EDITED: Father [scolded] us this morning -- and we liked it!

[DaveBj]

Father Patrick started his homily this morning by saying he was going to talk about stewardship, specifically, the stewardship of ministry. Then he started talking about out ministry at Mass, how it begins with what we wear (no ripped jeans), how we respond (no checking our cellphone when we’re supposed to be singing the “Gloria”), etc. He let us have it for fully 20 minutes, ending by telling us how Catholicism isn’t a cafeteria, where we get to pick and choose (where have we heard that before?). We have to take it all, or we aren’t taking anything.

When he stepped down from the ambo, the congregation broke into spontaneous applause. :extrahappy: :extrahappy:

I’ve never seen that happen before

 

[mburn16]

Now, what effect will it have…

Kudos to father though for taking the flock to task.

 

[domandcarols]

Father Patrick started his homily this morning by saying he was going to talk about stewardship, specifically, the stewardship of ministry. Then he started talking about out ministry at Mass, how it begins with what we wear (no ripped jeans), how we respond (no checking our cellphone when we’re supposed to be singing the “Gloria”), etc. He let us have it for fully 20 minutes, ending by telling us how Catholicism isn’t a cafeteria, where we get to pick and choose (where have we heard that before?). We have to take it all, or we aren’t taking anything.

When he stepped down from the ambo, the congregation broke into spontaneous applause. :extrahappy: :extrahappy:

I’ve never seen that happen before

Wow! Bless his soul, we need more priests like this! Lol

 

[TrueLight]

Why are some people very sensitive to the fabric of denim, and if it is ripped?

It is only a durable, washable fabric, and the ripped part is only fashion, like saddle shoes of the Fifties or wide ties in the Seventies.
It is the clothing the generation today us used to wearing.
It is not intended to be offensive to people. It is not rebellious. It’s not Marlon Brando riding up to church in a motorcycle ready to rumble

I’m assuming (to use this over-used argument) that Jesus and his gang didn’t mind if someone came to listen to them in a soiled, ripped dress tunic. I’m assuming he was just happy that they came and wanted to hear what he had to say.

If someone at your church was money-challenged and all they had were ripped jeans to wear, would this priest turn them away from church or scold them?
Why is he erroneously judging the book by it’s cover?
There might be someone in this church exactly in that situation, hearing this sermon, now wondering if they can still come to church.

If seems more welcoming to let the young person wear something they are comfortable in. Just because someone is wearing frayed denim, it doesn’t mean they don’t have respect and are not following their religion.

If I was that priest, I would welcome the ripped-jeans-people with open arms and not make them feel self-conscious about their pants…I would welcome the ragged off the street, if they wanted to come into my church.

It is only fabric.* Fabric.* It doesn’t mean anything more than it is. Frayed denim is not the work of the devil.

There are more important things to be worried about IMO. Anyone else out there thinking as I am?

I doubt very much anyone is referring to people with little means, whose jeans are so worn they become torn in different places.

We’re talking about strategic rips. I mean the kind of jeans that cost $150 but has tears in them showing sections of naked thigh.

But I’ll save that for the modesty threads.

 

[mburn16]

Why are some people very sensitive to the fabric of denim, and if it is ripped?

Its less the fabric, than, I think, its common application: its the choice of everyday wear, work wear, casual wear. It is not, in other words, the best available to most people.

And God deserves the best.

 

[jannes]

What about sitting in the front pew slurping a large McDonalds coffee and chomping chewing gum like a cow chewing grass ???.I seen this last week

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

What about sitting in the front pew slurping a large McDonalds coffee and chomping chewing gum like a cow chewing grass ???.I seen this last week

That sounds like a Protestant and not a Catholic. It’s interesting when we getting into the “dress” topic people will say the Protestants dress so nice that they put us to shame…not from the protestants churches I’ve been to. Speaking of denim…my husband wore Sat night dark jeans, dress shoes, a purple shirt, and a sport coat. Was he in the wrong…

 

[JGMendes4049]

Father Patrick started his homily this morning by saying he was going to talk about stewardship, specifically, the stewardship of ministry. Then he started talking about out ministry at Mass, how it begins with what we wear (no ripped jeans), how we respond (no checking our cellphone when we’re supposed to be singing the “Gloria”), etc. He let us have it for fully 20 minutes, ending by telling us how Catholicism isn’t a cafeteria, where we get to pick and choose (where have we heard that before?). We have to take it all, or we aren’t taking anything.

