How Should We Dress For Mass?

[HSMomof3]

On a Catholic homeschooling loop to which I belong, another mom told of her parish. They actually have wrap-around skirts (and shawls, i think) that the lady greeters hand to the women who enter who are not modestly dressed (shorts/skirts too revealing, tank tops, etc). They are simply handed the garments and directed to the ladies room. I wish more parishes were even half that concerned about immodest dress. I applaud general statements of “proper” dress that priests either verbally state or post in the bulletins.
I personally wear skirts/dresses/dress slacks. I also make sure that my children are not walking billboards. We wear clothes without advertising because I believe that is bringing an idol into church. I am in my 30’s and I am in general very casual, so by no means am an “old fuddy-duddy.”
I have seen others actually wearing Budwiser t-shirts, cut off shirts and flip flops and I was appalled! The other day, a teenage girl was in front of us wearing tight, thin low-riding white pants and, if that weren’t bad enough - she had a dark THONG on underneath! That left nothing to the imagination and shame on her family for permitting her to leave her house like that, much less to enter a house of worship!!!
We have a moral responsibility to model correct behaviour to others. If, for nothing else, to minimize distraction to others while attending Mass.

Michaela

 

[pnewton]

Samwise:

As for coming to Mass on vacation, if it’s on a Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation, this should not be a pleasant surprise, but rather something that is expected.

You correctly say that being on vacation is no excuse, but traveling might be more understandable. My work schedule has made me have to travel over the weekend. I once had to try to find a Mass while stopping on a Saturday night. I saw the Mas schedule on the way to the hotel with Mas just getting ready to start.

Now days I try to use the internet to look in advance for Mass times, but I am a little more understanding.

 

[hsmom2four]

Prometheum_x:

I doubt anyone would object if a Fransican came to church in his plain robe and sandals. . .

Absolutely not! That is his clerical garb and it would be a most welcomed sight. Don’t see too many religious in their clerical garb any more, but that 's a whole 'nother thread…

 

[PASCENDI]

Crusader:

Interesting. Fr. Benedict Groeschel often remarks how the poor of the South Bronx truly wear their Sunday best to church on Sunday.

“Church architecture has been one of the most painful examples of theoogical deconstructionism. Rose gives us a way out of the mess.”
~ Benedict Groeschel (Larchmont, NY)

Others who have praised his books

James Hitchcock (St. Louis University)
Ralph McInerney (Notre Dame)
Bill Donohue (Catholic League)
Michael Novak (assailed by many as “neo-Catholic”)
Alice von Hildebrand
Aidan Nichols, OP (Angelicum)
Charles E. Rice
Peter Kreeft

 

[Servulus]

How would I dress if I had been granted an audience with . . .

. . . the President of the United States?
. . . the Queen of England?
. . . the Holy Father?
. . . My Lord and My God?

 

[PASCENDI]

Servulus:

How would I dress if I had been granted an audience with . . .

. . . the President of the United States?
. . . the Queen of England?
. . . the Holy Father?
. . . My Lord and My God?

Well put. Although I privately hold that on the occasions that I dropped in on a daily mass as a labourer in my dirty boots as I didn’t have time to change pleased God. Sort of like visiting a friend in the hospital while on lunch break

 

[Becky]

Crusader:

After giving some thought to this matter, it’s becoming clear to me that jeans, shorts, printed t-shirts, immodest clothing, etc. are simply unacceptable to wear to Mass.

From an outsider’s perspective, printed tees, immodest clothing, etc. are out. Jeans and khakis are okay if you’re not an acolyte. Daily Masses are different then Sundays as people are coming from work, etc. On Sundays, you should dress your best, this goes double for acolytes. I once went to a Mass where an altar girl was wearing sandals, and I often see jeans underneath those vestments. With the acolytes dressing like that you’re not going to convince this outsider that the Host is really the Body of Christ. If you are going to help with the priest then you should dress as if you were a Page Boy at a monarch’s coronation IMHO.

