Sandals at Mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter CarlosBarrera
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
GEddie said:
I also often go to Mass at a monastery. The brothers wear sandals, and I have often seen them kick them off and serve the Mass in bare feet.

If it is considered pious to walk the Stations of the Cross, etc, in bare feet, why on Earth not Mass in sandals?

I doubt we will be clothed at all when we see our LORD.

ICXC NIKA
Click to expand...
They are very nice sandals that would be quite appropriate for Mass.
The first college I attended was a Benedictine college, and, yes, most of the monks wore sandals. It was in Washington so socks were definitely worn when the weather cooled.
I currently live in the Middle East where sandals are worn everywhere, even with dress clothing. Many who live here are from the Indian subcontinent. Out of respect, workmen remove their shoes upon entering a person’s flat even when the owner is shod.

When Moses approached the burning bush, God ordered him to remove his sandals because he was on “holy ground.” Anybody who enters the Adoration chapel is expected to remove his/her shoes for the same reason. It is not uncommon for individuals to remove shoes/sandals while attending Mass.

I would not classify the sandals in the link as beach wear.
 
Elizium23 said:
IMHO, sandals are fine for poor, itinerant preachers such as Jesus Himself or Franciscans or Dominicans. However, if you are an ordinary, worldly member of the laity and you are not homeless or destitute, you probably own a set of dressy clothes that you may wear to work or funerals or something. These are the clothes that you should be wearing to Mass.

I have a very low income and I do not spend money on clothes for the fun of it. I tend to pick up my dressier things at thrift stores nearby. But I maintain a “business casual” style of dress for attending liturgies, and I feel that this is the minimum necessary for respectful attire at my suburban parish. Our pastor is an orthodox man and requires strict decorum, especially from his ministers and volunteers, of which I am one in service to the choir or as an altar server.

I would not dare show up as an altar server in anything less than my button-down, collared white shirt, black dress pants with belt, and black dress shoes. Father has been known to turn away would-be servers who do not meet the dress code. Likewise, he has had some stern talks with the choir director about members wearing proper clothing. We live in an area where it gets extremely hot, and men and women alike must be reminded each summer of the importance of decorum and modesty in dress. A section in the bulletin is dedicated to this purpose during the hot months.

I do not know what kind of pants and shirt you would wear with the sandals in the OP, but they would seem rather out of place in a “business casual” or better ensemble.

Just as I do not consider myself eligible to wear a Franciscan habit, I do not consider myself eligible to wear Franciscan sandals to Mass. Your mileage may vary!
Click to expand...
I agree with this post. I think sandals would be fine for daily Mass, but (health issues aside , as Cat mentions), Not for Sunday, and not if you’re serving or cantoring or something.
 
Up here in Quebec, Canada, people can only wear sandals for about five months of the year. If they try longer, they run into snow. Sandals, flip flops etc, I personally don’t see an issue. I do think if people wear sandals they should try to keep their feet properly groomed. As long as someone can wear them without tripping or slipping on the church’s hard floors, I don’t see the fuss. I’d be more concerned if a woman was wearing a short skirt and she was always sitting in the front pew, then, major issues would arise.
 
anp1215 said:
I would wager there were a few pairs of sandals at the first Mass.
Click to expand...
And I would wager it was their absolutely best shoes they owned, since it was not only a Mass, but one of the most solemn celebrations of the Jewish year. We should do the same.
 
clem456 said:
OTOH:
If a poor person has not been to Mass for 20 years and has no understanding of dressing well and wears sandals, what’s the problem? Are we going to judge a person’s worthiness by what they are wearing?
How about a high school kid who has no idea what “business casual” is. (the Mass is not a business anyway?) Just come to Mass, please.
Click to expand...
Ok, this argument is always brought up, but how many of the sandal wearers haven’t been to church in 20 years? Really, the amount of people who don’t dress up and haven’t been to church for a while compared to the lazy people who go every week but don’t bother to dress up is quite small.
 
superamazingman said:
Ok, this argument is always brought up, but how many of the sandal wearers haven’t been to church in 20 years? Really, the amount of people who don’t dress up and haven’t been to church for a while compared to the lazy people who go every week but don’t bother to dress up is quite small.
Click to expand...
Who are you to decide that those who dress too casually (according to your standards) do so out of laziness?
 
I think it is funny that people consider sandals “not dressy.”

So, if not sandals, what?

If men and women shouldn’t wear sandals, what should they wear? Are you claiming that the foot should be totally enclosed? Heels for women? Socks a must for men?

Keep in mind sandals are NOT flip flops.
 
