J.M. + J.T.​

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Dear Brother (Sister) Militant in Christ,

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Before I sheerly and eagerly endorse the devotion of the Belt Rosary to you, our Lord holds you first to pursue virtue and eradicate your vices : to become a Saint or die trying. Especially when wearing the Rosary, you become a picture-frame for the Christ and the Catholic Faith in general, especially Mary our Mother in particular, Who is so despised by the devil and his allies. A Beautiful Image deserves a fitting frame, so we as Catholics need to conform ourselves to our King Whom we serve, by the practices and habits of virtue. 

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Son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation. (Ecclus ii.1)

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Because the Belt Rosary is an external devotion, we must carefully cultivate the Cardinal Virtues, which govern our behavior regarding external circumstances. They are Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance, and many particular virtues are hinged on and derived from these four. These virtues do not weigh us down, but rather elevate and purify our relationships and our Catholic message, especially in this vale of tears. They give us bounds to not cross and wings to fly.

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A little leaven corrupteth the whole lump. (Gal. v.9)

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1. Temperance restrains the concupiscible appetite for pleasure to conform with objective Truth and Love. One sub-virtue of Temperance is Modesty, which moderates the appetite for one's external beauty and/or glory and directly combats the vice of vanity. Vanity is a vice of pride and seeks and/or encourages us to exalt ourselves over God and/or others, especially in external ways.

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Let us not be made desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal. v.26)

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Therefore, we must practice Modesty, whereby we sacrifice our vanity, covering our muscles, skin, and features, so that we may not exalt ourselves in any way. We are called to put on Modesty, so that we may not seek the attention or affection of other people, of our own selves, or even of the devil, seeing our vain desires.

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And they that are Christ's have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences. (Gal v.24)

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We should not react to fashions, trends, or fads, which last only for a moment and edify no one in virtue. Our lives should be a constant pursuit of Union with God and His Will. Neither ought we be distracted by frequent and/or indulgent forms of entertainment or stimulation, that leave us knowing that we have wasted valuable time, not seeking God nor saving souls.

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Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain : the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. (Prov 31.30)

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Women especially have a responsibility to dress Modestly, gifted with their particular charm. Unarguably, men fall most easily and frequently to vices of lust. Out of charity and modesty, we ought not to dress merely in tight or short clothing. Unless necessity rules otherwise, for "necessity knows no law" (Rule of Saint Albert), it is charity to dress to the ankle, wrist, and neck, as a sign of your Catholic consecration, your belief in standard and virtue, and your resolute rejection of the vices of vanity, lust, and indifference. As a poor sinful man, needing your prayers and charity, I beg my sisters to take this verse to heart. While we cannot fully guard each other from sinning, we should offer our aid, according to the Apostle himself :

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For you, brethren, have been called unto liberty : only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh, but by charity of the spirit serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word : Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Gal v.13-14)

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The spirit of the age promotes open sexuality and sloppiness on the physical end and open ideology and sloppiness on the spiritual. The devil is therefore eager to make immodesty and sloppiness as normal to us as possible, because this encourages sexual vices, so that we may be complacent as he thereby destroys marriage, family, and the world and dulls the members of the Church Militant. 

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But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences. (Rom.xiii.14)

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Modesty serves as the outer defense of the Temple of the Holy Spirit, which our bodies are. Without Modesty, Holy Chastity is exposed and vulnerable, and Holy Celibacy and Virginity are not properly encouraged and exemplified, lending to a lack of Vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious Life. Therefore, especially if you would gird a Rosary on your belt, you must convey yourself appropriately, according to virtue, and not merely according to the culture or emotion. Gird your loins in Truth and Modesty rather than in fads and fashions.

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For you are bought by a great price. Glorify and carry God in your body. (1 Cor. vi.20)

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I pray that this has been helpful for you, dear Brother (Sister) Militant, and that, having striven well for the Narrow Gate, we may meet each other in the glory of Heaven after a holy death.

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Your devoted servant in Jesus and Mary,

Faber

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For a Priest's words on Modesty, see this Parchment by Catholic Straight Answers.

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