Shorts at Mass??

[Mirror_Mirror]

I had no idea.
If a person wearing shorts sits in the pew in front of you are you really distracted to the point where you have difficulty concentrating on the Mass and do you really pray for that person?

No person’s clothing has ever distracted me from the Mass. I have never even been distracted by immodest clothing. I really don’t pay attention.

Is it a distraction, yes of course it is. Do I sit there in the pew and dwell on the person’s attire during Mass, of course not. I do try to remember to pray for that person, but it is a distraction for most people that I have talked to about this subject. I guess that you aare just better at blocking out the distractions than most and that is commendable and a good thing for you.

You have been blessed that this is not something that distracts you, but for many it does and it does give them pause, if not for just a bit. Again, going to visit Pope Benedict, what would you wear?

 

[johnridgway]

well I wear shorts for mass most Sundays during the summer months, they are always knee length and smart.

the temperature is reaching 44 degrees in the next couple of weeks, the church does not have air conditioning.

we see tourists here trying to wear trousers and they are soaking wet with sweat,

so it is better to dress for the climate.

this is in Greece, not the USA

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

Again, going to visit Pope Benedict, what would you wear?

The difference between meeting Pope Benedict, President Barack Obama, the Queen, or any other high-ranking individual is different from Mass. When you go to meet these people, you are going to be judged by human standards. You are going to be judged by those who are that the very top of the human social hierarchy. And as such, you ought to dress by the standards that they have set upon themselves and you.

When it comes to God, God isn’t going to give one iota about what you wear, but He is going to be concerned about your heart and the state of your soul. You do not dress in a king’s outfit to impress God. In fact, using MtnDwellar’s words, dressing in such outfit can instill pride. There are certain exceptions, such as wearing a miniskirt. But it’s not the miniskirt that would infuriate God, but the fact that the miniskirt reflects one’s heart - that Mass is like a big joke. You can not make an immediate judgment about someone who wears sandals, shorts or a shirt to Mass.

The fact of the matter is that those who complain about people wearing shorts to Mass will complain about anything and everything. Someone not kneeling at the right time? Oh let’s start a thread about him. The Mass not said in Latin? Oh, let’s start a thread about that. What about someone who does not want to sing? Golly, let’s complain about that. What we find is that it’s a slippery slope down to focusing on what others are doing. When you’re at Mass, focus on God. Simples. Stop bothering yourself about what you think others are doing.

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

The difference between meeting Pope Benedict, President Barack Obama, the Queen, or any other high-ranking individual is different from Mass. When you go to meet these people, you are going to be judged by human standards. You are going to be judged by those who are that the very top of the human social hierarchy. And as such, you ought to dress by the standards that they have set upon themselves and you.

When it comes to God, God isn’t going to give one iota about what you wear, but He is going to be concerned about your heart and the state of your soul. You do not dress in a king’s outfit to impress God. In fact, using MtnDwellar’s words, dressing in such outfit can instill pride. There are certain exceptions, such as wearing a miniskirt. But it’s not the miniskirt that would infuriate God, but the fact that the miniskirt reflects one’s heart - that Mass is like a big joke. You can not make an immediate judgment about someone who wears sandals, shorts or a shirt to Mass.

The fact of the matter is that those who complain about people wearing shorts to Mass will complain about anything and everything. Someone not kneeling at the right time? Oh let’s start a thread about him. The Mass not said in Latin? Oh, let’s start a thread about that. What about someone who does not want to sing? Golly, let’s complain about that. What we find is that it’s a slippery slope down to focusing on what others are doing. When you’re at Mass, focus on God. Simples. Stop bothering yourself about what you think others are doing.

It is all about giving your best to God. I am well aware of all the statements that you have presented, but the fact of the matter is that the thread is about one’s feelings about others wearing shorts at Mass. Yes there are may other things that could (and do) cause distractions at Mass and it is up to the individual to deal with them personally as they see fit. We do our best while at Mass to focus on the true meaning of the Mass and upon Christ, but many times distractions make this more difficult.

There are many different opinions on this topic, I have stated mine, you have yours.

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

It is all about giving your best to God.

You give your best to God through your heart, not your clothing.

