Naked babies....a sin?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ben_Sinner
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Robyn_p said:
Whoa. I would have never have wanted to sit like that with my family as a kid. Ew.
Click to expand...
dshix said:
That is ridiculous. A whole family photographed naked?

I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Click to expand...
Three words: Awkward Family Photos. There is a book and a website. Most are not naked, it’s a tiny fraction, but all are awkward. One that I remember was a family that was not naked but were wearing costumes that … never mind. I can’t go on.
 
CB_Catholic said:
I don’t see where he called anything a sin. In any case, a Saint is not infallible and may be mistaken in something they say. I disagree with what he said–there is nothing shameful about babies’ bodies. Besides, what about all those nude figures on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Should we cover them up?
Click to expand...
And neither are you. I trust Saint John Vianney over anyone on these forums. No offense

The old saint is wrong game is on again and we wonder about the narrow gate so much.
 
juno24 said:
I found the context of the quote. It is from one of his sermons.. I did not read the entire page, but it seems that he was trying to instill in his parishioners that modesty starts from the very beginning, and that parents are obliged to begin to teach it even from infancy.
Click to expand...
True.

It’s also specifically about doing such acts (changing diapers, etc.) in front of others, and it’s in the context of a broader discussion of modesty and family life. The good Saint was being wise and prudent; and besides: autres temps, autres moeurs.
 
juno24 said:
I found the context of the quote. It is from one of his sermons.. I did not read the entire page, but it seems that he was trying to instill in his parishioners that modesty starts from the very beginning, and that parents are obliged to begin to teach it even from infancy.
Click to expand...
John Vianney lived in a different time and place. This is s good example of how church habits and traditions change. The level of sexual morality advocated by many 19th century French Catholics was very Puritan. This was probably an over correction to the moral laxity and sexual freedom advocated, and practiced, during the revolutionary period. St. Jean also condemned dancing.

His sermons make interesting reading.

jesus-passion.com/saint_john_vianney.htm
 
Bruised_Reed said:
Three words: Awkward Family Photos. There is a book and a website. Most are not naked, it’s a tiny fraction, but all are awkward. One that I remember was a family that was not naked but were wearing costumes that … never mind. I can’t go on.
Click to expand...
I recently recieved a birth announcement from a COWORKER that featured the bundle of joy in his birthday suit, snuggled between his parents, both of which appeared nude from the waist up. My coworker’s boobs were obstructed by what appeared to be a sheet, but the rest was visable. Not very professional.

PS- I’m surprised their naked familly snuggling session doesn’t earn them a visit from the DFS.
 
Allegra said:
I recently recieved a birth announcement from a COWORKER that featured the bundle of joy in his birthday suit, snuggled between his parents, both of which appeared nude from the waist up. My coworker’s boobs were obstructed by what appeared to be a sheet, but the rest was visable. Not very professional.

PS- I’m surprised their naked familly snuggling session doesn’t earn them a visit from the DFS.
Click to expand...
:banghead:
 
Allegra said:
I recently recieved a birth announcement from a COWORKER that featured the bundle of joy in his birthday suit, snuggled between his parents, both of which appeared nude from the waist up. My coworker’s boobs were obstructed by what appeared to be a sheet, but the rest was visable. Not very professional.

PS- I’m surprised their naked familly snuggling session doesn’t earn them a visit from the DFS.
Click to expand...
:eek:

Apparently St John was right on about this naked baby business! 👍
 
dshix said:
That is ridiculous. A whole family photographed naked?

I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Click to expand...
I have seen such a portrait. It was horrible. The whole family was nude and laying on top of one another so that their private parts were blocked only by the bodies of their family members. Mother, father, brothers and sisters, all totally nude. It was part of an article on the worst family portraits ever made, and I wanted to scour my eyes afterwards.
 
juno24 said:
I found the context of the quote. It is from one of his sermons.. I did not read the entire page, but it seems that he was trying to instill in his parishioners that modesty starts from the very beginning, and that parents are obliged to begin to teach it even from infancy.
Click to expand...
Wow, there is some weird stuff in this sermon. Sleeping with a child over 2 is a sin? :eek:
 
mommamaree said:
I have seen such a portrait. It was horrible. The whole family was nude and laying on top of one another so that their private parts were blocked only by the bodies of their family members. Mother, father, brothers and sisters, all totally nude. It was part of an article on the worst family portraits ever made, and I wanted to scour my eyes afterwards.
Click to expand...
Ugh!

