people who can help you with more information.

Let me know if there's any other way I can help.

Best wishes in Christ!

[eschator83]

Fr Kunkel was pastor of a small parish in Illinois and died in 1969.  Although he was unable to recruit a successor to continue the modesty campaign he envisioned, his Marylike Modesty Handbook is still advertised for sale by Amazon and others.  Other sources I noted about Catholic modesty include Pope Pius VI, Papal Decree Concerning Modesty, NCRegister, 3 Doctors of the Church on the Virtue of modesty in dress, and ecatholic2000, My Life in Prayer by Father Kunkel.
Many thanks for calling my attention to this interesting project.