Perpetual Adoration, shorts, miniskirts, flipflops

[TimothyH]

Bl. John Paul the Great preached the Theology of the Body – not the Theology of Haberdashery.

Blessed John Paul II wrote much about the spiritual meaning of Genesis.

The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame. (Genesis 2:25)

I don’t believe he would have advocated a literal approach to Genesis 2:25. Literal nakedness should remain between husband and wife and should definitly not be applied to the adoration chapel.

I would think that God would welcome spiritual nakedness in the adoration chapel however.

-Tim-

 

[Rejoice_Always]

I don’t believe he would have advocated a literal approach to Genesis 2:25. Literal nakedness should remain between husband and wife and should definitly not be applied to the adoration chapel.

I would think that God would welcome spiritual nakedness in the adoration chapel however.

I like the cut of your jib.

Just don’t wear a jib to Mass or adoration. :ehh:

 

[CB_Catholic]

With the flipflops, it’s not really the flipflops I noticed, but how people remove them to put up their feet. When a guy sits next to me, in board shorts, feet put up, it’s just too much exposed. And it’s the same thing with women. Good that they came, but I don’t want to see their knees and thighs exposed. For what I gather, the Vatican’s modesty rules aren’t really about looking neat or formal, they are about covering certain areas of the body. As someone put it, you can wear throw-away paper pants and skirts, and they will let you in. They just don’t want you to expose your body, from the shoulders to the knees. “You can come half-nekkid” is definitely not what the Catholic Church teaches, judging by the dress codes enforced throughout Vatican city and in the churches of Rome.

Thus let me re-phrase my question to put the emphasis on the modesty/covering aspect: does the Church allow us to expose parts of our bodies at the Adoration Chapel, that she forbids us from exposing while visiting churches for prayer or Holy Mass?

I know this much: the Pope definitely doesn’t want you to wear shorts, skirts above the knee, or clothes that expose the shoulders, anywhere in the Vatican City or in the churches of Rome which is the Pope’s diocese. So, my question is this: are the rules relaxed at perpetual adoration regarding modesty, regarding being covered from the shoulders to the knees, included? Could it be possible that we can’t expose our shoulders and knees while visiting a Catholic church, even just to pray outside of Mass time, but we are allowed to expose those body parts in the adoration chapel? As I think of it, it doesn’t make sense to me, but that’s just my personal opinion and unfortunately I haven’t seen specific guidance by our bishops and priests.

I’m mostly looking for specific guidance from our clergy, similar to the sermon by Fr. Dominick Mary on EWTN’s televised Mass, see here: youtube.com/watch?v=PZHECJJbzPM

That sermon is very clear: you must cover your shoulders and knees in church. One should not come to church dressed in shorts. I’m looking for similar specific instructions, by our clergy, for the Adoration Chapel. Or, could it be that when they mention “church”, they also include the “adoration chapel” in that definition?

I really do not think that sweatpants, night gowns, or being uncombed are the problem. The problem is exposing body parts that should be covered. The Vatican’s Swiss Guards will not turn you away for wearing sweatpants and being uncombed - they will turn you away if your shoulders and/or knees are exposed (shorts, dresses and skirts above the knee). I suggest we accordingly concentrate on this issue: Does the Catholic Church allow us to expose body parts in the Adoration Chapel, that she otherwise demands that we cover while visiting church buildings either for Holy Mass, or even just for private prayer outside of Mass time?

To be honest, the Magesterium has not made any statement on what people should wear to church, and the Pope has not made any infallible statements about it either.

Different areas have different customs, different priests have different opinions, the thing that should be followed is the teaching on modesty (found in the Catechism) and common sense. Just because Fr. X opines something, or tries to set a dress code in his parish does not mean it is the standard for the universal Church. If you go to parts of Africa, people are nearly naked at Mass. And Jesus walked around barefoot or in sandals. Footwear is not a modesty issue–ask the Franciscans. So no, there is no official pronouncement by the Church on what people should wear–no length of hem or sleeve, or neckline, or type of shoes, etc. The Church does not “demand” anything of the sort; although the Vatican sets it’s rules, that does not mean the rest of the world has to follow them.

