Going to the beach? Q & A
Hey Rita 🙂 I’m Sarah . Do you think it’s appropriate to go to the beach at this day in age? I wanted to know what you thought about this!
Thanks
Thanks Sarah that’s a great question!
Now let’s look at this question. What is a beach?
Well, a beach is often a public spot along a shoreline that is warm enough for people to swim.
If it’s warm enough to swim you can bet that means there are plenty of “tiny” clothing on all those warm bodies both male and female.
If you’ve read my book, Immodesty, Satan’s Virtue, I quoted A Pastoral letter of His Emminence Enrique Cardinal Pla y Daniel, Archbishop of Toledo Spain issued this directive,
“A special danger to morals is represented by public bathing at beaches, in pools and riverbanks…Mixed bathing between men and women which nearly always is a proximate occasion of sin and a scandal must be avoided.”
He states clearly the problem of public beaches. While it is so commonplace today, we have to think back to not long ago when there was no public swimming at all. I wrote in Immodesty, Satan’s Virtue page 102,
“By the 1880’s a woman could take a dip in the ocean but only in a completely enclosed contraption that lead her from the beach and extended into the ocean covered. It wasn’t until WWI that a one piece clinging suit became popular with sleeves and extending to the knees, sometimes it also had a skirt.”
It’s amazing how much our past has been forgotten and we all live for here and now. We are seriously disadvantaged by not understanding our past. We have become soft.
Mixed Bathing
The world today has pounded into us immodesty and nakedness to the point that it is ab-normal today to be modest. The problem of mixed bathing (aka; swimming) ignores the fact that we are human and God has designed into us an attraction that needs to be protected. Women were created beautiful for a reason; so that man and woman would come together in Holy Matrimony and the world would continue.
Unnecessary occasions of sin while swimming – is asking too much of human nature – especially for single men and women or even teenagers. The Church, has rightly set up guidelines to protect it’s children from being burned by immodesty, that have all been forgotten. I highly recommend anyone who wants to understand this further to order my book, Immodesty Satan’s Virtue, (which has literally been saved from the ashes by God!) and will be released again soon! God willing!
So what are we to do?
Summer is in full swing and there are so many opportunities for the beach. A family reunion, a family gathering, Gramma’s birthday, or a family get together. A million other reasons might bring up the opportunity. So what are we to do?
- Well, the first thing we can do is decline. (Not everyone would be willing to do this, but as we know sometimes our faith requires us to sacrifice).
- The second thing we can do is to ensure we are going to a private beach or pool. Where only family members will be present. Keep in mind to ensure everyone is properly clothed.
- Thirdly, be sure everyone has proper, modest swimwear for boys and girls, men and women. See my previous blog post HERE for Swimwear resources.
It IS possible to get cool in summer! Be creative! And yes HAVE FUN! We cannot make our faith out to be something mundane and boring. How will we ever keep our children in the faith as they grow?
We have a private lake we go to here. We go at suppertime when everyone is eating and have the place to our-self. With our boys disabilities they appreciate the privacy more and it suits us just fine.
Above all, consider the souls of you and your children before placing them into occasions that will remove their defenses and open them up to occasions of sin later.
God bless you for staying strong for HIM,
With love,
Rita Xo 🙂
Author of ‘bestselling’ Immodesty, Satan’s Virtue (saved from the ashes) and more!
©Copyright 2014 Rita Davidson All Rights Reserved.
Rita is a Catholic wife, and mother of seven, with three autistic boys. Currently a writer, & published author, she is a former hairdresser, professional make up artist with a degree in Natural Health. She is now a Young Living Distributor. After overcoming a stroke, disabilities, and more, they recently lost everything in a devastating house fire that made them homeless for six months. She is determined to lead souls back to Christ by carrying their crosses with Joy!
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