Admonishment from the Pulpit - No Shorts!

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Lux_et_veritas

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I know I’ve probably smacked a hornest nest with this post because people will say, “God appreciates that you have come to mass and doesn’t care what you have on” jazz.

Been there; done that! And now count me among the converted to be decently dressed for Mass. I just continue to steamroll into a direction I recoiled against even as little as 2 months ago - one towards more orthodox Catholic worship.

Sweating it Out at Noon Mass
I had another “moment” as I sat in the heat of Assumption Grotto Church in Detroit on Sunday at the noon Mass. It was only about 87F out side :rolleyes: and the stone of the church did not seem as cool as that of marble. It was definitely hotter inside the building than outside and there are only tiny, narrow windows.

I’ve been getting a little more dressed - at least in work casual clothes since beginning to attend this parish, in contrast to jeans and tennis shoes which had been my staple for a lifetime. I would also wear shorts in the summer - into air conditioned churches and never gave it a thought unless the priest requested no shorts. But in recent years I have not heard this from the pulpit in the parishes I had been to.

The Post Homily Admonishment
I got the :bigyikes: of my life when the pastor of Assumption Grotto did a real number on all of us sitting in that hot building after concluding his homily. Paraphrased, it went something like this.

With summer coming it is going to get very hot in here, just as you can see today. I just want to remind everyone to please not wear shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, tennis shoes, etc…

Then as he began to get a little animated moreso than I’ve ever seen him,an his voice began to raise. He went on…

If you really want to tell me how hot it is, I ask you to please look at me and the other priests, and others up around the altar. Please tell me that any decent attire you wear is hotter than what I have on or anyone else up here (and trust me, he was wrapped tightly up to the neck in his wardrobe with every single layer - not some of the looser garb I’ve been use to seeing).

People giggled all around, including me.

Then he got very passionate with this message and it gripped me…

Remember, you are here for Him (as he points to the tabernacle) and not some fashion show. You will be uncomfortable but so was He and you are here to worship Him no matter how uncomfortable you feel.

The Resultant for Me

I will NEVER wear shorts or anything less than casual business attire to any church ever again. He got me!

He was right too. When I think about when I wore those things it was all about my comfort.

I had also just been thinking about how I needed to go to the 9:30 mass throughout the summer so as not to be in the hot building. I may take him up on his challenge and come to the 12:00 and sweat my tush off just as a matter of self-mortification and to learn to stay focused no matter how hot it is.

Another lesson in unconditional worship - work to stay cool in the heat and focused solely on Him, not the temperature and inconveniece.

Thanks Father - Lesson Learned!
 
Lux et Veritas,

Let me give you a hearty AMEN! I haven’t heard any similar admonitions from the pulpit recently–I don’t remember longer ago–but I wish I had. I have spoken to a couple of people about what they or their daughters wear to church. One father got angry with me for not minding my own business, so I explained: I have a serious problem with lust, and having a scantily-clad young woman sitting in front of me is not good for my soul, even (or perhaps especially) during Mass. That certainly put a new perspective on it for him, and the daughter’s wardrobe changed the next week.
  • Liberian
 
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Liberian:
Lux et Veritas,

Let me give you a hearty AMEN! I haven’t heard any similar admonitions from the pulpit recently–I don’t remember longer ago–but I wish I had. I have spoken to a couple of people about what they or their daughters wear to church. One father got angry with me for not minding my own business, so I explained: I have a serious problem with lust, and having a scantily-clad young woman sitting in front of me is not good for my soul, even (or perhaps especially) during Mass. That certainly put a new perspective on it for him, and the daughter’s wardrobe changed the next week.
  • Liberian
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:clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

That took real backbone and I commend you for it because that is at the heart of the issue in many cases.

I’m trying to recall if Fr. Perrone mentioned mini-skirts because I did see a few. I don’t think they are appropriate for church and never did feel they were appropriate for church, even though I was among the shorts crowd.

I think the priests have gotten tired of trying to get the people to change their habits. I think many are battle-weary.