I suggest you sit up front when you go to Adoration, because what you wish would happen (everyone dressing as you think they should) just isn’t going to happen in the real world.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Bravo to Father Dominic of EWTN and his ‘no nonsense’ sermon! He is absolutely one of the most ‘straight-talkin’, no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners’ guys of all the priests down there! If I had been at that Mass, I would have given him a little ‘thumbs-up’ and gone into the sacristy afterwards to give him a big ‘THANK YOU’!

I’m also glad that the FSSP parish had guidelines for what to wear (and what NOT to wear) at Mass for the summer months! Bravo to them, too!

I go to an Adoration chapel, and I know that a few times there was either a sign posted on the door or on the bulletin board (it’s inside the parish rectory) requesting that adorers dress appropriately while before Our Lord’s presence. But many a time there are people who ‘pop in’ for a brief visit while going about their daily routines, and are not dressed appropriately.

I certainly won’t give anyone the ‘evil eye’ if that happens. But I know a few times I have leaned over to whisper to the ‘offender’ that they shouldn’t dress the way they are if they’re going to be in the chapel.

The chapel I go to for the TLM has a dress code posted on the doors facing the vestibule. And I know there that I’ve seen some of the parishioners wearing slacks (one woman) and blue jeans (one man does that when there’s a Holy Day Mass). But it’s up to the priest, I think, to let everyone know (even if privately) what’s appropriate for Mass.

But A HUGE ‘BRAVISSIMO’ to no-nonsense Father Dominic! Amen to what he said!

I personally think you have no business whispering to the “offender” they shouldn’t dress the way they are. It is not your job to police them. That is for the Pastor to enforce. I would politely tell you to mind your own business, and then complain to the Pastor about your behavior. If he objected to my dress in his chapel, so be it, but not just a member of the parish with no authority over me, and whose opinion is likely to be subjective and based on their own personal preference. If you have a problem, take it up with the Pastor and let him handle it.

And I probably would never visit that chapel again, if that’s the way I was going to be treated by ordinary parishioners. Sometimes people need to think before they act.

 

[Moore11]

We have perpetual adoration. Many nights I stop by if I cant sleep, or need to be with Jesus. 2 In the morning is a popular time for me to go. I have shorts and flip flops on with a T shirt. ITS 2AM!!! I think it can depend on the time of day and if you signed up for that hour or not. Sometimes we just need to be in adoration.
I am picky about Mass attire. But adoration at 2 AM? You are all just lucky I have anything on at all!
On a side note. I was pulled over last year at 2 am and the cop asked me where I was. (the bars all close at 2 around here) I said “Church” and he thought I was crazy and being a smart alec. But when I explained it to him I think he got the idea.

 

[Seeker1961]

I too take my iPhone to Adoration with me. I have the Breviary on my phone because I’m too poor to spend the $300+ for the new Latin/English Baronius Press Breviary. I try to hide it in my Missal, but sometimes it slides out. It’s kind of annoying carrying around a purse of church books for those spontaneous drop-ins to Church. I have everything on my iPhone, but I think someone would throw a nutty if they saw me whip out my iPhone during Mass to follow along.

I have everything on there too and it’s too bad if someone else wants to judge me for using it.

Honestly, is the appearance of others really the most important thing we have to notice in church? I live in Florida and my parish is very close to Disney. Many of our visitors come straight to Mass from a day in the parks, and they have shorts on, t-shirts, and yes…sandals and flip flops! And I LOVE seeing them! They are doing something very few families do-take time out of their vacation to come to Mass. They are teaching their children that vacations are not more important than their faith. Last week I saw this wonderful little boy, he left the pew to use the rest room and returned during the Consecration and knelt on the floor in the side aisle rather than create a disruption during that most solemn point. He couldn’t have been more than 10-my guess he is an altar boy. However, he was in shorts and flip flops so I guess that means more.

 

[hockeyfan]

I personally think you have no business whispering to the “offender” they shouldn’t dress the way they are. It is not your job to police them. That is for the Pastor to enforce. I would politely tell you to mind your own business, and then complain to the Pastor about your behavior. If he objected to my dress in his chapel, so be it, but not just a member of the parish with no authority over me, and whose opinion is likely to be subjective and based on their own personal preference. If you have a problem, take it up with the Pastor and let him handle it.

And I probably would never visit that chapel again, if that’s the way I was going to be treated by ordinary parishioners. Sometimes people need to think before they act.

I agree. I might add this to those who may be critical.

[BIBLEDRB]Luke 18:9-14[/BIBLEDRB]

We don;'t know where a person’s relationship with God stands. They may be coming back. Don’t judge them. I get that your respecting Jesus but they are there to honor him too.

 

[Irishgal49]

Folks, is this now considered acceptable?

Six other people attended with me. Three men were wearing shorts, one woman a miniskirt, and two other women wore shorts. In other words, every single person I met at Perpetual Adoration, wore shorts or miniskirt. Guys also typically wear flipflops and remove those flipflops while sitting inside the chapel.

Does the Church approve of this?

I don’t think the church approves of it at all, but I try to not get wound up about it. I look at it this way. If you were told, right now, you were going to be introduced to the US president or the queen of Great Britain and to hurry up and get ready what would you wear? Shorts, flip flops, jeans??? Even if the room was 100 degrees you would not dress that way. So…why dress down for God? I’ve been in very hot churches but I wore a light dress and appropriate shoes and combed my hair and looked presentable. I can be hot for 1 hour. Jesus suffered a horrible agony for me, surely the lack of air conditioning isn’t a reason to wear beach attire to church. I also was raised that you don’t wear bare arms in church, at least a cap sleeve and that halter tops and t-shirts are not appropriate. My great-grandma was very strict and I still worry she will come after me from heaven/purgatory and flog me if I dress in casual clothes. It’s not hard to wear a light pair of slacks and polo shirt with shoes and socks. If you’re going somewhere after church you can always bring a change of clothes and change in the restroom and then go to the beach or picnic. When I work around the church I bring a change of clothes. I guess that’s a lost art form around the US…changing your clothes for special events. One day I was cleaning–hard at work. I realized it was time to go to Mass. took off the shorts and t-shirt, put on a lightweight skirt and polo shirt and dress shoes, combed my hair and went to Mass. When I was done I came home and changed back. It’s about simple respect. But nowadays its all about “ME” and I shouldn’t be inconvenienced and you shouldn’t care about me or what I do. I have RIGHT to show up wearing a bikini and it’s your problem if you don’t like it. No sense of honor and respect for God or the community. I see it all the time and it’s sad. I see people bringing their children wearing things I wouldn’t wear at all, not even at home. I think to myself, “What are their children learning about respect for church and God?” Their learning that you can do whatever you want and to heck with everyone who doesn’t like it.

Now people say, “Well that might be all they have” but most of us know the people in our parish and I know that some who are dressing like they are going to a pool party have very nice clothes.

Having said that, I find that by sitting in the very front I tend to avoid being distracted by what people wear. I can focus and be close to the monstrance and spend time with Jesus. I am powerless over the selfishness of our society and my own sins–it’s only God’s grace that helps me be a better person. So…I ask God to help me focus on myself and my sins, and make me a better person. I just love Him so much I want to be my best, and I believe that you can act your way into a new way of being…and making myself dress respectfully carries over into how much I value Mass and the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist. I will continue to try to set a positive example in dressing nicely for Mass. He gave His life for me, surely an hour or a little longer is not a big deal if I’m warm.

Thanks be to God.

