Canvas Shoes in Church-Pastor or Bishop?

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Alright, NRS, methinks it’s time to make this thread explode. Where’s the beef?
 
FrCorey said:
if the lord walked into a church today, they would call the cops on him. long hair, beard, mustache,
full length tunic, sandals with no socks…

Dress like the Lord did and see if you can sit in the services in a modern church.
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Hmmm. Well, I attended mass in the kit of a 7th century celt. Sleeveless shirt, matching trews, leather shoes with no socks, leather belt. The pastor complimented me on it.

I’ve also gone to mass in 16thC Germanic, with a variety of footware.

The only time anyone has “regulated” my footware was when I was an Altar Server… ABp Hurley demanded brown or black dress shoes of all in the sanctuary, except Fr. Bead. He had his decorated canvas shoes, due to a medical condition.

As to the poster who wears no shoes in the sanctuary, I’ve read that most roman parishes in the Orient, especially Japan and Korea, have all take their shoes off in the narthex, prior to entering the nave, let alone the sanctuary.
 
I’ve often wondered if it would be best for people to remove their shoes when entering Church but have never really done it. There are only three commandments for dress in scripture: 1. Moses was commanded to remove his shoes in the presence of God. Perhaps we should; 2. Woman are to cover their heads. Not a bad idea; and 3. Dress modestly which is a sure fire winner.

I don’t know anything about canvas shoes.

CDL
 
No, please don’t ever ask people to remove their shoes in church.

Because of injuries and surgery to my feet, I have been unable for many years to walk barefooted. (I’m only 50). I need the support from shoes. I also wear a brace, which is worn inside of shoes.

A lot of elderly people need support from shoes. That’s why they wear those “orthopedic” shoes. I wear them, too, to have support for all my fallen bones and muscles.

If I go to someone’s house and they ask me to remove my shoes, I tell them “Either I leave my shoes on or I leave your house. Which is it?”

If you want Mass to be only for the young and strong, fine, no shoes. Please don’t add burdens that the Lord hasn’t asked of us yet.

Thank you.
 
Cat said:
No, please don’t ever ask people to remove their shoes in church.

Because of injuries and surgery to my feet, I have been unable for many years to walk barefooted. (I’m only 50). I need the support from shoes. I also wear a brace, which is worn inside of shoes.

A lot of elderly people need support from shoes. That’s why they wear those “orthopedic” shoes. I wear them, too, to have support for all my fallen bones and muscles.

If I go to someone’s house and they ask me to remove my shoes, I tell them “Either I leave my shoes on or I leave your house. Which is it?”

If you want Mass to be only for the young and strong, fine, no shoes. Please don’t add burdens that the Lord hasn’t asked of us yet.

Thank you.
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Well, no, I don’t think that is necessary but there is an alternative that many practice. They could be covered.

CDL
 
Gregory, I’m not sure what you mean by “they could be covered.”

Are you saying that my feet with shoes on could be covered?

That doesn’t seem practical at all. What would you cover them with? Spats? A cloth wrapper?

I just want to make sure you understand what I am saying. It is not the coveredness of my feet that is an issue.

Shoes provide support for the bones, tendons, ligaments, etc. of feet. For someone with injuries and damaged feet, like myself, or someone who is old, shoes are VITAL. We cannot WALK without shoes. Our feet do not work without shoes. We would have to use a WHEELCHAIR if we took off our shoes in church. Or crawl.

Am I making myself clear?

I’m sorry to sound so nasty, but I am extremely sensitive about my feet that don’t work.

It’s very hard for me to see other people with pretty feet and good arches who walk along with no apparent trouble at all and no pain, while I struggle to stand and take a few steps with the help of tape, orthopedic shoes, a brace, and crutches.

I am very grateful that I can walk at all; some people can’t walk even with all those medical aids. So I am pretty blessed.

Still, I really REALLY HATE IT :mad: when people tell me to take my shoes off because then I have to crawl around on the floor like a BABY to be able to move somewhere. I would be willing to be made a fool for Jesus, but I would rather see EVERYONE crawling around the floor like a baby, not just me and all the other old people. I don’t want to crawl while everyone else walks by me with their pretty, well-formed feet. If Jesus asked me to, I would do it, but I don’t think He’s asking one group to stride by on strong feet and another group to crawl along on weak feet.

