Shorts at Mass??

[TrueLight]

Somewhere in this thread there was discussion on how to tell people what is appropriate and what is not.

I visited a parish last Sunday where there was a poster board which talked of appropriate dress.

If I remember correctly:

No pants for women
No open backs or sleeveless shirts
Skirts had to be several inches below the knee when sitting down. My skirt actually hit the knee when seated.
No jeans for men
No shorts for women or men
women’s heads covered
no hats on men

There was more but I didn’t remember.

The poster board was right by the snacks, so after Church people had no choice but to read the board.

 

[MtnDwellar]

The poster board was right by the snacks, so after Church people had no choice but to read the board.

Your church has snacks? Awesome!
What kind of snacks?

 

[TrueLight]

Your church has snacks? Awesome!
What kind of snacks?

My church does have a coffee hour, yes! But this was a parish I visited.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Still splitting hairs on this subject. Why not cheese cloth or fishnet? A whole lot cooler. Most churches have air conditioning these days anyway.

Not all of them do…and those that do…not all of them keep it really cool…in an attempt to save some energy.

 

[Bluegoat]

Not all of them do…and those that do…not all of them keep it really cool…in an attempt to save some energy.

I think one could make a good argument that it would be better to wear a nice shorts outfit and lose the air conditioning. It’s expensive and not really a great choice as far as energy usage goes. It is a bit crazy to waste money so people can wear suits.

But maybe people should switch to those long while cotton outfits they wear in hot places. They look cool and they cover everything.

 

[curlycool89]

Would you consider “dress” shorts, a polo and tennies if going out to a really nice restaurant?

I went to a restaurant in Vancouver a few months ago where the waiters wore suits. I was in khakis and a dressy shirt (business casual). I really wanted to change the shirt too, but I didn’t have time (just got off a flight). It was March so it wasn’t bad, but if if was summer I might have changed into shorts.

I don’t usually go to fancy restaurants though. Too snooty for me, just give me the normal food please. If I was going to a fancy restaurant though, I’d probably wear whatever I happened to be wearing already that day. Although, I might consider dressing down just to mess with people

 

[johnridgway]

The churches here don’t have air conditioning, next month the temperature normally get to 44c on a daily basis.

so shorts every day for me.

I think one could make a good argument that it would be better to wear a nice shorts outfit and lose the air conditioning. It’s expensive and not really a great choice as far as energy usage goes. It is a bit crazy to waste money so people can wear suits.

But maybe people should switch to those long while cotton outfits they wear in hot places. They look cool and they cover everything.

 

[elgar]

I think one could make a good argument that it would be better to wear a nice shorts outfit and lose the air conditioning. It’s expensive and not really a great choice as far as energy usage goes. It is a bit crazy to waste money so people can wear suits.

Surely you jest about people wearing suits to mass, unless attending a funeral or wedding? The standard here in the heartland is VERY relaxed. If a person were to wear a suit–even in the winter–this person would really stand out.

 

[Love_Divine]

Pretty much everyone wears shorts to Mass at my parish. Even our permanent deacon vests with a cotton button-down shirt (not his clerical collar shirt) khaki shorts, and sandals. Unfortunately his alb made out of thin white fabric, so we can see right through it.

On hot days I wear a skirt, and opt for my short sleeve blazer because there’s no A/C in our church.

 

[Jay417]

Pretty much everyone wears shorts to Mass at my parish. Even our permanent deacon vests with a cotton button-down shirt (not his clerical collar shirt) khaki shorts, and sandals. Unfortunately his alb made out of thin white fabric, so we can see right through it.

lol our last priest did the exact same thing, and had a fan running behind the ambo!

Our current priest is more conservative, but feels that shorts are fine in the summer as long as the person is not serving as a minister of any sort.

 

[Allegra]

I don’t care what people wear to Mass provided that it’s decent to be worn in public at all. Clothing has gotten alot more casual in our culture and that’s just the way it is. People don’t use clothing as a sign of respect or respectability like they used to. In some ways it can actually be a good thing. I mean does putting on a tie actually make a person a better man? Of course not. Now, if you really feel that showing off your best clothes in church is a way in which you tell the Lord you love him, that’s great! However, if your dressing up is simply out of tradition or worse, trying to demonstrate a level of piety or social status, you’re probably wasting your time. I’ve known people who’ve said that at bad times in their religious journey, they spent the whole time in Mass comparing people’s clothing, so it’s really not something to both with, as far as I’m concerned. Also, no matter how much you clean up, you’ll never fool God into thinking your better because of it.

 

[Love_Divine]

I don’t care what people wear to Mass provided that it’s decent to be worn in public at all. Clothing has gotten alot more casual in our culture and that’s just the way it is. People don’t use clothing as a sign of respect or respectability like they used to. In some ways it can actually be a good thing. I mean does putting on a tie actually make a person a better man? Of course not. Now, if you really feel that showing off your best clothes in church is a way in which you tell the Lord you love him, that’s great! However, if your dressing up is simply out of tradition or worse, trying to demonstrate a level of piety or social status, you’re probably wasting your time. I’ve known people who’ve said that at bad times in their religious journey, they spent the whole time in Mass comparing people’s clothing, so it’s really not something to both with, as far as I’m concerned. Also, no matter how much you clean up, you’ll never fool God into thinking your better because of it.

