Shorts at Mass??

[Jack_Bauer]

Sorry, but are we looking at the correct picture? There is a man and a dog. The dog appears to be a cocker spaniel.

Well, mom used to keep a picture of him next to her bed at night, next to our pictures. That’s a German Schnauzer. I was in the military at that time, preparing to return to the seminary. But then I met my wife. Changed my life. She sucked me back into the fundamentalist faith of my youth. Mom was a fundamentalist. It takes time to absorb the Catholic culture, especially that which is defiant. Hopefully, I won’t fall prey to that part of the Church. I was very naive most of my life and my wife called me a fool when dealing with women. So I’ve thrown up some safety blocks to protect me from her getting angry at me for being too nice, too charitable. It’s her Protestant upbringing that made her this way.

 

[ETEXAS]

Well I live in East Texas! It gets pretty warm and humid here…I do NOT wear shorts Sunday Mass…but on July Nights…I will …NEATLY…wear clean to the knees cargo/burms (wife approved thank ya! An a button up cotton short sleeve shirt…People …only my wife thinks my legs are “cute”…I dont think I distract many lasses!

 

[Jack_Bauer]

Is it just me…but these are not only not appropriate for Mass…but really what are they appropriate for?..besides walking a street corner! Just saying…

No, I agree. It’s not just you. But I’ve seen women wear these to mass. I’ve never seen a woman dress like this in a Protestant worship service. They’d be escorted for sure, excorted right out the front door. I’m acknowledging that they look good, thus the term “cute”. But I don’t believe I would want to be surrounded by women dress that way. My soul is more important that filling my eyes full of images of beautiful women, particularly showing off their stuff. I lived like that while attending college as a married man. Fortunately for me, my wife is pretty.

 

[severus68]

Let’s just clear the air. First, that dog is my brother, long gone. His ashes are buried with my stepfather. My older brother’s ashes are buried with my mom - just a side note that grosses me out.

Unless you wear short skirts to mass and bow for all the world to see your panties or high inner thighs, there really isn’t anything to discuss. My wife is the one that notices this and draws my attention to it. When noticing it it strikes me as imprudent. My wife believes that some of those women do it on purpose to get attention, which after years of dealing with some of those women I’ve come to agree - if I know what’s good for me.

My assessment of “Catholics” is largely the cultural Catholic, not the faithful Catholic. Many cultural Catholics attend mass. Those types of people were driven off by our former faith leaders. Either conform or you’re asked to leave - not that I agree with that lack of charity. It should be noted that that lack of charity is one of the things that kept my wife and me seeking truth. Imagine for a moment that we’re talking about a difference race or country. You suddenly by choice no longer in a group of your own culture (religion, race, culinary, etc.) but one that seems very foreign to what you’re accustomed to living. It takes time to adjust. While stationed in Germany for 2 years, the initial excitement of being in Europe wore off towards the end. The guys used to say “back in the world”. It’s significatn.

First of all, I was referring to the dog. To your brother, RIP.

You only discuss with women and who dress as you so “nicely” put it show their panties or almost? Strange.

Not sure what kind of anology you are trying to make, sorry.

 

[kimmielittle]

No, I agree. It’s not just you. But I’ve seen women wear these to mass. I’ve never seen a woman dress like this in a Protestant worship service. They’d be escorted for sure, excorted right out the front door. I’m acknowledging that they look good, thus the term “cute”. But I don’t believe I would want to be surrounded by women dress that way. My soul is more important that filling my eyes full of images of beautiful women, particularly showing off their stuff. I lived like that while attending college as a married man. Fortunately for me, my wife is pretty.

IMO,You must be easily distracted - all those “sinning girls” - dressing just to impress you.

Don’t blame me

It’s your constant diatribe that gives me this impression.

Frankly, IMO If your eyes stray - That’s your personal problem.

I’ve known boys who would undress a gunny-sack.

