Dressing up for Church?

[outfctrl]

I am a simple guy and a little rough around the edges. I do not dress up and mostly wear jeans and T shirts. I ride a chopper too.
I just feel with me pulling up to Church on my cycle, biker boots, jeans and a T shirt, they would probably kick me out.

Oh, numerous tattoos also.

This is one of the reasons I kinda shy away from going to church.
I keep saying to myself I will go anyways, but I am afraid I will offend some people. Everyone gets so dressed up.

and no, I am not going out to buy a wardrobe for mass.

Do you think I should still go?

 

[thistle]

I am a simple guy and a little rough around the edges. I do not dress up and mostly wear jeans and T shirts. I ride a chopper too.
I just feel with me pulling up to Church on my cycle, biker boots, jeans and a T shirt, they would probably kick me out.

Oh, numerous tattoos also.

This is one of the reasons I kinda shy away from going to church.
I keep saying to myself I will go anyways, but I am afraid I will offend some people. Everyone gets so dressed up.

and no, I am not going out to buy a wardrobe for mass.

Do you think I should still go?

I don’t think Jesus cares how you are dressed. He’s happy to see you in Church. Too many people focus on Church attire and other trivialities instead of focussing on God. You would not offend me dressing the way you describe.

 

[LilyM]

Not all masses at all Catholic churches are dressy. Evening and early morning Masses are usually much more relaxed dresswise than late morning.

Some do have a dress code, these will normally have signs posted at the door to tell you so.

You certainly wouldn’t need anything like a new wardrobe at any rate. At the very most maybe put on a collared shirt over the tshirts. Even with jeans (if they’re reasonably clean and neat) that’d be fine. It’d be how most teenagers dress for Mass.

Do go in any event, if you’re genuine about your faith it’s not an option. Whatever you wear, Jesus will be glad to see you, which is the main thing. And I’ve never heard of anyone being kicked out of a Mass on account of their clothing or tattoos.

 

[Em_in_FL]

Definitely go to Mass!

Maybe consider moving to Central Florida…
Bishop Wenski is known to ride around town on his bike!

sptimes.com/2006/06/27/Seniority/Release_your_inner_ro.shtml

That is similar to what prompts Thomas Wenski to ride. That would be Bishop Thomas Wenski, leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando.

Five years ago, for his 50th birthday, he decided to respond to a neglected desire to ride. Soon after, a Honda Shadow 1100 gave Wenski a new outlook - as well as a new way to get to work.

“I oversee nine counties in Central Florida and I’ve used the motorcycle to explore the diocese,” he said. "During one weekend last February, I went out and rented a Harley-Davidson Road King.

"I figured if I had my (clerical) collar on, I’d become a traffic hazard, so I had an assistant in a car carry all my vestments and the things I’d need when I’d reach a parish. In two days I covered about 360 miles, and when I’d reach a church, it was like Superman running into a phone booth - I’d take off the jeans and the boots and put on the collar and robes and black clothes and perform the service.

“It took almost everything out of me not to buy that bike.”

But even on his Honda, Wenski sees the world from a different perspective.

“There is that spiritual pleasure in riding a motorcycle,” he said. "You can smell the countryside and experience things that you don’t get inside of a car.

“And it gives you time to center yourself and to think. . . . It’s a healing experience that makes you better able to tackle your problems when the ride is finished.”

 

[Sr_Sally]

Go to mass. It is a bit prideful to think that everyone will be talking about your bike or noticing your tatoos. I’m sure you have a pair of clean, not ripped up jeans to wear and a collared shirt (didn’t say dress shirt) to put on over your clean, not ripped up T-shirt.

 

[KCT]

Go to Mass. Don’t worry about what other people may think.

We have all kinds at our parish and I like that. —KCT

 

[pprimeau1976]

Go to mass. It is a bit prideful to think that everyone will be talking about your bike or noticing your tatoos. I’m sure you have a pair of clean, not ripped up jeans to wear and a collared shirt (didn’t say dress shirt) to put on over your clean, not ripped up T-shirt.

It’s not prideful. I have read the comments on some of the threads about the way people dress and they would snicker at the OP. Those people who snicker are prideful.

 

[Mad_Amos]

In the Eyes of God it is always the disposition of the heart that is important, never the accidentals. Nothing teaches this better than the Holy Eucharist. We are to look beyond mere appearances to grasp with our hearts that which could never be perceived with our eyes. Neither princely robes nor servants’ rags exclusively adorn the Christian heart.

Nevertheless, we must always be ready to give our best to the Lord, unto our everything; to receive Him as one would receive a King, for King He truly is.

