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LilyM
Guest
The point is that the only mention to do with clothing or appearance in the NT was for women to cover their heads. Out of modesty, not out of ‘giving one’s best to God’ or ‘making an effort for God’ or any such rot. God sees whether your behaviour and inner disposition the rest of the week matches what you do in church on Sundays.
So yes, modesty is important. St Paul says so. Suit and tie or otherwise ‘nice’ clothing? Says who?
Amen! If what goes into a man’s mouth doesn’t defile him, how much less, in all sincerity, what goes onto his back?
If you’d known John the Baptist or St Francis of Assisi and his early followers you’d have been scandalised by their appearance. For all I know I might have been, at least a little, too, though I’d have done my best to look past the clothing. They wore whatever rags they could beg or borrow, in season and out, in church and out.
More shame on you - and me.
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Cat
Guest
KofC660, wow.
I don’t think you’d get away with it in our hospital.
I don’t think you’d get away with it in our hospital.
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Catholic_Heart
Guest
**I agree with just about everything you have said…I can’t imagine wearing a suit into the delivery room…I was present at the births of all four of my daughters sons, and believe me…no one wore a suit, but all were respectful of the situation…
My goal, when I dress for Mass, is to be neat, clean and modest. That sometimes means being a little casual…I don’t have the money to buy dressy clothes, so I usually wear simple skirts and tops… I prefer not to wear slacks or jeans to Mass, but try not to judge others who do.
I do really hate to see cutoff jean shorts, really short skirts or immodest tops…I don’t like to see these things outside of church, either…Sometimes I am blown away from what I see people where…My daughter has a friend who dresses her four girls like little hookers… I’m alwas amazed when I see them…
We used to have church clothes, school clothes, and playclothes when we were kids. Now I think all of these categories of clothing have been morphed into one…There really doesn’t seem to be much of a distinction anymore, for many people…But…I still say that is more important to be neat, clean and modest than to be fancy in dress…No matter where you are.
Of course everyone should strive to look especially nice for Mass…According to one’s means…and sense of style…
I think I’m beginning to ramble… sorry…
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Prague
Guest
K of C660 What a wonderful daddy you are to wear a suit to a delivery. How very special you are.
Prague
Prague
Just a thought.
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shebasmom
Guest
Thank you for bringing this topic to attention. I remember wearing chapel veils to mass! My fondest childhood memories are the clicking of my patent leather shoes on the sidewalk as I walked to church in my “sunday best.”
Now, 40 years later, I still dress up for church. It is just second nature that we dress appropriately. No jeans, tight pants, short skirts or shorts! It is a sign of respect. I’m not part of the fashion police, but am still shocked when I see people coming to mass in their shorts.
Thanks again for bringing this topic to light.
Now, 40 years later, I still dress up for church. It is just second nature that we dress appropriately. No jeans, tight pants, short skirts or shorts! It is a sign of respect. I’m not part of the fashion police, but am still shocked when I see people coming to mass in their shorts.
Thanks again for bringing this topic to light.
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VioletMary
Guest
I feel passionate about dressing up for mass (e.g., differently than everyday). Since we’re both body and soul, we should act consistently–for example, professed religious wear habits, and the priest at liturgy wears vestments, to reflect their spiritual role. I try to use as guidance a sense of what’s appropriate. Since mass is different than any other activity–heaven meets earth, after all–some kind of distinctive treatment of the body is in order. 
Besides dressing in “business casual” (or better), I have been led through prayer and counsel to wear a headcovering while in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament,
for my own frame of mind, in modesty, and to remind myself of my place before God and my husband. I do this without any implication that anyone else should follow along on my account, and I try to be relatively inconspicuous, sitting in the middle or back of the church. :byzsoc: (BTW, my 20-something daughters don’t veil.)
On some fourms, objections have been made saying that in corporate worship (like mass), all present should behave alike and not draw attention to any individual. This is usually brought up when people express some kind of piety (e.g., kneeling for the Eucharistic Prayer when there are no kneelers in the church). However, this principle is rarely brought up for people who wear immodest or inappropriate (soiled, uncared-for) clothing, or have inappropriate behavior (chewing gum, going to the bathroom at the moment of the Consecration). :banghead: I sometimes offer the awkwardness I feel wearing my veil in reparation for the offenses to the Blessed Sacrament by the practice of immodest and inappropriate dress and behavior before Him.
In charity, I believe no one should be judged as to their outer garments. :tsktsk: It may be appropriate for one who cares for small children to dress more casually, and it would be a shame for someone to miss mass because of what they are wearing, for example, clean jeans, when the opportunity arises to attend. But, in general, dressing up for mass keeps St. Francis of Assisi’s “Brother (or Sister) ***” in line, and enhances prayerfulness and reverence.