 

[2015PSU]

I personally think it’s alright to wear shorts during Mass. I’ve done it all my life, and a lot of people in my parish do when it gets hot and humid. I don’t think wearing shorts gets in the way of praising and enjoying God and His word. As long as the shorts are appropriate and are worn appropriately, I believe that it’s okay and acceptable

 

[centurionguard]

In the end I think in most places there is so much variation of circumstance that we really can’t comment on how formally people dress for church. There are generational, regional. and class differences in how people dress, and these don’t represent some kind of objective “better or worse” scenario. There are differences in resources. There are differences in circumstance. (This winter, I was really limited in more dressy outfits because I lacked a pair of shoes, and couldn’t get new ones for a while. A fellow I know at our parish dresses oddly as a result of mental illness.) There are even differences in individual spiritual path. While one person might do well to be more conscious in his efforts to wear nice clothing, another person might be fighting a temptation towards pride with regard to clothing and so choose to dress more simply. Some people are simply clueless about clothes or unaware of appearances.

Unless we actually know all the circumstances with relation to an individual, we really shouldn’t comment. We don’t know enough to judge. Learning to see Christ shining out of all people, so we can’t even see where they fall short, is our responsibility as Christians, and worrying about how others dress is detrimental to that effort.

And learning to put on the mind of Christ - including what we wear, takes time. If we haven’t yet learned not to notice what others wear, can we really criticize them for clothing mistakes? (Especially if they have already learned to accept people as they are.)

There are only a few people we need to worry about teaching or advising; our children, god-children, and maybe others we are close to. Those we have an authority and teaching role over. Otherwise we should refrain.

In the end I think in most places there is so much variation of circumstance that we really can’t comment on how formally people dress for church. There are generational, regional. and class differences in how people dress, and these don’t represent some kind of objective “better or worse” scenario. There are differences in resources. There are differences in circumstance

For the most part I agree with you here given today’s cultural society. However; to the best of my recollection prior to the early 1970’s and throughout the 1960’s I honestly don’t recall any Catholic Adult wearing shorts in the Church in the summer unless of course it was their young children.
But even then most parents made an effort to dress their kids in their Sunday best, so seeing kids wear shorts in the Church in the summer wasn’t a common sight.

Even when the cultural Mini-skirt heralded in on the public scene in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s I certainly don’t recall Catholic parents letting their young teen daughters wearing them into Church.

Back then I even recall a parish priest walking the aisles of the Church before Mass and would actually confront some one if they were inappropriately dressed.

Today Catholic Church dress codes are rarely if ever enforced. Some believe they should and perhaps their right. Not every person in the congregation can afford three piece suit. As long as someone looks presentable with clean clothes and not going out of the way to advertise bodily sexual innuendo in Gods house, I don’t see anything particularly wrong wearing shorts to Church in the summer. A Woman should dress like a respected lady. A man should dress like a Gentlemen.

Peace
Chris

 

[ETEXAS]

I think MODESTY is key! I mean…Look…a lady…or a guy lol…COULD wear TIGHT TIGHT SLACKS…to me this would be far less Modest than Knee Long khaki Cargo Shorts!!! Right???:twocents:

 

[Bluegoat]

For the most part I agree with you here given today’s cultural society. However; to the best of my recollection prior to the early 1970’s and throughout the 1960’s I honestly don’t recall any Catholic Adult wearing shorts in the Church in the summer unless of course it was their young children.
But even then most parents made an effort to dress their kids in their Sunday best, so seeing kids wear shorts in the Church in the summer wasn’t a common sight.

Even when the cultural Mini-skirt heralded in on the public scene in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s I certainly don’t recall Catholic parents letting their young teen daughters wearing them into Church.

Back then I even recall a parish priest walking the aisles of the Church before Mass and would actually confront some one if they were inappropriately dressed.

Today Catholic Church dress codes are rarely if ever enforced. Some believe they should and perhaps their right. Not every person in the congregation can afford three piece suit. As long as someone looks presentable with clean clothes and not going out of the way to advertise bodily sexual innuendo in Gods house, I don’t see anything particularly wrong wearing shorts to Church in the summer. A Woman should dress like a respected lady. A man should dress like a Gentlemen.