Lorrie

 

[TrueLight]

I don’t think the church approves of it at all, but I try to not get wound up about it. I look at it this way. If you were told, right now, you were going to be introduced to the US president or the queen of Great Britain and to hurry up and get ready what would you wear? Shorts, flip flops, jeans??? Even if the room was 100 degrees you would not dress that way. So…why dress down for God? I’ve been in very hot churches but I wore a light dress and appropriate shoes and combed my hair and looked presentable. I can be hot for 1 hour. Jesus suffered a horrible agony for me, surely the lack of air conditioning isn’t a reason to wear beach attire to church. I also was raised that you don’t wear bare arms in church, at least a cap sleeve and that halter tops and t-shirts are not appropriate. My great-grandma was very strict and I still worry she will come after me from heaven/purgatory and flog me if I dress in casual clothes. It’s not hard to wear a light pair of slacks and polo shirt with shoes and socks. If you’re going somewhere after church you can always bring a change of clothes and change in the restroom and then go to the beach or picnic. When I work around the church I bring a change of clothes. I guess that’s a lost art form around the US…changing your clothes for special events. One day I was cleaning–hard at work. I realized it was time to go to Mass. took off the shorts and t-shirt, put on a lightweight skirt and polo shirt and dress shoes, combed my hair and went to Mass. When I was done I came home and changed back. It’s about simple respect. But nowadays its all about “ME” and I shouldn’t be inconvenienced and you shouldn’t care about me or what I do. I have RIGHT to show up wearing a bikini and it’s your problem if you don’t like it. No sense of honor and respect for God or the community. I see it all the time and it’s sad. I see people bringing their children wearing things I wouldn’t wear at all, not even at home. I think to myself, “What are their children learning about respect for church and God?” Their learning that you can do whatever you want and to heck with everyone who doesn’t like it.

Now people say, “Well that might be all they have” but most of us know the people in our parish and I know that some who are dressing like they are going to a pool party have very nice clothes.

Having said that, I find that by sitting in the very front I tend to avoid being distracted by what people wear. I can focus and be close to the monstrance and spend time with Jesus. I am powerless over the selfishness of our society and my own sins–it’s only God’s grace that helps me be a better person. So…I ask God to help me focus on myself and my sins, and make me a better person. I just love Him so much I want to be my best, and I believe that you can act your way into a new way of being…and making myself dress respectfully carries over into how much I value Mass and the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist. I will continue to try to set a positive example in dressing nicely for Mass. He gave His life for me, surely an hour or a little longer is not a big deal if I’m warm.

Thanks be to God.

Lorrie

Excellent post!

 

[Irishgal49]

I agree. I might add this to those who may be critical.

[BIBLEDRB]Luke 18:9-14[/BIBLEDRB]

We don;'t know where a person’s relationship with God stands. They may be coming back. Don’t judge them. I get that your respecting Jesus but they are there to honor him too.

Matthew chapter 22

1 AND Jesus answering, spoke again in parables to them, saying: 2 The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king, who made a marriage for his son. 3 And he sent his servants, to call them that were invited to the marriage; and they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying: Tell them that were invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my beeves and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come ye to the marriage. 5 But they neglected, and went their own ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise. 6 And the rest laid hands on his servants, and having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. 7 But when the king had heard of it, he was angry, and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. 8 Then he saith to his servants: The marriage indeed is ready; but they that were invited were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways; and as many as you shall find, call to the marriage. 10 And his servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both bad and good: and the marriage was filled with guests.

11 And the king went in to see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment. 12 And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? But he was silent. 13 Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Now you can proof-text your passage and say how that means everyone should do whatever they want (I am assuming based on the post that these are regular adorers and NOT newbies) and I can hit you with mine and say that inappropriately dressed people are going to hell…so how about we stop with the Scripture exchange and express our opinions? If you don’t want to be judged by someone then don’t show up for mass wearing a halter top and barefoot? Common sense is common sense. I work with mentally retarded people–severely disabled who know how to dress for church without being told…so spare me.

 

[Domnall]

I think everyone needs to chill out about this. Remember, the point of adoration is to meet Christ, not to judge others…especially in his Real Presence!

Polonius in Hamlet once said, “Clothes make the man.”
Totally not true…just look at our politicians

 

[Irishgal49]

I think objecting to drinking water is a bit harsh. A few months ago I was quite sick, but not sick enough to excuse not going to Mass. I had to take a bottle of water with me because otherwise I would have spent the whole time coughing my lungs up and distracting those around me. Drinking water is much easier to do subtly and is less disturbing to others than coughing. It may well be an act of charity to the others in Adoration.

