Attire/appearance question for Mass?

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Inman

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I am a relatively new catholic, if I can presume to call myself that since I won’t be confirmed until Pentecost. Since i grew up Southern Baptist and out tradition was to wear a coat and tie to church, I’m still not quite comfortable in dressing casually to mass. I know this is just my hang up not a anything this required or important. I have at least stopped wearing tie lol.

Anyway, my question is, other than modesty, is there any expectation on what you ought to wear (or not wear) for mass? What about a daily mass while on vacation?

My primary question relates to shaving though. I am going on vacation next week. Heretofore, I normally don’t shave on vacations or even on weekends, but since I started going to mass every week I do shave sunday morning for mass. I do shave during the week. Now next week, I plan on going to daily mass several times. I don’t get to do this during the week because of work, but am looking forward to it while on vacation?

With this in mind, do you think it is ok to not shave for these daily masses? I don’t want to be disrepectfully of the congregants or to the real presence.

I know this is a pretty trival matter, but please indulge me 🙂
 
For Sunday Mass, attire that is formal daytime attire in your location, usually defined as business attire. That itself is becoming a much less strict standard, ie “business casual”. In most orthodox Catholic parishes, those in service of the liturgy such as readers, communion ministers etc. should dress properly–dresses or skirts for ladies, suits or at least shirt and tie for men, dress shoes etc. Modesty and cleanliness is a requirement no matter what is worn, when. For daytime Masses, the usual attire is whatever you would wear in carrying out your normal daytime routine following Mass–work, housework etc. (unless you are on your way to the beach). Headcoverings are not required for women in the US and men must remove hats.

may I give my personal plea for you to continue dressing properly for Sunday Mass in suit and tie, to set a good example for the rest of the congregation. If it is possible for the Cardinal Arinze’s office to issue an official teaching on this, we in SoTex surely would welcome a decree that forbids retirees from wearing sweats and warm-up suits to Sunday Mass. Jeans, on the otherhand, are considered formal attire in many parts of Texas.
 
Business casual is fine. I wear a collared shirt and slacks, with regular shoes (no sneakers)
 
Inman said:
With this in mind, do you think it is ok to not shave for these daily masses? I don’t want to be disrepectfully of the congregants or to the real presence.
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I think it’s OK for you not to shave. After all, if you were growing a beard, you’d have to get through the growing-out period, and it wouldn’t be right to expect you to become a hermit for that time.
 
I look at it this way. Jesus invites us to a weekly banquet. This is the most important banquet we could ever attend. Dress like it’s important!.
 
buffalo said:
I look at it this way. Jesus invites us to a weekly banquet. This is the most important banquet we could ever attend. Dress like it’s important!.
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But the OP is talking about daily Masses. 😉
 
Some men look fine with a little bit of beard growth, my DH is one of them. I actually prefer him slightly stubbly. 🙂

If you wish to not shave during your vacation, I don’t see anything wrong with that. You might consider just keeping it neat around the edges, if you know what I mean, so you do look more like you are growing a beard and just not shaving at all. Neat and tidy at the same time as stubbly is fine - IMHO.

I also second the statements regarding dressing for Mass. Stick to your nice Sunday clothes. If you are going to be in a tropical climate, a full suit and tie might be too much, but perhaps a lighter sports coat and nice collared shirt with no tie, and appropriate trousers would look quite appropriate and respectful.

~Liza
 
buffalo said:
I look at it this way. Jesus invites us to a weekly banquet. This is the most important banquet we could ever attend. Dress like it’s important!.
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That’s a good way to look at it. My thoughts on it as a protestant were similar (although not the banquet part since we only had communion once a quarter).

Thanks for the responses and the encourgement. I will keep wearing that coat and and put the tie back on for Sunday! My father-in-law/sponsor is of the attitude God doesn’t care what you wear and I just figured that was the catholic norm.
 
I always wear a suit & silk necktie. That’s just me. Folks comming in casualwear does not bother me. What does bother me is girls in short short skirts that have to grab the hem as they sit down to keep it from ridding up so high as they sit down that it would show their underware. It’s distracting. I have to wonder what the heck they were thinking when they got dressed.
 
I always dress casually but nicely for mass, nice slacks and a nice top. I prefer to wear dress shoes. Some I see very Casually coming to mass in shorts, tennis shoes, t’s. I however feel you are going to God’s house, dress nice.
 
Dirk_Skene said:
What does bother me is girls in short short skirts that have to grab the hem as they sit down to keep it from ridding up so high as they sit down that it would show their underware. It’s distracting. I have to wonder what the heck they were thinking when they got dressed.
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Absolutely. This is my pet peeve. Frankly, I’ve witnessed too many women, in too tight clothes, showing way too much skin. That would not be acceptable in a business environment, let alone Church.

As for shaving, totally depends on how you look. Me, I need to shave every day if I want to be ‘presentable’ - i just look unclean. Others look good.
 
Inman said:
That’s a good way to look at it. My thoughts on it as a protestant were similar (although not the banquet part since we only had communion once a quarter).

Thanks for the responses and the encourgement. I will keep wearing that coat and and put the tie back on for Sunday! My father-in-law/sponsor is of the attitude God doesn’t care what you wear and I just figured that was the catholic norm.
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Unfortunately, it seems to have become the norm in many parishes to wear casual clothes (jeans, shorts, jogging suits, etc) to Sunday Mass. We have several EMHC’s and readers who wear workday casual clothing (slacks and sweaters, or short sleeve shirts, no jacket or tie) every week and a few who wear suits and ties. There is also one who always looks like he just stepped into whatever was handy when he got up that morning. The ones who wear the suits every week seem to have an added air of dignity about them. I always pray that their attitude and air of respect will rub off, at least on those who come dressed sloppily.

