Do you feel offended by people who come to the CC dressed as if they were at a barbeque in their backyard?

[floresco]

Jesus wore sandals, he probably always wore teh most poorest of robes.

Scripture records that, at the time of his arrest, Jesus was wearing a valuable robe, a seamless garment. When the soldiers were dividing up his possessions, they did not want to destroy its value by ripping it apart so they cast lots for it.

 

[St_Gabriel]

In this environment, particularly the winter, one would have to be suicidal to venture out in ANYTHING less than FULL coverage of multiple layers. In order to wear a skirt to church from December until March generally you just change clothes in the bathroom when you arrive or wear pants (big thick fleece ones with long johns underneath!) and then remove them in the bathroom when you arrive. We don’t wear pants as a fashion statement or having anything to do with feminism. We wear them because without them we wouldn’t have legs.

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If a lady was in a car driving to church here in dress shoes and a skirt and were stranded on the side of the road, her chances of survival in the winter would be almost 0. THIS is why we wear pants and ugly boots. In the summer, we wear pretty light dresses with blazers and pretty shoes…in the winter…well…you’d have to be INSANE!

Thanks for responsing to my earlier post. I must have missed your earlier post.

I’d like to hear some comments about the rubber leg post as well (especially from the OP). This might affect the ability for some to wear high heels as well.

 

[ProVobis]

Its all starting to sound a little too snooty to me, no wonder Catholics are accused of snobbery!

Locally, the ones attending Lutheran and other denominational churches seem to be “better” dressed than Catholics. Does this accusation apply to them as well?

 

[Barbkw]

Rubber legs, stark naked tube tops, and dressing in liturgical colors.

Interesting thread!

 

[kozlosap]

Rubber legs, stark naked tube tops, and dressing in liturgical colors.

Interesting thread!

You forgot to mention the elderly women wearing their mink coats to mass in June! What a sight!

 

[Joe_5859]

If someone can post a citation in the GIRM or Canon Law that specifies women cannot wear pants at Mass, then I will definitely reconsider. Until then, it just seems like trying to impose one’s own personal pious sensibilities on the universal Church because it just “seems” more appropriate. It strikes me more as an appeal to vague emotionalism than legitimate Catholic teaching.

 

[ProVobis]

If someone can post a citation in the GIRM or Canon Law that specifies women cannot wear pants at Mass, then I will definitely reconsider. Until then, it just seems like trying to impose one’s own personal pious sensibilities on the universal Church because it just “seems” more appropriate. It strikes me more as an appeal to vague emotionalism than legitimate Catholic teaching.

This is not a Catholic teaching matter unless it’s downright immoral and/or blatantly distracting. It’s more one of spirituality.

 

[RuthCatherine]

It is amazing the human race survived all those years that women wore dresses considering how dangerous it is.

A man here is bothered by the immodest dress of women and I am sure he is not the only one. He just happened to be the one who decided to say something on this thread. This is not the first time I have heard men complain about how distracting it is today how women dress. I have heard it from Protestants and Catholics, alike. A young man called into a protestant radio program once explaining how when he went to his prayer group and the women were immodestly dressed how hard it was for him to pray and keep focused.
Some here will say it is his own fault. Close his eyes. Mind his own business, but it doesn’t work that way and we all know it.

If you are going to Mass or anywhere and wearing something that is immodest and distracting it is your responsibility. We own the responsibility as women for how we dress. Men are responsible for how they dress, also.

Dressing nice and dressing expensive are two different things. I don’t have alot of money myself. I shop cheap stores, garage sales and thrift stores. Even there you can find long pants, nice skirts, modest shirts and the like.

And if a woman chooses to wear pants, at least wear a shirt that doesn’t rise up when you bend over or pants that don’t expose yourself when you bend over. If you can’t find a skirt that fits or looks nice, make one.

There are nice ways to wear pants, even jeans that show respect in the house of God. Pants not too tight you can see every curve or so loose they fall down and show your underwear. I think most women can find shirts that don’t show their underwear or have sayings written across their chest. Just think about who will be seeing you when you got out and what you want people to think of you.

We need to encourage purity and set an example for the next generation.

 

[ThereseOfRoses]

If someone can post a citation in the GIRM or Canon Law that specifies women cannot wear pants at Mass, then I will definitely reconsider. Until then, it just seems like trying to impose one’s own personal pious sensibilities on the universal Church because it just “seems” more appropriate. It strikes me more as an appeal to vague emotionalism than legitimate Catholic teaching.

I’m waiting for someone to post the references from Sacred Scripture about a “women not dressing as a man” and “a man not dressing as a women”.

