Is it acceptable to wear shorts to weekday mass?

[maryjk]

IMHO, if you wouldn’t wear it on Sunday, don’t wear it to Mass at all. After all, it’s still Mass. It’s up to you though.

Mass is the same no matter what day it is. We should all dress as respectfully as we can for every Mass. We’re there to Worship Our Lord, not going to the beach or whatever. Doesn’t take any longer to put on a pr. of slacks than shorts.

These attitudes would clear out our daily Mass.

People come to daily Mass from everywhere. And from all walks of life.

Some are men that have been working outside all morning. They are hot, sweaty and dirty. Stand too close and they smell. Many work for lawn care companies. So they are in shorts and t-shirts. See them on Sunday and they are in dress pants and a polo.

Some are mothers trying to teach their children about the wonder of God. And how to sit still during Mass. They come during the week because Mass isn’t as long, and their children can be successful. They come from the playground or some other outing, and they wear shorts, or casual skirts. Sunday Mass you see them more dressed up, but they are standing out in the vestibule because the children aren’t quite ready to sit for a full hour.

And you see students. Although some drive to Mass, some that walk a couple of miles to get there. They have been in classes all morning. They wear shorts, jeans or whatever they wore to class that morning. Tell them that they have to go back to their room and change, and they wouldn’t come. Most wouldn’t have the time. On Sunday, most will be dressed up.

So, OP, no, I can’t imagine anyone saying anything to you about wearing shorts to daily Mass. Please make sure they aren’t short, shorts. That they cover all the important parts. Otherwise, you are fine.

 

[Nacho45]

Much of what I have seen worn at Mass may be “acceptable”, but it’s very much in poor form. Be as respectful as possible to the people around you and to God.

 

[Nacho45]

Mass is the same no matter what day it is. We should all dress as respectfully as we can for every Mass. We’re there to Worship Our Lord, not going to the beach or whatever. Doesn’t take any longer to put on a pr. of slacks than shorts. God Bless, Memaw

Exactly! Mass should be a time of reverence, not a stop on the way to a party. If its a time restriction from work I think that is okay, but laziness isn’t an excuse.

 

[johnnyt3000]

If you can afford nice clothes then you should be wearing them to mass regardless what day of the week it is, regardless if it is a low or high mass, Our Lord is being consecrated in the Eucharist in every mass, we should show respect for Him, shorts are not okay for mass. I myself wear the same polo and slacks, but I want to start wearing a long sleeve with a tie.

 

[maryjk]

If you can afford nice clothes then you should be wearing them to mass regardless what day of the week it is, regardless if it is a low or high mass, Our Lord is being consecrated in the Eucharist in every mass, we should show respect for Him, shorts are not okay for mass. I myself wear the same polo and slacks, but I want to start wearing a long sleeve with a tie.

So in your opinion, it is better for someone to miss daily Mass, rather than show up in work clothes or shorts?

Because that is what will happen. Workers don’t have time to go home, shower and change, then go home to change again. Students aren’t going to wear dress clothes to class in case they might go to Mass. Mothers aren’t going to keep their children inside to play, dress them up, just to take them to daily Mass.

These people are simply going to stop going.

 

[OraLabora]

If you can afford nice clothes then you should be wearing them to mass regardless what day of the week it is, regardless if it is a low or high mass, Our Lord is being consecrated in the Eucharist in every mass, we should show respect for Him, shorts are not okay for mass. I myself wear the same polo and slacks, but I want to start wearing a long sleeve with a tie.

How is showing up for weekday Mass in work clothes not showing respect for him? Most folks don’t have time on weekdays to change into dress clothes for Mass. They go to Mass early in the morning on the way to work, or during their mid-day break, or on their way home at the end of the work day. Not everyone works in a nice air-conditioned office.

I agree if the main purpose of the outing is to go to Mass, then one should wear decent clothes and change back into shorts when home. But someone working is another story. For instance, postmen and women’s uniforms in Canada are shorts in the summer. It’s standard issue. It would seem to me that stopping in at daily Mass, and consecrating the day’s work to God is far better than skipping daily Mass because one doesn’t have the time to change into dressier clothes. Nobody except retirees or those who don’t work would attend daily Mass in those circumstances. I don’t think that’s the idea.