I agree in spirit with a lot of the critiques but I take a medication that causes me severe dry mouth. I told my priest and a few of the parishioners around me and they understand I sip from a water bottle I keep discreetly in my purse. I certainly don’t swig from it and have it in view. I try to be respectful.

I would not be offended if someone whispered that what I wear to church is inappropriate because recently I’ve had a major change of heart. I just want to be with Jesus in heaven. If I miss that all the “hurt feelings” in the world won’t matter. Pride isn’t something I want in my life anymore. It’s about being with Jesus, it’s about getting to heaven. I need to not just have a holy heart, I need to show it in my life; my speech, my dress, and my actions. It all is part of one big package.

When it’s all said and done, All I really want is Jesus.

Lorrie

 

[triumphguy]

I don’t think the church approves of it at all, but I try to not get wound up about it. I look at it this way. If you were told, right now, you were going to be introduced to the US president or the queen of Great Britain and to hurry up and get ready what would you wear? Shorts, flip flops, jeans??? Even if the room was 100 degrees you would not dress that way. So…why dress down for God? I’ve been in very hot churches but I wore a light dress and appropriate shoes and combed my hair and looked presentable. I can be hot for 1 hour. Jesus suffered a horrible agony for me, surely the lack of air conditioning isn’t a reason to wear beach attire to church. I also was raised that you don’t wear bare arms in church, at least a cap sleeve and that halter tops and t-shirts are not appropriate. My great-grandma was very strict and I still worry she will come after me from heaven/purgatory and flog me if I dress in casual clothes. It’s not hard to wear a light pair of slacks and polo shirt with shoes and socks. If you’re going somewhere after church you can always bring a change of clothes and change in the restroom and then go to the beach or picnic. When I work around the church I bring a change of clothes. I guess that’s a lost art form around the US…changing your clothes for special events. One day I was cleaning–hard at work. I realized it was time to go to Mass. took off the shorts and t-shirt, put on a lightweight skirt and polo shirt and dress shoes, combed my hair and went to Mass. When I was done I came home and changed back. It’s about simple respect. But nowadays its all about “ME” and I shouldn’t be inconvenienced and you shouldn’t care about me or what I do. I have RIGHT to show up wearing a bikini and it’s your problem if you don’t like it. No sense of honor and respect for God or the community. I see it all the time and it’s sad. I see people bringing their children wearing things I wouldn’t wear at all, not even at home. I think to myself, “What are their children learning about respect for church and God?” Their learning that you can do whatever you want and to heck with everyone who doesn’t like it.

Now people say, “Well that might be all they have” but most of us know the people in our parish and I know that some who are dressing like they are going to a pool party have very nice clothes.

Having said that, I find that by sitting in the very front I tend to avoid being distracted by what people wear. I can focus and be close to the monstrance and spend time with Jesus. I am powerless over the selfishness of our society and my own sins–it’s only God’s grace that helps me be a better person. So…I ask God to help me focus on myself and my sins, and make me a better person. I just love Him so much I want to be my best, and I believe that you can act your way into a new way of being…and making myself dress respectfully carries over into how much I value Mass and the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist. I will continue to try to set a positive example in dressing nicely for Mass. He gave His life for me, surely an hour or a little longer is not a big deal if I’m warm.

Thanks be to God.

Lorrie

But that would be a photo op for said Queen or President, and so my clothes would be important.

Neither the Queen or the President would get naked for me and lie stretched out on a cross in order to be executed in public.

God is more interested in my heart than my appearance, and just wants me waiting and watching there at the foot of the cross (which is part of what Adoration is about).

On one hand the crucifixion makes the respect, love, awe, worship due to God all the more appropriate, but any effort I make pales into comparison in the face of the awesome gift of the Father’s son’s life and death - it’s our naked heart that he really wants.

