Does God care what we wear to church?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tommy999
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
In our parish, the dress code isn’t real strict. But our priest will remind people, especially in the summertime when the weather is warmer, not to come dressed like they’re going to the beach. No flip flops (we called them thongs in the '60s) or anything immodest. We have had a few come a bit more casual than we are used to (ie: halters, shorts) which brings the reminder notice to several bulletins.:o

I always try to dress appropriately when going to Mass. No plunging necklines or mini skirts. After all, I am going to see Jesus. I usually wear a dress long enough to cover my knees, I wear sandals or sneakers. (I have a pair of each strictly for Mass.) I always wear my mantilla even tho most women don’t do that anymore. And I wear minimal makeup.

The male members of our parish usually wear a suit and tie, slacks and dress shoes.
 
lilypadrees said:
In our parish, the dress code isn’t real strict. But our priest will remind people, especially in the summertime when the weather is warmer, not to come dressed like they’re going to the beach. No flip flops (we called them thongs in the '60s) or anything immodest. We have had a few come a bit more casual than we are used to (ie: halters, shorts) which brings the reminder notice to several bulletins.:o

I always try to dress appropriately when going to Mass. No plunging necklines or mini skirts. After all, I am going to see Jesus. I usually wear a dress long enough to cover my knees, I wear sandals or sneakers. (I have a pair of each strictly for Mass.) I always wear my mantilla even tho most women don’t do that anymore. And I wear minimal makeup.

The male members of our parish usually wear a suit and tie, slacks and dress shoes.
Click to expand...
Hi lilypadrees,
Your parish sounds like a conservative parish. I can relate to how people dress there. I wonder if your parish is the exception or the norm? .
 
boomerang said:
I think God *does *care what we wear. Isn’t He worth looking presentable for? Bothering to dress nicely says “I love and respect you”.

I seem to recall at least two apparitions of the Blessed Virgin where she said that God is very much offended by our fashions. She was referring to our apparel, among other things. I know my mother hates to see people in shorts at Mass.
Click to expand...
This is a joke right?
 
St_Francis said:
Yes, imagine a man who invites a girl to a nice restaurant, and she shows up in torn jeans and a hard-rock t-shirt.

OTOH, I just assume everyone else is doing the best they can. I once had a broken bone in my foot that was not bad enough to get a cast for but which caused such a swelling only my really ratty summer shoes would fit my feet. In December. 😦
Click to expand...
I broke my foot in 2 places a few years ago. When I was able to return to Mass, I had a sneaker on one foot and this gigantic heavy boot on the broken foot. It also kept me from kneeling properly at the appropriate times. I was so embarrassed.because I couldn’t kneel. My priest was so sweet. He’d wait for me to get up the aisle to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist. He’d say, “Take your time” and would encourage me after Mass. The little things mean so much.😃
 
I seriously doubt God cares as much about what we wear to church as we do, except in the case of outright blatant immodesty. We seem to have developed the habit of telling God (and others) what He should think. 🙂
 
I don’t think god cares about how fancy we are dressed near as much as others do, but I do think He wants us to dress modestly and respectfully both in and out of church. Of course, He wants us to respect Him and his “house” and some people show that respect by dressing up.

I do usually try to dress up to some degree on Sundays - a dress or skirt, nicer blouse, and making sure to have a jacket or something that covers my shoulders if the dress underneath is sleeveless. I also dress my son in nicer shirts (polos, usually) and try to avoid worn out jeans. I want him to be comfortable, but also to show that Mass is different than going to play or to the mall or movies.

Daily Mass has changed my idea of a dress code some though, because I attend before school and don’t have time to change. Since I wear jeans to school, that means I usually wear jeans to Mass during the week, and i hope God understands. Thinking about the mix this morning, some were dressed up but several of us were in jeans and causal clothes. I got a smile seeing another lady there wearing a mantilla and capris, because it made me think maybe I didn’t stick out so bad wearing mine with blue jeans.
 
I always dress nicely every time I leave the house. I look better dressed going to the corner store than many people do going out for dinner.

But that’s me and how I feel comfortable. People today do not dress as we did while I was growing up. It’s not unusual for people to attend a wedding or a funeral in jeans.

At this point in my life, I’ve had too many experiences of noticing (critically) a young person’s ripped jeans, facial piercings and purple hair only to have them rush ahead to hold a door, go out of their way to help me with a package, or perform some other kindness, to rely on appearances very much.

So when I see people in church looking - in my eyes - underdressed, I tell myself that it’s because they feel so comfortable being in their Father’s house that they feel no need to dress up, much as they would not dress up to visit their earthly parents.

And they I go back to concentrating on the Mass.
 
I dress up these days, not usually a suit aside from solemnities etc. But I have been torn on this issue. I had some funny ideas from reading too many medieval saints lives. I used to intentionally dress in my normal grubby worn out and dirty clothes to church even if I had something nice around in a gesture to God that I was completely unconcerned with worldly things. I realize now that I have other worldly things I am concerned with and it was probably an affectation rather than a genuine gesture, but we cannot know other people’s intentions or what have you. that may be what they find pleasing to God based upon what is available to them or what is in their mind. on a side note there used to be a guy at my church who would wear a huge white robe with the word “REPENT” written on it in bloody red letters with flames around them. I don’t know if that was dressing up or not :eek:
 
1newcatholic said:
This comes up a lot in the forums, I think. My feeling is that God cares more about what’s in your heart.

The contents of your heart CAN be reflected by your choice of apparel. People who dress ornately may intend to communicate respect but accidentally communicate vanity. People who dress slovenly may intend to communicate humility but accidentally communicate disrespect.
Click to expand...
I think you hit the nail on the head here. Some people believe that their choice of clothes shows their attitude, while such a thought would never occur to some others. But what is in the heart is known only to God.

