Causing scandal is a sin no matter what a person’s denomination. For many sects, Catholics are a curious lot. Don’t want to scare them off. Looking at it from their perspective: " If Catholics truly believe it is the Real Presence, why do they dress so slovenly? We don’t."
Unless the bride and groom like a BBQ theme. What if they are perfectly happy with dressing for a picnic and get married in their bluejeans but they take the Sacrament of Matrimony more seriously than say the bride and groom that are dressed like they’re going to meet the Queen of England but haven’t a clue really about the Sacrament?
Leaving Mass early, seen it done by people dressed in their finest. Clothing had no bearing on that action. Seen people dressed in t-shirt and jeans and even shorts, stay for adortaion after mass. Where’s the scandal again?
I know a woman who regularly goes to Mass in a bikini top.
Exactly so. When I was a newlywed in the early 70s, and my wife and I went to Mass, this sort of a conversation would be preposterous. No one then would have gone dressed to church as though they were going to shovel manure when they got there.
I just don’t see the connection. I’ve had plenty of people dressed in fancy suits and fancy dresses argue with me that they no longer believe in the Real Presence as I’ve seen people dressed in less than stellar clothing every week at adoration. I just don’t see what you are seeing.Exactly so. When I was a newlywed in the early 70s, and my wife and I went to Mass, this sort of a conversation would be preposterous. No one then would have gone dressed to church as though they were going to shovel manure when they got there.
I think there’s a real connection with a loss of belief in the Real Presence on the altar. It’s nothing special, is it? Just symbolic, right? Why dress special?
Can you give a concrete example of someone who chooses what Church to go to on the basis of which Church has the best donuts?
My neighbor switched from the Methodist church to the Episcopalian one because they had more toys for the kids in the cry room.
This is anecdotal in that it does not give the full names and identity of the child, not does it give his age. Was he three years old or four years old?
From the linked post:
You must have gone to the same Catholic high school as I did. A certain Sister of Charity had a profound effect on me when I was a junior. We heard, time and time again, (verbatim) “the outward appearance is indicative of the inner dispostion!!”There are certain social standards that people normally respect and obey out of consideration for others, but God will read your heart and be the judge if you are or are not showing proper reverence. I admit we cannot know the motivation as to why people dress the way they do, but if their sloppy jeans and flip-flops are worn in a spirit of defiance or jealousy against the way others are dressed, or if the grunge look is adopted as an “in your face” attitude, then I’d say something is spiritually amiss. I also wonder when I see people wearing the same clothes they must have worn when they cut the grass that morning, if they truly understand the Celebration, the Sacrifice and the Awesome Mystery that is the Mass.
Now that’s a fine way to determine what is best for your eternal salvation.My neighbor switched from the Methodist church to the Episcopalian one because they had more toys for the kids in the cry room.
I don’t know why, but that reminds me of a scene in the Korean movie “Chingu” (“Best Friend”) where the teacher’s chewing them out—actually slapping them, because Korean teachers rule with an iron fist—for their bad behavior in school.
In other words, do not walk into my classroom with your shoes untied, your shirt tail hanging out and your hair mussed up, because I will know your thoughts are not recollected enough to understand what I am about to teach.
Most don’t explicitly admit to choosing one Protestant denomination over another because of toys or donuts, their criteria is often fellowship which is code for donuts and coffee. :doh2:Now that’s a fine way to determine what is best for your eternal salvation.
Yes, it all comes down to God being able to read our hearts and the judge of if we are or are not showing proper reverence. That’s what I’ve been saying the whole time.
Who is Joseph?From the linked post:
We’ve been church hopping and shopping, trying to decide where we would best fit this year. We’ve been to the Lutherans on high and low liturgy Sundays. We’ve been to a mission Episcopal church meeting in a strip mall. We’ve been to the hopping Evangelical Presbyterian church where “all the kids go” in town. We’ve even enjoyed a Great Commission Network church meeting in a school gym.
The final decision is forthcoming in the next couple weeks, but Joseph has made it pretty clear.
The church with the best donuts will be his choice.