Besides dressing in “business casual” (or better), I have been led through prayer and counsel to wear a headcovering while in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament,
for my own frame of mind, in modesty, and to remind myself of my place before God and my husband. I do this without any implication that anyone else should follow along on my account, and I try to be relatively inconspicuous, sitting in the middle or back of the church. :byzsoc: (BTW, my 20-something daughters don’t veil.)On some fourms, objections have been made saying that in corporate worship (like mass), all present should behave alike and not draw attention to any individual. This is usually brought up when people express some kind of piety (e.g., kneeling for the Eucharistic Prayer when there are no kneelers in the church). However, this principle is rarely brought up for people who wear immodest or inappropriate (soiled, uncared-for) clothing, or have inappropriate behavior (chewing gum, going to the bathroom at the moment of the Consecration). :banghead: I sometimes offer the awkwardness I feel wearing my veil in reparation for the offenses to the Blessed Sacrament by the practice of immodest and inappropriate dress and behavior before Him.
In charity, I believe no one should be judged as to their outer garments. :tsktsk: It may be appropriate for one who cares for small children to dress more casually, and it would be a shame for someone to miss mass because of what they are wearing, for example, clean jeans, when the opportunity arises to attend. But, in general, dressing up for mass keeps St. Francis of Assisi’s “Brother (or Sister) ***” in line, and enhances prayerfulness and reverence.
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BobP123
Guest
Good post.
Let me ask you though: would you agree that if one doesn’t want to dress according to the norms in his/her Church, that perhaps he/she at least not flaunt that attire? Maybe sit or stand in back? I can’t remember the last time I was distracted by the attire of someone who sat in back of me.
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VioletMary
Guest
I agree totally, as I already stated
I do this without any implication that anyone else should follow along on my account, and I try to be relatively inconspicuous, sitting in the middle or back of the church.:byzsoc:
It’s part of being modest.
I just wish the folks expressing themselves in cutoffs and halter tops would also keep their self-expression from attracting attention.
I do this without any implication that anyone else should follow along on my account, and I try to be relatively inconspicuous, sitting in the middle or back of the church.:byzsoc:
It’s part of being modest.
I just wish the folks expressing themselves in cutoffs and halter tops would also keep their self-expression from attracting attention.
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tbel1ma57
Guest
I live in Florida and you will not believe how people dress to go to mass in Florida. I just do not get it, just because it is warm in Florida does not mean you can come to church on your “bathing suit and flip plops”. yes, I have seen people come to church in their bathing suits with a towel around their bodies and no priests has said anything about it. Why? It just drive me crazy why people do not respect the house of God.
It is not your house but God’s Almighty. Most people in Florida dress as they would go to a picnic or to their local supermarket. They dress less than casual and treat the house of “God” as their patio or their local supernarket. They not only dress inappropiate but are constansly taking in front of the blessed sacrament while some of us pray. I have talked to some priests about this and they may mention it once or twice and then it gets forgotten. The reason the catholic church stands out of the other million of other denominations is our “blessed sacrament”. It is the most holy sacraments that set us apart from the whole world and I feel that catholics who do not respect this holy sacrament are doing the church a disservice and injustice to our Lord.
May God help us and keep praying.
It is not your house but God’s Almighty. Most people in Florida dress as they would go to a picnic or to their local supermarket. They dress less than casual and treat the house of “God” as their patio or their local supernarket. They not only dress inappropiate but are constansly taking in front of the blessed sacrament while some of us pray. I have talked to some priests about this and they may mention it once or twice and then it gets forgotten. The reason the catholic church stands out of the other million of other denominations is our “blessed sacrament”. It is the most holy sacraments that set us apart from the whole world and I feel that catholics who do not respect this holy sacrament are doing the church a disservice and injustice to our Lord.
May God help us and keep praying.
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Eschato
Guest
One of the reasons that I began attending a Catholic Church to begin with was because some people showed up in their casual attire. One day I saw two kids in their pajamas! You guys can talk about how disgraceful that is all you want, but the point is that they showed up. They knew where God wanted them to be and they went their. They weren’t late because their shirt needed ironing, or because they had to take a shower to wash their greasy hair. Having later talked to them, I found them to be honest people full of love and respect for God.
Likewise, I didn’t join a baptist church because I’m dirt poor and I don’t have decent clothes. That was all glares and stares when I walked in the door.
It’s nice that you want to dress up to show respect for God, but there are more effective ways to do it. I doubt that your son’s suit helps him worship better, though. This man was probably from the same school of thought as me, he probably knows that their is nothing more special than Mass and he didn’t intend for you to infer that he meant that. Just understand that a Father and Son dressed up on Father’s Day… well, come on. Cut the guy a break. Cut the Vatican a break too.