Beyond that, nobody should impose a burden of guilt on folks that the Church herself doesn’t impose. The Church does not present an official dress code for Mass AFAIK. It goes without saying that one should dress modestly and respectfully, for instance very short shorts would not be appropriate. But a postman in his work uniform, including standard issue summer shorts, would be.

 

[Lek]

Times change and styles change. My dad and mom used to dress in a suit and a nice dress to go to church on Sundays and would dress up kids the same way. If you see pictures of the crowds at baseball games in the 40s and 50s, the men are all dressed in suits. Styles are much more casual these days. I’m not catholic, but at my church we dress in shorts in the summer. I think the important thing is that you are clean, neat and modest. We should be concentrating on worshiping God and not on each other’s clothing anyway.

 

[markomalley]

If you can afford nice clothes then you should be wearing them to mass regardless what day of the week it is, regardless if it is a low or high mass, Our Lord is being consecrated in the Eucharist in every mass, we should show respect for Him, shorts are not okay for mass. I myself wear the same polo and slacks, but I want to start wearing a long sleeve with a tie.

If I was unable to stop on the way to work (or at lunch break) to go to Mass if I had to meet the dress standards you’ve advocated, then I would not be able to go to daily Mass…

…nor would** the majority** of people I see at daily Mass.

 

[Memaw]

These attitudes would clear out our daily Mass.

People come to daily Mass from everywhere. And from all walks of life.

Some are men that have been working outside all morning. They are hot, sweaty and dirty. Stand too close and they smell. Many work for lawn care companies. So they are in shorts and t-shirts. See them on Sunday and they are in dress pants and a polo.

Some are mothers trying to teach their children about the wonder of God. And how to sit still during Mass. They come during the week because Mass isn’t as long, and their children can be successful. They come from the playground or some other outing, and they wear shorts, or casual skirts. Sunday Mass you see them more dressed up, but they are standing out in the vestibule because the children aren’t quite ready to sit for a full hour.

And you see students. Although some drive to Mass, some that walk a couple of miles to get there. They have been in classes all morning. They wear shorts, jeans or whatever they wore to class that morning. Tell them that they have to go back to their room and change, and they wouldn’t come. Most wouldn’t have the time. On Sunday, most will be dressed up.

So, OP, no, I can’t imagine anyone saying anything to you about wearing shorts to daily Mass. Please make sure they aren’t short, shorts. That they cover all the important parts. Otherwise, you are fine.

If what I said would ‘clear out’ the Mass, then I would suggest checking the attitudes of those there too. I did say "as respectfully as we can!! But to make excuses for everything and everyone is not good either. I have been going to daily Mass for nearly 40 years and I have not seen many of those you described. We should come to daily Mass as often as possible but dressed as respectfully as we can at all times. Let’s don’t forget who we are coming to be with. God Bless, Memaw

 

[johnnyt3000]

If you can afford nice clothes then you should be wearing them to mass regardless what day of the week it is, regardless if it is a low or high mass, Our Lord is being consecrated in the Eucharist in every mass, we should show respect for Him, shorts are not okay for mass. I myself wear the same polo and slacks, but I want to start wearing a long sleeve with a tie.

On the other hand, when I went to the stuebenville youth conference in Orlando, majority of us I believe, including myself, were wearing shorts during mass…
so shame on me for being a hypocrite.
The answer to your question would varry in different circumstances I guess.

 

[Memaw]

On the other hand, when I went to the stuebenville youth conference in Orlando, majority of us I believe, including myself, were wearing shorts during mass…
so shame on me for being a hypocrite.
The answer to your question would varry in different circumstances I guess.

That doesn’t make it right!!! God Bless, Memaw

 

[johnnyt3000]

That doesn’t make it right!!! God Bless, Memaw

If you were there you would understand. We were not in a church, it was a big auditorium.

 

[maryjk]

If you were there you would understand. We were not in a church, it was a big auditorium.

If it was anything like when my son attended, you not only went to Mass. You also spent the entire day attending various things; Confession, talks, concert. Plus you ate lunch outside. Not at a picnic table.

