Angry at irreverence during Mass

[Frosty]

There used to be a saying several decades ago concerning how people dressed during the summer for Mass. Particularly in old stone or brick churches where there was little or no ventillation or air circulation and especially no air conditioning. " In the summer, women glow, men perspire and as for the priest, well, he simply melts".
I still clearly remember our pastor telling the congregation one Sunday that he was sick and tired of the commotion nearly every Sunday caused by several people fainting from the heat during Mass. He told us that it was acceptable for the men to remove their jackets and ties and even (gasp) to wear short sleeved shirts. The women could even wear a sleeveless dress (or blouse) if they wished. Of course, spaghetti straps or tank tops were unheard of back then. His point was that if we were so distracted by the heat and the ensuing discomfort caused by being so covered up, it was unlikely that we could focus on why we were at Mass in the first place. That always made sense to me.
Having said that, I do believe that people should dress modestly for Mass. I don’t think that short shorts, spaghettii straps, tank tops, mini-skirts, tight jeans or pants, strapless tops, t-shirts with slogans or sweat clothes are acceptable. Actually, I’ve rarely seen people dressed in any of those things at Mass. However, on hot sultry days I don’t believe that men wearing clean, pressed, knee-length shorts or women in well-cut Capri pants and sleeveless blouses are being either immodest or irreverant. They don’t distract me at all.

 

[Brooklyn]

Just to go back to the conversation about cell phones, has anyone else noticed that so often when a person’s cell phone starts to ring, it is almost always during Consecration? I really believe it’s the devil putting a bug in someone’s ear to call a phone that is on at Church, and he specifically waits until the Consecration.

One priest told a story to me once about someone praying at the St. Joseph altar, and his phone rang and he stopped to answer it. The priest scolded him, telling him he was in Chuch and unless it was St. Joseph himself answering the man’s prayers, he should not be talking on the cell phone in church. That priest, by the way, is Father George Rutler, who has a sign at the doors of his church asking that all phones be turned off.

Mary

 

[emma411]

Thanks JReducation, I needed that. Perhaps I should try not to let it distract me. But give praise and glory to the Lord that they even thought to make it to mass. I guess it bothers me for some of the same reasons as it may bother others, and I just don’t want my kids to see that kind of dress if they don’t have to.

So how do we teach our children the importance of modest dress without creating a negative attitude towards someone else’s way of dress? Perhaps start a picket line, and preach about getting people to dress modestly, I could start at the mall!!!kpeople:

May God Bless You

 

[JReducation]

Thanks JReducation, I needed that. Perhaps I should try not to let it distract me. But give praise and glory to the Lord that they even thought to make it to mass. I guess it bothers me for some of the same reasons as it may bother others, and I just don’t want my kids to see that kind of dress if they don’t have to.

So how do we teach our children the importance of modest dress without creating a negative attitude towards someone else’s way of dress? Perhaps start a picket line, and preach about getting people to dress modestly, I could start at the mall!!!kpeople:

May God Bless You

When I was a parent, I used structure. The closet was color-coded with markers on the hangers.

red=school
bluue=play
green= Sunday
white= house only
yellow=formal

That worked to help create structure in my children. I have to admit, that I don’t miss the days of teaching kids to be structured.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF