Dress Code for Mass

[Lea101]

We should wear clothing that makes us internally aware of the reverence of the situation.

I think this is pretty subjective. For instance, there are women who veil or wear skirts because it achieve this goal. Some like to wear formal wear.

I dress a lot more casual for mass than I would usually if I were to go out to the mall, or school even. Less makeup and overall less effort. It’s not because I care less, but i always felt less compelled to look nice in a church because I’m not there to make good first impressions, I’m there for mass only. And God is the last person who would care if I look nice or not. People who see the way I normally look vs in mass would wrongly assume that I am being disrespectful.

 

[SPONP4US]

I visited one church just out of town that had a sign with a whole list of what was not allowed to be worn. Granted they had alot of very very young priests (some looked barely like they should have been in high school still) but the rules where excessive really aside from "No exposed midriffs, tight clothing, offensive slogans) they had “No bright clothing, no colourful clothing and no short sleeves”

I did think at this point they where either neurotically over cautious of their few young priests being tempted by any sight of flesh outside of hands or face (of both genders), or they just want people to turn up to Church naked.

Given so many clothes where banned, you could only realistically wear your birthday suit

When it comes to rules of the Church fashion police, they need to learn that often ‘less’ … Is more.

 

[nfinke]

Why don’t you think God cares how you look? For all of time God had dictated that His priests wear very specific special clothes. When he appeared at Siani, He literally demanded all the Israelites wash themselves and put on clean clothing before he gave them the law.

I mean the important thing is obviously worshipping God, and I’m not saying you’re sinning or anything like that, but I don’t think there is alot of evidence to support the idea that “God is the last person who would care”

 

[Ardent_Fire]

I’ve been to a couple of old chapels that had a sign for a dress code, similar to the Vatican. I didn’t have a problem with it. Sometimes people genuinely don’t know and don’t receive any guidance from anyone about it. Having someone stand by the door to strictly enforce it or singling people out to embarrass them wouldn’t be such a good idea, because we all know there are exceptional situations that come up. But a simple visual guideline that is very basic about body coverage could be useful – then just allow people to use their own discretion. It’s not even a matter of “better cover up, ladies, those poor boys just can’t help themselves” but rather a simple reminder of respect across the boards for all people that we are in a sacred place. Just my opinion though.

 

[Lea101]

Why don’t you think God cares how you look?

God would be the last ‘person’ to care about how pretty I look. I don’t think that’s a far fetched concept tbh. Why do you think God would care if I put on some lipstick and a pretty blouse instead of a plain one?

It doesn’t mean that I’m wearing torn and tattered/dirty clothing when I could have been wearing something better, it just means that I usually look plain and casual at mass compared to my normal sense of style.

 

[nfinke]

Why do you think God would care if I put on some lipstick and a pretty blouse instead of a plain one?

Well I never said anything about makeup but as for clothing…you could read the next sentence of my post for my reasoning. God has literally always treated clothing as significant, seeing as the very first thing He made for mankind were clothes made of animal skins for Adam and Eve.

 

[Jen7]

It doesn’t mean that I’m wearing torn and tattered/dirty clothing when I could have been wearing something better, it just means that I usually look plain and casual at mass compared to my normal sense of style.

I think I understand this. It’s like how you’d dress around someone you’re familiar with and have an intimate relationship with - one where you know you don’t have to “perform” for them and just be yourself. That doesn’t mean being a slob… it just means dressing. As YOU and not some “code.” I used to dress more like that but having kids changed me for some reason. I think it was because I wanted my kids to feel Sunday was different and more special than the other days of the week & fancier dress can help convey that (esp when you have a bunch of little girls who love getting to paint their nails on Saturday afternoon so they look “like princesses for church on Sunday”! But if they want to get more casual when they grow up out of a sense of intimacy with God - sounds awesome to me!

 

[Chistian-ity]

It’s good to keep in mind that you are coming into the presence of Jesus at mass and dress accordingly. I don’t think we should force people to dress a certain way though. If someone else isn’t dressed modestly stay unconcerned. Just do your best to worship without being concerned by others. If someone really cares though it is a whole different story and debate. I think it should be a personal thing though.

God bless ray:t2:

 

[CRV]

I understand where people are coming from so the following is just my opinion and how I see things.

