May is the month we honor the Virgin Mary as the Blessed Mother, not only of our Lord, but also of the Church and as our mother. I thought this would be a great month to explore the fruit of modesty because she is the perfect example of a human being that radiates modesty in all her ways and on the 13th, we celebrate the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in which she stresses modesty in dress. On that day she came to us as a mother concerned for our welfare and the salvation of our souls, giving us guidance and direction that should not be taken lightly. After all she is the daughter of God the Father, the mother of God the Son and the spouse of the Holy Spirit. She is our mother and our queen and for this reason we will examine modesty, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, her spouse, with the Blessed Mother as our model and through the magisterial teachings of the church learn what it means to be modest, why its important and how we can cultivate this fruit in our daily lives. 

[Modesty is one of the 12 fruits not listed in the Protestant and modern Catholic editions of the Bible. As I noted in a previous blog, we find the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in the traditional Catholic editions.] 

Modesty is defined as the quality or state of being unassuming in the estimation of one’s abilities or importance. Our Lady reflects this aspect of modesty in the story of the Annunciation and the Visitation. When the angel Gabriel appeared to her while she was praying, she responded with sincere modesty. She was surprised and did not understand how it could be that she could be with a child, yet she had faith and submitted to the will of the Father. “Behold I am the handmaiden of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word”. When she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, eager to help her with her pregnancy, her modesty is magnified when she proclaimed the wonderful deeds the Lord has done for her, never taking credit, or bragging about her special role as the mother of the Messiah.  Here our mother shows that true modesty rejoices in what the Lord gives and exults in Him by sharing His grace with others.  A modest person doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone and does not need to be in the spotlight. They appreciate and cultivate the gifts and talents God had given and uses them to help others grow in their own purpose and relationship with God. A modest person is one whose actions and appearance reflect self-mastery, good judgement, and a firm command over feelings.   

Modesty is also the fruit that moderates our presentation to others. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “…Modesty protects the intimate center of the person; it means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden (CCC 2521). Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice of clothing. It is discreet (CCC 2522). Our Lady of Fatima told the child visionary that “Certain Fashions will be introduced that will offend our Lord very much.”  Immodest dress offends our Lord because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit and should be treated as such. In the bible we see that ark of the covenant, which carried the word of God, was always covered. Modesty in dress presupposes respect for God Himself present in the body and Charity to one’s neighbor, who can suffer temptations and fall into sin. This is very important to understand because Our Lady tells us through her messages at Fatima that most people in Hell are there because of sins of the flesh. Modesty in dress helps safeguard the virtue of purity in ourselves and in our neighbor and is demanded by the moral law of God. Immodest dress is immoral and sinful, and matter for confession.    

Modesty is an essential base for humility, by this fruit we learn to be content with what is required of us and do not harbor any ambitions or pride in any achievements. We give glory to God and accept His Holy Will. It helps us recognize that our bodies are gifts from God, made in His own image, and His living temple on earth. It our responsibility to adorn them respectfully and taking into consideration how we are perceived and the effects our appearance has on our neighbor. 

Here are some tips for cultivating Modesty: 

1. Pray – Heavenly Lord, today I pray for modesty. Let my works be for your glory and not for the praises of others.  Then recite the Litany of Humility

 2. Practice Moderation – We should never say or do anything that goes against our state in life. 

3. Be Humble - avoid pushing your opinions on others. 

4. Admit mistakes and apologize. 

5. Don’t Be Vain or Boastful - if God wants someone to know about your accomplishments, He will make it known. “Let another man praise you and not your own mouth” -Proverbs 27:2 

6. Behave - be a rule follower, most especially His commandments. “Happy are those who take delight in the Law of the Lord.” -Psalm 1: 1 7. Dress Modestly – “Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit” -1Corinthians 3:16 -     

7. Dress Modestly – “Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit” -1Corinthians 3:16