Keep in mind, the admonishment came from the Pastor of a parish with an orthodox base to begin with and he STILL reminded people of the need to focus less on personal comfort and more on the worship of God regardless of that comfort or discomfort.

There is a much bigger issue buried in this, at least for me it was, and that is we worry too much about our own comfort and almost dare to make it a condition of worship, if not outright.

Christ chose to take the more difficult road in many cases, to the point of choosing death out of obedience to the Father. How could we dare think that worship should be any different so as to seek comforts as a prerequisite to prayer.

Sure, comforts get me in the mood and make it easier to pray, but am I willing to remain steadfast when I’m not comfortable?
 
Wow! I tip my hat to your pastor and your own attitude! :tiphat: I’m blessed to attend Mass regularly at comfortable, climate controlled churches, even though they are all over 80 years old. I often wonder how much I would look forward to Mass in the summer if I had to sit there sweltering for an hour or more. I’m shamed to admit I might spend most of the Mass worried about my own comfort instead of concentrating on God. :o

I admire your patience and spirit of mortification. :clapping:
 
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Lux_et_veritas:
Remember, you are here for Him (as he points to the tabernacle) and not some fashion show. You will be uncomfortable but so was He and you are here to worship Him no matter how uncomfortable you feel.
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!

All I have to say is:

:amen:
 
The only people who should wear shorts to church are little boys. That is it in my opinion…and I do mean little boys under the age of 5yrs. old. If we are becoming so casual about our dress to church, then we are also becoming casual in the way we respect the Holy Eucharist as well. You wouldn’t attend the Emmy or Oscars’ dressed in shorts or casual wear. We are in God’s house…in the presence of our Lord! Please respect Him by dressing appropriately! Maybe we dressed better when we were required to wear head coverings?
 
Two comments on attire and Priest trying to instill decency:

Back in Dayton Ohio early 90’s, A priest was trying to enforce his direction that shorts were not to be worn to Sunday Mass. Most everyone supported him but some knuckle heads refused. They actually dressed a kid in shorts and brought in a camera crew from the local TV news. The priest did not allow the boy to receive communion. He ended up reassigned. It was a sad week for me when that happened. By all accounts he was a fine pastor.

My priest recently gave us a gentle reminder about proper attire during Mass. He said that some of the parishioners had mentioned immodest dress as a distraction for them. He gave direction to us all.

There is nothing wrong, as a matter of fact it is good if a priest or a parish council tries to enforce some discipline.

Christ’s Peace,

TJD
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
God Bless HIM!
We have serious suggestion signs on our main church doors.
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What do they look like? How are they mounted? Details, please.
 
I went through the same metamorphosis when I first started attending daily mass 4 years ago. I had been going to work very casually dressed, including shorts in the summer. Once I was attending mass in the morning, I couldn’t make myself wear shorts to mass (despite the fact that many other people do, even to daily mass) and started dressing up more each day for mass. My boss noticed and changed the dress code for the rest of the office, thinking I was dressing up more for work! :o

I applaud Liberian. That took guts. Sunday I sat behind a young lady in a spaghetti strap tank with bra straps showing and mini mini skirt. Often I’ve sat behind young women in pants so low . . . well you can imagine. Last fall Fr gave a talk on appropriate attire-he waited until it was cool, so as not to offend. I’d like to have seen another talk before it was warm again, but looks like we missed the opportunity. 😦 I’m guessing he won’t do a talk like that now as many of his talks wind up generating letters to the bishop in complaint (you know, the talks on pro life voting, contraception etc). Unfortunately, he generally doesn’t get backed up from that direction, quite the opposite, in fact. Oh well.
 
I just wanted to share what I thought I was going to read as I was reading Diane’s first post. The topic reminds me of a billboard I saw while living in Phoenix. All it said was:

“You Think It’s Hot Here?”
~God
 
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mercygate:
What do they look like? How are they mounted? Details, please.
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They are gold metal and say basically the same and also call for silence.
I’ll get an exact quote and post it ASAP.
 
