How to dress for church

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RedSoxWife said:
We attend Mass at least twice a week and talk with everyone afterwards and I’ve never heard anyone discuss dress.

However I was distracted at tonight’s Confirmation Mass, which was said by our Bishop (a big deal for a small parish) by many of the barely clad girls and women (most of the men were in suits despite the heat). One of the girls who was confirmed was in a tank top and mini skirt!

I agree with you that dress should be modest. I think that’s the problem most people have with casual dress. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with getting dressed up to go worship God.
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It was a parish in a pretty wealthy community so maybe that had something to do with the label consciousness of the members. 🤷

I don’t either, but I do think that there is something wrong with the emphasis that some place on what other folks are wearing. I still think that three little words solve everything: Clean, Neat, Modest.
 
i would rather see someone on sunday in a pair of clean jeans and a plain t-shirt then someone in flip flops, gym shorts and a paint stained t-shirt. (which i saw this sunday)
 
I got an email at work the other day from my project manager to all of us contractors as a “reminder” that flip flops, tank tops, and jeans were inappropriate work attire as we were “business casual” and how Fridays were “casual dress” and clean, non-torn jeans were appropriate and a nice tshirt. Which once all the tshirts for this software product get distributed those will now be the only “approved” tshirt for wear into the office. And yeah, you could wear flip flops on Friday if you wanted to.

Everyone made sure to “shape up” in their business attire.

I wonder how all up in arms people at a Catholic parish would get were they to receive just such an email from the priest for ONE day out of the week and for only about ONE hour, maybe two. There’d be riots and revolts in the streets to be sure. Ok, I exagerate there. 😛

Point is, people sure do shape up for their boss, their job, etc. But not for Mass. I find that quite interesting. I’ve often wondered if God had been breathing down our necks in physical form like a boss if people would be less likely to say, “I’m sure God doesn’t care about what you wear as long as you’re in Mass.”

:hmmm:
 
mkingdomlvr said:
It was a parish in a pretty wealthy community so maybe that had something to do with the label consciousness of the members. 🤷

I don’t either, but I do think that there is something wrong with the emphasis that some place on what other folks are wearing. I still think that three little words solve everything: Clean, Neat, Modest.
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I don’t think most of us would put emphasis on other’s attire if they were clean, neat and modest.
 
mary_bobo said:
I don’t think most of us would put emphasis on other’s attire if they were clean, neat and modest.
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The only problem is the wide variation of what folks consider “modest”. There would probably still be discussions over that. Especially when it comes to women, and it seems like 99% of the discussions on clothing involve either men telling women what they should wear or women telling other women what they should wear-sometimes even accusing women of breaking church law for not wearing the “proper” clothing.
 
mkingdomlvr said:
If everyone simply made sure that they were clean, modest and neat for Mass and then used the rest of their energy preparing their souls, we wouldn’t have to have weekly discussions about clothing.
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If you read the account of the covenant in Exodus, God told the people to wash their clothes and to assemble in three days for the event at the base of the mountain.

The Israelites were in transit, as you know. At the very least, God gave them time to get ready and to think about what was going to happen.

Off and on, I am tempted to buy one of the medieval garments of the religious orders, perhaps an Augustinian monk robe. The Amish dress very conservatively for their gatherings, which is also commendable.

Mass really is a very big “deal.” We should get used to that and not mock it with squabbling about clothes, one way or the other.
 
Crumpy said:
If you read the account of the covenant in Exodus, God told the people to wash their clothes and to assemble in three days for the event at the base of the mountain.

The Israelites were in transit, as you know. At the very least, God gave them time to get ready and to think about what was going to happen.

Off and on, I am tempted to buy one of the medieval garments of the religious orders, perhaps an Augustinian monk robe. The Amish dress very conservatively for their gatherings, which is also commendable.

Mass really is a very big “deal.” We should get used to that and not mock it with squabbling about clothes, one way or the other.
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I sorta think you have something there. I personally think it’s silly to wear a suit or sports coat and slacks to Mass. At the same time I wouldn’t wear shorts or blue jeans or a t-shirt of any kind. I will wear a long sleeved/collared shirt, black jeans or khakis and non-sneakers at the very least.

Sometimes I think all should wear albs. No matter what you are wearing just throw on the alb and you’re good to go…
 
I was pleasantly surprised that our priest broached this subject in his sermon last Sunday. A lot of priests seem to be afraid of offending their parishioners with this lately, so I’ve heard. I try not to look around at the other people in church, but it is kind of hard not to notice the woman in the strapless dress a couple of rows in front of you who, when she sits down and you have the pew in the way of the lower part of her back, looks like she’s naked. Or the guy who sat in front of me last week in cargo shorts, flipflops, and a T-shirt that had a big picture on the back of Darth Vader and an M&M dressed as Luke Skywalker. :eek:
 
If they put me in charge of how to dress for church, these would be my rules. If you couldn’t afford good clothing, there’d be a thrift store (run by me:)), in the church basement. I’d make sure you’d have what all you need. 🙂 No problem.

For ladies:
  1. The hem line should cover the knees when you sit down. Yes, a skirt or dress only. With a slip if it needs one. No pants.
  2. No bare backs, shoulders, no plunging necklines. Nothing see through where you shouldn’t be able to see through. This is why God created little white church sweaters, to cover.
  3. No sandals, sneakers. Wear dress shoes.
  4. Wear a hat, head scarf or mantilla.
For the men:
  1. Dress shirt.
  2. Ties and whenever possible, a jacket. Or at least a nice sweater if it’s cold out.
  3. Nice slacks. Belted. Please, no shorts unless you are under seven years of age.
  4. Dress shoes. No sandals or sneakers.
There. I feel better now.
 