:mad:

Ugh!
 
Wrt the words of the Saint, I read it as condemning the purposeful exposure of nakedness to friends and family visitors. Think about it, would any mother in her right mind invite her visitors to gaze upon the fully naked body of her vulnerable child, including his/her private parts? I know that I tend to shield my children from the view of others, and try to be discreet with changing diapers. I even insist upon a minimum of clothing worn by my children in front of each other during play time, and teach them not to walk around the house naked before or after bath. This is not because bodies are shameful, rather it is because they are holy, and it is my job as their mother to help them learn, from a very young age, how to keep them that way. I think St. John Vianney was spot on!👍
 
Bruised_Reed said:
Three words: Awkward Family Photos. There is a book and a website. Most are not naked, it’s a tiny fraction, but all are awkward. One that I remember was a family that was not naked but were wearing costumes that … never mind. I can’t go on.
Click to expand...
I am now intrigued 😃
 
mommamaree said:
Wrt the words of the Saint, I read it as condemning the purposeful exposure of nakedness to friends and family visitors. Think about it, would any mother in her right mind invite her visitors to gaze upon the fully naked body of her vulnerable child, including his/her private parts? I know that I tend to shield my children from the view of others, and try to be discreet with changing diapers. I even insist upon a minimum of clothing worn by my children in front of each other during play time, and teach them not to walk around the house naked before or after bath. This is not because bodies are shameful, rather it is because they are holy, and it is my job as their mother to help them learn, from a very young age, how to keep them that way. I think St. John Vianney was spot on!👍
Click to expand...
I don’t understand the problem with letting visitors look at a baby’s body. How does covering up the body of a 6-month-old during a diaper change teach that the body is holy?

Mind you, I think some families are exceptionally immodest, both adults and children. But we’re talking about babies here.
 
Why do people overreact to statements like this by saints? Newsflash saints are almost always going to say stuff you don’t agree with because they are saints and you are not! He’s talking about honoring our guardian angel by our conduct. Be honest with yourself, would you EVER think that to yourself about anything you do?? NO! That’s because he’s a saint and he thinks spiritually and we are not and we think worldly. Humility would be listening to the saint honestly and without an overreaction and without immediately looking to the worldliness of your own time and culture in order to gloat over a saint who is just not ‘with it’ like we are.
 
Interesting interpretation of the original question. I saw it more that someone reads things said by saints and suddenly worries that some behaviour totally acceptable today, may be a sin. Any writing by a saint should be read reverentially, but one must always keep in mind that their writings are not doctrine. If you come across something you don’t understand, either place the saint in an historical context, or discuss your concern with a priest. I don’t know in other parishes, but in every parish I’ve belonged to in the last forty years priests are very lonely during the weekly confession times. I find it’s a great time to go confess and clarify any ambiguities, problems or scruples you may have. If you have a really good priest a monthly confession can be more helpful than seeing a counsellor. Just my opinion.🙂
 
Bruised_Reed said:
Nope. No way. Once you see it, you can’t un-see it. Even if it’s just in your imagination, there just isn’t enough brain bleach to go around. :nope:
Click to expand...
I thank you for preserving my mental hygiene. Mental images aren’t easily erased, especially for the male side of the species. 😛
 
Oren said:
Why do people overreact to statements like this by saints? Newsflash saints are almost always going to say stuff you don’t agree with because they are saints and you are not! He’s talking about honoring our guardian angel by our conduct. Be honest with yourself, would you EVER think that to yourself about anything you do?? NO! That’s because he’s a saint and he thinks spiritually and we are not and we think worldly. Humility would be listening to the saint honestly and without an overreaction and without immediately looking to the worldliness of your own time and culture in order to gloat over a saint who is just not ‘with it’ like we are.
Click to expand...
👍
 
Bruised_Reed said:
Nope. No way. Once you see it, you can’t un-see it. Even if it’s just in your imagination, there just isn’t enough brain bleach to go around. :nope:
Click to expand...
Have to agree with this. I love the sight of cute little chubby babies, and laugh with the rest when my young grandkids do a playful ‘streak’ through the house after bath time - but those naked family photoshoots are just so tasteless, even the naked baby ones. A staged photoshoot in a photographer’s studio is very different from the snap mom or dad take (often with their smart phone) of cute baby bath time. (One of my grandsons used to shriek if his chest and privates were not covered up in the bath - yet both enjoy the lets-go-for-a-streak game now.)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top