How to dress for Mass

[YoungTradCath]

This is so simple. Dress as modestly as you can.

If you’re dirt poor and you have very little clothing, wear what you have. If all you have is a pair of jorts and a hoodie, wear it. Living in South Carolina, I see very poor people all the time. Some of the Catholics here are very poor. Yet they still dress as modestly as they can at mass.

Dressing as modestly as you can with what you have isn’t impeded by money. There is a woman who is extremely poor who regularly attends mass. She wears the same thing every time, a set of overalls and a tshirt and some boots. Nobody seems to care, because she is dressing as modestly as she can.

 

[LightBound]

Excuses that even poor people would find insulting for one to think that they are incapable of dressing as appropriately as they can for Mass. I grew up very poorly, not in the ghetto but in rural Missouri. Most of our clothing was given to us by generous, caring people from our parish and other friends of my parents. We ran around barefooted and dirty most of the time at home in the country. But come Sunday, my momma saw to it that we were dressed properly as well as for school or any other place we went.

Wait a minute!! I think you are taking my post and my intentions the wrong way!!!

By no means was I trying to say that poverty-stricken people didn’t know any better than to dress up for Mass!! I was attempting to let other CAF that possibly hadn’t see extreme poverty in the US know that it exists and that we shouldn’t be so quick to think that they can easily come by dressy clothes for Mass.

Kudos for your upbringing that had a mother that did take the time to get you cleaned up. Sounds like you came from a functional, but financially-lacking family.

The people our parish ministers to are pretty familiar with having their kids or those of their neighbors removed for periods of time due to neglect.
Many are addicts or homeless and many go without running water or heat in an urban area at times. We have kids as young as 10 show up with their even younger siblings because mom or dad was too intoxicated to get out of bed. They walked through some scary areas but the children still come to Church. Parishioners donate school clothes and warm clothes for them. Getting a fancy dress or suit for Mass when they can come doesn’t make since in that kind of situation, does it? Really? Chances are, anything that can’t be used on a daily basis will get sold off at the local thrift store for money to get food (hopefully just food) until the food stamps arrive the first of the next month.

I’m failing to see why you think someone speaking up for the poverty-stricken wearing what could be torn jeans and a paint-splattered t-shirt to Mass is insulting. I also fail to see why you find that as an “excuse”. They wear what they have and can find.

Glad you had nice donated clothes to wear and a mother that cared about you. Sadly, this isn’t always the case.

 

[LightBound]

This is so simple. Dress as modestly as you can.

If you’re dirt poor and you have very little clothing, wear what you have. If all you have is a pair of jorts and a hoodie, wear it. Living in South Carolina, I see very poor people all the time. Some of the Catholics here are very poor. Yet they still dress as modestly as they can at mass.

Dressing as modestly as you can with what you have isn’t impeded by money. There is a woman who is extremely poor who regularly attends mass. She wears the same thing every time, a set of overalls and a tshirt and some boots. Nobody seems to care, because she is dressing as modestly as she can.

God Bless you for seeing Christ in “the least of these”

 

[onmyknees]

I agree that we cannot judge others on why they don’t dress up for mass. I don’t mind if people don’t dress up for mass because they might not have anything else to wear.

I like to be feminine and always wear a dress or a skirt with a sweater to mass. Mass is a celebration of Jesus life, death, and resurrection so I like to look nice for God.
Most of the women wear pants so I kind of stick out and I worry that others might think I am trying to impress but this is not the case at all.

 

[Bezant]

These arguments are silly. A constant repetitive circle.

Person A says to wear good clothes because you are going to honour the King of Kings

Person B says that we love our parents, and we don’t dress up to see them, therefore implying we don’t need to dress in Sundays Best.

Repeat.

• 1

 

[zab]

Parishioners donate school clothes and warm clothes for them. Getting a fancy dress or suit for Mass when they can come doesn’t make since in that kind of situation, does it? Really? Chances are, anything that can’t be used on a daily basis will get sold off at the local thrift store for money to get food (hopefully just food) until the food stamps arrive the first of the next month.

I’m failing to see why you think someone speaking up for the poverty-stricken wearing what could be torn jeans and a paint-splattered t-shirt to Mass is insulting. **I also fail to see **why you find that as an “excuse”. They wear what they have and can find.

