A Letter Concerning Modesty

[passioncrosslov]

Women should dress like women, and men should dress like men. Both should dress while being mindful of their obligation to be modest and reverant, especialy at Mass.

Remember to live always in the presence of God. Would you dress like a prostitute (and honestly, that is exactly what so many young girls today dress like!) in front of your human father? Surely you would not do so before your Divine Father.

As for the claim that Catholic women dressing in skirts is making them adopt an Amish, or even Islamic, identity, thats just as laughable as the instance where someone told me that using Gregorian chant at Mass is adopting Anglican practices!

Well… Adam and Eve were created naked and they were conversing with God. Even now we can make visits to the Garden of Eden (the beach) … I know, I know, that was before the Original Sin and personal sins affected afterwards. I agree we should dress modestly. Second thought, I’ve been wearing pants to church because I feel more comfortable, but resently for some reason, I became boody-conscious, especially if kids were directly behind me. Get the picture??? I guess I would need to look into the transition soon.

 

[Catholic_Kat]

I just moved to Fort Worth and have started attending Latin Mass every week, rather than the “new” Mass. I moved here from Virginia and it was VERY conservative there. I’ve noticed that at the Latin Mass everyone dresses very modestly and conservatively. All of the women cover their heads and the men are mostly all in ties. I think it’s nice and adds to the seriousness of the Mass and the fact that the Lord is present. No one would ever wear jeans to an interview, yet people think it’s okay to wear them to meet the Lord on Sunday.

 

[Colorado_Mike]

yes, the Church HAS spoken on this - a “Letter from the Congregation of the Council” - (same as one of the Sacred Congregations we have today - they speak and have the authority of the Magisterium)
catholicmodesty.com/Popesonmodesty.html

Women are not to wear pants/slacks. And a few other notes!

catholicmodesty.com/

Sorry, but…
When you think about it - if a man dresses like a woman, he’s called a transvestite - when a woman dresses like a man…

That document also says: "3. Let parents keep their daughters away from public gymnastic games and contests. . . "

I guess we better cancel all the Catholic school swim teams and gymnastics teams and track clubs, etc.

On a more serious note, how do we know what weight to give to various Church documents of the past (or the present, for that matter)? Perhaps I should start another thread.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Wow, this issue just never goes away, does it?

I was “approached” after Mass one Sunday a couple of years ago by a well meaning woman who wanted to comment on my choice to wear slacks instead of dresses to Mass. I know she meant well, but she had never met me, never spoken to me and knew nothing about my life. It was a very uncomfortable conversation, because I did not want to share WHY I made the choice I did. It wasn’t any of her business, it is between me, God and my confessor. My clothing is modest, it just doesn’t include dresses.

The thing is, I never notice what anyone else wears to Mass. Since I started going to the Latin Mass, my focus is so much on the altar I really don’t see clothes anymore. Oh sure, I’d probably notice if someone showed up in shorts or something really immodest, but I really couldn’t tell you what ONE person wore to Mass last Sunday. It’s just not on my radar.

 

[Saint_Gemma]

That document also says: "3. Let parents keep their daughters away from public gymnastic games and contests. . . "

I guess we better cancel all the Catholic school swim teams and gymnastics teams and track clubs, etc.

That is a very good idea.

 

[OneAugustKnight]

I htink we need to be more careful not to fall into vanity or fall under the “hypocrite” category of Our Lord, paying too much attention on the outside and forget to focus on the inside. I personally think pants or skirts do not matter; the heart matters more.

:twocents:

I agree with you. Those people with beautiful souls, you hardly hear anyone talk about their appearance or clothes. Except the Blessed Virgin. But even then, I think they are talking about how beautiful her soul is, and not particularly her face. Oh, and people say that Mary wears skirts all the time, but I always imagine her wearing a long sleeved dress.

 

[Colorado_Mike]

That is a very good idea.

Was this a serious comment? I guess I wonder what is the authority of documents, particularly older documents, that are not part of the catechism or canon law and say things like “women should not show the collar bone” or “girls should not participate in gymnastics”.

 

[Saint_Gemma]

Was this a serious comment?

Yes.

 

[Colorado_Mike]

Yes.

Can you be more specific? Are you saying that all Catholics should pull all their children out of any sport that involves wearing an athletic outfit, or even shorts? Can that possibly be the teaching of the Church?