Are shorts appropriate for mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter workinprogress8
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
W

workinprogress8

Guest
I generally always wear tasteful capris and a nice top to church, but lately it’s just been really hot, and capris have been unbearable. My question is, are shorts appropriate for mass, when these circumstances present themselves?

I’d really appreciate your opinions.
Thanks!
 
Would you wear shorts to a formal dinner if it was hot? Or to a wedding?
 
I only allow my children age 2 and under to wear shorts to Mass (my sons, that is–daughter has always worn a dress). But they’re dressy shorts like a short sailor suit or the like.

Honestly, for myself, I find it much cooler to wear a cotton slip under a long cotton skirt than I would wearing shorts.
 
If they cover or mostly cover your knees I don’t see anything wrong…otherwise offer the sacrifice up to Christ, afterall He died on the cross and you’re just worring about your clothes.
 
work(name removed by moderator)rogress8:
I generally always wear tasteful capris and a nice top to church, but lately it’s just been really hot, and capris have been unbearable. My question is, are shorts appropriate for mass, when these circumstances present themselves?

I’d really appreciate your opinions.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
NO!!! shorts are mere sloppiness in my opinion, unless you’re under 18 years old, and have beautiful perfect legs, and definately a NO for Mass, regardless of age. Wouldn’t you think Mass deserves a little more respect than going to the beach? I do. Beautiful sundresses are a much better choice.
 
i’m just trying to think of capris being truly “unbearable.” i agree with the poster that said a cotton skirt is much cooler–it’s what i’ve worn to mass all summer long. i bought several cotton-lined, cotton skirts that are pretty, modest and totally appropriate. paired with a tailored shirt or a simple knit or cotton blouse, it’s VERY breezy and yet still respectable.
 
Code:
work(name removed by moderator)rogress8:
I generally always wear tasteful capris and a nice top to church, but lately it’s just been really hot, and capris have been unbearable. My question is, are shorts appropriate for mass, when these circumstances present themselves?

I’d really appreciate your opinions.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
If it is a hot place and the shorts look decent, meaning not tight to the body, then it is O.K. in my mind. I would rather the person go to Mass in shorts rather than not go at all because the heat is unbearable!

Now, if there is an air-conditioner in the church, then the answer is “never” and if a man or a woman, they should wear either a decend dress or long pants.

Antonio 😃
 
I voted other. I believe they are almost never appropriate. I wore shorts once in the last eight years for justifiable reasons. That was just enough to keep me from being judgemental towards those that do, even though I always wear a tie and usually a coat.
 
In my opinion they are only appropriate if you own no other pants.
 
For Sunday Mass I have heard it said to dress for the Mass and not what you are doing after the Mass.

For daily Mass a lot of the children come in appropriate shorts because if they have gym that day, they will wear there gym uniform throughout the day.

But generally for myself I would not wear them. I like to remember that I am going to a fabulous banquet and invited by the best King anyone could ever want to go and visit.
But if I had to teach gym, I may wear the long windsuit pants that the older girls wear.
 
I voted never unless there is some really good reason for doing so…Like what I posted when this question first came up in a thread on this suject…
I was in a very desparate state of mind and that’s what I had on when I ran to church seeking sanctuary …God’s help. Anyway, I was promptly chastized by a well meaning woman in a mantilla who told me I was offending the Blessed Mother even though I was crying my eyes out… She never asked why I was crying…she just had to put me in my place…BTW,I was suicidal at the time. God is good…He heard my prayer in spite of her and here I am!🙂 Annunciata
 
Several years ago, the Holy Father reinstituted a dress code for the churches of Rome, his diocese. No one in shorts or sleeveless shirts was to be admitted into the church building.

An American sense of rights and freedom rebels against such rules, calling them absurdities. Yet it was done and it was enforced. Tourists who had traveled across an ocean to see a church were turned back at the door unless they were properly attired. This was only to visit a church while no other liturgical action was going on. The Holy Father saw a need to institute a policy aimed at restoring, in a very concrete way, a proper sense of reverence for the house of God.

I have often heard the argument that the administrators of churches should be pleased to see that people come, regardless of how they are dressed. The other side of that is that people need to demonstrate in word and deed the proper disposition and attitude. I am certain the American people would be rightfully chagrined if the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were to show up in plaid shorts, a tank top and half-laced tennis shoes. It is hard to imagine that he could have a proper interior attitude to the job at hand were he to come to “work” dressed like that.

Our liturgy is a sacred “work”. How we come to that work is probably as important as the fact that we come. We must recognize that we come to church for sacred work, sacred worship. This demands a decorum commensurate with the dignity of the work to be done. Even if that “work” is to utter a private prayer, it still demands an appropriate decorum.

Here is the full article:adoremus.org/11-00-vasa.html
 
I put other because I sometimes let my son wear short dress pants on very hot days in the summer. Sometimes my girls skirts have attached shorts under them. But for adults, I don’t think they are ever appropriate. Skirts are breezier for women than shorts anyway. Guess I’m getting conservative in my old age. (31 😃 )
 
I voted other because I believe that those who having no other choice but to wear jeans or shorts should be welcome at Mass.
 