Likewise, I didn’t join a baptist church because I’m dirt poor and I don’t have decent clothes. That was all glares and stares when I walked in the door.
It’s nice that you want to dress up to show respect for God, but there are more effective ways to do it. I doubt that your son’s suit helps him worship better, though. This man was probably from the same school of thought as me, he probably knows that their is nothing more special than Mass and he didn’t intend for you to infer that he meant that. Just understand that a Father and Son dressed up on Father’s Day… well, come on. Cut the guy a break. Cut the Vatican a break too.
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VioletMary
Guest
Eschato stated: One day I saw two kids in their pajamas! You guys can talk about how disgraceful that is all you want, but the point is that they showed up. They knew where God wanted them to be and they went their. They weren’t late because their shirt needed ironing, or because they had to take a shower to wash their greasy hair. Having later talked to them, I found them to be honest people full of love and respect for God.
What you have said has truth. I just don’t believe that it’s the best God wants for us. There’s a reason He stated in the Old Testament what he wanted the priests to wear in the Holy of Holies–how else can human beings with bodies know and show that our actions are special, sacred, different than the mundane?
We show it at school proms by spending huge amounts of money on tuxes and gowns and flowers and limo’s, etc. Why do they do it? Because it’s SPECIAL, and this is the way we make it that way. People can show up in pajama bottoms and wrinkled shirts and dirty hair, but they don’t, because proms have meaning for them. By wearing bedwear anywhere else, that place/event doesn’t look or feel any more special or important than sleeping in bed–and the behavior associated with it wouldn’t be either.
I AM glad the kids are there at mass at all, no matter what they’re wearing, but the sense of the sacred, of respect, of specialness, is lost to them. These can be taught and learned. To use another analogy, it’s the reason brides and grooms wear special garb to their marriage ceremony–and so do their guests. It’s the reason graduates don mortar boards and academic gowns and hoods. It’s SPECIAL and DIFFERENT.
Attendance at holy mass ought to get at least as much respect and attention as parties and coming-of-age ceremonies; we are in the very presence of the Body and Blood of Christ Himself. It’s been my experience that to prepare for a special event, special clothes and grooming help make that event significant to me and my family, and others I’ve been around. If not, then why all the hairdressers and manicurists the day of the prom or the wedding day? Why the albs and chausables? Why the military uniforms?
What you have said has truth. I just don’t believe that it’s the best God wants for us. There’s a reason He stated in the Old Testament what he wanted the priests to wear in the Holy of Holies–how else can human beings with bodies know and show that our actions are special, sacred, different than the mundane?
We show it at school proms by spending huge amounts of money on tuxes and gowns and flowers and limo’s, etc. Why do they do it? Because it’s SPECIAL, and this is the way we make it that way. People can show up in pajama bottoms and wrinkled shirts and dirty hair, but they don’t, because proms have meaning for them. By wearing bedwear anywhere else, that place/event doesn’t look or feel any more special or important than sleeping in bed–and the behavior associated with it wouldn’t be either.
I AM glad the kids are there at mass at all, no matter what they’re wearing, but the sense of the sacred, of respect, of specialness, is lost to them. These can be taught and learned. To use another analogy, it’s the reason brides and grooms wear special garb to their marriage ceremony–and so do their guests. It’s the reason graduates don mortar boards and academic gowns and hoods. It’s SPECIAL and DIFFERENT.
Attendance at holy mass ought to get at least as much respect and attention as parties and coming-of-age ceremonies; we are in the very presence of the Body and Blood of Christ Himself. It’s been my experience that to prepare for a special event, special clothes and grooming help make that event significant to me and my family, and others I’ve been around. If not, then why all the hairdressers and manicurists the day of the prom or the wedding day? Why the albs and chausables? Why the military uniforms?
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LilyM
Guest
So you’re saying that St Francis of Assisi and his friars, who were to a man devoted followers of ‘Lady Poverty’ like himself, and did literally wear rags in season and out, whether meeting the Pope, attending Mass or anywhere else, lacked that sense of ‘specialness’ when they attended Mass? Give me a break.
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Sarabande
Guest
Ok, Granny,
I guess I’ll be saying the same thing to my future kids and grandchildren. I kept wearing my First Holy Communion and Confirmation dress continually until I grew out of them, which for me in 2nd grade - two months after I made my Holy Communion. This was back in the 80s. My sister used my communion veil years later although she was too short to wear my dress.
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VioletMary
Guest
I will give you a break. But, no, I’m not talking about St. Francis and St. Clare. I’m talking about how the rest of us 21st-century American society behaves. All behavior has meaning. The wearing of various garb, therefore, has meaning. Again, why else the vestments for the priest at mass? Why the wedding gowns? Why the prom dresses? Why no tuxes on the golf course?
