Photo by Mary-Grace Byers
Margaret Ward
Staff Writer
When the virtue of modesty is cultivated, it promotes chivalry, said a speaker at a talk Sunday at 9 p.m. in the Gentile Gallery.
Lindsey Schrock, director of Franciscan Student Life Online, spoke on chivalry and what it means for both Catholic men and women in a talk called “Resurrecting Chivalry: A Key for Men and Women.”
Schrock began the seminar by explaining the knight’s code of honor, which was put in place by Catholic bishops to ensure the safety of the weak.
“Chivalry started with the Catholic Church,” said Schrock.
Branching off of this premise, she detailed woman’s role as one who must receive chivalry, in light of Catholic teaching.
“Wives, be submissive to your husbands,” read Schrock, quoting the Scriptural passage of Ephesians 5:22. She explained the meaning of the word “submissive,” which means to be “under the mission.” Schrock then said that the mission of woman is to support the mission of man, which mirrors Christ’s mission of sacrificial love.
Schrock said Christ chose to die for mankind because of mankind’s human dignity, and this dignity should be represented in an outward way through modesty.
“The key to resurrecting chivalry is modesty,” said Schrock.
Schrock then provided the Catholic reasoning behind this statement. Building off of Catholic doctrine, she said modesty is a virtue that builds chivalry.
“Chivalry is recognizing human dignity,” said Schrock.
Schrock said modesty is a reflection of the interior, inherent dignity of the human person.
“Men: serve and honor the dignity of women through virtuous acts, through modesty,” said Schrock. “Women: serve and honor the dignity of men by receiving that chivalry and through modesty.”
The talk was the third part of the Gift of Human Sexuality Symposium. The next installment in the series will be a talk by the Rev. Jonathan St. Andre, TOR, Sunday at 9 p.m. in the Gentile Gallery.