Jeans...at mass?

[william_Smith]

I understand some of the thoughts concerning our glorifying God through appropriate clothing for mass and the exposed belly buttons are a real issue to many as myself. Especially where the short shirt person is asked to assist in the mass. I’m fairly open, but i must draw the line at exposing skin for the sake of drawing attention to ones body. I beleive the preist should make clear this is wrong and quote scripture as to why.

Other than that, hopfully we all just came to mass to be together with God and I think he’s is glad to see us if we wear jeans or sweat pants and so let’s all just be glad to see each other. I love you all! See you at mass.

 

[kamz]

Phoenix 7:

I think that right there is the best response. But to take it a step further, let me pose the following questions to you:
What is the point of wearing incredibly nice clothes to Mass? What is the point of wearing incredibly casual clothes to Mass?
If the point of wearing incredibly nice clothes is to impress everyone around you, then NO, you shouldn’t wear nice clothes to Mass. If the point of wearing incredibly nice clothes to Mass is to give your best to God, then YES, you can wear nice clothes. If the point of wearing casual clothes is to point out to everyone around you how little you care about the Mass, then NO, you shouldn’t wear casual clothes. If the point of wearing casual clothes is to honor God with your presence at Mass, then YES, you can wear casual clothes.

Folks, this entire topic goes with the old saying “You can’t judge a book by its cover” which incidently ties in with “Judge not, lest you be judged.”

Someone asked what you would wear if Jesus were celebrating the Mass. Two comments on that:

1. He is. As in the sacrament of confession, the priest is in persona Christi, in the Person of Christ. It is only through the power of Christ that the Bread and Wine become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
2. My patron saint at Confirmation, St. Dominic Savio, who died at the age of 15, was in class one day when the teacher asked his entire class this question: “What would you do if you knew Jesus would return in 24 hours?” Some students said they’d go to confession, others said they’d help the poor, others would go to Mass. Dominic answered simply, saying: “I would do exactly what I am doing right now.” When asked his reasoning, St. Dominic replied: “I would do what I am doing now because I know that I am doing exactly what Jesus wants me to be doing. Why shouldn’t I want to be doing that when He returns?”

I once asked my pastor (a convert to Catholicism, and priest for many years) if he would permit me to serve on the Altar in sandals. His response was “Well, they were good enough for the Savior at the Last Supper, so why not now?” Remember that when the Ultimate Sacrifice of the Cross was given, Our Lord had no clothes to wear. It doesn’t matter what you wear so much as why you are wearing it. Learn from the lesson of Samuel when he went to find David to anoint him king. God clearly said “I do not look at the outside, but at the heart!” Let that be the deciding factor, my brothers and sisters, and cease this petty squabble.

AWESOME POST :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :yup: :yup:

 

[Chris_Jacobsen]

Yes, denim is now appropriate. The change came about 25 years ago with the advent of designer jeans. Previous to that, denim clothes were considered work clothes.

 

[Daniel_David]

kamz:

Daniel/David:

Then express your opinion and leave it alone, but that is the problem with these posts, and there have been tons, …shorts for mass? jeans for mass? proper attire for mass? all of these have been posted at Catholic answers forums and all have gotten locked because people went beyond expressing an opinion, a personal opinion then turned into mud slinging and when a poster felt attacked they got mad, hurt, etc.
We are human and we get hurt and words can hurt and we forget that even on a message board, we can be stung by words.
All I’m suggesting to posters is that when you post, stop, think, will this cause someone pain? I’m sure I’m guilty of it myself and I’ve been truely sorry for it and I’ve had it done to me.

I don’t know what it is about this topic that can set people off, I think, people who are dressing for Mass and wearing jeans and feel just dandy (like myself) feel pretty cross, when lets say someone comes and posts that, we, maybe are being disrespectuful to God or those around us…etc.
How can someone state that if they don’t even know what is in our hearts or minds?

I’ve seen people get very hurt and it pains me and I just hope that people can keep their opinions to “as for me and my family” and not “and for you and yours too”

Peace Be With You

Kamz,

I did express my opinion and then left it alone. You seem to be the one that keeps putting posts up with “right on”, and “words can hurt…” and some other posts

Why did you bother clicking on this thread if you knew how it was going progress? For myself, i was curious as to how others thought… maybe someone would say something that might make me change my views, maybe not… it is like the TV though, if i don’t like what’s going on, i can always change the channel

 

[Glenn_Lego]

SnorterLuster:

Although I wear a coat & tie to Mass, I don’t see a thing wrong with jeans as long as they are clean.

In the poorer parishes and in the rural parishes, many of the men come to Mass in jeans, it is the best they own. I have noticed though, the jeans are probably their newest “dress” pair and are usually starched and pressed. They are giving their best to the Lord, just like the poor man that gives his last dollar to someone poorer than himself.

I am a person who wears jeans to Mass I am not exactly “rolling in dough” so I can’t afford real fancy clothes But I do wear my best ones to church.

