Dressed up for Mass today

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VioletMary said:
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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Hi… I wasn’t referring to you as a granny. I was referring to Puzzleannie’s post where she asked us “kiddies” to “groan at granny”. 😉

I’m also very far from being a granny. I’m not even a mommy yet!!! 😃

I grew up in the 80s and 90s. My parents were very keen on us to dress appropriately for mass. That meant a shirt and tie for my brother and Dad and a dress/skirt or a nice pair of slacks for my mom and sister and I. I never had a problem with it. I loved dresses and always wanted to wear dresses everywhere I went. (My previous post explains my outlook today on the clothing matter.)

My sister, on the other hand, couldn’t stand dresses from as young as two or three. She always wanted to wear jeans. It was like pulling teeth to put her in a dress. She was a true tomboy in every sense of the word. Even at 25, it’s difficult getting her into a dress. She still takes me out with her to help her find feminine clothing, since even at work (she’s an animator) they all just wear t-shirts and jeans or khakis and have things like nerf guns around the office. It’s actually a really cool place to work. Even the bosses join in on the fun. Anyway, now that she is an adult, neither my parents or anyone else can tell her how to dress or think. She won’t usually wear dresses to church, but she’ll always look clean and modest. One time she did come to mass wearing a skirt and sweater and we all almost fell out of our pew. LOL
 
I did not reply to your post. i did not mention anything about grannies?
 
I dress for Mass as I would for a date…because my Lover awaits me in the tabernacle
 
Sarabande said:
Hi… I wasn’t referring to you as a granny. I was referring to Puzzleannie’s post where she asked us “kiddies” to “groan at granny”. 😉
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Sorry, my bad. :blushing: I’m new here and posts were getting intertwined. I didn’t see Puzzleannie’s post before I responded to you. I’ve got a lot to learn just about navigating in this forum!

I like your point, though. “Dressing up” is defined individually based on a person’s upbringing, milieu, and taste. :yup:

Being in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament :signofcross: should inspire people with informed consciences to dress in a special fashion, the way most folks would dress for the presence of important human beings, e.g., the Holy Father, civil judges, people in authority.:tiphat:
 
Teflon93 said:
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?
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Because it’s NOT a first date, or a first meeting with anyone, and CERTAINLY not a job interview - it’s a relationship of love that’s been going for 30 + years now. Jesus is our BROTHER, God is our ABBA-FATHER (“Daddy”).

Having a biological father and four sisters, I can tell you my appearance matters not a jot to them. Nor does theirs to me. I wouldn’t care if they turned up in jeans to my wedding as long as they came.

Don’t tell me you’d get into suit and tie or skirt and heels every time you meet your in-laws after 30 years of marriage, or dress up to see your husband across the breakfast or dinner table every day after 30 years of your spouse seeing you in everything from birthday suit to ball gown.
 
For anyone who feels they cannot afford a nice dress or slacks/dress shirt, Goodwill is an awesome place to shop with reasonable prices. There are good second hand stores in many towns/cities available to everyone to shop. 🙂

In my opinion, there really is not a grand reason a person cannot present in a clean and modest outfit. A lot of the outfits I see in church that are immodest and disrespectful are actually pretty costly. Cost does not equal modesty or quality.

Just my two cents…
 
schautzi said:
For anyone who feels they cannot afford a nice dress or slacks/dress shirt, Goodwill is an awesome place to shop with reasonable prices. There are good second hand stores in many towns/cities available to everyone to shop. 🙂

In my opinion, there really is not a grand reason a person cannot present in a clean and modest outfit. A lot of the outfits I see in church that are immodest and disrespectful are actually pretty costly. Cost does not equal modesty or quality.

Just my two cents…
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Clean and modest yes - suit and tie or skirt and heels - unnecessary.
 
LilyM said:
Because it’s NOT a first date, or a first meeting with anyone, and CERTAINLY not a job interview - it’s a relationship of love that’s been going for 30 + years now. Jesus is our BROTHER, God is our ABBA-FATHER (“Daddy”).

Having a biological father and four sisters, I can tell you my appearance matters not a jot to them. Nor does theirs to me. I wouldn’t care if they turned up in jeans to my wedding as long as they came.

Don’t tell me you’d get into suit and tie or skirt and heels every time you meet your in-laws after 30 years of marriage, or dress up to see your husband across the breakfast or dinner table every day after 30 years of your spouse seeing you in everything from birthday suit to ball gown.
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My spouse sees me naked on occasion—does that mean I can wear my birthday suit on EVERY occasion?