When he stepped down from the ambo, the congregation broke into spontaneous applause. :extrahappy: :extrahappy:

I’ve never seen that happen before

Save the liturgy, save the world. :extrahappy:

Although the applause obviously could’ve been dispensed with…but if applause is the price we have to pay for homilies like that, then clap away!

 

[GEddie]

Why are some people very sensitive to the fabric of denim, and if it is ripped?

It is only a durable, washable fabric, and the ripped part is only fashion, like saddle shoes of the Fifties or wide ties in the Seventies.
It is the clothing the generation today is used to wearing.
It is not intended to be offensive to people. It is not rebellious. It’s not Marlon Brando riding up to church in a motorcycle ready to rumble

I’m assuming (to use this over-used argument) that Jesus and his gang didn’t mind if someone came to listen to them in a soiled, ripped dress tunic. I’m assuming he was just happy that they came and wanted to hear what he had to say.

If someone at your church was money-challenged and all they had were ripped jeans to wear, would this priest turn them away from church or scold them?
Why is he erroneously judging the book by it’s cover?
There might be someone in this church exactly in that situation, hearing this sermon, now wondering if they can still come to church.

If seems more welcoming to let the young person wear something they are comfortable in. Just because someone is wearing frayed denim, it doesn’t mean they don’t have respect and are not following their religion.

If I was that priest, I would welcome the ripped-jeans-people with open arms and not make them feel self-conscious about their pants…I would welcome the ragged off the street, if they wanted to come into my church.

It is only fabric.* Fabric.* It doesn’t mean anything more than it is. Frayed denim is not the work of the devil.

There are more important things to be worried about IMO. Anyone else out there thinking as I am?

there’s me

 

[HouseArrest]

Why are some people very sensitive to the fabric of denim, and if it is ripped?

It is only a durable, washable fabric, and the ripped part is only fashion, like saddle shoes of the Fifties or wide ties in the Seventies.
It is the clothing the generation today is used to wearing.
It is not intended to be offensive to people. It is not rebellious. It’s not Marlon Brando riding up to church in a motorcycle ready to rumble

I’m assuming (to use this over-used argument) that Jesus and his gang didn’t mind if someone came to listen to them in a soiled, ripped dress tunic. I’m assuming he was just happy that they came and wanted to hear what he had to say.

If someone at your church was money-challenged and all they had were ripped jeans to wear, would this priest turn them away from church or scold them?
Why is he erroneously judging the book by it’s cover?
There might be someone in this church exactly in that situation, hearing this sermon, now wondering if they can still come to church.

If seems more welcoming to let the young person wear something they are comfortable in. Just because someone is wearing frayed denim, it doesn’t mean they don’t have respect and are not following their religion.

If I was that priest, I would welcome the ripped-jeans-people with open arms and not make them feel self-conscious about their pants…I would welcome the ragged off the street, if they wanted to come into my church.

It is only fabric.* Fabric.* It doesn’t mean anything more than it is. Frayed denim is not the work of the devil.

There are more important things to be worried about IMO. Anyone else out there thinking as I am?

We wear jeans to church. They aren’t ripped. I don’t see any problem with it, either.

 

[RubyT]

What about sitting in the front pew slurping a large McDonalds coffee and chomping chewing gum like a cow chewing grass ???.I seen this last week

Reverence: an attitude of deep respect coupled with awe and veneration.
It is the lack of reverence. Understanding that we are not worthy (only by His Grace) to be in the presence of God. We should therefore do everything possible to show that we revere God.

Chomping gum and choosing clothing style over respectful attire shows absolutely no reverence.

I doubt the majority of ripped jean wearing people own only one piece of clothing. Contemplate where you are going and what you are about to do before going to God’s house and participating in Holy Sacraments. Reverence, It comes from the heart and when it is not present in the congregation, it is apparent to the priest. The priest who have spent many years studying and revering God themselves, who love God and witness such blatant disregard for the deep respect that our Lord so rightly deserves.

Oh yes, this is one of my biggest pet peeves. I saw three girls eating potato chips at one Mass. Crumpling the bag, chomping away like they were at a football game. How utterly disrespectful and unattentive. This behaviour is a real distraction to the rest of the congregation. They clapped …because they were also annoyed at the severe lack of reverence!

 

[YoungTradCath]

Why are some people very sensitive to the fabric of denim, and if it is ripped?