Again, forgive me for my sensitivity. This is an issue that can make me cry. If I could change any part of my body right now, I would keep my pot belly and flabby arms, and get new, strong, pretty feet that work.
 
I finally had to ask my wife to figure out what canvas shoes are. Now that I know, I don’t see the problem. Can the OP fill us in on the joke?
 
Cat said:
Gregory, I’m not sure what you mean by “they could be covered.”

Are you saying that my feet with shoes on could be covered?

That doesn’t seem practical at all. What would you cover them with? Spats? A cloth wrapper?

I just want to make sure you understand what I am saying. It is not the coveredness of my feet that is an issue.
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Mosques and various temples have for centuries provided cloth now mostly paper coverings for persons who do not remove their shoes. People of all ages and all situations do this. They cover their shoes so that people can keep their shoes on if they wish. It seems to me that if a Church wished people not to walk around with their shoes touching the floor they could ask or require people to cover their shoes and provide them with the covering.

Again, there is no insistence. I’m just offering an alternative that millions have followed.

CDL
 
When we had the good sisters as sacristans, they required all the altar servers to wear canvas shoes when performing their sacramental service at the altar, so as not to scuff up the sanctuary and also detract by the noise of our shoes. So as far as canvas shoes are concerned…more power to them! PS As long as they don’t have those roller blades in the heels or light up lights as you walk down the aisle.
 
So did I miss the point of the OP? Is there a reason why this question was asked? Point me to the post #, please. Thanks.

Frankly, I’d rather see cowboy boots or beach sandals or even fuzzy slippers than those high spike-heels or those pointy-toed shoes that some ladies choose to wear. Ouch. If you’ve got good feet, why on earth do you want to risk hurting them?!
 
stbruno said:
When we had the good sisters as sacristans, they required all the altar servers to wear canvas shoes when performing their sacramental service at the altar, so as not to scuff up the sanctuary and also detract by the noise of our shoes. So as far as canvas shoes are concerned…more power to them! PS As long as they don’t have those roller blades in the heels or light up lights as you walk down the aisle.
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That is what my parents told me. They said that back in the 1940’s and 1950’s, all the altar boys wore Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars when serving Mass. They were not allowed to wear leather dress shoes. Just like in a school gym, students are usually not allowed to wear any shoes but athletic shoes to avoid ruining the wooden floor.
 
Our present Pope wears white leather shoes. Our late Pope John Paul II wore white leather shoes for most of his papacy, but those he wore in his later years looked remarkably like Reeboks.

I like to wear leather shoes to church. I also wear a jacket and tie. That’s because I am old and that’s what we do. If younger people want to wear clothes I regard as casual, that’s a matter for them and their confessors. As for canvass shoes - if they’re OK for John Paul, they’re fine by me.
 
I wore Chucks with my khaki trousers to both Masses I played for this weekend. Guess I was just in a Tenth Doctor sort of mood. I doubt my priest minded… I think he was just glad to have music.
 
Don¿t know what they are made of, but doesn’t the Pope sometimes wear red shoes?
 
stbruno said:
When we had the good sisters as sacristans, they required all the altar servers to wear canvas shoes when performing their sacramental service at the altar, so as not to scuff up the sanctuary and also detract by the noise of our shoes. So as far as canvas shoes are concerned…more power to them! PS As long as they don’t have those roller blades in the heels or light up lights as you walk down the aisle.
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I suppose the light-up ones are OK if they’re in the correct liturgical colour.
 
If one can afford to do so, I would think that people should not (wear canvas shoes). We are after all, Meeting the Lord.
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You’re right. Barefoot it is, just as was expected whenever people met the Lord in ancient times! 👍
 
The point of the original post was to show that there are very many things that the GIRM does not address. However, canvas shoes seem to have very little in common with, say, hand holding during the Our Father, another thing not addressed in the GIRM. Indeed, none of the vitriol seen in those threads was present here at all. Also, strangely enough, canvass shoes just seem to lead folks off the track of the OP more than other subjects.
 
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