I remember one homily I heard many years ago by a priest who was tired of seeing the congregation dressed as if they were going on a picnic at the beach. He reminded us that we were witnessing the greatest act of sacrifice of all time, and that we were a part of that sacrifice insofar as we offer ourselves to God with Jesus. He then went on to recount how God rejected an inadequate sacrifice in the Old Testament, not because the one offering it did not have something better, but because the one offering it assumed that it did not matter to God what was sacrificed, as long as a sacrifice was made. Obviously, that homily stayed with me all these years, and even if I don’t have expensive clothes, I still wear the best I have to Mass.

Please, do continue to wear your suit and tie to Mass, and maybe by doing so you will encourage your father-in-law to do the same.
 
I think Sunday mass deserves the coat and tie. I really don’t know when or why Catholics decided to become the poster children for inappropriate clothing at mass. ~sigh~

Daily mass involves normal “work wear”. While on vacation, wear what you would normally wear for your vacation day - but please, please don’t wear your swimsuit to mass. Yes, I’ve seen it done before.:eek:

I object to shorts at Sunday mass, but don’t really have an issue with them (as long as they’re modest ones of appropriate length) during the week.

Don’t worry about not shaving and enjoy your “razor break”. That’s a pretty minor issue, IMHO.
 
may I give my personal plea for you to continue dressing properly for Sunday Mass in suit and tie, to set a good example for the rest of the congregation. If it is possible for the Cardinal Arinze’s office to issue an official teaching on this, we in SoTex surely would welcome a decree that forbids retirees from wearing sweats and warm-up suits to Sunday Mass. Jeans, on the otherhand, are considered formal attire in many parts of Texas.

I’m also from Southeast Texas, and I agree wholeheartedly. I became a Catholic ten years ago, and a much older woman told me that she had been taught to “dress her best” for Jesus. That made sense to me. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should come in your prom dress and stilettos. Nor does it mean that if your best clothes are freshly pressed jeans and an Oxford shirt, you ought to run out and buy a suit. I think the problem is that many people have lost a sense of modesty and are no longer even aware that the attire they choose for Mass is often inappropriate and distracting.
 
Inman said:
I am a relatively new catholic, if I can presume to call myself that since I won’t be confirmed until Pentecost. Since i grew up Southern Baptist and out tradition was to wear a coat and tie to church, I’m still not quite comfortable in dressing casually to mass. I know this is just my hang up not a anything this required or important. I have at least stopped wearing tie lol.

Anyway, my question is, other than modesty, is there any expectation on what you ought to wear (or not wear) for mass? What about a daily mass while on vacation?

My primary question relates to shaving though. I am going on vacation next week. Heretofore, I normally don’t shave on vacations or even on weekends, but since I started going to mass every week I do shave sunday morning for mass. I do shave during the week. Now next week, I plan on going to daily mass several times. I don’t get to do this during the week because of work, but am looking forward to it while on vacation?

With this in mind, do you think it is ok to not shave for these daily masses? I don’t want to be disrepectfully of the congregants or to the real presence.

I know this is a pretty trival matter, but please indulge me 🙂
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I say, thank the good Lord for sending us so many Baptists to remind us how to dress on Sunday! God love ya. Keep it up.

The dress code varies more according to geography and (dare I say it?) class than by any umbrella standard.

It is never incorrect for a gentleman to appear in jacket and tie.
 
If anyone asked me I would say that the appropriate attire for Mass is something at least as good as you’d wear to a nice restaurant. If you’re willing to put on good clothes to eat a meal, shouldn’t you dress at least that well to receive the Eucharist? But no one really asks me so I end up just being thankful that people are taking the time to come to Mass when so many others don’t.
 
puzzleannie said:
For Sunday Mass, attire that is formal daytime attire in your location, usually defined as business attire. That itself is becoming a much less strict standard, ie “business casual”. In most orthodox Catholic parishes, those in service of the liturgy such as readers, communion ministers etc. should dress properly–dresses or skirts for ladies, suits or at least shirt and tie for men, dress shoes etc. Modesty and cleanliness is a requirement no matter what is worn, when. For daytime Masses, the usual attire is whatever you would wear in carrying out your normal daytime routine following Mass–work, housework etc. (unless you are on your way to the beach). Headcoverings are not required for women in the US and men must remove hats.

may I give my personal plea for you to continue dressing properly for Sunday Mass in suit and tie, to set a good example for the rest of the congregation. If it is possible for the Cardinal Arinze’s office to issue an official teaching on this, we in SoTex surely would welcome a decree that forbids retirees from wearing sweats and warm-up suits to Sunday Mass. Jeans, on the otherhand, are considered formal attire in many parts of Texas.
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I would rather that Cardinal Arinze not have to make a judgment on this. Rather, the people should enforce good sense among themselves. A judgment from Rome would make it impossible to give wiggle room for those who are too poor. That being, back to the OP’s query, I don’t know any custom for the laity about shaving or not, provided it is not downright disgusting. I don’t even think our pastor shaves.
 
Suit and ties, for men, are always acceptable on any day of the week, I don’t care what anybody says. That being said, nobody is going to hit you over the head if you come with a polo shirt and kakis (sp?) or black pants and nice shoes.
 
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