Peace
Chris

I think that there used to be less variation in communities. They tended to be more homogeneous by ethnicity and class. But between communities you could find variation. And that period is right at the center of a generational change in the perception of formality. Many jobs are much more casual today than they were then clothing-wise. (My mom used to have to wear one of those old starched nursing uniforms in the 70’s, but they are now long-gone.)

Nice shorts are just a matter of that change. I think it is important not to assume those changes have anything to do with spirituality. If my Victorian great-grandmother saw my mom’s “old-fashioned” nursing uniform, she would have been shocked because you could see her ankles!

Purposefully sexualized clothing is a slightly different issue, although tricky in its own way.

 

[Padraig1972]

I think MODESTY is key! I mean…Look…a lady…or a guy lol…COULD wear TIGHT TIGHT SLACKS…to me this would be far less Modest than Knee Long khaki Cargo Shorts!!! Right???:twocents:

Modesty (and i would like to add): dignity is the key.

 

[kimmielittle]

Modesty (and i would like to add): dignity is the key.

 

[mariethemom]

I haven’t been a member long enough to vote.

I let my kids wear nice short sets to Mass until they were about 4 or 5. Interestingly, I used to live in S. America and there is no A/C in the Church. No one wore shorts, not even the kids.

 

[ElToro]

I often wonder why some people spend more time worrying about what they wear to church or what other people wear to church then on the condition of their heart for worship. I would find it extemely sad to be harshly judging people before or during Mass…takes away from the whole point:shrug: I’m not saying it isn’t sometimes difficult but that is what the struggling is all about.

It reminds me of how so many people seem to spend more time planning the wedding…then the marriage.

ANOTHER false dichotomy!

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

ANOTHER false dichotomy!

You are going to have to do better then that…explain what you mean. Just throwing down an accusation like that without an explanation is unfair and uncharitable.

 

[Jack_Bauer]

Being nicely dressed, conservative shorts with a nice shirt and socks doesn’t bother me. Teenagers on retreats often wear shorts and t-shirts related to their retreat. I don’t let it bother me.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I do. Why does this seems so hard to people?

So you think it’s indecent to wear bare arms in a t-shirt or short sleeve blouse? See…that’s part of the problem…people’s ideals about what is acceptable and what isn’t varies. I mean…sure there are the obvious ones like don’t wear something that barely covers your… but if you are offended by my short sleeves…well that is your problem. I hardly think God is offended by them.

 

[Jack_Bauer]

First of all, I was referring to the dog. To your brother, RIP.

You only discuss with women and who dress as you so “nicely” put it show their panties or almost? Strange.

Not sure what kind of anology you are trying to make, sorry.

 

[Jack_Bauer]

IMO,You must be easily distracted - all those “sinning girls” - dressing just to impress you.

Don’t blame me

It’s your constant diatribe that gives me this impression.

Frankly, IMO If your eyes stray - That’s your personal problem.

I’ve known boys who would undress a gunny-sack.

Another poor twisted mind. You don’t think its wrong for people to dress half naked in front of others?

 

[elgar]

So you think it’s indecent to wear bare arms in a t-shirt or short sleeve blouse? See…that’s part of the problem…people’s ideals about what is acceptable and what isn’t varies. I mean…sure there are the obvious ones like don’t wear something that barely covers your… but if you are offended by my short sleeves…well that is your problem. I hardly think God is offended by them.

Perhaps all of this is cultural in determining what is appropriate. Some of you bring up heat and humidity for your justification for shorts and sleeveless. Again this has become part of our culture. Having been exposed to some African familes at church, it struck me how important fine dress for church is for them and most of them being very poor and having lived in extremely hot conditions.

 

[ElToro]

You are going to have to do better then that…explain what you mean. Just throwing down an accusation like that without an explanation is unfair and uncharitable.

Pardon me? You said:

I often wonder why some people spend more time worrying about what they wear to church or what other people wear to church then on the condition of their heart for worship.

First how would you know?

But aside from that you’ve set-up a false dichotomy in an attempt to “prove” your point. You’re trying to equate wardrobe with the condition of one’s heart and it just doesn’t fly. There are other conditions where people care a great and equal amount about both or neither.