It is not a question of God caring about appearances, but rather we creatures caring enough about the occasion to dress appropriately for it.

Scratch the surface of those wearing beachware to Mass and you won’t find poverty but selfishness or thoughtlessness. Who in America today honestly can’t afford a dress or slacks? More often than not these are CHEAPER than the jeans or shorts people are wearing to Mass. Does anyone doubt that many of the flipflop set not only could procure better clothing but in fact already own it? Why then don’t they dress their best for Mass?

There is a solemnity to Mass which is undermined by adults dressing like teenagers.

Can you imagine priests, deacons, or bishops conducting Mass in Gap jeans?
 
Teflon93 said:
My spouse sees me naked on occasion—does that mean I can wear my birthday suit on EVERY occasion?

It is not a question of God caring about appearances, but rather we creatures caring enough about the occasion to dress appropriately for it.

Scratch the surface of those wearing beachware to Mass and you won’t find poverty but selfishness or thoughtlessness. Who in America today honestly can’t afford a dress or slacks? More often than not these are CHEAPER than the jeans or shorts people are wearing to Mass. Does anyone doubt that many of the flipflop set not only could procure better clothing but in fact already own it? Why then don’t they dress their best for Mass?

There is a solemnity to Mass which is undermined by adults dressing like teenagers.

Can you imagine priests, deacons, or bishops conducting Mass in Gap jeans?
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And I suppose Our Lady and Mary Magdalene just wouldn’t have dreamed of accompanying Jesus to Calvary without popping back home first to put the nice frock and a bit of lipstick on and touch up the hairdo - because Lord knows they had their priorities right and always looked nice for every occasion :rolleyes:

People, Mass IS a solemn occasion as Calvary was - it is because we feel it is in our bones, not because we especially add to its solemnity by what we wear.

Nothing short of Barney costumes or clown wigs is going to make it any less solemn than it is. Again - neat clean and modest yes. Tizzing up (as if God doesn’t see us every second of every day) is unnecessary.
 
LilyM said:
because Lord knows they had their priorities right and always looked nice for every occasion.
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So we have to make the assumption that everyone looks nice for every occasion as long as Lord knows they have their priorities right? :whacky:
 
LilyM said:
And I suppose Our Lady and Mary Magdalene just wouldn’t have dreamed of accompanying Jesus to Calvary without popping back home first to put the nice frock and a bit of lipstick on and touch up the hairdo - because Lord knows they had their priorities right and always looked nice for every occasion :rolleyes:

People, Mass IS a solemn occasion as Calvary was - it is because we feel it is in our bones, not because we especially add to its solemnity by what we wear.

Nothing short of Barney costumes or clown wigs is going to make it any less solemn than it is. Again - neat clean and modest yes. Tizzing up (as if God doesn’t see us every second of every day) is unnecessary.
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Really? Then why would Barney costumes or clown wigs make a difference presuming the rituals of Mass were followed?

Or do you show up for funerals dressed in flipflops? If not, why not?

Mass is supposed to be the reenactment of the Last Supper, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we dress appropriately for it? Isn’t the failure to do so a sign of either selfishness (“I’m not going to dress appropriately; I’ll where what I feel like wearing”) or irreverence (“I’ll go to Mass 20,000 times in my life yadda yadda yadda it’s not special”)?

Americans are generally not so lacking in class as to be completely oblivious to the need to wear a jacket and tie occasionally. I think the failure to do so (like the failure to genuflect, bolting Mass before dismissal, etc) says something about a person’s lack of reverence, humility, and yes, class.

No one’s saying you need to wear black tie to Mass. But there’s a reason why the phrase “Sunday best” persists and it isn’t due to football.
 
As a convert to the Church, I have always been in the habit of dressing well when I attend Mass. Sometimes I’ll wear a suit, but usually I’ve at least got a tie. It has nothing to do with anyone else, and everything to do with the way I feel most comfortable worshipping the Lord.

While I think it would be beneficial for more parishioners to dress formally to Mass (formal dress is more modest and doesn’t have logos/pictures/advertisements that distract), I have to say that I like the way we welcome anyone at my parish. A bum in worn clothes in a pew is better than a well-dressed businessman in a bar.

I feel welcome in my parish no matter how I’m dressed, and it should be that way for everyone. On a few occassions I have run off to Saturday vigil at the last minute because I needed a spiritual boost, and it was nice being able to come in a t-shirt.
 
