Should people be allowed to wear shorts and sandals at Mass?

[Kristina_P]

It seems a lot of people are having difficulty with the idea that there are secular places, e.g., restaurants, where someone might “dress up” more than they would for Mass. I would like to point out that the waiter at a restaurant is going to judge us on our dress; it is a secular place with secular standards. God, however, “looks to the heart.” The heart of reverence certainly may find expression in outward appearance, but it isn’t our job to judge another’s outward appearance.
For those who still have difficulty, have you ever attended a black-tie event? Do you dress to those standards when attending Mass? If not, why do you “dress up” more for a secular event than you do for a sacred one?

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Iohannes:

…How about someones funeral? Would you wear shorts and t-shirt and someones funeral? As long as what is in your heart it would be ok to wear shorts or t-shirt? How about a family or friends wedding? Graduation ceremony? Awards banquet? But for Mass, in front of the Lord what about Him?

Don’t give people ideas. I’ve seen this at all the of the above functions.

That said, I try to dress with respect and modesty for God’s house, even a visit or confession. My idea of modesty and somebody else’s are two different things.

I go to Mass with my husband who wears shorts in the summer- to his knee, and with socks and shoes and a polo shirt, but nonetheless, shorts. I’ve been looking at a compromise by buying him some REAL bermuda shorts, the formal ones they wear in Bermuda. But in the summer, he has to be seen with me. I wear dress slacks and a short-sleeved blouse with closed-toe sandals or cloth deck shoes or scuffs I wear only for going someplace special. In my parish, I am overdressed.

And flip-flops? Sigh. Like Russia’s errors, they have spread all over the world.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

I watched people returning to their seats tonight after the communion in a reverent, quiet Mass. It was hot, hot, hot today and many people, young and old, dressed for coolness. Old men and young boys both wore shorts. The cantor, a woman, had on a shirt with a decent neckline, but her shoulders were bare. The only man in the church with a tie on (granted, I may have missed some) was the music director.

I do not see the issue. I’ve seen people dressed with a lack of modesty (bare midriffs on teenaged girls, tank tops on teenaged boys), but it doesn’t happen often enough to be much of an issue. Our masses are full and we have an active, devoted and orthodox congregation. We’re there to pray, to worship God, and to receive Him. If it’s modest, dress is a non-issue. No one fell to salivating or made a pass at anyone.

 

[TobyLue]

I always remember, and have shared with others regarding proper dress to church, Matt 22:1-14 regarding the king who had a marriage feast for his son. It was a special occassion and a man was there not wearing the proper garment, so he was cast out. I know this is more important about the state of our soul, but maybe it gives us a glimpse as to how we should dress when we go to Mass. Heck, look at the many protestant churches, whether afluent or not, they dress up. Yes they have Jesus in their hearts, but we not only have Jesus in our hearts we have Jesus physically present. I can understand little boys in their shorts and little girls in this prissy little dresses, but personlly I dont think that mens and womens shorts are appropriate, regardless of how hot it is. I remember growing up and the church we went to didnt have any a/c but everybody was dressed modestly, and we had to walk to church. We have very hot summers in South Texas. We had hard wooden kneelers not the cushiony ones you see in most churches nowadays. Besides, cant we just offer up to our Lord one short hour of discomfort? Gosh, we have a/c in our homes, a/c in our cars and a/c in our church and we complain because of the hot summers and use that as an excuse to wear short shorts. It seems like the more the Church tries to make it comfortable for us by have a/c, good lighting, good pews, good kneelers, we still arent satisfied. We want things easier, and easier, we want more and more comfort by wearing less and less clothes and we make more and more excuses to not dress appropriately. I have seen people dress better when go to out to give their dog a bath then how they dress for church. Disrespectful, simply disrepectful. I think I read where sombody said about orders that wear sandals all the time to mass so its OK for us too. Well, I say fine, go ahead and wear sandals, but then you also must make a vow of poverty and wear sandals and a long robe all the time.

 

[krokal]

Are you saying convenience is a sin? Why should I sit through an hour of discomfort by wearing a suit when I can wear shorts and be comfortable?

 

[JKirkLVNV]

TobyLue:

I always remember, and have shared with others regarding proper dress to church, Matt 22:1-14 regarding the king who had a marriage feast for his son. It was a special occassion and a man was there not wearing the proper garment, so he was cast out. I know this is more important about the state of our soul, but maybe it gives us a glimpse as to how we should dress when we go to Mass. Heck, look at the many protestant churches, whether afluent or not, they dress up. Yes they have Jesus in their hearts, but we not only have Jesus in our hearts we have Jesus physically present. I can understand little boys in their shorts and little girls in this prissy little dresses, but personlly I dont think that mens and womens shorts are appropriate, regardless of how hot it is. I remember growing up and the church we went to didnt have any a/c but everybody was dressed modestly, and we had to walk to church. We have very hot summers in South Texas. We had hard wooden kneelers not the cushiony ones you see in most churches nowadays. Besides, cant we just offer up to our Lord one short hour of discomfort? Gosh, we have a/c in our homes, a/c in our cars and a/c in our church and we complain because of the hot summers and use that as an excuse to wear short shorts. It seems like the more the Church tries to make it comfortable for us by have a/c, good lighting, good pews, good kneelers, we still arent satisfied. We want things easier, and easier, we want more and more comfort by wearing less and less clothes and we make more and more excuses to not dress appropriately. I have seen people dress better when go to out to give their dog a bath then how they dress for church. Disrespectful, simply disrepectful. I think I read where sombody said about orders that wear sandals all the time to mass so its OK for us too. Well, I say fine, go ahead and wear sandals, but then you also must make a vow of poverty and wear sandals and a long robe all the time.

There is no reason to be foolish about dress, though. To wear a suit (men or women’s) can be seen as foolish, if worn in extreme heat (esp. such as is seen here in the desert Southwest). Our Lord told us to be as wise as serpents. When we do something foolish, I fail to see how that might please Him. I think He is gratified that we are willing to suffer certain things for our faith, like being mocked for being Christian or being made fun of for our moral values. That’s suffering that’s good. Saying “here, Lord, I’m going to put on this wool suit despite the fact that it’s 105 degrees and when I’m sweatin, keep in mind, I’m sweating for you!” is not, IMHO, anything but foolish. If we sweat or suffer in pursuit of undertaking a charitible act (helping someone, etc.), that might be pleasing to Him, but sweating for the sake of sweating? I don’t see it. Modesty yes, overdress, no.

 

[TobyLue]

Who said anything about being foolish and wearing wool suits to mass during summer. Men can wear a nice short sleeve dress shirt and dress pants, be cool and not be disrespectful. I always wear a tie but not coat and the tie can be optional. Like I said, it seems like the more comfort we have, the more we want. Yes, I know times are changing, but once we get comfortable with shorts, then we will start wearing tank tops and still use the “I want to comfortable” excuse. After that, it will be swim trunks, after that, speedo swim trunks, , see where this is getting us all in the pretence of “I wanna be comfortable besides the Lord doesnt mind”.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

TobyLue:

After that, it will be swim trunks, after that, speedo swim trunks, , see where this is getting us all in the pretence of “I wanna be comfortable besides the Lord doesnt mind”.

I very much doubt that. I’m glad we agree about the slacks and a decent shirt.

 

[FrCorey]

Try a collar and cassock in 120+ weather to do your rounds and visits. or a wool suit, which is very absorbent thou I have to admit. at one hospital visit after a long bus ride, a little old lady kept saying, where is that wet dog smell coming from… :bigyikes:

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

JKirkLVNV:

There is no reason to be foolish about dress, though. To wear a suit (men or women’s) can be seen as foolish, if worn in extreme heat (esp. such as is seen here in the desert Southwest). Our Lord told us to be as wise as serpents. When we do something foolish, I fail to see how that might please Him. I think He is gratified that we are willing to suffer certain things for our faith, like being mocked for being Christian or being made fun of for our moral values. That’s suffering that’s good. Saying “here, Lord, I’m going to put on this wool suit despite the fact that it’s 105 degrees and when I’m sweatin, keep in mind, I’m sweating for you!” is not, IMHO, anything but foolish. If we sweat or suffer in pursuit of undertaking a charitible act (helping someone, etc.), that might be pleasing to Him, but sweating for the sake of sweating? I don’t see it. Modesty yes, overdress, no.

I will simply never understand deliberately being uncomfortable just for the sake of being uncomfortable. If you want to make that your penitential practice, then do it on a Friday, not Sunday. Meanwhile, you can dress modestly and appropriately for Mass without being uncomfortable or making yourself sweat. Use your imaginations!
Kristina P.:

For those who still have difficulty, have you ever attended a black-tie event? Do you dress to those standards when attending Mass? If not, why do you “dress up” more for a secular event than you do for a sacred one?

A lot of people bring this up, and I’m just curious – do you all really expect people to wear tuxedos and floor-length gowns to Mass? That’s what “black tie” means around here.

Crazy Internet Junkies Society
Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

CarolAnnSFO:

…A lot of people bring this up, and I’m just curious – do you all really expect people to wear tuxedos and floor-length gowns to Mass? That’s what “black tie” means around here.

