Mass dress code

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I was listening to Catholic radio today. I think it was broadcast from the EWTN HQ.

The homily was about proper attire for Mass. Most of it was common sense, but some of it caught me by supprise.

Like no armless blouses, along with a few others I can’t remember because the show was a couple of hours ago.

Anyway, is there an official dress code?
 
It’s hard to say if there is some dress code… You know it’s rather a way of tradition and respect to the God, priest, and people participating in Mass. But sometimes the Mass is celebrated outside for example during the mountain trip, or sth. Then it’s impossible to change clothes. God knows how do you look like, so for Him it doesn’t mind;) but of course when you are participating in Mass in church you shouldn’t wear shorts, armless blouses and short skirts. Some priest explained, that when girl is wearing some skimpy clothes, then men can’t concentrate on Jesus Christ and Mass, because they’re diffused by the attractive girls;)
 
No armless blouses??? Why not???:confused:

I’m sorry, but I fail to see how wearing a sleeveless blouse to church is inappropriate. :nope: Same with tasteful sandals. Or a nice skort, skirt, or dressy pair of shorts. My favorite summer church outfits consist of colorful skorts, sleeveless blouses, and my sandals.:hmmm: This is true of nearly everyone who attends mass here in the summer. And if one travels “up north” to the lakes and cabins, one will find mass participants in camping clothes (tshirts, shorts, flip flops, etc), as many of them are vacationing at the lakes, camping, etc.
 
One other thing the priest said: at the Vatican, no one dressed immodestly is allowed to enter. They are removed from the line. Vendors selling paper clothes can get them properly attired.

I think he said the same applies for EWTN in Alabama.

I find it strange that EWTN would be hq’ed in Alabama.
 
There was a time in Europe when it was posted outside the churches, like on the door, that sleeveless shirts were not acceptable, nor shorts and I can’t remember what else. I don’t think it is like that anymore though, Europe falling away as it is…I think this is where the tradition may have come from. But maybe I’m totally wrong and I don’t remember correctly. When I was kid we lived in Germany and travelled quite extensively and Mom always made sure we went to mass on Sunday wherever we were.

Some years back I went to the Blue Army Shrine in Washington, NJ and I was wearing a long, sleeveless dress and the nuns ran out and covered me up with a brown wrap around skirt. Boy was I embarressed! You can bet that I haven’t been sleeveless anywhere NEAR a Catholic Church since then!!
 
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Catholic90:
No armless blouses??? Why not???:confused:

I’m sorry, but I fail to see how wearing a sleeveless blouse to church is inappropriate. :nope: Same with tasteful sandals. Or a nice skort, skirt, or dressy pair of shorts. My favorite summer church outfits consist of colorful skorts, sleeveless blouses, and my sandals.:hmmm: This is true of nearly everyone who attends mass here in the summer. And if one travels “up north” to the lakes and cabins, one will find mass participants in camping clothes (tshirts, shorts, flip flops, etc), as many of them are vacationing at the lakes, camping, etc.
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In both cases people are placing their own physical comfort and style or their personal convenience ahead of dressing appropriately for Heaven on Earth – the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They should all be ashamed of themselves.
 
I find it strange that EWTN would be hq’ed in Alabama.
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Something has to be in Alabama, so why not EWTN? But seriously ,I think that’s where Mother Angelica is from.

Years ago, before our current level of technology, it probably would have been mandatory to local a big network in Atlanta, LA, New York or another major media center.

But the power of the technology is that it can be located anywhere.
 
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Kielbasi:
Something has to be in Alabama, so why not EWTN? But seriously ,I think that’s where Mother Angelica is from.

Years ago, before our current level of technology, it probably would have been mandatory to local a big network in Atlanta, LA, New York or another major media center.

But the power of the technology is that it can be located anywhere.
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It’s odd because it’s deep in the “bible belt” where few Catholics have traditionally lived. Mother is from the east. She was sent there by her order.