RyanBlack said:
Who are you to decide that those who dress too casually (according to your standards) do so out of laziness?
Click to expand...
Either lazyness or apathy. It’s just a fact. Almost anyone who is at church can take $10 and head to goodwill and buy themselves a decent pair of Mass shoes. I dress to the 9s during the winter every Sunday (hat, bowtie, sport jacket, dress shoes, belt, black socks, etc…) and it probably cost me less than $50 to get all of it. Around here, a decent button up shirt is usually $6.99 at goodwill, and a pair of pants are similar.

IN MOST CASES, if someone wants to dress up for Mass in America, they can make it happen. If they don’t, it’s their own fault. It’s all about priorities.

Like with voter id, they may have to go out of their way. They may have to [gasp] spend an hour or two getting it done. But it’s not that big of a deal to get one or two sets of dress clothes.
 
maryjk said:
So, if not sandals, what?

If men and women shouldn’t wear sandals, what should they wear? Are you claiming that the foot should be totally enclosed?
Click to expand...
I can’t comment on women’s styles, but for men, YES! Just. get. shoes.
 
superamazingman said:
I can’t comment on women’s styles, but for men, YES! Just. get. shoes.
Click to expand...
Sandals. are. shoes.

What you may be talking about are loafers? Or what?🤷 I would really like you to describe what you think is okay,

(And you may like bow ties, but many people think they look ridiculous. )
 
maryjk said:
Sandals. are. shoes.

What you may be talking about are loafers? Or what?🤷 I would really like you to describe what you think is okay,

(And you may like bow ties, but many people think they look ridiculous. )
Click to expand...
I think this gets to the crux of it for me. I agree with the general principle that we should dress up for Mass. When I was dating my (now) husband, the first time we went to Mass together, he walked out in shorts and a t-shirt. Without thinking, I blurted out, “You’re going to Mass in that?”

We cannot define for somebody else what “dressing up” means. Currently, I wear a skirt and a knit shirt. While my knit shirt is not exactly the dressiest top I can wear, it is appropriate for my current state in life. I’m a nursing mom and have been for a number of years. I need clothes that are comfortable, practical and easy to nurse in. Someday I won’t need that, and I will probably wear a blouse. Some people think that “dressing up” for women must include pantyhose and heels. I have not worn pantyhose since I was in the Army and it was required as part of my Class A uniform. I have never worn a heel higher than 1 1/2 inches in my life, yet to many women flats or low heels are strictly for casual wear. As long as a person’s clothes are modest, clean and respectful toward God and neighbor, we really need to stop holding people to our own standards. The best we can do toward those who we believe fall short in this area is to set a good example.
 
GEddie said:
I live my life either in sandals or barefoot (and am several thousand miles from Cal.)
Click to expand...
👍

Me too…

Tis difficult for Hobbits sometimes.

Alas winter is coming…so at least when outside eventually sandals will have to give way to shoes. I will cease to be discalced (for a time)…

(Socks with my sandals though will add the transition…)
 
If you’re one of those “dress-to-the-nines” church people, I am positive that God sees the effort and respect and appreciates that. However, if it’s causing you to fall into spiritual pride…
 
GEddie said:
I live my life either in sandals or barefoot (and am several thousand miles from Cal.)
Click to expand...
👍

Me too…

Tis difficult for Hobbits sometimes.

Alas winter is coming…so at least when outside eventually sandals will have to give way to shoes. I will cease to be discalced outdoors (for a time)…

(Socks with my sandals though will aid the transition…)
 
superamazingman said:
And I would wager it was their absolutely best shoes they owned, since it was not only a Mass, but one of the most solemn celebrations of the Jewish year. We should do the same.
Click to expand...
If you think sandals aren’t good enough or whatever, don’t wear them. I have a pair of sandals that are the only thing that match many of my outfits. They are clean and neat. I wear them to Mass. Sorry if you don’t like it.
 
superamazingman said:
Ok, this argument is always brought up, but how many of the sandal wearers haven’t been to church in 20 years? Really, the amount of people who don’t dress up and haven’t been to church for a while **compared to the lazy people who go every week **but don’t bother to dress up is quite small.
Click to expand...
Think about this a sec…
 
Our former Franciscan Priest wore his sandals at mass. I wear birkenstocks all the time. While they may appear like sandals, they are very supportive if you have foot problems.
And I live in Michigan not California! Many of the birkies I’ve seen are very stylish and colorful and are much different than flip flops. There are sandals that are very supportive and give more covering than you think. The main thing is that someone is at mass. there are too many that don’t attend that we should be concerned about than what might or might not be worn at mass. I am not suggesting to wear garbage for the Lord but I try not to judge others. I would much rather wear my birkies which are good for the foot than some thin little high heel pump that makes alot of noise when walking, horrible for the foot and then makes the women look like she is about to fall over.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top