It’s funny, but I just had this discussion with my youngest son yesterday. He is (16) about to be confirmed. At Mass yesterday I asked him to look around at how the adults and the children were dressed. The adults with very few exceptions were well dressed, the children with few exceptions had shorts and “T” shirts, and most of the “T” shirts had writing of some sort. I pointed out that as a confirmed Catholic we were attesting to the fact that he was considered an adult in the eyes of the Church, and that the shorts and “T” shirt he had on were probably not appropriate for an adult to wear. We had a discussion after Mass about it, I explained that if that were the only possible clothing it was better than not going, but definitely not if there was an alternative.
40.png
IrenkaJMJ:
Several years ago, the Holy Father reinstituted a dress code for the churches of Rome, his diocese.
Hmmm. Are you referring to the letter from the 1920’s as several years ago? That is the last I remember, and it did not cover a dress code for Mass or Church, nor did it cover men, but was a dress code for women’s institutions, schools etc. I have been in situations where it was go messy or not go at all, I’d rather upset a fellow Churchgoer than God in that case.
40.png
IrenkaJMJ:
I am certain the American people would be rightfully chagrined if the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were to show up in plaid shorts, a tank top and half-laced tennis shoes. It is hard to imagine that he could have a proper interior attitude to the job at hand were he to come to “work” dressed like that.
Click to expand...
I am also certain they’d be upset to see a soldier muddy and bloody from a fire fight there, it doesn’t mean it would be disrespectful, perhaps even more appropriate than someone is dress blues and spit shined shoes. My point is not that we should not care about our dress, but that there are other circumstances. Should a poor man or woman not attend Mass because they cannot dress “accordingly”? How about those in combat? Should I not attend Mass because I’m dressed in combat fatigues? What about if I’m going to Mass in between two soccer games (which I often have) and I’m wearing shorts? Should I not go, or should I have not taken my children to the games in the first place? There are many considerations. As I told my son, it’s all right if there is no alternative. The problem is, standing in Church, looking at another man dressed in shorts, is it up to me or God to decide if he’s inappropriate? I’ll worry about myself and pray for him if it’s all right?
Click to expand...
 
40.png
Tom:
It’s funny, but I just had this discussion with my youngest son yesterday. He is (16) about to be confirmed. At Mass yesterday I asked him to look around at how the adults and the children were dressed. The adults with very few exceptions were well dressed, the children with few exceptions had shorts and “T” shirts, and most of the “T” shirts had writing of some sort. I pointed out that as a confirmed Catholic we were attesting to the fact that he was considered an adult in the eyes of the Church, and that the shorts and “T” shirt he had on were probably not appropriate for an adult to wear. We had a discussion after Mass about it, I explained that if that were the only possible clothing it was better than not going, but definitely not if there was an alternative.

Hmmm. Are you referring to the letter from the 1920’s as several years ago? That is the last I remember, and it did not cover a dress code for Mass or Church, nor did it cover men, but was a dress code for women’s institutions, schools etc. I have been in situations where it was go messy or not go at all, I’d rather upset a fellow Churchgoer than God in that case.

I am also certain they’d be upset to see a soldier muddy and bloody from a fire fight there, it doesn’t mean it would be disrespectful, perhaps even more appropriate than someone is dress blues and spit shined shoes. My point is not that we should not care about our dress, but that there are other circumstances. Should a poor man or woman not attend Mass because they cannot dress “accordingly”? How about those in combat? Should I not attend Mass because I’m dressed in combat fatigues? What about if I’m going to Mass in between two soccer games (which I often have) and I’m wearing shorts? Should I not go, or should I have not taken my children to the games in the first place? There are many considerations. As I told my son, it’s all right if there is no alternative. The problem is, standing in Church, looking at another man dressed in shorts, is it up to me or God to decide if he’s inappropriate? I’ll worry about myself and pray for him if it’s all right?
Click to expand...
The link is to an essay written in the year 2000. I don’t know what letter from the 1920’s you’re referring to. I am responding to the original post that asked if shorts are appropriate, to me meaning there is a choice. Obviously if someone has no other choice in whatever they wear whether it’s shorts, work clothes, etc…no one is saying they shouldn’t attend Mass! There is always considerations and extenuating circumstances. Maybe I wasn’t clear enough but conclusions shouldn’t be jumped to either. 🙂
 
This is SUCH a non-issue for me. As long as you’re modest, who the heck should even care!?

I’m more concerned about the state of my soul, especially when I decide whether to approach for Communion, than about whther my pants are long or short.

Again… as long as you’re modest it’s okay. And even if you’re NOT modest about it and therefore by definition being distracting to others, it’s GOD who is judging.
 
40.png
IrenkaJMJ:
The link is to an essay written in the year 2000. I don’t know what letter from the 1920’s you’re referring to. I am responding to the original post that asked if shorts are appropriate, to me meaning there is a choice. Obviously if someone has no other choice in whatever they wear whether it’s shorts, work clothes, etc…no one is saying they shouldn’t attend Mass! There is always considerations and extenuating circumstances. Maybe I wasn’t clear enough but conclusions shouldn’t be jumped to either. 🙂
Click to expand...
True conclusions shouldn’t be jumped at but how do you know if someone attending Mass has a choice in what they wear?
 
40.png
ByzCath:
True conclusions shouldn’t be jumped at but how do you know if someone attending Mass has a choice in what they wear?
Click to expand...
You don’t. That why you can’t judge a person’s motives, but give them the benefit of the doubt. It doesn’t mean one can’t have an opinion on whether shorts are appropriate or not. I personally feel that shorts are not appropriate for Mass. That does not mean I am judging everyone. I am speaking in generalities, not absolutes.
 
Just wondering who decided that long pants were “more appropriate” than short pants and based on what criteria?

Patrick
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top