That being said: if at all possible I put on the best clothes to go to Church.

However I do not have the purity of heart to look at another human and judge them by their appearance or their clothes.

 

[triumphguy]

I agree in spirit with a lot of the critiques but I take a medication that causes me severe dry mouth. I told my priest and a few of the parishioners around me and they understand I sip from a water bottle I keep discreetly in my purse. I certainly don’t swig from it and have it in view. I try to be respectful.

I would not be offended if someone whispered that what I wear to church is inappropriate because recently I’ve had a major change of heart. I just want to be with Jesus in heaven. If I miss that all the “hurt feelings” in the world won’t matter. Pride isn’t something I want in my life anymore. It’s about being with Jesus, it’s about getting to heaven. I need to not just have a holy heart, I need to show it in my life; my speech, my dress, and my actions. It all is part of one big package.

When it’s all said and done, All I really want is Jesus.

Lorrie

I agree!

 

[Irishgal49]

Neither the Queen or the President would get naked for me and lie stretched out on a cross in order to be executed in public.

All the more reason to dress modestly and respectfully don’t you think?

That being said: if at all possible I put on the best clothes to go to Church.

If we fail to show young people and the unchurched how to be respectful how will they learn? Someone had to teach me…I wasn’t born knowing respectful dress for Mass. If we fail to do this, then who will demonstrate it?

However I do not have the purity of heart to look at another human and judge them by their appearance or their clothes.

But many do. If a girl is wearing a micro mini skirt and a halter top she probably won’t receive the respect she should as a daughter of God. And, she may not even understand why–but heaven forbid we instruct anyone lest we tick them off and offend them. If she takes a pilgrimage to EWTN she won’t get into mass there. They have a dress code, so do many churches.

 

[maryjk]

If she takes a pilgrimage to EWTN she won’t get into mass there. They have a dress code, so do many churches.

If there is a dress code at EWTN, I never saw it.

The priest might talk about it on TV, but I don’t remember anything posted at the doors.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I agree in spirit with a lot of the critiques but I take a medication that causes me severe dry mouth. I told my priest and a few of the parishioners around me and they understand I sip from a water bottle I keep discreetly in my purse. I certainly don’t swig from it and have it in view. I try to be respectful.

I would not be offended if someone whispered that what I wear to church is inappropriate because recently I’ve had a major change of heart. I just want to be with Jesus in heaven. If I miss that all the “hurt feelings” in the world won’t matter. Pride isn’t something I want in my life anymore. It’s about being with Jesus, it’s about getting to heaven. I need to not just have a holy heart, I need to show it in my life; my speech, my dress, and my actions. It all is part of one big package.

When it’s all said and done, All I really want is Jesus.

Lorrie

It is not about pride or hurt feelings. It’s about judgment and people overstepping their bounds–which is just as much a pride issue as anything else. They are not necessarily defending Jesus. They often are defending their own sense of propriety which may or may not be correct. I am not accusing the poster of having that attitude, but I have seen it far too often, and more often than not it drives people away. Things like this need to be dealt with by the Pastor, who has the spiritual authority, not by a parishioner who sets him/herself up as the authority. Their judgment may not be correct. The Pastor’s may not either, but at least it’s his prerogative to set the standards for the parish and his responsibility to address concerns.

Whenever the laity usurp the role of the Pastor, trouble occurs in a parish. That is why I would report it to the Pastor. He needs to know if someone is overstepping their bounds and causing a potential problem. There are proper channels for everything. The Pastor has a wider view of the parish than any one individual, and it is his job to take care of problems and set and enforce policy.

Now if the person were breaking the law or desecrating the Eucharist or something extremely objectively offensive that needs to be taken care of immediately to prevent desecration or injury to another or theft, etc, that is another matter. But someone not dressing to another parishioner’s subjective standard?

 

[anp1215]

Bravo to Father Dominic of EWTN and his ‘no nonsense’ sermon! He is absolutely one of the most ‘straight-talkin’, no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners’ guys of all the priests down there! If I had been at that Mass, I would have given him a little ‘thumbs-up’ and gone into the sacristy afterwards to give him a big ‘THANK YOU’!