Teflon93 said:
Really? Then why would Barney costumes or clown wigs make a difference presuming the rituals of Mass were followed?

Or do you show up for funerals dressed in flipflops? If not, why not?

Mass is supposed to be the reenactment of the Last Supper, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we dress appropriately for it? Isn’t the failure to do so a sign of either selfishness (“I’m not going to dress appropriately; I’ll where what I feel like wearing”) or irreverence (“I’ll go to Mass 20,000 times in my life yadda yadda yadda it’s not special”)?

Americans are generally not so lacking in class as to be completely oblivious to the need to wear a jacket and tie occasionally. I think the failure to do so (like the failure to genuflect, bolting Mass before dismissal, etc) says something about a person’s lack of reverence, humility, and yes, class.

No one’s saying you need to wear black tie to Mass. But there’s a reason why the phrase “Sunday best” persists and it isn’t due to football.
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Barney wigs and clown suits are designedly disrespectful. Such dress goes further than saying Mass is’t a formal occasion, they say Mass is a comedy show.

Lack of suit and tie has nothing to do, for me at least, with thinking Mass isn’t special or important. To me Mass is so special and important that I go daily when I can, let alone Sundays. I’m sure I’m not alone in this.

Just like every holiday and meal I share with my parents is special, because I love them dearly and enjoy their company. I don’t wear formal clothing for every occasion with them though, because clothes are irrelevant to the attitude - they know what’s in my heart.
 
Having grown up in the 60’s and 70’s, I find it ironic that we’re still having these discussions. Back then, the catch phrases for dressing down were “I don’t want to be a hypcrite” and “I don’t need to impress anyone”. Thankfully, my parents charitably let me know that our (low middle class blue collar) family dresses for Mass in a way that acknowledges the awesomeness of the Sacrament, not only for ourselves, but for the others worshipping. I learned that it does not take any more money or any more time to thrown on a skirt or jacket than it does to wear jeans out of some sense of false humility.
 
“You must be going somewhere special after here.” :banghead:

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Pax Christi,
Ann
 
I like to dress up for Mass because I’m going to God’s house. If I were going to the priest’s house or the Pope’s house, I’d certainly dress up. So I figure since God has invited me over for this special occasion, I’ll spiff myself up a little. Just have to watch out that I don’t get into that “Wow! I’m so gorgeous!” attitude. 😊

On the other hand, I think it’s better that people show up even sloppy rather than not show up at all. When I go to Mass during the school week, I have to run over between classes and then run back to school, so on those days, I don’t look my best, but God understands.

❤️
 
I used to wear blue jeans to Church until one day a co-worker, who is a Seventh Day Adventist,said that he went past my Church and was amazed that he saw people going to Mass in t-shirts and shorts. That’s when I realized that how we are dressed reflects on how non Catholics view our Church. It shamed me into dressing better for Mass.
 
For anyone interested.

I finally had a chance to ask, and I just wanted to report back that at our hospital, people in the delivery room with Mom must wear scrubs. The nurse seemed shocked that any hospital would allow someone in a delivery room without proper attire.

Our hospital is one of three in the city, about 300 beds, and we deliver more babies than either of the other two, so we must be doing something right.
 
Magnum_V8 said:
Okay, so I added a pocket square to my regular attire of suit and tie, sometimes shirt and tie. The point is I try to dress the best I can for the Lord, better than I would going out to dinner or whatever. I added the pocket square for Father’s day.

My 6 year old son dressed in a suit today, also. He’s usually in a shirt and tie, throwing in a vest every once in while. Nobody else at our parish really “dresses up.”

After Mass, we were walking down the main isle, ready to greet Father, and a nice gentleman comes up to us, remarks on how nice we look, how nice it is to see father and son dressed nicely together. Then he adds the following:

“You must be going somewhere special after here.” :banghead:

I didn’t say anything, just smiled.

I don’t see this guy too often at Sunday Mass. Maybe he goes to the Saturday vigil regularly, in which case he wouldn’t know my regular attire. But to say that there is something more special after Mass is just another piece of blatant evidence that the way the Novus Ordo is conducted has lead to the decline of the liturgy. The Novus Ordo can be reverent, but it needs some work.

Well, I’m getting ready again for Mass today; the Tridentine at noon.
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I’m sure the man who spoke about the way you were dressed meant well…you don’t often see children dressed in suits.
As for me as long as your’e at Mass …I welcome you:thumbsup:
 
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