Extraordinary Ministers Inappropriate Dress

[bellesjoy]

Beachcomber said: “Also, when dealing with the Eucharist, I would think that a person would want to feel set apart for something special. There again, an alb would work.”

I don’t think you meant it as perhaps it sounded.

They are call extra-ordinary because they serve a need that is beyond what can be facilitated by the ordinary (priests, deacons,etc.), not because they are “special.” (and by the way the use of EMHCs is frequently overdone and not based on need.) While it is a profound calling to serve in this capacity, it is not about us as individuals.

Our Bishop has asked us not to view serving as an EMHC as being something that makes us “special”, like we are apart and elevated above the lowly members in the pews. We are to become less that Christ may become more.

We are servants whose service is offered to Our Lord and in doing so, we should not be drawing attention to ourselves by action, expression, dress or attitude.

I would thus be drawn to dress appropriately (which does not take $$) and conservatively showing respect. It’s not about the individuals. Humility and reverence for the Body and Blood of Christ makes consideration in dress a minimum.

I won’t even go into the necessity of being in a state of grace and obedience to the authority of the Church, etc. As I travel, I see the abuses of dress, EMHCs who greet their friends and visit, run their hands through the hair of children seeming to give a blessing and then return to pick up a concecrated host with the same hand, dipping the corporal into the presious Blood to wipe the rim of the chalis, ignoring spills, talking, and the list goes on…another thread perhaps.

 

[SeekerJen]

That opens a whole 'nother can of worms from the “women should not wear pants to Mass” set

Aww, you beat me to it.

 

[Califman831]

I won’t even go into the necessity of being in a state of grace and obedience to the authority of the Church, etc. As I travel, I see the abuses of dress, EMHCs who greet their friends and visit, run their hands through the hair of children seeming to give a blessing and then return to pick up a concecrated host with the same hand, dipping the corporal into the presious Blood to wipe the rim of the chalis, ignoring spills, talking, and the list goes on…another thread perhaps.

I still think some posters are concentrating too much on the physical and less on spiritual. As a guy, would a tshirt, jeans, and nikes be appropriate dress for church or should i just stay home since its all I got? What about in prison ministries where the guys all were jumpsuit, not exactly “sunday clothing”, so no EMHCs?

 

[Petergee]

I was not emphasizing modesty but the judgment of others. The bible does mention how much time this woman had to dress before coming to glorify jesus nor whether she had other clothing. What if she she was a street tramp, it would have been rather difficult for her to go clean up and put on a nice dress. What she wore may have been the only thing she had. The bible mentions how this woman treated the lord greater than the owner of the house he was visiting, that jesus knew her many sins, and that he forgave her. Her mindset satisfied the lord. What is more important than that?

You are mistaken. Luke clearly implies that there was NOTHING about the woman’s clothes or other appearance that would have made it apparent that she was promiscuous. If there were, Simon’s comment (that he didn’t think Jesus was a prophet because Jesus apparently wasn’t able to use supernatural means to know that the woman was promiscuous) makes no sense.

 

[Petergee]

I still think some posters are concentrating too much on the physical and less on spiritual. As a guy, would a tshirt, jeans, and nikes be appropriate dress for church or should i just stay home since its all I got?

Sure, if that truly is the best that you have: - the clothes that you would wear if you were invited to, say, a dinner with the Mayor of your town. But I know for a fact that the blokes I’m talking about, administering Communion in old grotty tattered clothes, have wardrobes full of nice new clothes that they wear to work, to the theatre, dinners etc. Apparently they regard being an EMHC as more “casual” than any of these.

 

[Califman831]

You are mistaken. Luke clearly implies that there was NOTHING about the woman’s clothes or other appearance that would have made it apparent that she was promiscuous. If there were, Simon’s comment (that he didn’t think Jesus was a prophet because Jesus apparently wasn’t able to use supernatural means to know that the woman was promiscuous) makes no sense.