Just remember that there are people that will look at you funny if you dare walk into Mass without dressing in your Sunday best. It doesn’t matter what time it is, where else you have been or what else you have been doing. It doesn’t matter where Mass is being held. You simply don’t walk in, in short, jeans, or for ladies, pants. You simply don’t do it. It is better in their mind, for you to miss Mass.

 

[Memaw]

If it was anything like when my son attended, you not only went to Mass. You also spent the entire day attending various things; Confession, talks, concert. Plus you ate lunch outside. Not at a picnic table.

Just remember that there are people that will look at you funny if you dare walk into Mass without dressing in your Sunday best. It doesn’t matter what time it is, where else you have been or what else you have been doing. It doesn’t matter where Mass is being held. You simply don’t walk in, in short, jeans, or for ladies, pants. You simply don’t do it. It is better in their mind, for you to miss Mass.

The desire to dress respectfully has to be in the mind of the wearer. What others think doesn’t have a thing to do with that. How others look at you makes little difference. It’s whats inside that counts. And what’s right or wrong. Funny how millions of people got to Mass for a couple thousand years without wearing shorts, tank tops, jeans etc. And NO air-conditioning either! Imagine that !!! And I don’t believe anyone on here would rather someone “miss” Mass like you think. Your twisting things as many do to get their point across. God Bless, Memaw

 

[maryjk]

The desire to dress respectfully has to be in the mind of the wearer. What others think doesn’t have a thing to do with that. How others look at you makes little difference. It’s whats inside that counts. And what’s right or wrong.

I have to agree. I couldn’t care less what other people think of me, when I walk into Mass. If someone said something to me about what I had on, I would tell them in no uncertain terms to mind their own business.

Funny how millions of people got to Mass for a couple thousand years without wearing shorts, tank tops, jeans etc. And NO air-conditioning either! Imagine that !!!

Yes, they also walked to school in two feet of snow. Without shoes. Up hill. Both ways.

You might want to do a little reading about history. People, masses of people, didn’t live in the hotter regions of the world, or the US, until the advent of air conditioning. Places like Atlanta, GA., or Miami, FL., weren’t major cities, Check out this video. It explains a lot about it.

And I don’t believe anyone on here would rather someone “miss” Mass like you think. You’re twisting things as many do to get their point across.

My comment was about “some people.” I did not indicate that it was some here.

 

[Memaw]

I have to agree. I couldn’t care less what other people think of me, when I walk into Mass. If someone said something to me about what I had on, I would tell them in no uncertain terms to mind their own business.Yes, they also walked to school in two feet of snow. Without shoes. Up hill. Both ways.

You might want to do a little reading about history. People, masses of people, didn’t live in the hotter regions of the world, or the US, until the advent of air conditioning. Places like Atlanta, GA., or Miami, FL., weren’t major cities, Check out this video. It explains a lot about it.

My comment was about “some people.” I did not indicate that it was some here.

Again, stretching the point beyond reason. And again, it’s not what others think of what we wear but what God thinks of it. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Catholic_farmer]

I see kids dressed in nice shorts and a collared shirt. I think it’s fine for kids. Adults may have a reason, too. I have enough skirts or dresses, but I don’t worry about such things in other people. That’s between them and their confessor.

 

[RUNE190]

I don’t know but I would ask you, “If you were going to a party for a holiday dinner and the dinner is really fine, would you wear shorts??”. Seems to me that you should show as much respect in the house of the Lord as you would at the fancy dinner of a friend.

 

[NextElement]

I wear cargo shorts and a polo or t-shirt to Sunday mass. In fact, it’s what I wore today. It’s what a lot of people wear in my parish. I can’t wrap my mind around how much people (especially on CAF) criticize for what people choose to wear. Would you rather they not attend at all? But maybe that’s the younger generation talking (I’m 19)

 

[RUNE190]

What kind of reasoning is that??? You are right, though, it does have a lot to do with your age. It is a matter of respect. Just because ‘everybody is doing it’, does NOT justify it. Not attending because you can’t wear cargoes and a t-shirt is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. TOOT!! TOOT!!