We dress up out of respect for our King, who is most truly present at Mass. We just had the Duke and Duchess of Wales visit our country, and people had no problem dressing up to meet them. Why do we take advantage of our King’s humility and disrespect him by not dressing appropriately if we can?

 

[Padraig1972]

I found another great clip that kind of touches the subject.

And yes, some of the points here made me think. A lot too.

 

[Allegra]

We dress up out of respect for our King, who is most truly present at Mass. We just had the Duke and Duchess of Wales visit our country, and people had no problem dressing up to meet them. Why do we take advantage of our King’s humility and disrespect him by not dressing appropriately if we can?

You have to understand that not everyone shows respect in the same way. In general, our culture is getting away from using clothing to show respect. I’m not saying this trend is completely gone, just that it is waning. Alot of people do not feel that casual clothes are disrespectful to anyone. If fact, alot of people feel that casual clothing is a sign of familiarity and trust. If dressing up is your way of showing respect to God or the Duke and Duchess of Wales, go right ahead. If it’s genuine, God will appreciate it. The Duke probably couldn’t care less though what you wear.

 

[Love_Divine]

You have to understand that not everyone shows respect in the same way. In general, our culture is getting away from using clothing to show respect. I’m not saying this trend is completely gone, just that it is waning. Alot of people do not feel that casual clothes are disrespectful to anyone. If fact, alot of people feel that casual clothing is a sign of familiarity and trust. If dressing up is your way of showing respect to God or the Duke and Duchess of Wales, go right ahead. If it’s genuine, God will appreciate it. The Duke probably couldn’t care less though what you wear.

The Duke might not, but the Queen sure did when it came to their wedding and sent out a memo to all guests who were attending the wedding on how to dress, and what to wear. What you wear, what you say, your actions and gestures all have meaning; nothing is neutral.

Also, a lot of people don’t feel homosexual contrary to nature “marriages” are wrong, nor do they feel cohabitation, fornication, or contraception are wrong either, so it really doesn’t matter about what we as a society feel. I have never heard of casual clothing being associated with “familiarity and trust,” but if we’re becoming too familiar with God, then there’s something wrong, and we need to return to Holy Fear.

 

[Padraig1972]

The Duke might not, but the Queen sure did when it came to their wedding and sent out a memo to all guests who were attending the wedding on how to dress, and what to wear. What you wear, what you say, your actions and gestures all have meaning; nothing is neutral.

Also, a lot of people don’t feel homosexual contrary to nature “marriages” are wrong, nor do they feel cohabitation, fornication, or contraception are wrong either, so it really doesn’t matter about what we as a society feel. I have never heard of casual clothing being associated with “familiarity and trust,” but if we’re becoming too familiar with God, then there’s something wrong, and we need to return to Holy Fear.

I have noticed in this thread and others a-like that people seems to be familiar with God. That is a danger sign and i don`t think it is just an american or canadian thing…it seems to be a global thing. More like a moral-downfall epidemic in my view,

 

[Allegra]

The Duke might not, but the Queen sure did when it came to their wedding and sent out a memo to all guests who were attending the wedding on how to dress, and what to wear. What you wear, what you say, your actions and gestures all have meaning; nothing is neutral.

Also, a lot of people don’t feel homosexual contrary to nature “marriages” are wrong, nor do they feel cohabitation, fornication, or contraception are wrong either, so it really doesn’t matter about what we as a society feel. I have never heard of casual clothing being associated with “familiarity and trust,” but if we’re becoming too familiar with God, then there’s something wrong, and we need to return to Holy Fear.

What you refuse to understand is that the meaning you attribute to other people’s clothes is not the meaning they attribute to their clothes. Homosexuality, chohabitation, fornication, and contraception are all moral issues. They are wrong regardless of what people feel. Fashion sense in not a moral issue. (unless it gets into the realm of indecency) Fashion sense is a subjective set of opinions on how a person looks their best.
You don’t see a little bit of pride and arrogance when someone judges another person’s motives based on not liking their clothing? Do you actually believe that the people who chose to spend their money on fancy clothing to show off in church are in some way morally superior to others?
Perhaps those who want to go to the queen’s wedding would do better to donate the money they would have spent on their haberdasher to charity and go to Mass in plain, sensible clothes with a sense of humility. Then maybe they could pay attention to the real presence of Christ intead of staring at everyone else’s attire.

 

[Allegra]

I have noticed in this thread and others a-like that people seems to be familiar with God. That is a danger sign and i don`t think it is just an american or canadian thing…it seems to be a global thing. More like a moral-downfall epidemic in my view,

You don’t want to be familiar with God? Can I ask why?

 

[curlycool89]

We dress up out of respect for our King, who is most truly present at Mass. We just had the Duke and Duchess of Wales visit our country, and people had no problem dressing up to meet them. Why do we take advantage of our King’s humility and disrespect him by not dressing appropriately if we can?

Not at the Stampede they didn’t. Even William was in jeans.

I have noticed in this thread and others a-like that people seems to be familiar with God.

And? The whole point of faith is to develop a relationship with God. Faith cannot exist in any real form without relationship. It is why we are Christians. We have a God who became one of us in all things but sin, and who suffered and died for love of us.

Theology behind sin only makes sense within a relationship with God, who is our Heavenly Father.

 

[Love_Divine]

You don’t want to be familiar with God? Can I ask why?

Familiarity builds contempt. When we become too familiar with someone, we get too casual and lose the respect they deserve. The same is true with God. A perfect example would communion in the hand.