and beautiful? Precisely because it makes manifest the strength of soul of the one who possesses it, and the dignity of the body that it honours, whereas unchastity reveals a weak soul, one that is slave to its lusts and treats the body as if it were hardly more than that of an animal. Some people think that by engaging in unchaste actions, they are making a show of power and strength. In reality, consenting to lustful thoughts or actions reveals a weak soul, one that is unable to control itself, that is enslaved to base passions. Often, it is true, such souls do not realise their state of slavery until they have the grace to get out of the mire. And then they are appalled by how weak they were. God, through His infinite mercy and love for human beings, in spite of our transgressions and weaknesses, allows even for souls who may have been chained for years in unchaste behaviour – if they truly seek after it and are faithful to the graces He sends – to recover chastity and even, to a certain extent, virginity. One only needs to look at the many saints who had this experience – St Augustine, St Mary of Egypt and St Margaret of Cortona to name only a few of the most famous. After these saints cast off the chains of unchastity, they rose to dizzying heights of true love of God and neighbour. At the same time, their past actions served as a constant reminder of the fragility of their human nature and their constant need of grace. So remember, Amanda, chastity is a virtue of strength! Its acquisition and deepening requires time and effort. Until we get there, and even when we do, we must be aware of how fragile the virtue of chastity is and foster very carefully the virtue of modesty which guards it. Modesty as Virtue and Fruit There are some beautiful distinctions in Catholic teaching that can enlighten our understanding of modesty. Many people think that when referring to modesty we speak only of clothing, whereas true modesty encompasses and is reflected in every part of an individual’s behaviour, both internal and external. Clothing, of itself, makes one neither modest nor chaste. This is why, strictly speaking, the fact that a woman is fully clothed does not mean that she is necessarily modest or chaste. It might only be because in her culture she is required to dress that way, or because her husband does not want other men admiring her. It’s well known that sexual abuse and infidelity exist also in cultures and groups (such as Islam or the Amish) where female attire is objectively impeccable. On the other hand, there 36
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