Episode 974: The Dignity of Women Lies in Moral and Physical Purity

The Dignity of Women Lies in
Moral and Physical Purity

Nothing could be more opportune for the formation of girls than to remind them and their parents that the essence of the dignity of a single woman is her purity. This truth, unfortunately, has stopped being preached by the Church since she was engulfed by Progressivism at Vatican II. Against all modern innovations and fashions which since then have been “blessed” in the confessionals, from the pulpits and at the World Youth Days, we bring to our readers the eternal Catholic truth applied to our days. Pope Pius XII is addressing Italian young women.

Pope Pius XII

Moral purity must proceed from faith, if it is a living faith. Youth must be formed to think always in a holy way of the mystery of new life and its natural sources, remembering that it is a work of the Creator and recalling that, just as Christ raised marriage to the dignity of a Sacrament, so also by taking life in the womb of the Blessed Virgin He sanctified motherhood and conferred on it such a high dignity.

From this you may deduce how the attitude of the Catholic youth should be strong, active and constant against publications and movies in which one finds only bold sensuality, a web of violations of conjugal fidelity, equivocal language, and openly licentious scenes. To oppose these manifestations, which at least in many cases also transgress the provident laws of the State, there is always one powerful weapon: absolute abstention. If you direct toward this end your work and apostolate among youth, your zeal and prudence, a great victory will crown your labor and efforts favoring the supremacy and sanctity of marriage, and hence also the well-being of your country!

Therefore, form young Catholic women in that sublime and holy dignity which is so clear and powerful a safeguard of physical and spiritual integrity. This virtuous and indomitable valor and pride constitute a great glory for the one who does not allow herself to be reduced to slavery. It enriches the moral vigor of the woman who gives herself intact only to her spouse for the founding of a family, or else to God. It proclaims as her mark of glory her vocation to the supernatural life and to eternity, just as St. Paul wrote to the early Christians: “You have been bought at a great price. Glorify God and bear Him in your body” (1 Cor 6:20).

How great is the dignity and liberty of the woman who does not allow herself to be enslaved, even by fashion! This is a delicate but urgent subject, in which your unceasing action permits us to hope for beneficial gains. Your zeal against immodest forms of dress and behavior, however, must not content itself with reproving, but also with edifying, by showing in practice how a young woman can in her dress and deportment harmonize the higher laws of virtue and the norms of hygiene and elegance.

In the immoral ambience of our days, it is opportune for Catholics to read the praises St. John Crysostom makes of those who choose virginity as a state of life. He compares virginity with the state of matrimony, to conclude that the former is higher. Interesting enough, the great Saint does not necessarily identify the state of virginity with the priesthood or religious state, as some Traditionalists wrongly do.

St. John Chrysostom

As you do, I also think that virginity is a good thing, better than the nuptial life. I add that it is as superior to the nuptial life as Heaven is superior to earth, or as Angels to men.

Since the Angels are not made of flesh and blood, for them there is no conjugal life. Since they do not live on earth, they are not subject to the disorders of passions and pleasures; they do not need to eat or drink; they are not attracted by a melodious music, a captivating song or a remarkable beauty, finally, they cannot be conquered by any type of softness.

Man, however, even though he is inferior to the angelic spirits, zealously and carefully seeks to be as much like them as he can. How does he do so?

Angels do not marry, neither does the virgin man. Angels live before God always at His service; so does the virgin man. Human nature, which bears the weight of the body, cannot ascend to Heaven as the Angels do; however, to compensate such deficiency, man has the greatest possible consolation, that is, by living pure of body and soul, he can receive and posses in the Eucharist the King of Heaven.

Can't you see all the excellence of virginity? Can't you see how it transforms those who still live clothed in this flesh and makes them equal to Angels?

Tell me in what point are those great lovers of virginity, Elias, Eliseus and St. John, different from Angels? In almost nothing. Only in this, that they are Angels in a mortal nature. Regarding the rest, anyone who analyzes them carefully sees that they deserve the same esteem as the angelic spirits. Further, because their condition is far inferior to the Angels, their merit is the greater. For because of their mortal nature, only with much violence and great effort could they attain such an eminent degree of virtue. See how much courage they had and the type of life they lived.