As far as my limited knowledge…I was under the impression men in Biblical times that lived in the “land of the Bible” did not wear pants, rather they were attired in robes or knee-length tunics. No doubt someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the verse was a call to avoid homosexuality or dressing in a manner to attract a homosexual, instead of a verse telling women not to wear pants.

 

[HAnne]

It is amazing the human race survived all those years that women wore dresses considering how dangerous it is.

Historically the fabrics we made our garments from were MUCH thicker than they are now until they were worn threadbare. This is one reason skirts and dresses were warmer back in the day. They were also, until the 20th Century, almost always floor length. Combine them with petticoats, layering double and triple wool skirts in winter, and pantaloons that reached the ankle for warmth and she had a prayer.

I don’t know if you do historical reenacting, but I do. I can tell you now that having to put on 7-8 skirts UNDER my dress just to stay warm in the winter is not a very comfortable procedure! There’s a tale about the woman who helped build my house (built in 1904-1905). For 3 months that winter she did NO laundry. She had to wear every stitch of clothes she owned the entire time to keep from freezing to death.

There’s a happy medium for all of us! But the most important thing here is while we should all strive for modesty and set the example we would most like to see. I’d be a very happy woman to never have to explain to my 7 year old again why a woman is wearing a clothing so immodest you can see her underwear (wince or lack thereof). A simple rule reigns in my home. If you wouldn’t wear it in front of a child, you shouldn’t be wearing it to church!

 

[JKirkLVNV]

No, I don’t feel offended. I usually try to tell myself that they may not know better. I also think that modesty is becoming something that is in the mind of the beholder. I would prefer that the Church establish a broad expectation, ie, for women, shoulder’s covered, neckline no further than two inches below the clavicle, no shorts for anyone, no armpit hair showing for men (tank tops), etc. I don’t care if people wear jeans to Mass, I’ve lived in rural areas where nice jeans were anticipated as dress wear. I don’t think it does, for us as lay Catholics, to become the “clothes police.” We don’t know the circumstances people find themselves in, what they can afford, etc. The emphasis should be on modesty and keeping things covered that should be covered.

Also, I live in the Mojave Desert. We regualarly have one or two, usually elderly, people faint from the heat in the summer at Mass. People should dress in a way that is adapted to their physical environment, but observes the standards of modesty (example: our bishop and priests should be permitted to wear white cassocks, soutanes, and clericals in the summer time, as they are permitted in India and other hot weather tropics).

 

[Irishrosebeauty]

Hi everyone! No I do not feel offended with what others wear to Mass; however, that being said, I always dress up. I always wear a nice dress, slacks, high heels etc. On one hot summer day (105 degrees) I was shocked when the pastor told the women wearing sleeveless dresses that they were dressed immodestly. If they had dresses not covering the knee, he went crazy.Give me a break. I think that is a little over the top. As my sainted Irish mother once said, “Everyone knows you have arms and legs.” God bless,Rose

 

[PatriceA]

No, I don’t feel offended. I usually try to tell myself that they may not know better. I also think that modesty is becoming something that is in the mind of the beholder. I would prefer that the Church establish a broad expectation, ie, for women, shoulder’s covered, neckline no further than two inches below the clavicle, no shorts for anyone, no armpit hair showing for men (tank tops), etc. I don’t care if people wear jeans to Mass, I’ve lived in rural areas where nice jeans were anticipated as dress wear. I don’t think it does, for us as lay Catholics, to become the “clothes police.” We don’t know the circumstances people find themselves in, what they can afford, etc. The emphasis should be on modesty and keeping things covered that should be covered.

Also, I live in the Mojave Desert. We regualarly have one or two, usually elderly, people faint from the heat in the summer at Mass. People should dress in a way that is adapted to their physical environment, but observes the standards of modesty (example: our bishop and priests should be permitted to wear white cassocks, soutanes, and clericals in the summer time, as they are permitted in India and other hot weather tropics).

At the beginning of the summer season, our priest does publish a guideline in the bulletin and addresses the issue of immodest clothes at the end of one of his homilies. No sleeveless tops, no low cut tops, no miniskirts or short shorts, no bare mid sections for the women and no tank tops for the men. I love our priest.

 

[wisdomseeker]

I am just coming in on the tale end of this discussion and did not read through all the threads, but I guess I wanted to say a little something here.