Jacafamala said:
If they put me in charge of how to dress for church, these would be my rules. If you couldn’t afford good clothing, there’d be a thrift store (run by me:)), in the church basement. I’d make sure you’d have what all you need. 🙂 No problem.

For ladies:
  1. The hem line should cover the knees when you sit down. Yes, a skirt or dress only. With a slip if it needs one. No pants.
  2. No bare backs, shoulders, no plunging necklines. Nothing see through where you shouldn’t be able to see through. This is why God created little white church sweaters, to cover.
  3. No sandals, sneakers. Wear dress shoes.
  4. Wear a hat, head scarf or mantilla.
For the men:
  1. Dress shirt.
  2. Ties and whenever possible, a jacket. Or at least a nice sweater if it’s cold out.
  3. Nice slacks. Belted. Please, no shorts unless you are under seven years of age.
  4. Dress shoes. No sandals or sneakers.
There. I feel better now.
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It wouldn’t work anyway. I wouldn’t wear a jacket and tie and you couldn’t keep me out of a Catholic parish (“dress code” or not) if I didn’t.

“Belted?” I don’t wear a belt when I wear dress slacks – I wear braces.

While I don’t wear sandals they are MOST appropriate at Mass given their presence in the Bible.

The mantilla is a good one! Just try enforcing that!
 
OhMalley said:
While I don’t wear sandals they are MOST appropriate at Mass given their presence in the Bible.
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So I suppose 1st century Jewish robes are also appropriate for Mass as well?

In fact Adam and Eve were naked in the Bible, so I suppose this would be acceptable for Mass as well. Or at least fig leaves.

Also they didn’t wear pants or dress shirts in the Bible, so you’re going to have to adjust if this is our new standard.
 
Here’s St. Peter’s Basillica dress code. If it is good enough for the Pope it should be good enough for every parish.

And yes they WILL kick you out/ turn you away if you do not comply.


http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/touristinfo.htm
Dress Code
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The Dress Code is strictly enforced at St. Peter’s Basilica. No shorts, bare shoulders or miniskirts. This applies to both men and women. Even if you get through security, you will be turned away by the attendants at the door. On a hot summer day, I’ve seen dozens of men in shorts turned away.
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👍 WONDERFUL ARTICLE! thank you for sharing it! i live in a resort area so many of the visitors come to church in shorts, tank tops, and flip flops. i’m okay with having very small children come to church in shorts but school age kids and adults is another subject entirely!😃
 
I guess this means all of you are spending your time in mass judging the appearance of others when you are there to pray. Christ died for the sins of every man not just the one wearing Armani slacks. However , you should dress up which will vary depending on income and physical health.
 
Just a thought - Jesus in a suit!

Then add a mobile phone, nice hair cut, shiny black shoes & a briefcase. Purity?

(I hold little respect for ‘the suit’, for some it holds a good upstanding gentleman. For me it holds corporate greed, capitalism and the suffering of millions)
 
Grimble said:
Just a thought - Jesus in a suit!

Then add a mobile phone, nice hair cut, shiny black shoes & a briefcase. Purity?

(I hold little respect for ‘the suit’, for some it holds a good upstanding gentleman. For me it holds corporate greed, capitalism and the suffering of millions)
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Indeed Christ in a suit. We are all called to be like Christ. For many millions of Catholics a great amount of their time is spent in the office where they wear suits and ties and yes even wear cell phones. These Catholics are called to be Christ in their suits and in their corporate jobs. Indeed Christ wears a suit when a Catholic in a state of grace goes to the office and puts his faith into practice offering up his work in union with the Cross for the glory of God and His Church.
 
Xadriel said:
I guess this means all of you are spending your time in mass judging the appearance of others when you are there to pray. Christ died for the sins of every man not just the one wearing Armani slacks. However , you should dress up which will vary depending on income and physical health.
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“…all of you…”?

There has to be some way to talk about what is and is not appropriate clothing for Mass without implying that one spends one’s time judging other people during Mass. After all, Christ died for people who don’t show up, who come late and leave early, who don’t have a clue about following the rubrics, who don’t know what genuflection or fasting is, who frankly do not believe in the True Presence, and so on. That hardly makes those taboo topics for discussion. For instance: “Dress up”. What does that mean? It is worth talking about.

Every one of these topics can be discussed fully within the context of the Lord’s thirst for every soul. The need to exercise caution about falling into judgement of others is well to keep in mind, but that and discussion of those topics are not mutually exclusive activities.
 
My criteria is that since I believe that Jesus is truly there in the tabernacle I don’t wear anything I wouldn’t want Him to see me in. I would never wear shorts, flip flops and the like to see the Pope or the president so why would I wear them to go to God’s House. It’s not about us folks…it’s about Him. If you truly believe Jesus is there in your church you will find a way to dress for Him and modest does not equal expensive. Any thrift store I have ever been to or worked at sells dresses and suits very affordably-five to ten dollars and less. People usually find a way to do what they really want to do. Just look at how many folks say they have no money for food but always seem to have a pack of cigarettes.
 
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