 

[Mary1973]

Since the last time I was here, we had a death in our family. It just so happened that my aunt was visiting from North Carolina. I have to tell you that she was caught short in not having appropriatel funeral attire.

So, I think we all agree that sometimes one cannot dress as one would like to attend Mass. However, people who should know better and who can afford better really show disrespect to God when they dress too casually or immodestly.

As for people who come to Church in shorts: some of them should just be arrested for indecent exposure. You know what I mean.

 

[RomanRyan1088]

I really don’t know, In my church, NO ONE wears a tie. Many men Wear Pressed Jeans or nice dress slacks, With a nice collared shirt, the young men often wear nice polo shirts. Women wear nice dresses, except for some of the young girls, who come in wearing short skirts, but the priest has already told them to dress like you were ganna meet Jesus.

 

[Veronica_Anne]

The Hidden Life:

I thought your categories were a bit narrow, but I voted as to how I personally dress (semi-formal). I was reading the Caelum et Terra archives the other day and there was a thread about dressing for Mass and how our class or station in society comes into this. What I consider dressy someone else considers too casual and another considers ridiculously formal. But everyone should normatively try to dress “nice” and modest too! I also try to incorporate the liturgical color (see Regina Doman’s articles on www.domestic-church.com) although not from head to foot! That would be a bit distracting on Pentecost!

The Hidden Wife

Ya haven’t lived until your priest advises the congregation that on Pentecost which will be the next week to wear RED because it’s the color of the liturgy for that day and wouldn’t it be a great way to really “get into” the spirit (pun not intended) of that particular annual liturgy.

At first, I thought it was kinda sacriligious or something for him to suggest that or for us to do that… but that Pentecost morning while getting ready for Mass I decided to wear a red blouse that I had in my closet.

Well… gotta tell ya. When I entered the church that morning,**about 3/4 of the congregation were wearing red!! ** It was SUCH a moving experience!!

:bounce:

See… ya give us Catholics a chance to express something holy in a physical way (like in the Sacraments), we will!! :angel1:

Yay!! It was like all of us wearing red had a new sacramental!

I DEFINITELY felt the Holy Spirit in a special way at that Mass in a way that I hadn’t ever before.

Now, even though I live in a different parish and diocese, I make it a point to wear red at Pentecost. Why not? Whatever I wear is going to have a color… may as well be red that day.

Though… I hadn’t thought about dressing that day’s liturgical color… hmmm.
:dancing:

 

[Veronica_Anne]

OhioBob:

If someone looks presentable - as in thoughtfully dressed not necessarily formally dressed - I think that is sufficient. If someone’s dress is the result of humble reflection and respect for what they will be experiencing, I don’t feel that I am in a position to judge the validity of their dress in God’s eyes.

See… that’s the thing. I purposely dress in the casual clothes that I have in my closet exactly because my choice is the result of humble reflection and respect for what I’ll be experiencing.

This is how I relate to my Lord each day. It’s not that I’m acting or speaking so casual with my Lord at all times…(which I don’t) and it’s not that I don’t realize He is actually present in the Eucharist in a way other than He is all the rest of the time (which I do).

I don’t have any really nice things to wear, anyway. Nor a reason to have something nice to wear, either. My job doesn’t need anything other than biz casual at best. An interview suit – but I wear it only for job interviews. And I certainly would feel creepy wearing my job interview suit at Mass.

And going out to buy “something nice for Mass” would feel like a cookie-cutter uniform which moves me directly AWAY in my mind/heart for what Mass is all about.

What I will be experiencing is His having died and rose for me no matter what statement I’m making about how I’m dressed.

Clean. Yes. Modest. Absolutely! Casual. Yes. Shoes. Yes.

Not quite “come as you are” – if that’s what I was doing, I’d come to Mass only in a huge t-shirt that hangs down between my bum and my knees that I wear around the house. And barefoot.

