Dress Code for Mass

[DeniseNY]

That’s unfortunate.

 

[Taras_Bulba]

Such concern on CA for “common sense”.

I once saw a sign outside a Russian monastery: no dogs or women in pants.

I also saw a monk eject a westerner (male) who entered the grounds (not even the building) wearing shorts.

Head covering for women inside was absolutely enforced.

 

[JulianN]

clothing that exposes the knees or upper legs (whether sitting or standing)

Seriously? Knees?
This is why it’s so difficult to define modesty in dress – when you have suggestions that knees or bare arms are immodest, it’s hard to take the definitions seriously.

 

[EnglishTeacher]

I once saw a sign outside a Russian monastery: no dogs or women in pants.

Dogs in pants could be cute!

Perhaps more stringent enforcement of dress codes is more usual or more acceptable in some other countries; I cannot speak to that, as my only experience is of the U.S… I absolutely support the practice of encouraging respectful and modest attire at Mass, but I don’t think that forbidding entry to the church is the way to go in most cases, at least here in the U.S.

 

[PiusPP.XIII]

During spring and summer, my attire for Mass (I mostly go to the nearest place that offers the Extraordinary Form in regular basis (Brisbane Oratory in Formation - Archdiocese of Brisbane)) consists of a solid colour business shirt (rolled up sleeves), black trousers, and black leather shoes.

In winter and autumn, I go for a solid colour business shirt (not rolled up; with neck ties when it is a Solemn High Mass), black trousers, black business suit and a trench coat over it when it is cold, and black leather shoes.

The place I go to does not have a dress code, but everybody I’ve seen knows how to dress properly: most men wear clothes similar to mine, and most women wear dresses.

In my cathedral though, in all occasions that I have been there, I think some of them just woke up from bed and headed straight for the Mass.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

We do not, but we do ask people to dress appropriately.

 

[BartholomewB]

but I don’t think that forbidding entry to the church is the way to go in most cases, at least here in the U.S.

I wonder if it’s even legally enforceable. Say a family arrive, an elderly couple, their son and his wife, three young grandchildren, and the wife’s sister. One of the kids is wearing sandals, which are not in compliance with the parish’s dress code. The bouncer or usher tells the kid he or she is not allowed in. The kid’s parents reply, “Oh yes, he is allowed in. He is a baptized and confirmed Catholic in good standing and you have no right to prevent our family from attending Mass.” What happens next?

 

[melonhead]

EnglishTeacher:

but I don’t think that forbidding entry to the church is the way to go in most cases, at least here in the U.S.

I wonder if it’s even legally enforceable. Say a family arrive, an elderly couple, their son and his wife, three young grandchildren, and the wife’s sister. One of the kids is wearing sandals, which are not in compliance with the parish’s dress code. The bouncer or usher tells the kid he or she is not allowed in. The kid’s parents reply, “Oh yes, he is allowed in. He is a baptized and confirmed Catholic in good standing and you have no right to prevent our family from attending Mass.” What happens next?

I’m sure it would be enforceable, given it’s private property. But I agree with your point. While we should dress appropriately & reverently for Mass, we should try not to judge others, broadly speaking for their attire. I may be in a tshirt because my kid threw up on my collared shirt, the child may be in sandals because they lost their church shoes, etc.

 

[Taras_Bulba]

There was a minor order called “porter” who guarded the door to the church among other duties. That could be your hypothetical bouncer.

 

[IdaCatholic]

Visible bras and revealing yoga pants are common round here.

 

[Taras_Bulba]

Yup. Y’all need a dress code.

 

[DeniseNY]

Am I just lucky that I don’t see these kinds of things at Liturgy? I mean, not in my small parish now or even when I was in Manhattan. Or maybe I just never noticed.

 

[JulianN]

I have to say, nor do I. And I attend a lot of different parishes. I guess I’m just lucky, too.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

Did people back then really play cards at church?

No they did not. Nor did I ever see men out on the steps smoking unless it was before or after Mass.

Despite what some what people to believe, the Church was still the Church and it was filled with many good Catholic Christians.

 

[JulianN]

No they did not. Nor did I ever see men out on the steps smoking unless it was before or after Mass.

Well, perhaps not where you were. I never saw people playing cards, but I sure saw lots of men on the steps smoking until it was time to come in for Communion.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

, but I sure saw lots of men on the steps smoking until it was time to come in for Communion.

I guess there are always places and people who show disrespect and try to get away with things, even still today.

 

[JulianN]

True that.

 

[GiftofMercy]

You are in Sweden wherr its pretty cold compared to say a desert ot tropical region

 

[Phemie]

jesusmademe:

Did people back then really play cards at church?

No they did not. Nor did I ever see men out on the steps smoking unless it was before or after Mass.

Despite what some what people to believe, the Church was still the Church and it was filled with many good Catholic Christians.

I never saw anyone play cards but going out for a smoke during the sermon was something the men in my parish did. Not every man, by any means, but it did happen.

 

[CilladeRoma]

If you wouldn’t wear a dirty clothes, t-shirt or shorty-shorts to a job interview, why would you wear it to Mass?

You don’t interview or hire people do you?
I have seen some very, let’s say, interesting, outfits on job-seekers in my 20 years as a department head.

It has gotten worse the past 8-10 years as a generation of kids who had no expectations or challenges placed on them, and told that they can “do what ever feels right for you” attempt to find gainful employment with useless degrees, no practical experience, and high demands.