Men and women alike should be dressing modestly whether they are at Mass or not. We are responsible for how we dress. We can’t go around dressing immodestly, wearing short skirts, short shorts, tight pants and then think, “well, if it offends them or causes them to be tempted to lust they will just have to look the other way.” We are responsible for how we dress. It seems most people agree modesty is needed, hopefully not just at Mass but everywhere, especially if you are a follow of Christ. We Catholics are to be a light on a hill. We are to be different than society.

I think as far as dressing up goes. Everyone can put on something nice. Most people have more shoes than just a pair of flipflops. There might be some, but I bet most of us have at least one shirt that is not a t-shirt with a slogan. It doesn’t have to be expensive. I don’t think the OP was asking anyone to dress expensively but to dress nice, to care about how you appear before the Lord. I’ll admit there are times I don’t dress nice, not because I don’t have anything, but because I don’t feel like it. I bet there are more of us that can say that. I believe that is how our society feels about the way we dress most times. I don’t feel like dressing up. I am more comfortable in my flipflops, t shirt and old blue jeans. If they don’t like it they can just look the other way.

Some people said the Church doesn’t care how you dress, God doesn’t care how you dress. I would suggest reading what Mary said when she appeared at Fatima,
“Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend our Lord very much.” When I read that it really made me stop and think how are we dressing today? Are we in the society that wears the clothing that offends our Lord very much. Am I a part? Men have to be careful, but women we are the ones who must be extremely careful how we dress. Some people are more easily distracted than others. Some may be able to close their eyes and not notice others but some can’t.

Thank you for this beautifull post. that is what i am talking about.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Your attitude is exactly why I’m afraid to go to a TLM. I will worry whether I offend parishioners because I don’t meet their standards, whatever those standards might be. I didn’t know that wearing pants was a sin, although they certainly are easier to wear than a dress and high heels.

Maybe this look will do since it covers pants and dresses:

http://www.vii.in/images/P/punjabi suit/Punjabi Suit-6.jpg

No need to be afraid just wear a skirt below the knees and a shirt that covers the shoulders and head cover and you should be fine.
I am sure our Lord will pleased.

 

[wisdomseeker]

It isn’t at all about being ashamed of being a Catholic. I have no shame in my faith and feel no fear in admitting it, and because I do my best to be kind and understanding of others very few people fault me for it even if they personally disagree. There is little shame in adhering to the Church’s teachings as long as you do your best to adhere to all of them.

I would however be embarrassed to wear one of my nice suits to mass every Sunday because I would simply standout too much. Oh and when are you going to get back to us on that pants thing? Clearly you thought there was something wrong with a woman in pants but you have yet to provide any reasoning.

My reason is very simple. wear what is appropriate in the eyes of God. man wear pants and women wear a dress or skirt. very simple.

 

[pnewton]

My reason is very simple. wear what is appropriate in the eyes of God. man wear pants and women wear a dress or skirt. very simple.

I am sure you are familiar with the idea of begging the question by now. You are calling in God as your authority with no justification, unless he has whispered it in your ear and you are delivering to us the first new divine public revelation in 2000 years.

In other words, WWJD is poor reasoning if you can not provide evidence from the words of Jesus.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Hi everyone! No I do not feel offended with what others wear to Mass; however, that being said, I always dress up. I always wear a nice dress, slacks, high heels etc. On one hot summer day (105 degrees) I was shocked when the pastor told the women wearing sleeveless dresses that they were dressed immodestly. If they had dresses not covering the knee, he went crazy.Give me a break. I think that is a little over the top. As my sainted Irish mother once said, “Everyone knows you have arms and legs.” God bless,Rose

I think that many dont realize how priests are offended by the way people are dressing for the Church. the priest doesnt have to tell anyone how to dress. like the other poster said this is more a matter of spirituality and how one sees who God is.

it is all about zeal for the House of God. zeal? what is that? does anybody knows anything about zeal now and days?

 

[wisdomseeker]

I am sure you are familiar with the idea of begging the question by now. You are calling in God as your authority with no justification, unless he has whispered it in your ear and you are delivering to us the first new divine public revelation in 2000 years.

In other words, WWJD is poor reasoning if you can not provide evidence from the words of Jesus.

Just look how the jews dressed. i dont think had to say anything about that. but i am pretty He says something to say about arrogant people who thinks they can do anything they want in His House. oh, just know what Jesus did when He found vendors outside God’s House.

 

[St_Gabriel]

Just look how the jews dressed. i dont think had to say anything about that. but i am pretty He says something to say about arrogant people who thinks they can do anything they want in His House. oh, just know what Jesus did when He found vendors outside God’s House.

The vendors were cheating the people (out of their money) that had come to offer sacrifices. They weren’t woman wearing pants.