If I have to dress up to go anywhere, then I’m more conscious of what I’m wearing than of what I’m doing. And I’d be paying more attention to what OTHER people think.

That’s a good point about people’s class-level in society. There IS such a thing as a societal class level. Unfortunately, folks can get really hung up in that.

I’m simply not interested in what OTHER people, including my priest, thinks about my not dressing up at Mass. As long as I’m clean and modest and not judging other people on what I perceive is going on in their heads for whatever choice it is that they’re wearing, that’s all that the Lord cares about.


Boils down to == I just don’t have a sense of that clothing making the man kinda thing. What it is that I’m wearing doesn’t make any difference at all for me in how I feel or how I relate from inside. I have to bow down to societal impressions of me due to what I’m wearing. Sure. But Mass is NOT the place that I should ever have to “go there” with peer pressure on whatever it is that I’m wearing.

 

[Veronica_Anne]

Samwise:

If some random citizen sees a cadet wearing a uniform that is in bad condition, what impression will that make on them about the Air Force? Likewise, if someone sees you exiting Mass wearing sloppy clothing, what impression will that make upon them regarding the Catholic Church?

Well, I just thought I would add that in. Feel free to debate it. Take care and God bless.

As for what impression that cadet wearing a uniform in bad condition makes upon me, a random citizen – no impression one way or another because I simply don’t care what condition it is of the clothes someone is wearing – if I notice the condition, at all.

As for what impression do I think it will make on someone who sees me exiting Mass (if I were wearing sloppy clothing) regarding the Catholic Church – far be it from me to try to guess that. For the sake of their own soul, I would hope that they wouldn’t be judgemental about an organization from the way someone dresses even if that person they see happens to dress in a way that THAT person considers to be appropriate dress for a church service.

Then, again… I’m just a random citizen.

 

[Veronica_Anne]

Rocky8311:

People should dress modestly, that should be a given.

Jesus doesn’t care what you wear, but he does know whether you honor him or not. If you find yourself in a situation where you have nothing nice to wear to Mass, of COURSE he wouldn’t fault you! But if your dress reflects your indifference or apathy, I do think he will mind your indifference and apathy!

:clapping: :bible1:

 

[Veronica_Anne]

Servulus:

How would I dress if I had been granted an audience with . . .

. . . the President of the United States?
. . . the Queen of England?

to impress

Servulus:

How would I dress if I had been granted an audience with . . .

. . . the Holy Father?

to show respect for him and his office

Servulus:

How would I dress if I had been granted an audience with . . .

. . . My Lord and My God?

as humble as I can get while still being clean and modest!

 

[Veronica_Anne]

pnewton:

You correctly say that being on vacation is no excuse, but traveling might be more understandable. My work schedule has made me have to travel over the weekend. I once had to try to find a Mass while stopping on a Saturday night. I saw the Mas schedule on the way to the hotel with Mas just getting ready to start.

Now days I try to use the internet to look in advance for Mass times, but I am a little more understanding.

Glad you brought this up so that we could share with the lurkers and others at this board about that Web site:

www.MassTimes.org

This Web site lists information for Catholic churches all across America for:

• Mass days and times
• Church addresses and phone numbers
• that parish’s Web site, if any

Yah-hoo!!
:clapping: :dancing:

 

[Paul_Francis]

Myself, I usually wear a coat and tie for Sunday Mass; I still do even if I am not that well off over the last few years. I know quite a few who also aren’t too well off, but you wouldn’t know it since they dress well for church.

I know we aren’t supposed to be judging, but it is pretty hard when some people dress better for the store or a football game than Mass on Sunday. At the least, I think most people should wear a good shirt and slacks for the men and the women a dress or pants suit.

I have freinds who have been to our sister parish in El Salvador, and they said the people there do dress-up as best they can for Sunday Mass. So economics has nothing to do with it.