That’s what black tie means here, also. It’d be worth it to see…But again, don’t give 'em any ideas on either end of the spectrum.

I fail to see why I should ever be forced to wear a dress again if I don’t like them.

 

[Bud_McDuell]

OutinChgoburbs:

That’s what black tie means here, also. It’d be worth it to see…But again, don’t give 'em any ideas on either end of the spectrum.

I fail to see why I should ever be forced to wear a dress again if I don’t like them.

One would not hesitste to wear a suit or a dress if they were going to the White House for dinner. Suggest, however, that they wear a dress or suit to The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and they come up with all sorts of excuses. The fact that this is even being discussed is very, very sad.

 

[Nararya]

I read some arguments comparing we wearing suit or formal dress to the interviews or other important occassions but not wearing one when we go to the church for mass. I think the answer is actually really simple : It is because we wear those clothings to impress our fellow humans, because they don’t have the ability to see through our hearts. Jesus apparently has this ability. I don’t think he would mind at all seeing us in more casual clothings in His home.

I believe it is more proper to see us going to church like going to our own parents’ house. They are just too happy to see us doesn’t matter what we wear. They don’t want us to be uncomfortable in their home. Sooooooo…if you are comfortable wearing suit, then wear one. If you are comfortable wearing shorts, why don’t you ?.

Please don’t ask me how about if any of you like wearing bikinis, it’s just a lame argument…

 

[Bud_McDuell]

Nararya:

I If you are comfortable wearing shorts, why don’t you ?.

There are several reasons:

1. He died on the cross for us. It’s not about YOU being comfortable.

1. It causes scandal to wear shorts to Mass. Little kids will have no respect for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass if they see you wearing shorts.

1. Little kids and likley other adults will lose respect for you. Sloth is a sin.

 

[General]

I have always wondered why most Protestants (and Jews) dress far better than most Catholics for their services?

 

[General]

Catholic90:

No, General. You see, I wear the pants in the WINTER with my sweaters. I NEVER wear pants in the summer. I only wear dress shorts and sometimes capris and skirts (but probably too short for your approval, since they are far above the ankle).

Spend more time concentrating on the mass, rather than judging what others are wearing.

Remember that whole thing about “judge not…”

About those churches in Europe…I’ve done a great deal of traveling in Europe with my husband. We’ve visited the Vatican (it was winter), plus many other cathedrals in England, Germany, and France. What really stands out in my memory was a large Catholic church in Paris at Montmartre. A large sign on the door stated no shorts or tanks tops. Okay. It happened to be starting to pour rain when we were there. It was also about 90 degrees. We had been touring other sights (Notre Dame, Opera House, museums, Eiffel Tower, etc.), so we were in shorts, tshirts, sleeveless, sandals, etc. We saw the sign, and we started to walk away out of respect for their rules. A nun saw us (I don’t think she was officially with Montemart - just another visitor like us) and grabbed our arms and walked us into the church. She spoke French with a bit of broken English, and made it VERY clear that we were more than welcome to enter this church.

THAT was hospitality.

That excuse is extremely time-worn.

 

[mgy100]

I wear good sandals all the time, probably ones like our Benedictine friend here.
My church doesn’t have the luxury of AC, and I’m not doing a suit change in the church basement bathroom after mass.
I’ll even wear shorts.
But I wear a nice collared shirt with no advertisements on them. And I will wear shorts from time to time.

 

[Tietjen]

Iohannes:

I see it all the time in Southern California where summers are hot. Does it no longer matter how we dress? Is a tie for men and chapel for women too traditionalist and pharisical? I no longer know?

I haven’t read through the replies yet so maybe I am repeating what someone else has already written. If the President of the United States invited someone to the White House for dinner would it be appropriate to show up in shorts and sandals? Now, if the creator of everything invites that person to dinner would that person show up in less appropriate attire than they would for a mere President?
I too have witnessed the lax way in which many choose to honor God. It’s one thing if someone is financially unable to attend Mass dressed properly it’s another thing all together if that person leaves Mass in his/her shorts and sandals and drives home in a BMW.

 

[Catholic90]

General:

That excuse is extremely time-worn.

:yawn:

We’re NEVER going to agree, general. Sorry about that. Oh, well.

See ya in church!!

Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. Those “less holy” (at least in some eyes!) will never meet the “standards” set by the pharisees. Jesus ate with the lowest of the low. He admonished those who thought they knew everything…

 

[buffalo]

This thread begs the question. Is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass a black tie affair?