Consider a “parable”, if you will: an impoverished man is invited to a birthday celebration for a loved one. Being of limited means, he is unable to purchase an expensive gift; however, he still wishes to show the guest of honor how much he is loved. He searches about his home until he finds an item, though practically “worthless” by material standards, that is nonetheless dear to him personally. He presents the bauble to his friend, who is overjoyed at the thoughtfulness of the gift. This elicits whispers from the embarrassed crowd who, unaware of the poor man’s situation, are amazed at the

Flash forward 10 years, when our poor man has unexpectedly come into great material prosperity. He once again is invited to a birthday celebration for his chum, only this time he picks up something fairly nice, but with nary a thought to the purchase, on the way to the party. His friend, crestfallen at the obvious lack of sincerity, feigns an appreciative smile to the delighted gasps of his ever-amazed guests.

In the first instance, it is the crowd who bears the shame for judging the man’s gift by its appearance alone, for the gift was truly borne of the man’s heartfelt desire to honor his friend. In the latter case, however, the man is shamed for pandering to the appetites of the guests rather than respecting the love of his dear friend.

So it is this: do not concern yourself with how others will judge you if you come to Mass to seek the Lord truly and honor Him. It is your humility and sincerity that will be pleasing to your Friend, He Who sees and rewards in secret.

But do not lose sight of Who it is that you come to see at Mass, in Whose Holy Presence it is that you bow, for if the King of Kings does not warrant our very best presentation, no one does.

Let us attend Mass always in our Sunday best.

 

[Mad_Amos]

In the Eyes of God it is always the disposition of the heart that is important, never the accidentals. Nothing teaches this better than the Holy Eucharist. We are to look beyond mere appearances to grasp with our hearts that which could never be perceived with our eyes. Neither princely robes nor servants’ rags exclusively adorn the Christian heart.

Nevertheless, we must always be ready to give our best to the Lord, unto our everything; to receive Him as one would receive a King, for King He truly is.

Consider a “parable”, if you will: an impoverished man is invited to a birthday celebration for a loved one. Being of limited means, he is unable to purchase an expensive gift; however, he still wishes to show the guest of honor the depth of his devotion. He searches about his home until he finds an item, though practically “worthless” by material standards, that is nonetheless dear to him personally. He presents the bauble to his friend, who is overjoyed at the thoughtfulness of the gift. This elicits whispers from the embarrassed crowd who, unaware of the poor man’s situation, are amazed at the ostensible lack of “value” in the gift.

Flash forward 10 years, when our poor man has unexpectedly come into great material prosperity. He once again is invited to a birthday celebration for his chum, only this time he picks up something fairly nice, but with nary a thought to the purchase, on the way to the party. His friend, crestfallen at the obvious lack of sincerity, feigns an appreciative smile to the delighted gasps of his ever-amazed guests.

In the first instance, it is the crowd who bears the shame for judging the man’s gift by its appearance alone, for the gift was truly borne of the man’s heartfelt desire to honor his friend. In the latter case, however, the man is shamed for pandering to the appetites of the guests rather than respecting the love of his dear friend.

There are those who play “dress up” for Mass, but attend with little honor. There are those who go in meager attire, but with hearts bursting for love of God. But in any case, how you dress should reflect the level of honor you wish to show.

So it is this: do not concern yourself with how others will judge you if you come to Mass to seek the Lord truly and honor Him. It is your humility and sincerity that will be pleasing to your Friend, He Who sees and rewards in secret.

But do not lose sight of Who it is that you come to see at Mass, in Whose Holy Presence it is that you bow, for if the King of Kings does not warrant our very best presentation, no one does.

Let us attend Mass always in our Sunday best.

 

[Wolseley]

The idea of dressing up to the nines to attend Mass is primarily a phenomenon dating from the 18th century, when the expanding gentry would use Sunday as an occasion to display all their finery to the other gentry.

Prior to that, most people wore what they had to wear to go to Mass in. During the Middle Ages, for example, when you had vast numbers of feudal serfs, most of them had one—count 'em, one—set of clothes, and that’s what they wore all the time. If they took those clothes off to wash them or repair them, they were nekkid until they put that set back on. As a result, they worse the same ragged, patched, and probably dirty and maybe even smelly clothing to Mass, because it’s all they had.

I think God was more concerned with them being there to recieve His Son than He was with how they were dressed. And that should be everyone’s attitude as well: you go to Mass to worship God, and it’s His approval or disapproval you should be concerned with, not man’s.

Now, admittedly, in this day and age, it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t at least have one change of clothes; but as long as what you’re wearing is clean, in good repair, covers your backside, and does not have any offensive or scandalous logos or decorations, I see no problem in wearing jeans and t-shirts to Mass. If you think people might be put off by your tattoos, go to Goodwill and buy a long-sleeved shirt and wear it for Sundays. Nobody says you have to go out and spend a fortune on a whole wardrobe of dress clothes.

 

[Stitch]

Don’t worry about what people think, your faith is more important.

 

[jc-servant]

We used to have a priest who rode a Harley before his ordination. Some parishioners would loan him one to ride on nice days. We have at least one person roar up on their bike every weekend. I think you might see more bikes outside church than you expect depending on where you live.