We dress up for birthday parties - because they are special occasions
We dress up for weddings - because they are special occasion
We’d dress up if we were being presented to the Queen - because it is a special occasion
We’d dress up if we were being presented with a special award from the Mayor or Governor or Very High Dignity - because it is a special occasion.
all temporal events, yet we make a special effort to dress fittingly for these occasions, yet I don’t think anyone of us would think it fit to attend in casual clothing.

How much more should we ‘dress up’ for Mass - a very special occasion when we are meeting our Creator, our Lord and King, our Redeemer, our Savior - our God - with whom we all hope to spend eternity with. How much more fitting is it that we should dress ‘our best’ for Mass - whatever our best may be.

 

[paperwight]

Lea101:

Why do you think God would care if I put on some lipstick and a pretty blouse instead of a plain one?

, seeing as the very first thing He made for mankind were clothes made of animal skins for Adam and Eve.

Where did you get that from? In my reading of Genesis, Adam and Eve were ashamed after the Fall, and made themselves clothes of leaves, traditionally fig leaves.

 

[BartholomewB]

“No bright clothing, no colourful clothing and no short sleeves”

Are those instructions intended as recommendations, or do they enforce those rules? Do they refuse entry to people who show up wearing the wrong colors?

 

[nfinke]

They did make clothes from leaves when they first realized they were naked. But then as God was about to expel them from the garden, “For the man and his wife the LORD God made leather garments, with which he clothed them.” (Gen 3:22) which I always read as God kinda saying to them “Alright if youre going to need to wear clothes, at least look decent.”

Obviously God created the universe, but Im trying to think of another example of Him making a specific thing for man…but other than Eve herself and then these clothes I cant think of any. I guess He kind of made the tablets of the covenant, but He only wrote on those, Moses had to carve them out of the rock himself. But I may be forgetting something.

 

[Lea101]

God has literally always treated clothing as significant, seeing as the very first thing He made for mankind were clothes made of animal skins for Adam and Eve.

…okay but I don’t see how this is relevant. We’re not talking about me dressing immodestly.

It’s like how you’d dress around someone you’re familiar with and have an intimate relationship with - one where you know you don’t have to “perform” for them and just be yourself.

Yup, exactly. I also tend to dress well out of insecurity (I’m not that great to look at), so it’s not like me dressing up nicely has a noble reason behind it. I noticed that i was not feeling too bothered about how I look at church, which was a huge deal for me because I don’t normally feel that way.

In terms of actually dressing up (eg weddings, meeting the president etc) i don’t dress up ‘because it’s a special occasion’. I usually dress up for significant events because there’s a dress code set by someone else. If I could meet the Queen in jeans, I probably would!

That’s why I don’t fully get the idea of dressing up for mass like how one would to meet the Queen. I get the reasoning and I respect it, I just can’t really internalise that mentality. I always saw Jesus as a ‘come as you are’ type as long as if you’re modest and you have a respectful disposition.

I think it was because I wanted my kids to feel Sunday was different and more special than the other days of the week & fancier dress can help convey that (esp when you have a bunch of little girls who love getting to paint their nails on Saturday afternoon so they look “like princesses for church on Sunday”!

I get that mentality. My parents would force poofy dresses and matching purses on me when i was 4, lol! But now dressing up is an everyday thing for me as a young woman, so it’s not significant for me at this point of my life. I miss getting excited over dolling up in my early teens (back when we had to wear uniforms for school).

 

[paperwight]

They did make clothes from leaves when they first realized they were naked. But then as God was about to expel them from the garden, “For the man and his wife the LORD God made leather garments, with which he clothed them.” (Gen 3:22) which I always read as God kinda saying to them “Alright if youre going to need to wear clothes, at least look decent.”

Thank you, nfinke. I have never read that bit before. Serves me right for not checking before I jumped in. Sorry!

 

[nfinke]

I don’t see how this is relevant.

Well I guess it’s up for interpretation, but I don’t see how God personally making clothes for man wouldn’t be relevant to a discussion on if God places importance on clothing.

It’s like how you’d dress around someone you’re familiar with and have an intimate relationship with - one where you know you don’t have to “perform” for them

People do say this alot, and I guess I get where they’re coming from, but I don’t really get the mindset. I mean, when I would take my wife out on a date I’d wear a nice shirt, you know? Even if the place were going didn’t have a dress code. And I know we a have a personal intimate relationship with God, but people seem to act like if Jesus appeared to them they’d just say “oh hey nice to see ya” and give Him a hi five,when chances are youd (or at least I would) be in tears, prostrate on the ground. We have an intimate relationship with Him, but He’s still God.