To everything there is a season. To every task there is a setting, which includes clothing and gestures. To ask the Pope to approve a rule based on Lady Poverty, St. Francis’s habit was appropriate. To visit the Pope during an audience in 2007, a black dress and head covering is appropriate (c.f. Laura Bush’s audience with the Holy Father). To worship in the presence of the Body and Blood of Christ Himself . . . I appreciate this forum to share my ideas as food for thought. I dictate to no one, especially when there’s no Church law dictating clothing or seating.
As brothers and sisters in Christ, love, including tolerance, should be the Rule.
To everything there is a season. To every task there is a setting, which includes clothing and gestures. To ask the Pope to approve a rule based on Lady Poverty, St. Francis’s habit was appropriate. To visit the Pope during an audience in 2007, a black dress and head covering is appropriate (c.f. Laura Bush’s audience with the Holy Father). To worship in the presence of the Body and Blood of Christ Himself . . . I appreciate this forum to share my ideas as food for thought. I dictate to no one, especially when there’s no Church law dictating clothing or seating.
As brothers and sisters in Christ, love, including tolerance, should be the Rule.
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VioletMary
Guest
Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m far from being a granny. I’d be interested to know what your folks wanted you to wear to church back then, and why you’d have an issue w/ dressing specially for mass (whatever that would mean for you)?
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Teflon93
Guest
Dressing your best is a matter of respect.
When you went on your first date with your spouse, did you dress your best?
When you met your spouse’s family for the first time, did you dress your best?
When you interviewed for your current job, did you dress your best?
When you married your spouse, did you dress your best?
If you answered yes to any of the above, why wouldn’t you dress your best in the physical presence of Christ?
When you went on your first date with your spouse, did you dress your best?
When you met your spouse’s family for the first time, did you dress your best?
When you interviewed for your current job, did you dress your best?
When you married your spouse, did you dress your best?
If you answered yes to any of the above, why wouldn’t you dress your best in the physical presence of Christ?
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Sarabande
Guest
Yes… My father was there for my birth and the births of my sister and brother. In all the photographs, my Dad was wearing the scrubs as well as the other medical professionals. But he was on call as a resident at the hospital I was born at the time and helped assist in my birth (at least in checking up on my mom down there to find out how dialated she was, etc. and then when they eventually had a cesarean after she was in labor for 18 hours), so of course he was in his scrubs. I guess it’s fine to wear a suit to your child’s birth, but I don’t find it any less respectful should the father not be wearing a suit.
I think this is fine. Since I’m a cantor at our Cathedral down-town, I feel that I have a responsibility to look my best for God, so I try to wear my best clothes. But when I attend mass at a small parish in a very rural, farming community, I don’t wear my “best”, but still wear modest, clean clothing. This is why. In that parish, most of the people’s best clothes are their cleanest jeans and tops. Women will sometimes wear a clean, simple dress or pants. As a girl attending mass there, I always wanted to wear my best clothing. As I got older, I realized that I stuck out like a sore thumb. For me, it was more humble to dress down so that I wouldn’t appear to be “showing off” my nicest clothing to those who couldn’t afford to buy anything nicer than a clean pair of jeans. So, I will wear a nice pair of khakis or a simple skirt.
No kidding. I’ve seen girls wear skirts to mass with their rearends and rather voluptuous breasts practically falling out of little tank tops. If that’s the only thing they own, at least let them wear a shaw or something. When I visited the Duomo in Florence, they actually handed women, who had bare shoulders and low tops, these paper smocks and wouldn’t allow them to enter if they refused to wear them. I had been to enough churches in Europe to remember to bring a sweater with me even in the middle of a stifling summer. This wasn’t during a mass, but maybe they should do something like that here in the states even before a mass. If I have a top that is sleeveless, I always wrap a shaw around me or wear a sweater for modesty’s sake.
Yes, I agree. As long as the person is clean, modest and wearing what he/she considers his/her best, then that’s fine. And although I really don’t like seeing or hearing slop, I have to remind myself that at least they are there and hopefully, they’ll one day understand that there is importance in looking presentable when in the Presence of Our Lord.
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THurifer2
Guest
This isn’t the old days of boiling water. I have 4 children I wore scrubs with the 2nd child…who was born in a small town hospital which was stuck in the medical stone ages. With the other 3 I was wearing my street clothes. There is absolutely NO reason for the father to be wearing scrubs…The last doctor that delivered our child was searing a tie and he tucked it into his pocket. The reasoning for scrubs is the same reason I wear scrubs…they get soiled and it isn’t practical for hospital staff to bring 20 pairs of clothing to work each day to change everytime they get a drop of blood or fluid on them.
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