 

[kamz]

Daniel/David, what are you? Catholic forums police? Monitoring who can post or not post? I’m only patting people on the backs as in agreement with them to let them know I appreciate what they are saying and how nice they say it without stepping on peoples feelings but instead putting some thought into what they write and not being nasty with their words unlike others

 

[chicago]

Pisio:

I think though that we should worry more about what is going on on the inside of a person than what they protray externally.

You just never know why or what has caused them to wear what they are wearing…

Just remember, you can dress a sinner up in a suit, but he is still a sinner. How can we ever learn to accept each other as sinners, if we can not even accept what others are wearing? I think that ultimately, God wants us to be able to stand naked (spirtually) before Him and each other and say this is who I am… help me to be more like Christ.

Given, the state in which one approaches the altar and their intentions in being present and dress are ultimately more important than mere appearances. Undoubtedly, the person in a dirty T-shirt and ragged jeans might be more acceptable than the cleanest 3 piece suit wearer present. Though that argument goes both ways, and therefore one could legitimately question whether one is dressing in certain ways due to ignorance or laxity as well as pride and vainglory. Or conversely, out of a sense of genuine reverence and respect or humble simplicity.

That said, my original point was that there is a certain philosphy which underlies why we clothe ourselves in certain ways, what that expresses, and how it either reflects upon us or affects our sensibilities. And, while I respectfully acknowledge the real value of your own intervention here, I also think that this philospohical element is truly something which ought to be considered when we evaluate the nature of dress.

 

[Pisio]

chicago:

Given, the state in which one approaches the altar and their intentions in being present and dress are ultimately more important than mere appearances. Undoubtedly, the person in a dirty T-shirt and ragged jeans might be more acceptable than the cleanest 3 piece suit wearer present. Though that argument goes both ways, and therefore one could legitimately question whether one is dressing in certain ways due to ignorance or laxity as well as pride and vainglory. Or conversely, out of a sense of genuine reverence and respect or humble simplicity.

That said, my original point was that there is a certain philosphy which underlies why we clothe ourselves in certain ways, what that expresses, and how it either reflects upon us or affects our sensibilities. And, while I respectfully acknowledge the real value of your own intervention here, I also think that this philospohical element is truly something which ought to be considered when we evaluate the nature of dress.

I agree completely, and very well stated… You are quite articulate…

This particular issue just strikes a cord with me ever since a Sunday a couple of years ago. I was at the beach, and got a phone call from my dad. My grandfather was in the hospital and he was not going to make it much longer.

I hung up the phone and drove to Mass (I normally go in the evening) swimsuit, t-shirt and rubber slippers. My pastor, whom I worked for at the time, told me that he wanted me to go home and change. I told him I had just found out my grandfather was dying, and I needed to be in prayer with the community now. He then asked if I wanted to be an EMHC (Imagine the fun we could all have with those pictures!)! j/k he did not ask me to be an EMHC, but he understood and let me stay sandy slippers and all.

You would not believe the looks I got, and all I wanted was to be with a group of people to pray with me as my grandfather died. I thought I knew where I could go, boy was I mistaken! Pretty sad huh?

Ever since then, I have not questioned why someone is wearing what they are wearing at Mass. Gods knows their true intentions, and their hearts. Perhaps, if someone continually showed up in cut offs, flip flops and a t-shirt with a “Buttweiser” logo it may be my place to lovingly correct them, but if the dress is modest and clean, who knows? Maybe that is the best they can do…

I agree with you though… we all have things that go on that make us choose to wear what we wear to Mass. The more I jump into my faith, the more I fall in love with the poor, especially of my home parish. I do not have a suit to wear to Mass, although I could get one. If I did though, I would not be able to look at myself in the mirror when one of the less fortunate families in my parish could not afford to send their kids to CCD. Granted, I can not help out all of them, but if I bought a suit, I could help even less. I think God understands that…

In Christ,
Pisio

 

[MarthaMartha]

Jesus4Me:

How would I dress if Jesus himself were the one saying Mass? That’s how I dress.

I honestly don’t think Jesus set a dress code for the people who came to hear Him in His lifetime.

I agree with the posters who say that jeans are OK if they are clean and neat. Still, anyone who has a role in the Mass might seriously consider not wearing them. I don’t wear jeans when I cantor – and I’m covered up by a robe – because I don’t feel it’s appropriate. I was a little surprised last night (Ascension Thursday) when one of the eucharistic ministers (female) showed up for Mass and gave out Communion in jeans.

 

[jpowers]

I grew up in a Southern Baptist church, and that is where I raised my children. However, as they became teenagers, they began to tell me that people were making fun of their clothes, their shoes, etc., at Sunday school. Now, they refuse to even go to church there because they think the people are a bunch of hypocrites. (I know it was just a select few people, but convincing them is another matter.) I joined the Church this past Easter, and can honestly say that my clothes have never made a difference at Church. Growing up I only remember one thing about Easter: we would be going to buy Easter dresses. On the other hand, I will never forget my first Easter in the Catholic Church, it brought what it is really about into focus. Janice