It has gotten to the point where, in times of warm weather, the women who wear short shorts in public outnumber those who don’t. Does anyone else feel this same way?
In charity, we must assume those who wear short shorts, bikinis, spaghetti straps, and other immodest clothing were never told not to. If that’s the case for you, after reading this you can no longer claim ignorance.
The problem with wearing immodest clothing lies in the beauty of the female body. It is so attractive that it must be kept veiled, lest it lead men to sin.
As we shall see, each woman bears a responsibility toward men to help them not to fall into sin. Men, by their nature, are attracted to what they can see.
Thus, women who bare skin and accentuate their, shall we say, more delectable parts, serve as magnets for men’s attention. This can make a woman feel good, for all the responsiveness she is eliciting. But such tactics can be overplayed and cause the sin of scandal.
This is not to say women bear the entire responsibility. Men still ought to divert their eyes. But, still, it would be better that men not be provided n opportunities to lust, can’t we all agree?
There are a thousand things that could be said on this topic, but I will defer to a few quotes from saints and a couple Bible passages. Will those who wear short shorts and other immodest clothing heed the warnings?
SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
Saint John was given the nickname “Chrysostom,” meaning ‘golden-mouthed,’ for his eloquent preaching. This fourth-century bishop of Constantinople gave this sobering caution to women:
“You carry your snare everywhere and spread your nets in all places. You allege that you never invited others to sin.
“You did not, indeed, by your words, but you have done so by your dress and your deportment…
“When you have made another sin in his heart, how can you be innocent?
“Tell me, whom does this world condemn? Whom do judges punish? Those who drink poison or those who prepare it and administer the fatal potion?
“You have prepared the abominable cup, you have given the death dealing drink, and you are more criminal than are those who poison the body; you murder not the body but the soul.
“And it is not to enemies you do this, nor are you urged on by any imaginary necessity, nor provoked by injury, but out of foolish vanity and pride.”
What a stinging rebuke. Definitely worth meditating on.
OUR LADY OF FATIMA
In 1913 the Blessed Mother Mary appeared to three children in Portugal over the series of several months. She performed the “Miracle of the Sun” to authenticate what she had told the three young seers.
Along with giving the children a vision of hell, she told them, “More souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason.”
One of the seers, Jacinta tells us Our Lady of Fatima also told her this: “Unless My message is heeded, Satan will introduce certain fashions that will offend My Son very much.”
Whatever could the Blessed Virgin Mary have been referring to? It’s not rocket science!
THE WORD OF GOD
As if that was not enough, the Bible records Jesus teaching this:
“Everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5.28). That is how seriously the Son of God takes this matter.
To be guilty of adultery, one is not required to physically have intercourse while married. All one has to do is commit lust.
See why the stakes are so high? Women would do well to prevent men from falling into this grave sin on their account.
If any woman has fallen into such an error in the past, she is welcome to repent, go to Confession, and sin no more. In fact, in so doing, God just may spare you the punishment He had planned for you:
“It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the evil which I intend to do to them because of their evil doings” (Jeremiah 26:3).
YOUR TURN
Have you given much thought to the moral implications of those who wear short shorts?
Do you see the merits of Saint John Chrysostom’s warning?
Your comments are welcome below!
