race. One of the most arduous efforts men have to make in this life when they want to be virtuous is to keep that natural inclination in check. If you have respect for a man, you will want to help him. In the case of really virtuous men, I can assure you that when they see women dressed in such a revealing way, it causes them grief. First of all for her soul, which is certainly in danger, but also because such a man has much more to offer her than what she seems to be appealing to in him by means of the exhibition of her flesh and/or form. Traditional forms of dress give the serenity to see and to get to know someone without the distraction of the flesh. But when that screen is not there, the offer appeals to the most base passions in man. In conclusion, if a man ever suggests that a woman should wear more modest clothing, never think for a moment that he must have a dirty mind. It’s actually quite the opposite! If he had a dirty mind, he would be quite happy to gaze at what she so imprudently shows him of her body, and he will want to see even more. No, Amanda, the men that promote modesty in dress are not dirtyminded. They want you to help them, and they really want to help you do so. You see, you mustn’t be like Cain who, when God asked where his brother Abel was, answered: Am I my brother’s keeper? (Gen 4:9). The answer was, well yes, to a certain extent we are all our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. We need to help each other. Love thy neighbour as thyself (Mat 22:39). A godly woman who is aware of this will take care not to unintentionally be the occasion of the fall of an otherwise good man. There are many stories of men, both young and old, who have fallen into mortal sin – and sometimes many mortal sins – because they saw a beautiful woman dressed in a way that resembled Eve clad with her fig leaves. Their natural curiosity about the opposite sex led them to stare, and this aroused in them a passion they could not resist. Gaze not upon a maiden; lest her beauty be a stumbling block to thee…. For many have perished by the beauty of a woman, and thereby lust is enkindled as a fire (Ecc 9:5, 9). Modesty in Words Something must be added here about modesty and chastity in words, because often it is immodesty in words that leads to immodesty in deeds. Words refer to ideas, to things. These things in turn evoke images and desires. If I explain to someone in detail the delicious meal I had yesterday, it may very well evoke in them a desire to have the same; it may make them hungry, and begin to salivate. So it is with the procreative instinct. If we speak of these things, the 45
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1