Just Personal

First of all, let's make sure we understand where our sources come from. Pope Pius XI indeed did write an instruction recalling the faithful to modesty of dress on January 12, 1930. In there were instructions to continue to dress modestly even in athletic competitions, but nowhere in the document are the guidelines listed above found. The document can be found in Latin in the official record of legal documents from Catholic Church, Acta Apostolicae Sedis 1930, p, 26-28.

The guidelines given for women's modesty of dress actually come from a "Marylike Standards for Modesty in Dress" added to an English translation of the document by "olvrc.com," which is cited by many "traditional" sources.

Even if you do not know Latin (as any traditionalist ought to, but many embarrassingly do not), you can see through comparison that the original decree has twelve points and the addendum has six additional points. Misleading at best.

Secondly, modesty in dress is largely culturally conditioned and far overstressed in contemporary Christian discussions about chastity. Far more important historically has been the concept of custos oculi, custody of the eyes, clearly required by our Lord Jesus when he said,

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell." (Matthew 5:27-29)

Study for those interested

Types of Washer:

Front-load: Better cleaning efficiency, gentler on fabrics, uses less water and energy. Downsides: door seals can mildew, must bend to load/unload, generally pricier.

Top-load (impeller): Faster cycles, easier loading, cheaper upfront. Uses more water, may be harsher on clothes.

Top-load (agitator): Good at removing stains, but tougher on fabrics and water-intensive. Mostly phased out in newer models.

Recommendation: If you can find a top-load with agitator within your price range that will fit where you plant to place it: go for it. Front-load looks better, but unless you're running it all of the time it will mildew and the cost is usually not worth that.

Capacity: Look past the cubic ft (or kilograms if you're not in the US), consider how often you do the laundry, how many people will be doing the laundry, and what you expect to be washing.

Recommendation: Aim for 4.0-4.5cu/ft (14-15.75kg), that's a nice happy medium that can do both light and heavy loads without much issue.

Options & Features:

Steam cleaning (sanitizes, reduces allergens)

Quick wash (for lightly soiled items)

Delicates/gentle cycles

Sanitize/high-temp options (good for baby clothes or gym gear)

Automatic soil sensors adjust water/time

Recommendation: Avoid gimmicks you won't touch—extra screens or specialty modes add cost without benefit if unused. Your washing machine doesn't need wifi, bluetooth, or voice commands. It's just more stuff to break.

Brands & Reliability:

This section is a little harder, personally I go with Bosch, Speed Queen, or GE Profile; but depending on where you are and your budget you might not be able to afford them. That being said, an ex of mine worked for an appliance warranty company that serviced multiple brands and they always said one thing: We're never getting a Samsung or LG, they have more warranty repairs than any other brand even accounting for their popularity.

11.2016 by ni kt