Thankful for Beauty?

[augustine14]

In prayer, is it wrong to thank God for one’s own physical attractiveness, as long as one is not being vain and obsessed with looks? If it is a sin, how it different than thanking God for being blessed with intelligence or something like that?

 

[Della]

Physical beauty is rather subjective, don’t you think? Nor is it a good gauge for how much we are blessed by God. Bl. Mother Teresa could not be said to be a beautiful woman in the world’s estimation, but her beatific smile and gentleness with others, no matter who there were, was certainly beautiful. We should thank God for inner beauty–which is the grace of God working within us.

Intelligence can also be a fleeting thing. Many people lose it through accidents or illness. It’s termporary, as well. Who can truly say they are as intelligent as the Creator who made them? No one, of course. We should thank God that we can use whatever gifts he has granted us in service to him and to others, yes?

 

[Charbel123]

Physical beauty is a blessing from God… at least in my opinion but i may be wrong… Correct me please.

The Lord blessed Job’s latter days more than his former ones and He gave him three very beautiful daughters. " No women in all the land were as beautiful as Job’s daughters"
So isn’t physical beauty a blessing from the Lord?

Everything comes from God and everything is the creation of His own hands. So i think we can thank God for everything … even our own imperfections because we have them for a reason which is to advance in spiritual life.
Also we should thank God for all the good and the bad that happen to us. And i don’t see any problem in thanking God for anything in a humble way and with a good intention.

 

[Della]

Physical beauty is a blessing from God… at least in my opinion but i may be wrong… Correct me please.

The Lord blessed Job’s latter days more than his former ones and He gave him three very beautiful daughters. " No women in all the land were as beautiful as Job’s daughters"
So isn’t physical beauty a blessing from the Lord?

Such passages merely mean that Job’s circumstances were better after his losses and faithfulness to God, and not as an endorsement of physical beauty. Although it’s nice to have good looks, it can also be a greater temptation to vanity for many. It’s a matter of balancing the goods of this life against the better things of the spirit, as I see it.

Everything comes from God and everything is the creation of His own hands. So i think we can thank God for everything … even our own imperfections because we have them for a reason which is to advance in spiritual life.
Also we should thank God for all the good and the bad that happen to us. And i don’t see any problem in thanking God for anything in a humble way and with a good intention.

Physical beauty ought to be a reflection of the perfection of spirit, as seen in Our Lady–not as a blessing on par with that. Our bodies break down over time, making any physical ability/attribute a fleeting thing. Better to be thankful for the operation of God’s grace in our lives, while giving thanks for all we’ve been blessed with that is temporary–keeping firmly in mind that this life is temporary. The beauty we will possess when our bodies are risen and made like unto Christ’s own body–as exemplified by the beauty of Our Lady, is the beauty we need to be thankful for above all other earthly beauty.

 

[Charbel123]

But where is the problem in being thankful for both inner and physical beauty? And who is saying that we shouldn’t be thankful for inner beauty? I am just saying that we can be thankful for everything with a good intention.

I don’t find anything wrong if i thank God for my physical and inner beauty. After all returning thanks is always good and doesn’t hurt anyone and our God deserves every thanksgiving even for the least things.

 

[PennyinCanada]

It’s a good habit to bless and thank God for things that we like and for the things we don’t like so much too. Do both.

Sometimes God can use good looks to help promote the Gospel. At school, at work, in the neighborhood, good looks and a winning smile can draw people to you. Use that for the kingdom of God. Ask God to help you recognize the opportunities so that you can have a strategy. Have a willing heart to be used by God. There are so few.

 

[on_the_hill]

I think if you’re praying and thanking God, that’s only between you and God. If your conscience makes you feel uncomfortable, then don’t do it. Otherwise, who’s going to know? Who among us is able to judge you based on your private conversation with the Almighty?

 

[Sarcelle]

In prayer, is it wrong to thank God for one’s own physical attractiveness, as long as one is not being vain and obsessed with looks? If it is a sin, how it different than thanking God for being blessed with intelligence or something like that?

We should be grateful for all the things that God has blessed us with, including physical beauty.

However we must keep in mind that beauty is fleeting, charm can be deceitful but someone who fears the Lord will be praised.

 

[Beautiful]

St. Rose of Lima was named Rose because she was a beautiful baby. The beautiful baby grew into a beautiful woman. She rubbed pepper on her face to resist the temptation to vanity.

Beauty can lead to vanity.

ewtn.com/library/MARY/ROSE.HTM

 

[Sarcelle]

St. Rose of Lima was named Rose because she was a beautiful baby. The beautiful baby grew into a beautiful woman. She rubbed pepper on her face to resist the temptation to vanity.

Beauty can lead to vanity.

ewtn.com/library/MARY/ROSE.HTM

Saint or not, this is a weird reaction.

I wonder how people here would react when some poster claims to rub pepper in her face because she attracted attention due to her beauty and that beauty lead to vanity.

 

[sudy]

Being beautiful can have bad connotations as well as pleasant ones. False pride and vanity, and causing jealousy, envy and lust in others… being pursued when you don’t want it, some people assuming you’re unintelligent, or a trophy to be gained etc.

Having said these things though, everything we have is a gift from God so we should be thankful for everything. And even the negative things can make us stronger… St Paul thanked God for his weaknesses as they were strengths for God… Pretty sure I’ve worded that really badly but I’m rushed for time so please feel free to correct it, anyone

 

[Beautiful]

Saint or not, this is a weird reaction.

I wonder how people here would react when some poster claims to rub pepper in her face because she attracted attention due to her beauty and that beauty lead to vanity.

Your reaction is shared by many.

Her complete biography is interesting and inspiring. The full context of her life… place in history God chose for St. Rose of Lima adds meaning and understanding to her actions.

The point is that beauty can lead to vanity.

 

[Mintaka]

When St. Rosa was alive, the city of Lima was a deeply weird and decadent place.

This was when the Spanish were mining boatloads of silver in Peru. A lot of the miners suffered, and a lot of the native people were pushed around and not taught Christianity.

There was also a very weird Spanish secular culture in place where women only went outside wearing huge dark cloaks over their entire heads and faces, only exposing one eye. (Yeah, some parts of Spain were Muslim for a long time, and the burkhas didn’t instantly disappear. Other Spanish colonies didn’t do this.)

But it was also a city where a fair number of women would use this pretense of modesty to sneak around town or even take lovers. Women in Lima had a reputation for being sex-crazed sneaky liars, basically.

So at that point, stuff that looks weird becomes a little less weird. St. Rosa was basically trying to be a nun at home, and desperately trying to make sure that people knew she wasn’t just being flirty when she said No to men.

 

[Ralph_Cooper]

God is rich in mercy, has sent his only Son Jesus Christ to earth to die and live again to the temple instead of our sins, save us from the slavery of sin, for we become children God. We all pray to God to please, help us to constantly rise from sin remember, to deserve the dignity of the children of God and in God forever in love.

 

[on_the_hill]

Beauty can lead to vanity.

I imagine any gift can lead to vanity: beauty, intelligence, a good singing voice, artistic creativity, charisma, charm, work ethic, etc. So let’s not single out beauty.

 

[Della]

I imagine any gift can lead to vanity: beauty, intelligence, a good singing voice, artistic creativity, charisma, charm, work ethic, etc. So let’s not single out beauty.

Yes. As a singer I was often the center of attention–unintentionally–it simply comes with being in front of people singing for them. I learned very early on to thank God for my talent and be gracious when people praised me, giving to God all that praise. As the years passed by I lost my voice–not completely but I can no longer sing for others as I did. Now I hold up my end of the pew. I am still grateful for whatever voice I have left, but I realize one day I may not be able to sing at all. Our talents and attributes are passing, temporary things. It’s fine to be grateful for them, but this must be balanced with realizing that they came from God–for our ultimate good–to lead us to salvation. They are not blessings in and of themselves nor should we dwell on them or make too much of them.

 

[Elena321]

I don’t know about being thankful for beauty but our huge value on beauty (particularly for women) is definitely something I struggle with.
Society greatly values and gives attention to women just for being beautiful.
Eg:the media always going on about Angelina Jolie,Miranda Kerr etc…
Women often can’t get jobs-particularly in media or air hostess etc-once they’ve become “old” and deemed washed up and no longer attractive.
There’s a bit of almost worship on youth + beauty for women but not for men.

Some singers try to create songs with messages such as “your beautiful as you are” in attempt to counter this mindset but to me these attempts fall short because is it true?
Not really,neither for non religious or for Christians because the bible mentions stories of people who were attractive/beautiful such as Jobs daughters.
Also,most Christian men want a wife who is attractive.Sure,they may say inner qualities matter most and she doesn’t need to be beautiful but they at least want average/attractive & they won’t accept “ugly” wife.
“Ugly” women have been made jokes of/mocked since even the old days.
Even our pictures of Mother Mary are made to show her as having external beauty.
Also,obviously God was the one who created beauty & beautiful flowers etc.

So Christianity seems to give two stories,
External beauty matters but on other hand doesn’t matter because we’re told Jesus had nothing externally beautiful that would cause people to be attracted to him.
Also,thankfully we know Jesus is close to and loves disabled etc who sometimes can have things that make them externally not what’s traditionally seen as “lovely”.

Yes,inner beauty is always higher then outer beauty but many have both.
Yes,beauty can lead to vanity but many are attractive and not vain.
Looking attractive can make you feel feminine and have creative fun with clothes etc but at the same time I wish it wasn’t so valued.
I think it’s good if someone has beauty to help others in some way.
Eg:by becoming a Plastic Surgeon and helping people who’s faces have sagged or have disfigurements.Using your beauty awareness and appreciation to help them look more attractive.
Or doing makeovers on the homeless (must be done carefully and respectfully and not just send them back on the street etc obviously)
Or becoming a Hairdresser and helping others feel more attractive with new hair style or dye etc…