…

This topic has been beaten to death. Modesty does not equal sartorial finery. I’ve seen girls wear skimpy miniskirts and shirts with deep necklines to mass, and I guarantee these girls weren’t shopping at Goodwill. Conversely, I’ve seen plenty of people wear very modest clothing, and I guarantee they weren’t shopping at Brooks Brothers or Versace.

If a poor Catholic family has very little money to buy clothes, and all little Johnny has is a choice between a tank top and a hoodie, and frayed shorts or long pants, he can and should wear the hoodie and long pants. Even very poor families usually have at least some choice, even if it is extremely limited, in what they wear. There is a poor woman who goes to my church, and nearly every Sunday she wears one of two dresses. She sits in the same place at every mass, and so I almost always see her. She is poor, but she still manages to dress modestly.

Modesty does not equal sartorial finery. Men don’t have to wear suits from a haberdasher to meet the requirement of modesty, and women don’t have to wear silk dresses and mink coats. Modesty in no way excludes the poor.

 

[RubyT]

They are sensitive to the fabric of denim because it is worn in a casual setting in this society. Society views casual attire as “not serious” attire. Like it or not, right or wrong, that is the way our society views denim.

Most places I work (hospitals) forbid denim, it does not convey a look of respect, it conveys a casual nonchalant attitude.

You get dressed up for a wedding, a funeral etc. Why would you not want your best attire for the House of God?

IMHO its just plain wrong to wear the same attire to church that you would for a stroll in the park because it shows no afore thought, no deep respect, no reverence. Yep, call me the fashion police. npatrol:

Food for thought: do you wear ‘nicer’ clothing for Christmas or Easter Mass than you do throughout the year? If so, why?

Be well my friends. I mean no disrespect to those who wear denim at church just answering the questions presented in the thread and giving my :twocents:

 

[Beati_Pacifici]

I usually dress in a nice pair of jeans (not torn), a polo/nice sweatshirt or long sleeve and a leather jacket. None of my parish Priests have complained, in fact, they love the jacket. lol. I guess it comes down to the preference of the Priest in these cases, although my Priests do emphasis dressing appropriately (aka modestly).

 

[MissRose73]

Father Patrick started his homily this morning by saying he was going to talk about stewardship, specifically, the stewardship of ministry. Then he started talking about out ministry at Mass, how it begins with what we wear (no ripped jeans), how we respond (no checking our cellphone when we’re supposed to be singing the “Gloria”), etc. He let us have it for fully 20 minutes, ending by telling us how Catholicism isn’t a cafeteria, where we get to pick and choose (where have we heard that before?). We have to take it all, or we aren’t taking anything.

When he stepped down from the ambo, the congregation broke into spontaneous applause. :extrahappy: :extrahappy:

I’ve never seen that happen before

Well done, we need more priests like that to make statements like yours did.

I would not be offended if topics like reverence, modesty, going to Confession more, turn off your phone before Mass, etc were actually included in homilies.

I wish more people would save their conversations outside the worship space before and after Mass. Some people like to pray and reflect before Mass, and may have a hard time if others treat the worship space without respect.

Lately it seems like people turn up dressed looking like they were going to sit and watch tv, go to parties, etc. I am not asking for Sunday best but the type of clothes that work in a business casual office would be okay with me, or even a nice shirt with jeans that are neat, clean, not super baggy, not skin tight, etc either.

Also, a few phones going off during Mass, etc and it takes a lot from me to not turn around & give an uncharitable look to the cell phone offender(s). That is why my phone is switched OFF before stepping inside church and does not go back until I am sitting in my car in the parking after Mass is done.

 

[Philomeena]

Why are some people very sensitive to the fabric of denim, and if it is ripped?

It is only a durable, washable fabric, and the ripped part is only fashion, like saddle shoes of the Fifties or wide ties in the Seventies.
It is the clothing the generation today is used to wearing.
It is not intended to be offensive to people. It is not rebellious. It’s not Marlon Brando riding up to church in a motorcycle ready to rumble

I’m assuming (to use this over-used argument) that Jesus and his gang didn’t mind if someone came to listen to them in a soiled, ripped dress tunic. I’m assuming he was just happy that they came and wanted to hear what he had to say.

If someone at your church was money-challenged and all they had were ripped jeans to wear, would this priest turn them away from church or scold them?
Why is he erroneously judging the book by it’s cover?
There might be someone in this church exactly in that situation, hearing this sermon, now wondering if they can still come to church.