Glad you had nice donated clothes to wear and a mother that cared about you. Sadly, this isn’t always the case.

No one is saying that one must wear a fancy dress or suit to Mass. The only thing that has been said is that one should dress appropriately for the occassion. Now, those warm clothes that the parishioners donated must include something other than torn jeans and paint-splatterd shirts don’t you think? They could wear what they wear to school if that is the best they have.

 

[LightBound]

No one is saying that one must wear a fancy dress or suit to Mass. The only thing that has been said is that one should dress appropriately for the occassion. Now, those warm clothes that the parishioners donated must include something other than torn jeans and paint-splatterd shirts don’t you think?

You are either reading way too much into this or taking it too personally. Sometimes t-shirts and jeans are the only things that the adult has clean or for a child, the only thing mom or dad or aunt managed to get to the laundromat or the neighbors to be washed. I’ve had times where it was a crazy day and stuff didn’t get thrown into the dryer soon enough, so I was limited on what I had to wear. I just felt blessed I had a dryer that worked and a car to get to Mass in.

I’ve said what I have said and I’m done. Good night and God bless!

 

[LightBound]

You are reading WAY too much into this. Sometimes the t-shirts and jeans are the only things that the adult has clean or for a child, the only thing mom or dad or aunt managed to get to the laundromat or the neighbors.

I’ve said what I have said and I’m done. Good night and God bless!

 

[archangel04]

Quote:
Originally Posted by archangel04
I think the issue that we are missing is that it’s not a sense of “fashion” but the possibility of leading our brothers and sister into sinning. Most women in this country know exactly what type of clothing to use to attract attention. Most men know when they are not even putting an effort when they are dressing up. It goes both ways.

.

She didn’t say attractive, she said attract attention. Big difference.

Sue

I am a guy but yes that is exactly what i meant. Thank you

 

[MissRose73]

I was raised in a middle class family. I had very few items if any that were considered “in” during my school years. The clothes I did have were clean, neat, modest, and appropriate for different occasions: school, Mass, special times, etc. Most of them were from discount stores, yard sales and/or thrift stores.

For Mass, either I wore a dress, skirt/shirt combination or a nice shirt/pants combination. My mother made sure both me and my sister were dressed decently for Mass even if others our age showed up wearing jeans and tees to Mass. If we attended Mass with my mother’s sister & her family, she insisted on a dress or skirt/shirt combination to be worn which applied both her daughters & nieces.

 

[kmuestwin]

I had a woman sit next to me on Maundy Thursday wearing a low cut top and no bra underneath.

Why?

It’s not a nightclub!

Last week a boy of around 11 or 12 received communion wearing a fashionable wooly hat and his mother was right behind him. It was warm inside not cold.

Men wearing hats indoors isn’t a church issue, thats just bad parenting.

If the blouse was low cut, then she wasn’t covered.

 

[Georgia]

Any person who cares to notice can distinguish between the expensive fashionable clothing that is ripped, torn or revealing and those things that have gone beyond their normal service life. No one in his right mind begrudges the poor wearing what they have. The issue is people making a choice of revealing clothing for Mass. If someone is wearing revealing clothing that I can tell is more valuable than my entire wardrobe, I may be wrong, but I believe that person has made a free decision. Modesty has been thrown out the window.

 

[severus68]

Any person who cares to notice can distinguish between the expensive fashionable clothing that is ripped, torn or revealing and those things that have gone beyond their normal service life. No one in his right mind begrudges the poor wearing what they have. The issue is people making a choice of revealing clothing for Mass. If someone is wearing revealing clothing that I can tell is more valuable than my entire wardrobe, I may be wrong, but I believe that person has made a free decision. Modesty has been thrown out the window.

Perhaps we should not be looking so much at what others are wearing at mass?

 

[LightBound]

Any person who cares to notice can distinguish between the expensive fashionable clothing that is ripped, torn or revealing and those things that have gone beyond their normal service life. No one in his right mind begrudges the poor wearing what they have. The issue is people making a choice of revealing clothing for Mass. If someone is wearing revealing clothing that I can tell is more valuable than my entire wardrobe, I may be wrong, but I believe that person has made a free decision. Modesty has been thrown out the window.

