Modesty and mass

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K_allyse

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I am not sure where to post this…but I will be attending my first Mass this week and I understand you are suppose to genuflect before entering your pew. How can one do so modestly if wearing a dress? Although most of my clothing hit at or below my knee, I am still concerned with the proper way to do this…
 
With a skirt at or below the knee you will be just fine. Don’t worry.
 
Enjoy the Mass, don’t wear mini skirts either, to genuflect is a one knee hits the ground, the other bends , make sign of cross, up again to feet.
It’s fine to wear slacks or jeans too.
 
Just to note that you genuflect only if the tabernacle is behind the altar. Otherwise you bow to the altar.
 
Chasity rhymes with modesty.

Not everyone is watching - or looking back at you - lol
 
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Since you say you’re attending your first Mass, I’ll assume you’re not Catholic.

If that’s the case, you don’t necessarily need to genuflect. I’ve been going to Mass with my wife for almost 20 years and don’t genuflect. I don’t know, but I don’t think anyone bats an eye.
 
That length will be fine to genuflect. Don’t worry about it. Out of habit when I wear a dress I quickly brush the back/bottom of my dress as I genuflect to smooth it/hold it down while I make the sign of the cross with my right hand. It would be fine anyway - just a thought if you’re still concerned. I like to be cautious myself.
 
Just a reminder - it is not compulsory to make the Sign of the Cross at the same time as genuflecting. It is a pious custom more practised in some parishes than others. It’s the exception in our parish, I have to say, I can’t remember the last time I saw it.

Don’t let’s make things more complicated for a first-timer than they need to be.
 
I’m sorry. I don’t want to make things more complicated. That’s just how I was taught when I started to attend mass.
 
The other thing is, having a free hand to actually make the Sign of the Cross. Most people I see use the end of the bench to steady themselves when they genuflect, so if they are entering the right hand side benches, they don’t have their hand free and may feel awkward about using the left hand.

Anyway, as I say, it is not compulsory, nor is making it after receiving Holy Communion.
 
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TC3033 said:
you don’t necessarily need to genuflect
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I agree with this - if the person doesn’t believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, which is actively housed in the tabernacle, then genuflecting makes no sense. We are genuflecting towards Jesus, our King, who is present with us, to acknowledge Him as our King. If someone doesn’t believe in His Kingship and Presence, then genuflecting makes no sense. Which is why we don’t genuflect on Good Friday (when the tabernacle is empty).

And if someone is non-Catholic, but believes in both, then why question is: Why aren’t you Catholic already?
 
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You don’t need to get your knee all the way to the ground. Some people can do this and some people cannot. I personally have difficulty touching the ground with one knee and getting all the way back up again. I can get about half way there so that’s what I do. Just do it the best you can.

A deep bow from the waist is also an option and I see some people do that instead.
 
As my friend says after getting dressed, stand in front of a full length mirror.

Reach to the sky then touch your toes, if anything flashes, change your clothes 🙂
 
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