If seems more welcoming to let the young person wear something they are comfortable in. Just because someone is wearing frayed denim, it doesn’t mean they don’t have respect and are not following their religion.

If I was that priest, I would welcome the ripped-jeans-people with open arms and not make them feel self-conscious about their pants…I would welcome the ragged off the street, if they wanted to come into my church.

It is only fabric.* Fabric.* It doesn’t mean anything more than it is. Frayed denim is not the work of the devil.

There are more important things to be worried about IMO. Anyone else out there thinking as I am?

and me! The priest sounds like a bully and the fact that there was all that applause, well…Bravo on your “performance”. Very sad.

 

[FLGreg]

I am torn on this issue (no pun intended). On one hand, Mr. Levis Strauss invented the dungaree to survive the rigors of gold mining. Unless you are actively engaged in the removal of precious metals from the ground you are out of uniform wearing blue jeans to Church (starting to sound like my Dad!).

Alternatively, I previously wrote about a similar homily I heard as a kid while growing up in a parish where a great deal of college Spring Breakers attended in various stages of undress (bathing suits under short shorts and tank tops). With Mass attendance down in the Church, we should not be so critical about those choosing what they wear to Mass.

If one is so bothered by women dressed immodestly at Mass, they should remember Sirach 9:8.

 

[promethius]

Father Patrick started his homily this morning by saying he was going to talk about stewardship, specifically, the stewardship of ministry. Then he started talking about out ministry at Mass, how it begins with what we wear (no ripped jeans), how we respond (no checking our cellphone when we’re supposed to be singing the “Gloria”), etc. He let us have it for fully 20 minutes, ending by telling us how Catholicism isn’t a cafeteria, where we get to pick and choose (where have we heard that before?). We have to take it all, or we aren’t taking anything.

When he stepped down from the ambo, the congregation broke into spontaneous applause. :extrahappy: :extrahappy:

I’ve never seen that happen before

[edited]

Second, I can see asking people not to wear ripped jeans to mass, at least at this point in fashion, but to those advocating “no jeans” as they are of the “common touch”, we must remember that people simply dress differently than they did seventy years ago. Seventy years ago, if you weren’t at work you were in slacks and a sports coat and JEANS were what you wore to work. Today, we work in better attire (due to the post industrialization of the nation) and jeans are what we wear outside of work.

As to whether or not jeans would be acceptable in a formal setting… well… it depends on the setting. I’ve been to restaurants that top $50 a plate (and that doesn’t even include a plate of rabbit food… aka salad) and been in good company wearing nice jeans and a button down. Jeans of good quality are, today, an allowable fashion item. Two hundred years ago, there were probably people complaining about people wearing suit pants to mass rather than proper hose and buckled shoes… but modesty in the universal sense and reverence according to the culture in question are the keys, not fashion from seventy years ago.

To recap:
[edited]
2) Jeans with holes: bad
3) Jeans overall: acceptable given cultural prevalence.

 

[Philomeena]

First, was it really appropriate to name this thread this way?

Second, I can see asking people not to wear ripped jeans to mass, at least at this point in fashion, but to those advocating “no jeans” as they are of the “common touch”, we must remember that people simply dress differently than they did seventy years ago. Seventy years ago, if you weren’t at work you were in slacks and a sports coat and JEANS were what you wore to work. Today, we work in better attire (due to the post industrialization of the nation) and jeans are what we wear outside of work.

As to whether or not jeans would be acceptable in a formal setting… well… it depends on the setting. I’ve been to restaurants that top $50 a plate (and that doesn’t even include a plate of rabbit food… aka salad) and been in good company wearing nice jeans and a button down. Jeans of good quality are, today, an allowable fashion item. Two hundred years ago, there were probably people complaining about people wearing suit pants to mass rather than proper hose and buckled shoes… but modesty in the universal sense and reverence according to the culture in question are the keys, not fashion from seventy years ago.

To recap:
[edited]
2) Jeans with holes: bad
3) Jeans overall: acceptable given cultural prevalence.

 

[jwhitmarsh]

I guess I view it as respect. I cannot dress that way at work. What about court or at a wedding? People dress better to weddings, graduations, courtrooms, or out to dinner at nice restaurants. What if you were invited to the White House? Jeans (especially torn) would be considered disrespectful. Price is irrelevent. I just feel when I am at Mass, I should be dressed better than I am at my job. (understanding that everyone has different jobs with different attire). I am just commenting on how I view it and what seems appropriate for me. I don’t think it should keep someone from going to Mass.