I’m also glad that the FSSP parish had guidelines for what to wear (and what NOT to wear) at Mass for the summer months! Bravo to them, too!

I go to an Adoration chapel, and I know that a few times there was either a sign posted on the door or on the bulletin board (it’s inside the parish rectory) requesting that adorers dress appropriately while before Our Lord’s presence. But many a time there are people who ‘pop in’ for a brief visit while going about their daily routines, and are not dressed appropriately.

I certainly won’t give anyone the ‘evil eye’ if that happens. But I know a few times I have leaned over to whisper to the ‘offender’ that they shouldn’t dress the way they are if they’re going to be in the chapel.

The chapel I go to for the TLM has a dress code posted on the doors facing the vestibule. And I know there that I’ve seen some of the parishioners wearing slacks (one woman) and blue jeans (one man does that when there’s a Holy Day Mass). But it’s up to the priest, I think, to let everyone know (even if privately) what’s appropriate for Mass.

But A HUGE ‘BRAVISSIMO’ to no-nonsense Father Dominic! Amen to what he said!

Are you serious? You actually call people out about their attire to their faces? I wonder how many people have left that chapel never to return because of you.

I hope I never worship at a parish like you describe.

My parish has a group of hispanic men who come into the chapel wearing a t-shirts and work boots, covered in paint after painting a house or dirty and sweaty after hammering nails all day into someone’s roof in the hot sun. They come into the chapel to pray the rosary to Our Lady in front of Jesus on their way home to their children.

We have a group of contractors who come to Mass most mornings. They drive vans with ladders on the roof and pickup trucks with air compressors in the back. Real men, tan from working in the sun and three percent body fat from carrying cinder blocks and mixing concrete all day. And they are building a large gazebo in our grotto for a statue of Mary out of their own free time.

You know what? We like them to come to adoration and Mass. We don’t tell them to go home and put on a shirt and tie first.

You can take no prisoners if you want, but I really wonder who you are at war with. Ordinary Christians who stop into the adoration chapel on their way to and from work are not my enemies.

-Tim-

Amen.

 

[DebChris]

Jesus accepts us as we are. When the lepers in the gospels came to HIm for healing, how were they dressed? By law they were disheveled, unclean. When we come to Eucharist Adoration, we come as we are. We come in our sinfulness, in our disheveled selves. We come for healing. We come to spend time with our Healer.
Our mothers told us to always wear clean underwear. You never know when you might be in a emergency room. That’s true. We never know when we might need physical care. Doctors s are more concerned about saving lives than whether or not the person has clean underwear. Clothing can be taken care of later.
As others have mentioned, we do not know when we might be called to spend time in Eucharistic Adoration. It could be in the middle of the night. It could be on the way home from work or while traveling to manual labor. When Gods calls, am I going to say, “Pardon me while I change my clothes,” or am I going to say, “Here I am, Lord. What do You ask of me?” If I need to clean out the clutters, I’m certainly not going to wear my Sunday best.
This is a major difference. Of course, we are invited to Mass every weekend. We dress accordingly. It might be the only day of the week in which I wear a dress. On the other hand, my blue jeans are not going to keep me from daily Mass. The work clothes of the Hispanic men mentioned earlier in this thread did not keep them from spending time with our Lord. Does God not honor their work?
When I pray, I do remove my shoes as God called Moses to do “on holy ground,” but not my socks if I am wearing them. Most of the time I do wear sandals, especially when I am in the Middle East. It is expected that anybody entering the Adoration Chapel will remove their shoes. Many of the workers in that part of the world come from India. They remove their shoes, even if only sandals, before entering another person’s home. Instead of telling the worker he can’t come in to fix what needs repairing I am going to accept that he removed his shoes out of respect.

 

[maryjk]

Are you serious? You actually call people out about their attire to their faces? I wonder how many people have left that chapel never to return because of you.

Amen.

I have to say, if anyone ever did that to me, they would hear about it. Probably while I was still sitting there.