How was simon, who was not supernatural nor a prophet, able to size her up and find her unworthy, one he knew her at some level (maybe heard of reputation), or by the way she appeared.

 

[KathleenElsie]

My Aunt, now deceased, used to use the term 60 year old sex kitten. I suppose we Catholics in these situations understand why the Muslims insist on the Burqa in public. Maybe we could keep a supply in he back of the Church and the ushers could hand them out when appropriate. I suspect it wouldn’t be too long before the problem disappears.

Funny you should say that, I have wondered if it would be ok to offer a few wraparound skirts (one size fits most) to cover shorts and some light jackets to cover the tops.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I don’t see the problem with it, either, but I would emphasize the word “modesty.” Not everyone can dress fancy, but I bet virtually everyone can cover what ought to be convered.

 

[KathleenElsie]

If there were “set” and “firm” dress codes then there would be no problems with dress. As the NO allows the extraordinary ministers there should be extraordinary clothing .

 

[Petergee]

How was simon, who was not supernatural nor a prophet, able to size her up and find her unworthy, one he knew her at some level (maybe heard of reputation), or by the way she appeared.

Apparently Simon lived in the same town as her and knew she was promiscuous (probably through town gossip). As Jesus was from out of town, Simon apparently thought Jesus could not have known about her sins unless he was a prophet.

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

my husband and I visited the Cathedral a couple of Saturdays ago and stayed for Vigil Mass. I nearly forgot to take the Body when I saw the EM who handed it to me…she was a gorgeous red-head with long ringlets of hair like Lady Godiva–which was a good thing considering she was (barely) wearing a very tight, slightly too-small STRAPLESS denim minidress and busting out all over. I was completely shocked. I can only imagine what my husband thot. It was like receiving Our Lord at the hands of a Greek Goddess statue with all her marble white skin showing. I was still distracted when receiving the Blood. It has been a couple of weeks and I am STILL distracted. I can’t believe she would think that was appropriate or the Bishop allowed it!

Ravyn

 

[Lepanto]

Funny you should say that, I have wondered if it would be ok to offer a few wraparound skirts (one size fits most) to cover shorts and some light jackets to cover the tops.

I have been to some churches and shrines in Europe that do this. The ushers hand them to women (and men) who come in wearing shorts or sleeveless/low-cut tops. (These tend to be the kinds of places that EMHCs are not used, however.)

 

[JimR-OCDS]

The National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge MA, use to have a sign at the door of the church, “No Shorts or Halter Tops Allowed.” The problem is, during the summer, that part of the state attracts many people who are staying at camp grounds. The restriction ended up turning many of them away from confession and Mass. Finally common sense prevailed and they took down the sign.

Jim

 

[Brendan]

That’s something I never understood. We go camping as a family, but still can find room to pack pants,polo shirt and dresses for the girls.

Are we talking ab0ut hikers here 0r famioy camping? If a family is Catholic and planning on attending church at any point, they should pack accordingly.

 

[sojo]

Yes, well there’s camping and there’s camping! Nowadays it seems there wouldn’t be an excuse, but I remember camping as a kid – one tiny duffle, no pillows (you brought a pillowcase and stuffed your underwear inside as a pillow), no pajamas (a "needless waste and unsafe if you had to run from a bear). We slept in lean-toos or very rough pup tents. You only brought what you could carry on your back, and on a 7 year old, that wasn’t much!

But my Jewish mom would drag all the Catholic kids, and I went along, to the nearest Mass, and we were all covered in mud and filthy from sleeping in our clothes for 3 days, tramping around in the heat with no bath. My Mom and I, the only non-Catholics, stood in the back, but inevitably, Father would INSIST we come up front and sit down despite our stench. My little Catholic friends never had a worry – they knew they belonged despite their filth.

Talk about powerful envangelization. My mom would go on and on about that to her friends – said she’d never been treated like that in a protestant church… said these Catholics were the closest thing to a Jew she’d ever met.