I’ve been in a state of mortal sin for quite a while, and I often feel “not worthy” about entering God’s House. I’m not too bothered about what clothes I’m wearing and I don’t believe many would think God would be as well.

 

[buffalo]

Yes, because I just came from a wedding? once again, at a wedding you are being judged by human standards because there will be pictures of it. Weren’t Adam and Eve naked when they married? Obviously our human nature and not God’s will is the driving force behind huge dresses at weddings and Church. Don’t say you should be able to go to a wedding in what you normally wear to Church.

You dress well for a wedding because of pictures? Am I getting this right?

 

[johnridgway]

I agree, it is more important to see somebody in church and worshiping God, than what somebody is wearing.

You give your best to God through your heart, not your clothing.

I’ve been in a state of mortal sin for quite a while, and I often feel “not worthy” about entering God’s House. I’m not too bothered about what clothes I’m wearing and I don’t believe many would think God would be as well.

 

[buffalo]

You give your best to God through your heart, not your clothing.

I’ve been in a state of mortal sin for quite a while, and I often feel “not worthy” about entering God’s House. I’m not too bothered about what clothes I’m wearing and I don’t believe many would think God would be as well.

In God’s house one should be concerned about scandal. Does anyone think that God does not care about scandal?

Heart and mind yes, but that also is manifested in how you present yourself to God.

 

[Stylites]

The difference between meeting Pope Benedict, President Barack Obama, the Queen, or any other high-ranking individual is different from Mass. When you go to meet these people, you are going to be judged by human standards. You are going to be judged by those who are that the very top of the human social hierarchy. And as such, you ought to dress by the standards that they have set upon themselves and you.

And there’s another aspect to comparing Church attire with, say, clothing for a job interview. Consider how much love and respect we each have for our parents, and yet we don’t don a suit to greet them at the breakfast table. There’s an innate mutual love and respect which transcends outer trappings. No one is going to think less of us and our love and respect for our own parents if we are seen in their company wearing pajamas and slippers.

Now, dressing up for employers might be respectful to them, or maybe just to the power they might wield over us. Some, such as a hireling butler (who in secret is an anarcho-Bolshevik), might show respect because they are paid to show respect. Are we the anarchist butlers attending to God and who respect Him because of what He might pay us? Do we hang on just looking for an inheritance? Or do we love Him for who He is?

In the end, it has to be an act of charity to one’s neighbors to not draw attention to ourselves or allow ourselves to distract others from their worship, and certainly not if the distraction we might create leaves an irreligious thought in the minds of our pew neighbors.

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

In God’s house one should be concerned about scandal. Does anyone think that God does not care about scandal?

Heart and mind yes, but that also is manifested in how you present yourself to God.

The sin of scandal is virtually irrelevant with respect to wearing shorts or sandals. It’s more pertinent to women who wear miniskirts during Mass, as they can make the minds of men go elsewhere. But such occurrences - of women wearing miniskirts during Mass - are incredibly rare that the likelihood of it occurring is negligible.

How you dress up is indeed indicative of one’s heart and mind. But as I said in my previous post, you can not make a direct inference of what one thinks about God if they come to Mass with shorts or sandals. Such inference is more likely to be correct about someone who wears a miniskirt, or comes to Mass in a clown’s outfit. Again, the likelihood of this occurring is virtually nil that it commits the fallacy of the strawman argument: using improbable extremes to put a point across.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Is it a distraction, yes of course it is. Do I sit there in the pew and dwell on the person’s attire during Mass, of course not. I do try to remember to pray for that person, but it is a distraction for most people that I have talked to about this subject. I guess that you aare just better at blocking out the distractions than most and that is commendable and a good thing for you.

You have been blessed that this is not something that distracts you, but for many it does and it does give them pause, if not for just a bit. Again, going to visit Pope Benedict, what would you wear?

I would wear the clothes that I normally wear… Are you supposed to dress up for the Pope?

If I was convinced that people are really distracted by shins and ankles, and not just saying so to try making a point about “proper” dress, I would wear long pants.

 

[johnridgway]

Did the apostles, or Papa Jesus, or any of the jews change their clothing before entering the temple? the answer is no.