Again I’m not saying it’s a sin to dress casually at mass, but I do think God notices and appreciates it when you put extra effort in to show Him respect. And like I said there’s usually a personal benefit too.

 

[Jen95]

Modern consumer culture (and its casual attitude about clothing) is very different from traditional views about clothing, respect, modesty, demeanor, etc.
I happen to think that traditional attitudes about clothing / demeanor are more suitable in church. Not everyone sees it my way, though.

 

[Lea101]

I don’t see how God personally making clothes for man wouldn’t be relevant to a discussion on if God places importance on clothing.

From my understanding, that passage is usually interpreted as God showing a sign of love to them despite their fall, as well as an emphasis on modesty (leaves aren’t the best choice of material, lol).

I don’t think it’s because God felt that they’re too casual.

I mean, when I would take my wife out on a date I’d wear a nice shirt, you know?

I imagine this is related to attraction (wanting to look nice for somebody), but that’s just the way I see it. Like i said, i wouldn’t feel weird wearing jeans to meet royalty assuming that nobody else is judging me for it.

On the other hand, if a someone were to get exceptionally dressed up for someone, it would show some sort of honor. But it’s because there’s a difference there, imo. I wouldn’t think much of a guy, who’s always dressed to the nines, if he showed up wearing his usual clothes.

people seem to act like if Jesus appeared to them they’d just say “oh hey nice to see ya”

I really don’t think wearing appropriate but casual attire to Mass is similar to treating God like this.

God notices and appreciates it when you put extra effort in to show Him respect.

And this effort will look different to different people. For some it’s wearing a veil, for others it’s a button down t shirt. For others it’s putting aside jewelry. I would think God would be more pleased with me humbling myself in a way i could never do in my daily life. It’s more troublesome of me to show up the way I do. Of course I should probably do that more often, lol.

Like i said, i think it’s about your disposition. It would be problematic of me to show up wearing casual clothing because “i couldn’t be bothered”. Likewise it would be problematic of another if he shows up dressed impeccably out of vanity disguised as piety.

 

[nfinke]

From my understanding, that passage is usually interpreted as God showing a sign of love to them despite their fall,

That’s another valid read. I was just giving my take.

On the other hand, if a someone were to get exceptionally dressed up for someone, it would show some sort of honor. But it’s because there’s a difference there, imo.

This is basically all I’m saying. I get it’s different for everybody, but the reason I dress up a little for mass is because I don’t usually dress that way.

I really don’t think wearing appropriate but casual attire to Mass is similar to treating God like this.

Well I didn’t mean to make a direct comparison there, I was addressing a slightly different topic. I guess I didn’t do it too effectively.

 

[CRV]

We should dress up for God.

But even as others have said, we dress up for a date night with our spouse - also someone we are very familiar with, close to and certainly approachable, yet we do ‘dress up’ because going out to dinner e.g. to celebrate wedding anniversary is a special occasion. Dressing up for this doesn’t make one feel phoney or stuffy - but expresses in a physical way just how special we view the occasion and them on this special occasion. I also wouldn’t consider this my performing for my husband and the outfit I would choose would be an expression of myself, unless I was one who had no dress sense and let my hubby choose what I wore!

I think today there is a risk of “Jesus is my friend” - he doesn’t mind me dressing down, after all there’s this ‘Come As You Are’ part - yet I wonder if it’s been forgotten this refers to us being sinners - come to God in whatever state of sin you are in and not referring to the choice of temporal clothing one chooses to wear to Mass. And whilst Jesus is our friend (thanks be to God), he is also our Just Judge. And in a secular court of law, I’m sure it’d be frowned upon if one didn’t turn up dressed appropriately. Dressing appropriately in this circumstance shows respect for the civil law, the Judge & his authority and the proceedings.

All the more reason to dress appropriately when attending Mass, approaching God and receiving Him in Holy Communion.

 

[CRV]

Yes, unfortunately today, common sense seems to be missing.

I didn’t think having to state “our best suitable for the occasion” was necessary in light of the examples I gave which I thought illustrated the appropriateness of the attire.

All the more reason to dress appropriately when attending Mass, approaching God and receiving Him in Holy Communion.