But, what I do not like is to have those who are lectors, Deacons or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in too casual of dress. I have been to an outdoor Mass on Memorial Day with the Deacon in a sweat suit, EMHC and lectors in pocket-T shirts. Please!

 

[Crusader]

Veronica Anne:

See… that’s the thing. I purposely dress in the casual clothes that I have in my closet exactly because my choice is the result of humble reflection and respect for what I’ll be experiencing.

This is how I relate to my Lord each day. It’s not that I’m acting or speaking so casual with my Lord at all times…(which I don’t) and it’s not that I don’t realize He is actually present in the Eucharist in a way other than He is all the rest of the time (which I do).

I don’t have any really nice things to wear, anyway. Nor a reason to have something nice to wear, either. My job doesn’t need anything other than biz casual at best. An interview suit – but I wear it only for job interviews. And I certainly would feel creepy wearing my job interview suit at Mass.

And going out to buy “something nice for Mass” would feel like a cookie-cutter uniform which moves me directly AWAY in my mind/heart for what Mass is all about.

What I will be experiencing is His having died and rose for me no matter what statement I’m making about how I’m dressed.

Clean. Yes. Modest. Absolutely! Casual. Yes. Shoes. Yes.

Not quite “come as you are” – if that’s what I was doing, I’d come to Mass only in a huge t-shirt that hangs down between my bum and my knees that I wear around the house. And barefoot.

If I have to dress up to go anywhere, then I’m more conscious of what I’m wearing than of what I’m doing. And I’d be paying more attention to what OTHER people think.

That’s a good point about people’s class-level in society. There IS such a thing as a societal class level. Unfortunately, folks can get really hung up in that.

I’m simply not interested in what OTHER people, including my priest, thinks about my not dressing up at Mass. As long as I’m clean and modest and not judging other people on what I perceive is going on in their heads for whatever choice it is that they’re wearing, that’s all that the Lord cares about.


Boils down to == I just don’t have a sense of that clothing making the man kinda thing. What it is that I’m wearing doesn’t make any difference at all for me in how I feel or how I relate from inside. I have to bow down to societal impressions of me due to what I’m wearing. Sure. But Mass is NOT the place that I should ever have to “go there” with peer pressure on whatever it is that I’m wearing.

In the course of your letter, it’s almost as if you are trying to convince yourself that you dress well enough for Mass…

 

[dream_wanderer]

Crusader:

In the course of your letter, it’s almost as if you are trying to convince yourself that you dress well enough for Mass…

I think she’s speaking to the idea others being judgemental.

We are all at different places in our spiritual journey. I attended a Fundamentalist Bible College where I had to dress up EVERY day. Dresses…make up…had to have my hair just so and I have to be honest…its not really a pleasant memory. Dressing up for Mass would right now for me have a bad association. It would remind me of my trying hard and failing to produce spiritual fruit and dressing up only because I was told to by people whom I thought my spiritual superiors. They were not of course…and the ‘dressing up for the Lord’ became a wearisome empty practise. I don’t want it to become more of the same all over again.

So for right now I dress ‘nice casual’. I might someday take the plunge and buy some really nice clothes and ‘dress up in my Sunday best’ for Mass when all the old associations have died and have been buried. I’m not there yet. I might be there someday. The Lord knows full well what I came out of and what I want to become. He is being patient with me…I hope everyone else will be as well.

dream wanderer

 

[Big_L]

This one’s tough for me because I ordinarily go to a Mass where almost everybody dresses very casually. We have lots of peopole wearing shorts and at times very revealing clothes. Personally, I would choose to wear a dress shirt and a tie with dress slacks and shoes but it would make me appear very holier than thou if I did. Therefore, I stick to casual dress.

 

[buffalo]

If you walked into a Church where the majority of men wore suits and the majority of women wore dresses - and you wore shorts and a t-shirt - how would you feel? Out of place?

One by one in every parish across the country start dressing up one step at a time and watch what happens over time.