St. Paul cautioned the early Christians not to think or care about such outward things, and certainly to never criticize or belittle a fellow believer over what amounts to inconsequential personal style, opinion or cultural differences.

God love you,
Paul
 
Jon_S said:
This is a joke right?
Click to expand...
Pax Christi.

My previous post is.

Our Lady lamented immodest fashions in general, not dress for Mass in particular.

I believe one of Peter’s epistles condemns judging thise who do not wear fine clothes to church. Can’t remember the chapter or verse.

God bless.
 
  1. A priest once told me that if someone goes to Communion “with everything falling out” it gets noticed and discussed. I mean really is that how you want to present yourself before the Lord?
  2. As I always say about people in the West: most people probably dress according to the weather. I’ve been to Mass before in shorts with a bottle of water because it was over 100 degrees outside and the cathedral didn’t seem to have AC. 🤷 Do I know if that was a perfect presentation of myself before the Lord? No, but perhaps not. Was it my intention to dress like that for the sheer fun and amusement of it? I don’t think so.
I would say in general you’ll want to dress nice. One priest said to treat going to Church like a date. Sit up front and dress nice. But I’d emphasize the dress nice more. 🙂 :yup:
 
Doesn’t matter, Go- isn’t shallow. Cosmetics are irrelevant to him, as long as it doesn’t violate modesty or spur sinful thoughts.

Matthew 6:25 KJV
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
 
No I don’t believe God cares all that much. I wouldn’t even choose as a place of worship somewhere with a strict dress code where what we wear on the outside is of such importance. An Episcopal priest once told me it’s not the outside that matters to God but the opening of our hearts on the inside to Him that matters. That’s the code I subscribe to. I’ve attended Catholic parishes even in the same diocese which were less casual and those which are more casual. Once I had a lady frown at me in my shorts. At another the priest placed emphasis on people wearing their Sunday best and I knew that was not the place for me. So not feeling welcomed, I quit attending both. The most recent one I’ve attended is quite casual. You will see a range from suit and tie and dresses to shorts and flip flops and everything inbetween. But most of those at this parish lean more towards the casual side. Many shorts, jeans, sneakers and sandals. And no one seems to care all that much. The suit and dresses crowd doesn’t seem to mind the jeans and shorts crowd and visa versa.
 
Sy_Noe said:
No I don’t believe God cares all that much. I wouldn’t even choose as a place of worship somewhere with a strict dress code where what we wear on the outside is of such importance. An Episcopal priest once told me it’s not the outside that matters to God but the opening of our hearts on the inside to Him that matters. That’s the code I subscribe to. I’ve attended Catholic parishes even in the same diocese which were less casual and those which are more casual. Once I had a lady frown at me in my shorts. At another the priest placed emphasis on people wearing their Sunday best and I knew that was not the place for me. So not feeling welcomed, I quit attending both. The most recent one I’ve attended is quite casual. You will see a range from suit and tie and dresses to shorts and flip flops and everything inbetween. But most of those at this parish lean more towards the casual side. Many shorts, jeans, sneakers and sandals. And no one seems to care all that much. The suit and dresses crowd doesn’t seem to mind the jeans and shorts crowd and visa versa.
Click to expand...
Our Parish is the same. Our Priest, who runs two Parishes, welcomes everyone and isn’t interested in what we wear - just wants us to join him in the Sacrament of the Mass, with joy and thanksgiving. 🙂
 
Well, Jesus probably wore sandals and a hessian tunic.

That being said, I do personally think that our own presentation can be related to the time we take to prepare ourselves for mass.

A culture of people dressing well at mass could be a good cultural pointer and educator to how we should prepare ourselves for mass, not just for the outside but the inside also.

If we create a culture where ‘who cares’ about preparing yourself for mass physically, then it could be argued this will not help spiritual preparation either.

My :twocents:
 
abucs said:
Well, Jesus probably wore sandals and a hessian tunic.

That being said, I do personally think that our own presentation can be related to the time we take to prepare ourselves for mass.

A culture of people dressing well at mass could be a good cultural pointer and educator to how we should prepare ourselves for mass, not just for the outside but the inside also.

If we create a culture where ‘who cares’ about preparing yourself for mass physically, then it could be argued this will not help spiritual preparation either.

My :twocents:
Click to expand...
But it could also be argued that spending too much time preparing our physical body for Mass takes away from our spiritual preparation. I know I’ve been guilty of this: the blouse I intended to wear has a spot on it, so I rush around ironing another or changing the rest of my outfit so I can wear something else and end up leaving at the last minute and rushing into church.

We simply can’t discern which is true, so it’s probably better to let go our judgments and let God make the judgments.
 
SuperLuigi said:
I would say in general you’ll want to dress nice. One priest said to treat going to Church like a date. Sit up front and dress nice. But I’d emphasize the dress nice more. 🙂 :yup:
Click to expand...
Have you seen how young people dress on a date today, and I don’t mean just the amount of skin they show? 😃
 
Don’t forget weddings! It wasn’t so long ago that brides and their attendants had gowns that covered shoulders and arms. A halter-top or strapless wedding dress was unthinkable.
 
Thanks again to everyone for your comments. Very nice discussion that has helped me better understand why some people may dress differently than others at church, including social, economic, and personal reasons.

I have always realized and taken into account that God is more concerned with our spiritual lives and overall well being than He is about how we dress. However, I believe that – whenever possible – we should express our respect for our Lord through our dress when we attend church and not draw undue attention to ourselves because of how we dress, but that’s just the gospel according to Tommy. 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top