Dress Code for Mass

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Current parish doesn’t have one and thankfully doesn’t need to have one.

Past parish didn’t have one, but the priest dearly wanted to have a basket of shawls at the entrance to hand out to ladies to cover up.

As the sanctuary was raised by one step above the floor, this put poor Father in a position of looking down. There were times even when maintaining strict custody of the eyes, it wasn’t physically possible to exclude what was also in eyesight and momentarily glimpsed between holding up the Blessed Sacrament “The Body of Christ” and with eyes following the host down until it was placed safely and reverently in the palm of the hand of the communicant.

It may have been hot, but if Father in street clothes plus an alb and then a chasuble was even hotter could put with feeling hot for the duration of Mass - then imo, the heat was no excuse for these women not to cover their deep cleavage for Mass. A cotton shawl/large scarf or even a pashmina draped around and over the shoulders when going up to receive communion (at the least) is appropriate.
 
ez3714 said:
Does your parish have a dress code?
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No.
ez3714 said:
Should it?
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No.

People can use their own common sense and judgement when it comes to choosing how to dress for Mass. If somebody wears something really inappropriate they’ll quickly get the idea that it’s not how everyone else dresses and they’ll wear something different next time. If you lay down an official dress code it will just make people feel unwelcome and it will put them off coming next time. Nobody should be made to feel unwelcome at a church. I’m sure that some of the people Jesus met wouldn’t have passed muster with regard to their sartorial choices.

There is a gentlemen’s club that is pretty persistent in sending me advertising. One of the considerations that puts me off joining is the club’s dress regulation. Gentlemen visiting the club are required to wear a jacket and tie. In hot weather gentlemen may be granted permission to remove their jackets, though not their ties. Collars and cuffs must be fastened at all times. It is not permitted to enter the club wearing trainers, plimsolls, flipflops, casual boots, jeans, turtleneck sweaters, shorts, t-shirts, tracksuits, suede or leather clothing except tailored jackets, cargo or combat trousers, kaftans, ponchos, or any distressed, torn, or studded items!
 
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We have no dress code. Unfortunately, we also have, in my opinion, some with no common sense. Some people wear short shorts. I’m not a fan of flipflops, but those are not far removed from sandals, so who am I to judge? I prefer close-toed shoes on everyone, but I’m probably conservative. (Plus, my wife would kill me if I wore any of her sandals 😃.)

I try to remember one thing: I am there to worship, not look at people. So, I largely try to ignore what I consider to be dressing in poor taste not befitting the House of our Lord (again, in my conservative opinion).
 
Willing_Spirit said:
No, but I think people should just wear solid colors. No flashy patterns or anything that draws the eye away from the Mass.
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By this standard the very modest parochial school uniforms the girls wore in the 60’s, with plaid skirts, wouldn’t be allowed.
 
Maybe we should go back to the dresscode in 1962. It is sad to see old photos of the local parish. It was so beautiful way back then.
They built a new church and I did never visit the old one but it looks much more lovely from the photos. I am a younger man thinking if the older times were more lovely.
Anyone here who actually went to Mass 1962?
I heard stories of people playing cards in the Cathedral of Stockholm. Sounds crazy.
Older persons seldom speak good about the old days it seems. This is just what we young guys do.
 
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Roma locuta est.

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“Modestly” is so open to interpretation. Last Sunday the Confirmation candidates were responsible for the readings and intercessions. Two of the girls were wearing leggings which left nothing to the imagination. One was in fashionably ripped skin-tight jeans. They were all there with their parents who would likely have a meltdown if we suggested that the attire was inappropriate for Church.
 
I think my priest is just happy when people attend. Sure, if you wore bikini bottoms and a halter top he’d probably say something to you, but for the most part it’s very laid back.
 
Londoner said:
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ez3714:
Does your parish have a dress code?
Click to expand...
No.
ez3714 said:
Should it?
Click to expand...
No.

People can use their own common sense and judgement when it comes to choosing how to dress for Mass. If somebody wears something really inappropriate they’ll quickly get the idea that it’s not how everyone else dresses and they’ll wear something different next time.
Click to expand...
When it comes to dressing for church, common sense ain’t so common anymore.

The one thing I don’t understand is the obsession with what people wear on their feet. I’ve yet to figure out how sandals are disrespectful/immodest.
 
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Depends what you mean. It’s not like people should be turned away at the door if they come to church in a tank top or booty shorts…but yes there should obviously be a dress code of common Sense

If you feel the need to dress better when you go to sit at a desk at work than you do when you’re about to kneel before the true presence of the creator of the universe…you might need to sit down and think about your priorities
 
We don’t have an official dress code at my parish, but my pastor is pretty big on reminding us to wear our best, humble clothes, given the solemnity of Mass. If you wouldn’t wear a dirty clothes, t-shirt or shorty-shorts to a job interview, why would you wear it to Mass?

How dare you assign genders! lol.🤣
 
jesusmademe said:
Maybe we should go back to the dresscode in 1962. It is sad to see old photos of the local parish. It was so beautiful way back then.
They built a new church and I did never visit the old one but it looks much more lovely from the photos. I am a younger man thinking if the older times were more lovely.
Anyone here who actually went to Mass 1962?
I heard stories of people playing cards in the Cathedral of Stockholm. Sounds crazy.
Older persons seldom speak good about the old days it seems. This is just what we young guys do.
Click to expand...
Yes, I actually went to Mass in 1962. And in the summer, women wore sleeveless dresses to Mass. Shocking.
Not all men were hanging out on the steps smoking, but a number of them were. Many people were reading private devotions or saying the rosary.
The older times were no more lovely than now – they were just different.
 
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