another replay...
Given the attention over pants/no pants recently in the Catholic blogosphere- I thought I would throw my 7 cents in...
Given the attention over pants/no pants recently in the Catholic blogosphere- I thought I would throw my 7 cents in...
7. I'm not going to take the 'advice' of Catholicity writers. I'm just stubborn that way.
6. Seriously- where does it end? Traditional Catholic women with long skirts would still be considered immodest by Amish, Orthodox Jewish and most Muslim standards.
5. I have a lovely, charitable friend who does not own 1 pair of pants because she wants to be just like Mary and, historically, women did not wear pants. I guess our challenge is to find that balance between history and today. Believe it or not, we women have benefited from the feminism of earlier years. We drive, vote and have the right to property. I suppose wearing pants while you are whipping up a nice dinner for hard-working daddy can show that balance.
4. I really don't like this argument: "Well, men are such visual creatures- we ladies must protect them by not distracting them with pants..." Once again- balance! If a man is going to sin by seeing a Christian woman with 6 + kids because she is wearing pants, he really needs to get into the confessional more often and work on his chastity altogether.
3. We women are called to be obedient to our husbands. My husband has never felt the need to ask me to change the way that I dress- so this is not an issue for me. But as always, the flip side to the coin is that our husbands must love us AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH. A tall order- a reason why to discuss modesty standards and such with your husband is- if he is asking/insisting that you dress 'modestly'- meaning floor length skirts and the like- why? Is he really loving you? Is it possible that he doesn't want you to be seen as attractive by other people? Is it possible that he also enjoys the attention of single women at work, perhaps even pornography- even while insisting that you be modest and have your 6th child in as many years?
2. How about going with the standards at St Peter's- no cleavage with sleeves of some kind and pants/skirts below the knee. Sounds both reasonable and doable- and these standards will still set us apart.
1. Gosh- I wish we Eastern Catholics were big enough to quibble over these small details of life.
My thought is always that we have enough to do following the actual rules that the Church sets out for us. If they make a rule about pants/skirts, I'll follow it. Until then, I'll assume that I'm allowed to use my judgment, and I judge that it is OK for me to wear pants, if they are modest.
ReplyDeleteI like the St. Peter's rule. When I was there, though I was following the dress code, the guards attempted to throw me out of the adoration chapel. Apparently I looked too touristy; they told me, "This is just for praying!" (you can't take photos in the adoration chapel) I had some difficulty convincing them that I actually wanted to pray!
"If a man is going to sin by seeing a Christian woman with 6 + kids because she is wearing pants, he really needs to get into the confessional more often and work on his chastity altogether."
ReplyDeleteAmen!
If I never have to hear about pants vs. skirts again, I'll be blissfully happy!
Thanks for the replay and your 7 cents. Couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteHad to chuckle when I read your first line: "Given the attention over pants/no pants..." Personally, I have always believed that pants are way more modest than no pants. ;)
-Maureen
For YEARS I wore nothing but long skirts and dresses, just because I liked them. I IGNORED the fact that my husband LOVES to see me in pants, for some reason. And, we are not talking anything loose, or short, or would it even matter in a 60 year old slightly overweight mom? Some pants are far more modest than some dresses, and vice versa. I started wearing slacks occasionally to please my husband, not myself. That's all.
ReplyDeleteGood post. Good blog.
ReplyDeleteFor a bit of fun, may I quote Ogden Nash?
What's the Use?
Sure, deck your limbs in pants;
Yours are the limbs, my sweeting.
You look divine as you advance --
Have you seen yourself retreatin
Love these!! I agree with every one of them.
ReplyDelete