In your above post, you stated “No one in his right mind begrudges the poor wearing what they have”…

You’d then be shocked at what has been posted over the years over in the “Traditional Catholicism” section, where some CAF members attend a “chapel” that specifically stipulates all entering for Mass must be wearing a dress shirt and tie (suit jacket for men) and women/girls must be in a dress that’s way past the knee and elbows covered. That’s why I opt to include my opinions and experiences in on any thread dealing with “How to dress for Mass”. Sometimes folks need to be reminded about the “least of these”.

 

[YoungTradCath]

In your above post, you stated “No one in his right mind begrudges the poor wearing what they have”…

You’d then be shocked at what has been posted over the years over in the “Traditional Catholicism” section, where some CAF members attend a “chapel” that specifically stipulates all entering for Mass must be wearing a dress shirt and tie (suit jacket for men) and women/girls must be in a dress that’s way past the knee and elbows covered. That’s why I opt to include my opinions and experiences in on any thread dealing with “How to dress for Mass”. Sometimes folks need to be reminded about the “least of these”.

I’m sure that this stipulation was made in attempt to scrub the dirt from the pews for everyone’s benefit, not to exclude the poor. If a poor person with a hoodie and jorts walked in, I’m confident that everyone would understand.

 

[LightBound]

I’m sure that this stipulation was made in attempt to scrub the dirt from the pews for everyone’s benefit, not to exclude the poor. If a poor person with a hoodie and jorts walked in, I’m confident that everyone would understand.

After being pulled aside and admonished about their lack of respect for the Mass and others present when the Mass ended.

Mind you, I’m referring to ultra-Traditional chapels, not the local FSSP parish, who would no doubt refer anyone in dire situations over to the St Vincent dePaul foundation for any kind of help.

I’m old and I’ve seen and encountered a lot, within many “forms” of Catholicism. There are “not nice” people in all levels of devotion. From the quite liberal wealthy parish to the ultra-Traditional chapel. I chose to point out the ultra-Trad experience since it dealt directly with a strict apparel guideline, not the “unspoken clothing choice” the wealthy parish had.

By your chosen screen name, I can see that you are a Traditionalist. I’m glad to see from your other posts here that your parish doesn’t subscribe to that kind of behavior. As I said before, I’m old and have seen many things, and that’s includes the exclusion of the poor from a Latin Mass chapel. I guess it’s a good thing, since that particular group with those regulations isn’t under the Magisterium and because of their behavior, it allowed a few Catholics attempting to return home to seek out a parish that was part of the diocese.

 

[YoungTradCath]

After being pulled aside and admonished about their lack of respect for the Mass and others present when the Mass ended.

Mind you, I’m referring to ultra-Traditional chapels, not the local FSSP parish, who would no doubt refer anyone in dire situations over to the St Vincent dePaul foundation for any kind of help.

I’m old and I’ve seen and encountered a lot, within many “forms” of Catholicism. There are “not nice” people in all levels of devotion. From the quite liberal wealthy parish to the ultra-Traditional chapel. I chose to point out the ultra-Trad experience since it dealt directly with a strict apparel guideline, not the “unspoken clothing choice” the wealthy parish had.

I see. Perhaps SSPX chapels are different.

 

[LightBound]

I see. Perhaps SSPX chapels are different.

Bingo!

And again, God bless you for being so sweet and charitable to someone who would show up in a hoodie and jorts (I failed to google that term) at your parish if that was all they had! IT’s good to see those shining the Light of Christ!

 

[Ohana]

Seeing how these people in a poor country dress for Mass should put some of us to shame.

What is not shown are those who did not attend because they could not keep up with the standards of dress. I remember a group member (of a group I attended) saying she did not go to church because of the “stylin’ that went on, and that others would make fun of her if she went in the clothes she had.” Don’t be too critical of others dress, It may be less reverent than you think.

 

[zab]

It boggles my mind how this topic is met with such extreme negativity. The intent of the thread was not to judge anyone else for what they wear to Mass. As someone pointed out it is often the poor who show greater respect in how they dress for Mass. It is an opportunity for each of us to consider whether or not we are dressing appropriately for the situation. The poor do not need anyone to speak for them. This is a question that each of us has to ask of ourself. Only we know the answer. It is as simple as that. And it is not right to drag down the people who are devoted to the Traditional Latin Mass because of what some splinter group not even under the Magisterium is rumored to have done. I started this thread and now I’m finished with it. :sad_bye: