Dress up for Mass.

[Jon_S_1]

So I should dress in Sunday best…to work everyday? Actually I what I wear to work is the best I own. It’s not sloppy but it’s not dressed to the nines either. I believe it’s much more important what is in your heart. I go during my lunch and do not have time to change…

Yeah u absolutely agree with you.

We should all be thankful that people are attending mass.

I mean if all it took for the entire world to attend mass was I’d they came in their swim trunks, then I would be all for it.

I think this “dressing” up thing must be some residual idea from the English Puritans. It certainly wasn’t the case back in the catacombs or in the Middle Ages. Even the vestments are remnants of a simple Roman Cloak.

 

[TK421]

I always wear pants and a nice dress shirt when I go. Contemporary culture is heavily inoculated with the idea that outside appearances don’t matter, and I was in large part raised with that idea just like most people, but I no longer consider it wise teaching. I pay attention to how I present myself before my Lord now and I feel closer to Him for having done it.

Architecture, mannerisms, attire: all of it matters. When you change your outside actions, the inside benefits along with it. Even a secular psychologist will acknowledge this. Dumbing down the Mass and the quiet meditation that is suppose to precede it starts with something as seemingly simple as dumbing down your attire. I consider these two problems linked to one another.

 

[LilyM]

God deserves more. Which doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense to wear one’s work or school clothes that hopefully are modest, proper, and respectful enough to be at the presence of God, but it does mean that we should always, if possible, give our very best when we go to Mass.

To just wear anything and not give special care is no good. If I were to visit the household of the woman I want to marry to talk to her father, I would most certainly not show up wearing whatever, without shaving, without a proper haircut…and neither would she. Same applies to the day of marriage. And is not Holy Mass the union of the Soul - the mystical Bride - with the Divine Bridegroom?

This is not a matter of class. A poor man may be dressed poorly but that may be his best attire and Christ will know and clothe him of his own cloak. But most of us (many of us) can choose, and - I speak for myself - quite often, if not always, are under-dressed for Mass. Then again, it’s also the age we live in.

The difference, as I’ve said in other similar threads and firmly believe, is that your future bride and her father are human beings, with the unfortunate human foible - one that causes no end of trouble for humans - of judging by appearances. Because you love them you pander to this foible, as they might pander to yours by being sure to serve you a favourite dish of yours at dinner or something.

God has no such foibles. He is not impressed by appearances. So do not pretend youa re dressing up because of Him.

If dressing up makes you feel better/more reverent/holier then go for it. Not everyone finds that dressier clothing has such an effect on their behaviour or character. Indeed, not a few may find it has a negative effect - it becomes a temptation to pride or vanity or whatnot. So be careful of tarring all the down-dressers with the same brush.

 

[Zekariya]

I only dress up when I need to please someone who will judge me by my outward apearence. I went to a relative’s wedding in black jeans because they do not judge my outward apearence. The Early Church Fathers speak of modest dress. They do not speak of dressing in one’s “Sunday best” for Mass. All that matters is modesty.

 

[Deus_tecum]

LOL …I know…right.

 

[MorEphrem]

I have never understood my peers’ aversion to being nicely dressed when going to mass. As I’ve said before (especially since I live in New York) people are so willing to wear suits when it comes to a meeting or event but when it comes to the King of Kings it’s “silly.” Usually the line of argument goes God doesn’t “care;” such externals though are the orienting of ourselves, why else do we bow, genuflect or prostrate? God doesn’t benefit from those either. The display of reverence should proceed from our love of God (and when someone loves someone else the question is not “how little must I do to still stay on their good side?”).

Randomly, I also find the “hot weather” excuse silly. If people can wear suits in the Middle East in the dead of summer on Sunday than I see no reason why a suit cannot be worn here. There’s such an ultimate priority given to avoiding discomfort that it seems better to be slightly more comfortable than not in jeans and a t-shirt.

