Painting by Emile Munier 1840-1895
from Beautiful Girlhood by Mable Hale
“Whose adorning [let it be] the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.”
The girl is the woman to be, and girlhood is the dressing room for womanhood.
The perfect woman has graces and powers of body, mind, and soul that make her able to be the mother of men and to guide them into the right paths of life. Her example and influence are unbounded, not only in her own home but in society in general.
No girl can come to this perfect womanhood unless she uses the opportunities of girlhood rightly. If she does not develop a healthy, active body she is handicapped through all her life.
If she does not come to womanhood with a mind and soul that are clean and clear and properly directed she cannot rightly fill her place.
A vain, silly, giddy woman is just as unfitted for the responsibilities of life in mind and soul as a sick woman is in body.
A right attitude toward her dress will not only help a girl to grow strong and vigorous in body, but will aid her in growing strong and beautiful in mind and soul.
Let us always keep in mind that the perfect woman is a Christian woman. To be a true Christian is to take the path in life that was mapped out for us in the life of Christ and to show daily in life and manners the graces and the spirit of Christ.
He was “meek and lowly in heart,” and showed always the opposite of vanity and pride. Paul speaks to Christian women of the “ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.”
And the girl who is growing into a perfect woman is noticed for her kindness, sympathy, gentleness, sweetness of spirit, and her willingness to be of service. There is about her a humility that makes you feel that she does not despise you and think you below her, that she is rather thinking of your happiness than her own personal appearance.
These beautiful graces—kindness, sympathy, humility, gentleness, purity—are the real ornaments of beautiful girlhood. But it is in the ornaments that clothe and beautify her soul and mind that make her a lovable and desirable creature who carries happiness and cheer wherever she goes.
Seek first the more beautiful inner ornaments and then clothe the body so that those more important ornaments are not hidden.
Your clothes should not be conspicuous among your comrades, either as old-fashioned or odd, nor as being smart and daring. It is not a trait of beautiful girlhood to expose the person in a way to call forth coarse remarks and criticisms.
It is impossible to point out certain things that are wrong, for a fad that is causing strong comment today may in a few years be forgotten, but this principle always holds good: that our girls who are striving for a beautiful girlhood and a clean and useful womanhood should always dress so as to appear modest and quiet and inconspicuous in their environments.
Any girl can easily settle these matters for herself if she will keep in mind that her business is always to keep in evidence the true ornaments of mind and soul and then be careful that in clothing and beautifying her body, she does not dim her more precious ornaments.
There is yet another angle regarding dress that our girls should keep in mind.
Good girls behaving as they should are one of the strongest influences for good in the lives of their boy associates, and every girl striving for a clean and beautiful girlhood should not in dress or action do that which in any way lowers her in the estimation of clean-minded boys, nor causes her to become a temptation to those who are weak.
Undoubtedly youth is a most beautiful thing of itself. But, if you have in this tender flower, the shining whiteness of Christian purity, then you have human beauty displayed as something noble and exalted, attracting the admiration and imitation of those who see it. – Pope Pius XII
Just a Note:
The Finer Femininity Facebook Page is a happening place. It has many lovely quotes and images, book suggestions, sermon suggestions, Meadows of Grace products, coloring pages, etc. For those of you who may not be on it, here is the link. https://www.facebook.com/catholicfemininity/
It is helpful to put in your newsfeed preferences “see first” on the pages you like. With the new Facebook algorithm, much of it does not go out to those who just “like” the page, without doing this.
Kanzashi Flowers
My daughters, Virginia and Jeanette make these lovely Kanzashi Ribbon flowers. It is amazing to see such lovely pieces of art bud forth from a straight piece of ribbon. These make great hairpieces, they can be worn on a collar or on a purse, scarf, etc. They make lovely gifts! Come take a peek here.
Our Lady’s Wardrobe
Available here.
This delightful rhyming book introduces Catholic children to the Blessed Virgin Mary in a fun and simple way-through her clothes!
When Our Lady lived in Nazareth two thousand years ago, she was very poor and probably didn’t have many nice things to wear. But now that she’s in Heaven, she has an enormous mansion. And in that mansion she has an incredibly beautiful wardrobe filled with a great variety of dresses, veils, slippers, sashes, robes, rings and crowns.
Over the centuries, Our Lady has visited the people of Earth many times. On each of these occasions she has dressed very differently. Our Lady’s Wardrobe tells the story of some of her most famous apparitions, highlighting the clothes she wore and the things she did.
By reading this book, children will not only learn about the Mother of God, but will also learn the main purpose of her life-to love and serve her son, Jesus Christ, and to lead others to do the same.
Our Lady’s Picture Book
Available here.
In this charming sequel to his bestselling book, Our Lady’s Wardrobe, Anthony DeStefano introduces Catholic children to more well-known images of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Only this time, he doesn’t use Our Lady’s clothes to teach children about the Mother of God, but rather, he gives kids a peek into her own personal “picture book.”
Over the centuries, Our Lady has been the subject of thousands of works of art that depict her as an advocate of sinners, a protector from harm, and a powerful intercessor with her Son. Our Lady’s Picture Book highlights Mary’s unique role in salvation history by explaining some of her most famous titles of honor, including: Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Loreto, Our Lady of the Assumption, Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, Our Lady, Queen of Peace, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
When children read this book, they will not only be captivated by its exquisite images, but will also learn to ask Our Lady to intercede for them with Jesus at all times and in all circumstances. Indeed, Our Lady’s Picture Book is actually a beautiful, book-length prayer to the Mother of God. Together with Our Lady’s Wardrobe, it will give children a magnificent yet simple introduction to the main purpose of Mary’s life—to love and serve Jesus Christ and to lead others to do the same.
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Those are indeed beautiful ornaments, to always be chosen with care no matter what age. Thank you!