Beauty, what is its use?

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AnneElizabeth

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I don’t know if this was the correct forum to place this question.

What is the use of physical beauty? Why are some created more attractive than others? Why do people (in general) treat beauty differently than others? Why is it so esteemed? Should we be esteeming it so much, if not at all? How does it fit within the faith, it at all?

Some people would say that being beautiful is a gift, and so, if it is, how so and what would you ‘do’ with it?
 
God is Supremely beautiful. Ideally, beauty should lead us to glorify and delight in our Creator.

Most important is beauty of soul, which is invisible to the naked eye. Many Saints, however, having received the grace to see souls in a state of grace, said that no earthly beauty can be compared to this.

Beauty is pleasing to us, because our hearts have been fashioned for the All-Beautiful. When physical beauty is “used” modestly - as in the case of Our Lady - souls are drawn to see, even unconsciously, the beauty of virtue and of God.

Physically beauty should not be esteemed too much. It is something good, but it is far inferior to spiritual beauty, which is the effect of grace. This beauty will shine forth eternally in Heaven.

If it weren’t for sin, there would be no physical imperfections. Whether we are born with defects, like Bl. Margaret of Castello, or with great beauty, like St. Teresa, we should practice modesty, chastity and prayer, so that God may perfect our interior. In Heaven, our risen body will be perfect.

God bless.
 
I believe the capacity for aesthetic appreciation of beauty is another reflection of our Creator. His gift to us allowing us to find awe and glory in a rainbow or a sunset, is merely a pre-cursor to our glorious salvation found at His footstool.
I have discussed this with my dog and he sees very little in a rainbow but loves water from a hose.(But I find he also has little sense of humour. )
 
Petaro said:
I have discussed this with my dog and he sees very little in a rainbow but loves water from a hose.(But I find he also has little sense of humour. )
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On the whole, and after careful reflection, I think I agree with your dog. What can you do with a rainbow, other than look at it for a few moments? Write a song about it? No, somebody else already did that.
 
littlestsouls2 said:
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Physically beauty should not be esteemed too much. It is something good, but it is far inferior to spiritual beauty, which is the effect of grace. This beauty will shine forth eternally in Heaven.

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Thanks for your insightful answer, but I realize that physical beauty is far inferior to spiritual beauty, and that is why I asked the question… but what of it (physical beauty) though? Why is it created as such? What should one do with it? What is it here for?
 
AnneElizabeth said:
Thanks for your insightful answer, but I realize that physical beauty is far inferior to spiritual beauty, and that is why I asked the question… but what of it (physical beauty) though? Why is it created as such? What should one do with it? What is it here for?
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Only in Heaven will you receive an exhaustive answer to these questions, but here are a few simple considerations:
  • God can only create what is good and beautiful.
  • Beauty is a perfection of God; therefore His creation is made to reflect that (though to differing degrees). God’s shares His bounty with us; we are made in His image and likeness. Recall God’s pleasure with creation in Genesis.
  • Beauty is, in a sense, God’s Fingerprint - if we seek the beautiful, we are in some sense seeking God, just as those who sincerely seek truth - even if they are looking in the wrong places - are seeking God.
  • What should we do with beauty? Praise God for it and with it. St. Gemma is a fine example. She was very beautiful, but she was chaste and pure; that is the only way to use our beauty for good.
‘Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.’ (Proverbs 31:30)

‘Whose adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel: But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God.’ (1 Peter 3:3-4)
 
There is an old expression,“beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Meaning it is a relative concept. What one person finds beautiful, or longs for, another person might not.

Beauty is often attributed to ‘attractive’ physical attributes, or sex appeal. Like the woman who walks into a room, and attracts everyone’s attention. Beauty, in this regard, was used in Biblical times. For example, a man with attractive daughters would arrange marriages to secure business dealings with other families.

In the story of Moses, he was given the choice of a wife among seven daughters of Jethro. He chose Zipporah, who was the eldest, and not necessarily the most youthful of the maidens. Her sisters thought Moses would choose one of them, as they thought they were more attractive because they were younger. So physical beauty is often considered the magnet of attraction between men and women. Some cultures go by that ‘standard’ while others do not.

And in the story of the Trojan horse, Helen of Troy was so beautiful it was said she had a face that launched a thousand ships. Namely the 1000 ships that sailed to Greece to get her back after she was abducted.

Beauty fit for a queen is another age old expression. That kings and noblemen would barter great sums, or lands, or favors to obtain the hand of the most beautiful woman in the land.

Charisma is also associated with physical beauty, as is persuasiveness, and influence.
 
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