There custom was to have a wash, made sure they was clean.

so why and try to bring man made customs into the house of God, when all God cares about is that you are there and clean…

God First, man second… yes?

The sin of scandal is virtually irrelevant with respect to wearing shorts or sandals. It’s more pertinent to women who wear miniskirts during Mass, as they can make the minds of men go elsewhere. But such occurrences - of women wearing miniskirts during Mass - are incredibly rare that the likelihood of it occurring is negligible.

How you dress up is indeed indicative of one’s heart and mind. But as I said in my previous post, you can not make a direct inference of what one thinks about God if they come to Mass with shorts or sandals. Such inference is more likely to be correct about someone who wears a miniskirt, or comes to Mass in a clown’s outfit. Again, the likelihood of this occurring is virtually nil that it commits the fallacy of the strawman argument: using improbable extremes to put a point across.

 

[CatholicFireman]

I didn’t take the survey because I thought it was too general.

I wear pants to Sunday mass. I used to wear them to daily mass until (during a heat wave) I started seeing well dressed older gentlemen wearing very presentable shorts to daily mass. I do too. But if Father mentions something to me I will wear pants. Actually, I have the type of pants that the legs unzip from, making them shorts. I may go back to wearing those.

 

[CatholicFireman]

Did the apostles, or Papa Jesus, or any of the jews change their clothing before entering the temple? the answer is no.

I don’t know. I wasn’t there.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

 

[ElToro]

I agree, it is more important to see somebody in church and worshiping God, than what somebody is wearing.

There’s that old false dichotomy again! At Mass/dressed inapporpriately OR not at Mass/dressed appropriately.

 

[PatriceA]

I would wear the clothes that I normally wear… Are you supposed to dress up for the Pope?

If I was convinced that people are really distracted by shins and ankles, and not just saying so to try making a point about “proper” dress, I would wear long pants.

There is a dress code for meeting the Pope at the Vatican. But after attending WYD many years back, and being in the audiences when JPll had an audience/mass at one of the huge stadiums at the time when he visited the US, there was a modest, but very casual dress code. Especially for WYD. There is a time and place for a formal dress code, depending on the circumstances and formality of the situation. But some would like to see the dress code for the Vatican, when meeting the Pope in a formal setting, apply to every time we enter a church. Its just not always practical.

 

[elgar]

I didn’t take the survey because I thought it was too general.

I wear pants to Sunday mass. I used to wear them to daily mass until (during a heat wave) I started seeing well dressed older gentlemen wearing very presentable shorts to daily mass. I do too. But if Father mentions something to me I will wear pants. Actually, I have the type of pants that the legs unzip from, making them shorts. I may go back to wearing those.

We’re splitting hairs here. Perhaps the discussion should be about proper attire–not about shorts. If someone comes to church wearing sweat pants with their legs fully covered, it is still disrespectful attire. The argument for nice shorts or bermuda shorts still side steps what is appropriate for Mass. I’ve seen it all–t shirts with nasty messages, flip-flops. Someone showed up one day off the street in gym shorts and no shoes. Draw the line…

 

[CatholicFireman]

We’re splitting hairs here. Perhaps the discussion should be about proper attire–not about shorts. If someone comes to church wearing sweat pants with their legs fully covered, it is still disrespectful attire. The argument for nice shorts or bermuda shorts still side steps what is appropriate for Mass. I’ve seen it all–t shirts with nasty messages, flip-flops. Someone showed up one day off the street in gym shorts and no shoes. Draw the line…

I have to agree with you on that one. Irks me to no end.

 

[johnridgway]

Agreed on that

We’re splitting hairs here. Perhaps the discussion should be about proper attire–not about shorts. If someone comes to church wearing sweat pants with their legs fully covered, it is still disrespectful attire. The argument for nice shorts or bermuda shorts still side steps what is appropriate for Mass. I’ve seen it all–t shirts with nasty messages, flip-flops. Someone showed up one day off the street in gym shorts and no shoes. Draw the line…

 

[Jack_Bauer]

When I confronted them over it and asked who he thought he was dressing like that, he sent me here.

What? No bites.