Pardon me for throwing a dissenting voice in, but here is what I believe we are taught:
  1. The way someone dresses in Church should denote respect - for the Church, for God, for Jesus.
  2. People have day to day lives, and their attendance in Church doesn’t remove responsibilities, and sometimes their dress has to reflect that. For example, I see a guy in weekday Mass a lot that wears jeans and a work shirt, with work boots. Everything is clean, but it’s hard-labor work clothes. Do you think God admonishes him for going to weekday Mass before what is likely a very hard job? Maybe he is able to punch the clock just in time, but cherishes Jesus and wants to go to Church?
  3. We are not to judge others, only God is.
  4. Some of the examples mentioned here, like scantily clad women, not dressing up just because it’s inconvenient, is wrong IMHO but I don’t judge 🙂
I wear clean shorts to weekday Mass at times where I have something immediately after it outdorrs that requires it. I don’t think that is wrong, I have dressed nicely, not provacivately, and I am there to celebrate and adore Jesus. Seems ok to me…
 
There is no reason to wear sport, yard, or other shoddy dress to Mass. Whether you are a woman or a man, the solution is easy. For a man, dress pants pull on over most anything. In fact I routinely wear sweatpants under my dress trousers, as the need for dry cleaning is thereby reduced. A jacket is also an easy fit. A woman of course can wear a dress (a real one, not a skimpy one) over most anything. And of course we can judge girlies who wear little dressies with 80% of their flesh on display. We are supposed to evaluate each other: as we judge we will be judged; we are supposed to be on the lookout for immorality amongst ourselves; it is those outside the Church, e.g. Protestants, Mohammedans, and others, whom we must ‘leave to God’. Don’t forget: one can always change in the rest room after Mass.
 
The priest did not allow the boy to receive communion.
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I thought you could only do that when one blatanly goes against the Holy See
Remember, you are here for Him (as he points to the tabernacle) and not some fashion show.
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That basically goes against what he was saying.

I still see no problem with such things as tennis shoes or jeans and the such to Mass.
 
await said:
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…I wear clean shorts to weekday Mass at times where I have something immediately after it outdorrs that requires it. I don’t think that is wrong, I have dressed nicely, not provacivately, and I am there to celebrate and adore Jesus. Seems ok to me…
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Would you where shorts to Sunday Mass if you knew the priest didn’t like it? … What about if he asked you nicely not to? … What about if He made it clear that it was out of bounds and posted signs?

Christ’s Peace,
TJD
 
ames61 said:
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…Last fall Fr gave a talk on appropriate attire-he waited until it was cool, so as not to offend. I’d like to have seen another talk before it was warm again, but looks like we missed the opportunity. I’m guessing he won’t do a talk like that now as many of his talks wind up generating letters to the bishop in complaint (you know, the talks on pro life voting, contraception etc). Unfortunately, he generally doesn’t get backed up from that direction, quite the opposite, in fact. Oh well.
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This sort of thing really hurts me…I think it hurts the Church as well.

Please, support your pastor.
 
I’m guessing he won’t do a talk like that now as many of his talks wind up generating letters to the bishop in complaint (you know, the talks on pro life voting, contraception etc). Unfortunately, he generally doesn’t get backed up from that direction, quite the opposite, in fact.
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How would talks on Church belief be in the same area as church wear… If he recieves letters about contraception, pro life votes, ect… That means people are listening so may as well give them more than an earful
 
A good friend of mine walks to daily Mass wearing shorts, a polo/golf shirt and deck shoes – definately the wrong look for attending the Mass.

Before he enters the church he pulls-on a pair of khaki pants and an ancient navy blue blazer he keeps rolled-up in a grocery bag. They look just fine

The transformation is amazing – all in about 1 minute he goes from looking as though he is planning for what follows the Mass, to one of the better dressed people at Mass…
 
I’m rather surprised that people at Assumption Grotto needed reminding. That is an exceptional parish with an exceptional congregation.
 
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