It’s too bad it’s not located in a place like Chicago where it’s much easier to get to for the entie nation – including guests on EWTN.
 
My church has no air conditioner, and it is 100% humidity. I’ll be wearing shorts.
 
Our Church generally promotes the conservative dress, though, generally people do not follow it.

Our First Communicant girls are discouraged from wearing dresses with no sleeves.

If my daughter wears a dress with no sleeves to church, I make her wear her shawl.

I do not wear shorts in church.

I do not wear flip flops to church.

You know, this topic was one of the very first topics to get going, and get heated when this forum first opened.

There were people on both sides of the issue.

Some said: “It’s a respect thing. We generally put thought and consideration into our attire when we attend functions of importance (weddings, business meetings, etc.) Church should be no different… Any discomfort can be offered to God.”

Some said: “God doesn’t care what we wear if we show up. If we dress up for church it becomes an rich vs. poor thing. Besides, Jesus was poor too.”

I guess I find myself more on the side of the first group. We do not have to have brand name, cashmere clothing to enter the House of God. But if our clothing is modest, clean, and is clothing reserved for more important occassions- it puts us in a different frame of mind.

We show our respect for the event by our clothing. Our demeanor changes when we put on a dress or a suit, than if we put on shorts and flip flops.

Obviously we will encounter occassions where we are unable to wear our church clothes. But I do not think it should be commonplace no matter what the season is…
 
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Kielbasi:
Something has to be in Alabama, so why not EWTN? But seriously ,I think that’s where Mother Angelica is from.

Years ago, before our current level of technology, it probably would have been mandatory to local a big network in Atlanta, LA, New York or another major media center.

But the power of the technology is that it can be located anywhere.
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Actually, Mother Angelica was born in Canton, Ohio. If I recall correctly, she injured herself with some kind of floor waxer gone mad. While in the hospital recovering, she promised God she would build a monastery in the South. Keeping that promise, she chose Irondale, Alabama as the location for the monastery that would eventually become EWTN headquarters.
 
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Catholic90:
No armless blouses??? Why not???:confused:

I’m sorry, but I fail to see how wearing a sleeveless blouse to church is inappropriate. :nope: Same with tasteful sandals. Or a nice skort, skirt, or dressy pair of shorts. My favorite summer church outfits consist of colorful skorts, sleeveless blouses, and my sandals.:hmmm: This is true of nearly everyone who attends mass here in the summer. And if one travels “up north” to the lakes and cabins, one will find mass participants in camping clothes (tshirts, shorts, flip flops, etc), as many of them are vacationing at the lakes, camping, etc.
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Sleeveless blouses are a matter of personal class. If you could see me in a sleeveless blouse (with my upper arms flapping to take off) you would say that it was not appropriate for church. I will not wear them nor will my daughters but I have seen ladies who look nice when it is 100 degrees.

I asked my VERY conservative priest about skorts and he said, no problem. I would guess that short or tight is just that. If we understand that Our Lord is there, we know what to wear.
 
My minimum personal dress code for the Mass:

Obviously no shorts (although I love them dearly.)

No jeans (amazing the number of places where jeans are forbidden – like some schools or dances)

No short sleeved or collar-less shirts (if I can’t wear a shirt without a collar at my country club, I’m sure not going to wear one to Mass.)

No sneakers (extremely tacky in most cases)
 
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Catholic90:
No armless blouses??? Why not???:confused:

I’m sorry, but I fail to see how wearing a sleeveless blouse to church is inappropriate. :nope: Same with tasteful sandals. Or a nice skort, skirt, or dressy pair of shorts. My favorite summer church outfits consist of colorful skorts, sleeveless blouses, and my sandals.:hmmm: This is true of nearly everyone who attends mass here in the summer. And if one travels “up north” to the lakes and cabins, one will find mass participants in camping clothes (tshirts, shorts, flip flops, etc), as many of them are vacationing at the lakes, camping, etc.
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When I go camping with our Boy Scout troop, we all wear class A uniforms to church, that a full dress uniform. When I go camping by myself, or on vacation, I carry a dress shirt, pants, and a tie to wear to Sundays mass and Holy days of obligation. At home I always wear a dress shirt, pants, and tie, under my alb when I assist as an EMHC and Altar Server - no matter what the temp (we do not have fans or air conditioning). The slight discomfort is nothing compaired to being tempted is the desert after no food and drink for 40 days, sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemini, being betrayed by one you love, scourged, spit upon and mocked with a crown of thorns, being draged - weak and bleeding - to Mt Calvary only to be striped before those you love and nailed to the cross, hanging for three hours before you die.
My pastor doesn’t complain about the heavy chasible he wears over his alb and street clothes. In fact he makes it clear that he is happy and blessed to be there.
 
Regarding shorts, a lot should depend upon the climate. I live in the desert, and half the people at Mass I see are nearly always in shorts (not that I spend most of Mass gawking at others’ clothing). Usually dressy and well appointed shorts, mind you, not cutoffs or athletic shorts. I feel anything worn out of respect for the Mass and recognition of its importance should be appropriate, and proper shorts can fill this bill.
 
People entering a church dressed like a bum is hardly an exclusively Catholic phenomena.

Back in the day, not so long ago, I remember the 60s, folks dressed up just to go shopping downtown, to attend churches or synagogues. A decent restaurant wouldn’t serve folks if they looked like a bum. Security at a nice department store would tell you to leave.

Crappy looking Catholics assisting at mass is just a part of a much larger social situation, started in the 60s. The hippies of a bygone era and the civil rights movement were the start of this.

Also, back in the day, black folks were also not allowed in a large number of restaurants and hotels and churches. The civil rights laws forbade commercial establishments from that kind of discrimination. The hippies and other unkempt folks of that time decided that their appearance was also protected under the same laws, stores began to let them in, and everything fell down to the lowest common denominator where many people dress like bums no matter where they are.
 
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DJJG:
When I go camping with our Boy Scout troop, we all wear class A uniforms to church, that a full dress uniform. When I go camping by myself, or on vacation, I carry a dress shirt, pants, and a tie to wear to Sundays mass and Holy days of obligation. At home I always wear a dress shirt, pants, and tie, under my alb when I assist as an EMHC and Altar Server - no matter what the temp (we do not have fans or air conditioning). The slight discomfort is nothing compaired to being tempted is the desert after no food and drink for 40 days, sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemini, being betrayed by one you love, scourged, spit upon and mocked with a crown of thorns, being draged - weak and bleeding - to Mt Calvary only to be striped before those you love and nailed to the cross, hanging for three hours before you die.
My pastor doesn’t complain about the heavy chasible he wears over his alb and street clothes. In fact he makes it clear that he is happy and blessed to be there.
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1.) That’s wonderful.

2.) Make sure your collar/tie is not visable with your alb on. If it is, use an amice.
 
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brittrossiter:
Regarding shorts, a lot should depend upon the climate. I live in the desert, and half the people at Mass I see are nearly always in shorts (not that I spend most of Mass gawking at others’ clothing). Usually dressy and well appointed shorts, mind you, not cutoffs or athletic shorts. I feel anything worn out of respect for the Mass and recognition of its importance should be appropriate, and proper shorts can fill this bill.
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Not really. It actually depends on how much effort we want to put into dressing for Jesus.
 
I see the clothing issue as more of a problem with comfort issue. I don’t always wear dress pants, but I wouldn’t wear shorts to Mass if it was 120 degrees outside. Going through college, I don’t exactly have the money to buy a suit. However, I certainly do wear nice jeans, but preferably khakis and dress pants.

I say, since I don’t have nice dress clothes, I will at least suffer through hot days in what good clothes I can muster. It is the least I can do.
 
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