 

[ServantPD]

As an acolyte, I can get to dress normally as I put my white tunic over everything (I just need a mainly-plain shirt so it isn’t noticed during Mass). On the off-side, hot days are a complete nightmare in churches that are made of concrete or whatever instead of stone like the old ones, that are usually cold and large. No way to roll up sleeves, no fan or anything of the sort, just a scorching hot time in Portugal. The best we can do is pick up the tip of the sleeve of tunic to clean the sweat of your face in a slow and articulated motion (just cleaning a bit of the forehead, basically) and wait until the Mass is over.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I have never understood my peers’ aversion to being nicely dressed when going to mass. As I’ve said before (especially since I live in New York) people are so willing to wear suits when it comes to a meeting or event but when it comes to the King of Kings it’s “silly.” Usually the line of argument goes God doesn’t “care;” such externals though are the orienting of ourselves, why else do we bow, genuflect or prostrate? God doesn’t benefit from those either. The display of reverence should proceed from our love of God (and when someone loves someone else the question is not “how little must I do to still stay on their good side?”).

Randomly, I also find the “hot weather” excuse silly. If people can wear suits in the Middle East in the dead of summer on Sunday than I see no reason why a suit cannot be worn here. There’s such an ultimate priority given to avoiding discomfort that it seems better to be slightly more comfortable than not in jeans and a t-shirt.

And if one does not own a suit? Now you have to have how many for daily Mass? And for those of us who don’t have time to change…now I wear a suit every day to work? And have the expense of buying all of that? Not everyone lives in New York. Last week I spoke at a conference - in the same thing I wear to Mass…slacks and a blouse. The point is that you can’t tell people’s hearts by judging what they wear at Mass.

 

[TrueLight]

I think its important to re-post this:

Can’t we have a discussion without the impossible theoretical of the mythical humble person who only has three pieces of clothing to their name?

The discussion is beginning with the assumption of those who have a decent range of clothes from relaxed to formal.

As to the original question, as daily Mass is something usually attended during the day as you are going to work (or during lunchtime), it seems reasonable that you have something modest, but Sunday attire wouldn’t be expected. The garage mechanic, dressed in his dirty work clothes, that I see at noon Mass can’t really make it home to dress up. And I think it entirely appropriate attire considering the circumstances.

Daily Mass:
Since I usually wear business casual clothes, I will be in my work clothes. On those occasions that I dress in jeans because of dress-down Friday or because I may be doing something in the office that might get my clothes dirty, then I will attend Mass that day in jeans. With mantilla.

Sunday Mass

I go straight from home to Church, so I am obviously able to plan and wear something nice for this holy day. There is no reason for me to pick a pair of jeans or shorts out of my closet for Sunday Mass when I have other clothes in there.

I don’t buy the argument that someone who is poor (not speaking about the homeless), cannot buy a $5.00 blouse from the Goodwill instead of a tank top, or a skirt or slacks instead of a pair of shorts.

 

[jmcrae]

God deserves more. Which doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense to wear one’s work or school clothes that hopefully are modest, proper, and respectful enough to be at the presence of God, but it does mean that we should always, if possible, give our very best when we go to Mass.

To just wear anything and not give special care is no good. If I were to visit the household of the woman I want to marry to talk to her father, I would most certainly not show up wearing whatever, without shaving, without a proper haircut…and neither would she. Same applies to the day of marriage. And is not Holy Mass the union of the Soul - the mystical Bride - with the Divine Bridegroom?

Well, hopefully the same applies at work and at school, too. If people are dressing appropriately for work or school (dress pants or skirt, nice shirt or blouse, and good walking shoes, and washed, shampooed, groomed, and shaved) then they should be fine for Mass.

But if they are dressing for school or work as if for a day at the beach or a day of yard work, they will likely be graded lower or paid less than they should be, as well as not being appropriately dressed for Mass.

My point was, if we can dress for Jesus, our Final Judge, as we ought to for those who are judging us day in and day out (teachers and employers), then we should be fine.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Well, hopefully the same applies at work and at school, too. If people are dressing appropriately for work or school (dress pants or skirt, nice shirt or blouse, and good walking shoes, and washed, shampooed, groomed, and shaved) then they should be fine for Mass.