So long as you are dressed in your clean “good” jeans I doubt anyone will mind sitting next to you. (I’m assuming you have more than one pair, but if not wear what you have and come celebrate with us.) I think at many parishes the Saturday anticipatory mass is less formal in clothing.

I’m from Oklahoma where people will often come to a funeral in their “good” overalls and a new white undershirt, so you wouldn’t hurt my feelings a bit with your denim!

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

Do you think I should still go?

In one word…ABSOLUTELY!!

:heart:Blyss

 

[drafdog]

Go, for heaven’s sake. They looked ascance at Saul of Tarsus when he started showing up, but they got over it.

Matthew

 

[Sarabande]

I agree with the others. Go to mass. Most people won’t even be looking at you or concerned about the way you dress. I personally like to dress my best for God, but I usually don’t care about the regalia of others unless I see girl who is wearing a skirt barely covering her behind and a tight, little top. I’ve seen this with the mother walking right beside her. I don’t know where that mother’s head was. But in terms of “fancy” clothes or casual or whatever other kind of clean clothes or clothes right worn right from the field (I have attended a country church where some of the farmers still smelled a little like manure, but tried to be as clean as possible), it doesn’t matter to me. It’s great just to see people at church.

 

[az_4_faith]

Oh, numerous tattoos also.

Before I say anything, you definitely should go to Mass. Everyone is welcome and should dress to the best of their abilities.

But I have to ask one question - What kind of tattoos do you have? Are they appropriate for Mass?

I’m not saying all tattoos are inappropriate for Mass, but some are pretty hardcore and probably shouldn’t be visible at Mass.

If in doubt, buy a nice, long sleeved shirt for Sundays to wear with your jeans and boots.

Reason I say this is that some people have worn some pretty nasty t-shirts to Mass that I wish I didn’t have to look at.

Everyone is definitely welcome to Mass, but we do have to exercise some judgment in what is appropriate for Church.

 

[outfctrl]

Well, I wasnt talking about filthy clothes or obscene tats. Most of my tats are above the shirt line anyways, but most of my t shirts are cut off at the shoulders.

Thanks all for your comments. I do have a clean pair of jeans I could wear and a black Tshirt with short sleeves.

The Church I belong to is in a high end neighborhood though. Very big here in Jax, Fl. St. Josephs. It is about 2 miles form my house.

I have been wrestling with my faith for many years. I even have a catechism next to my bed to keep reminding me to go back. To this day, I still say a Hail Mary when an ambulance goes by. The nuns taught me that in grade school and I have never forgot it.

I guess I just need to take my lazy *** back to church. After all, it is laziness.

 

[az_4_faith]

I guess I just need to take my lazy *** back to church. After all, it is laziness.

Ha!! I love it! Jesus, Mary and Joseph if everyone had your honesty, the world will be far better off!

I gotta tell you, I see more disturbing clothing worn by people in the more well-to-do parishes than the poorer parishes. My parish has an equal mix of quite poor vs. quite well off. Some of our poor parishioners do their best, and I have to say, look like they’re wearing their work clothes on Sundays, but I know for a fact it’s their best and I admire and respect them.

I myself, could and should do better with my own wardrobe.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

Wear your best and go.

I don’t really like the advice given so far. It makes me think that people don’t really have respect for God or His house. I don’t have all that much money. I’ve rarely attended an “upscale” church but I always dress in the best I have, not so much for others but for God.

The truth of the matter is that to a great extent I have noticed that the poorer the parish the more the people wear their “Sunday go to meetin’” clothes. The more affluent the more likely it is that people will dress slovenly so as to pretend to me like the poor slobs they think they are mocking.

My reflexive reaction to those who dress slovenly to Church is that they don’t care so much about God as they care about how much they impress their neighbors by looking as sloppy as they think their neighbors are. When I see someone dressed well I appreciate their efforts to give of their best to the Master. They are doing something to accommodate God.

I work on those reflexive reactions because I know that I am sometimes mistaken. God is the judge finally. But why would one not wish to give of their best to the Master even if they don’t usually dress that way?

Two more observations: First, I did grow up fairly poor. Most, if not all, of my clothes were purchased at Goodwill Industries or were otherwise hand me downs. This included my shoes as well. I had a few changes of clothes for the week but one nice shirt and pants which were reserved for Sundays only. That was it. I could say more but I’ll stop with that.

Second, when I was pastor of UM churches I had the privilege of sometimes preaching in Churches whose congregations were even poorer than the Churches I served. Most of those poorer Churches were mostly attended by Blacks. Everyone dressed up for Sunday worship. The little boys and girls had suits and dresses. They may have had little else, but they gave their best to God.

CDL

 

[GregoryPalamas]

I guess I just need to take my lazy *** back to church. After all, it is laziness.

This is one of the best most honest comments I’ve read in years. You definitely belong at Mass not only for your sake but ours as well. If I lived in Jacksonville I’d sit next to you and let that honesty rub off on me.

CDL