But we weren’t immodest. Anything not covered by clothing was covered by dirt and mud, LOL!

sojo

 

[ChristianVet]

my husband and I visited the Cathedral a couple of Saturdays ago and stayed for Vigil Mass. I nearly forgot to take the Body when I saw the EM who handed it to me…she was a gorgeous red-head with long ringlets of hair like Lady Godiva–which was a good thing considering she was (barely) wearing a very tight, slightly too-small STRAPLESS denim minidress and busting out all over. I was completely shocked. I can only imagine what my husband thot. It was like receiving Our Lord at the hands of a Greek Goddess statue with all her marble white skin showing. I was still distracted when receiving the Blood. It has been a couple of weeks and I am STILL distracted. I can’t believe she would think that was appropriate or the Bishop allowed it!

Ravyn

Ravyn, this has happened too many times in too many churches. Believe me, everyone wonders where is the Pastor of these parishes, and how in the world does he tolerate such dress particularly while distributing the Body of Christ.

This woman’s dress reveals a lot more on the spiritual level, if you can believe it, than it does on the physical level.

Number one, it says I have a problem. Here is what it is saying to those who receive in your line:

It is more important to me that I’m in the spotlight, rather than Jesus.

It is more important to me, that people walk away thinking of me, rather than Jesus.

It is more important to me, that I be exalted, rather than Jesus.

Lastly, and worst of all, it tells a story about the Pastor:

He lacks holiness, he lacks courage, he lacks pastoral abilities and virtues.

There’s very good spiritual advice that one very devout prayer warrior once told me: Everyday I wake up and ask the Lord for a very special favor; Today Jesus, a little more of you, and a little less of me.

Humility and purity are the first signs of true holiness.

 

[KathleenElsie]

That’s something I never understood. We go camping as a family, but still can find room to pack pants,polo shirt and dresses for the girls.

Are we talking ab0ut hikers here 0r famioy camping? If a family is Catholic and planning on attending church at any point, they should pack accordingly.

 

[Aramis]

That’s something I never understood. We go camping as a family, but still can find room to pack pants,polo shirt and dresses for the girls.

Are we talking ab0ut hikers here 0r famioy camping? If a family is Catholic and planning on attending church at any point, they should pack accordingly.

I went camping last week, to see the inlaws.

I made certain that I and the girls had appropriate church wear.

I’m lectoring tomorrow; I’ll be wearing essentially the same kind of outfit (black or khaki dress shirt, black or olive slacks) tomorrow as last Saturday. My daughter wanted her veil; it lives in my van, so she had it.

I almost never wear ties. While one person has complained about my lack of tie, the pastor never has. That one individual, complaining about my lack of tie, was wearing a vibrant pink shirt, bluejeans, and bright green jacket, with a black bolo tie, and is also a lector and EMHC, 4th degree knight, and generally good guy. Some people’s taste in clothing is simply, well, colorful…

 

[JimR-OCDS]

That’s something I never understood. We go camping as a family, but still can find room to pack pants,polo shirt and dresses for the girls.

Are we talking ab0ut hikers here 0r famioy camping? If a family is Catholic and planning on attending church at any point, they should pack accordingly.

We’re talking about a tourist area in general and the shrine is on the list of tourist sites in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.

So, people are out visiting the sites and they come upon the Shrine and find out that Mass is everyday at 2PM. Confession 1-2PM. So, they’d like to attend but, their wearing shorts. Should they not attend?

The Shrine did the right thing removing the sign restricting shorts.

Jim

 

[Brendan]

We’re talking about a tourist area in general and the shrine is on the list of tourist sites in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.

So, people are out visiting the sites and they come upon the Shrine and find out that Mass is everyday at 2PM. Confession 1-2PM. So, they’d like to attend but, their wearing shorts. Should they not attend?

The Shrine did the right thing removing the sign restricting shorts.

Jim

So in other words, these people knew about the Shrine and planned on visiting, but chose not to dress for the Shrine, but to dress for the other sitrs instead.

Can these peopoe not were kakai’s and polo shirts to the other sites?