But if they are dressing for school or work as if for a day at the beach or a day of yard work, they will likely be graded lower or paid less than they should be, as well as not being appropriately dressed for Mass.

My point was, if we can dress for Jesus, our Final Judge, as we ought to for those who are judging us day in and day out (teachers and employers), then we should be fine.

Seriously. “Dress for Jesus, our Final Judge”

Jesus does not judge our dress.

The man who dined with tax collectors, told his followers to not worry about their appearance (God will provide as he does the birds of the air), the Jesus who healed lepers and let the little children come to him.

That Jesus does not judge us on our dress, but our heart. I would dare say many if the “dress up” folks need to check their pride at the door for fear of truly being judged.

Show me one place in church teaching where “Sunday Best” is prescribed.

Now I don’t dress sloppily nor do I think others should. The reason though is not a spiritual construct but a social and societal construct.

I think Christ would be thrilled to see a church full of people in shorts and flip flops over a church with two rows of suited people (which is what conversations like these tend to create…empty churches).

 

[Jon_S_1]

"Dressing up for church became a popular practice in the first half of the nineteenth century, first in England, then northern Europe and America, as a consequence of the industrial revolution and the emergence of the middle class. While care was historically given to cleanliness and solemnity on Sabbath days, dressing up for worship resulted, not from a theological teaching, but from the influence of Victorian culture on worshiping communities.

Contrary to popular opinion, medieval Christians had no common practice of dressing up for church because nice clothes were only afforded by the wealthy.

Various Christian groups of the 18th and 19th century resisted this cultural momentum among the middle class for the same reasons that many of the patristic writers did among the wealthy in the third and fourth centuries.7 Decorative clothing and demonstrative accessories (jewelry, etc) were seen as worldly and prideful, interfering with a simple and austere mood of worship. "

FULL ARTICLE: truthaccordingtoscripture.com/documents/church-practice/dressing-up/dressing-up-for-church.php#.UiJSWKa9LCQ

 

[jmcrae]

Seriously. “Dress for Jesus, our Final Judge”

Jesus does not judge our dress.

Matthew 22:1-14

 

[Jon_S_1]

Matthew 22:1-14

Seriously, you are going to try to even remotely suggest that the PARABLE of the marriage feast has something to do with how we physically dress for church?

Did Jesus wear wedding clothes whenever he taught? At the last supper? Did Paul where fine clothes?"

If I didn’t know better I’d say you were a Fundamental Protestant using a verse like that to support wearing a suit to mass.



"I guess if you want to use those verses,13-14 would indicate if you don’t where "fine wedding clothes (suit or tux) to mass then you go straight to hell.

 

[jmcrae]

Seriously, you are going to try to even remotely suggest that the PARABLE of the marriage feast has something to do with how we physically dress for church?

Did Jesus wear wedding clothes whenever he taught? At the last supper? Did Paul where fine clothes?"

If I didn’t know better I’d say you were a Fundamental Protestant using a verse like that to support wearing a suit to mass.



"I guess if you want to use those verses,13-14 would indicate if you don’t where "fine wedding clothes (suit or tux) to mass then you go straight to hell.

The parable signifies that there are proper kinds of dress for different places that one might go. That even in such primitive times, they had different clothes for different purposes, and didn’t wear the same thing for every occasion.

 

[Jon_S_1]

The parable signifies that there are proper kinds of dress for different places that one might go. That even in such primitive times, they had different clothes for different purposes, and didn’t wear the same thing for every occasion.

I never argued that point.

 

[MorEphrem]

And if one does not own a suit? Now you have to have how many for daily Mass? And for those of us who don’t have time to change…now I wear a suit every day to work? And have the expense of buying all of that? Not everyone lives in New York. Last week I spoke at a conference - in the same thing I wear to Mass…slacks and a blouse. The point is that you can’t tell people’s hearts by judging what they wear at Mass.

You caught me, because I explicitly said “people have every right to judge the way you dress at mass and especially when considering practical impediments.”