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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Iohannes
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
40.png
JKirkLVNV:
I think the only question that can fairly be asked about people’s attire at Mass is this:

Is it modest?

Excellent point. Whatever happened to the notion that we’re not supposed to be a distraction or occasion of sin to other people?
Click to expand...
 
40.png
Aurelia:
40.png
JKirkLVNV:
I think the only question that can fairly be asked about people’s attire at Mass is this:

Is it modest?

Excellent point. Whatever happened to the notion that we’re not supposed to be a distraction or occasion of sin to other people?
Click to expand...
Excellent point! And one that should be most considered. So given that, what is “immodest” or “unchaste” about sandals (even flip-flops)? :rolleyes: If people paid as much attention to their personal relationship with God and less about what is on other people’s feet we would certainly have less division and more charity in the Church! But that is only MHO. 😉
Click to expand...
 
William Bradley:
Approximately, two Sundays ago, I was performing my duties as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion. A young lady…

Does anybody find it interesting that this type of dress and behavior normally takes place in middle class and upper middle class Parishes.
Click to expand...
I think it’s more interesting that “this type of dress and behavior normally takes place in” parishes that use EMHC’s…
 
Our pastor recently in his homily asked the congregation to not wear shorts or sandals. I find the request not to wear sandals annoying. Yeah, flip-flops and the like I get. But sandals are part of some people’s religious attire and cannot be considered immodest or too casual for mass. CarolAnn’s picture seems okay to me! Anyway, my sandals are my best. On to the loafers. SIGH.
 
40.png
Pug:
Our pastor recently in his homily asked the congregation to not wear shorts or sandals. I find the request not to wear sandals annoying. Yeah, flip-flops and the like I get. But sandals are part of some people’s religious attire and cannot be considered immodest or too casual for mass. CarolAnn’s picture seems okay to me! Anyway, my sandals are my best. On to the loafers. SIGH.
Click to expand...
So will your pastor ask you to leave if you (or a visitor) comes to church wearing sandals? Geez…
 
Do you want to dress better for the waiter than you do for God? I have always worn a suit. I am never hot when my mind is in the proper place.
 
I think examples need to set by those serving during the mass. I have seen lectors, usher and even EMHCs dressing in tee shirts, jeans, shorts, and other inappropriate attire. Recently, my Pastor set a dress code for those serving during the mass and it appears to be working. Men have been wearing dress shirts, dress pants and a tie. Women are wearing dresses, slacks, knee length (or longer) skirts with a nice blouses. Since he implemented the change I have noticed the people in the pews are also dressing better (fewer ripped jeans and skimpy shorts, etc.)
It’s still nothing like years ago when everyone got dressed up to go to church, but it seems to be improving with a little coaxing.
 
I either wear a suit or a coat and tie. I feel you should probably dress better for mass than you do for a job interview.
 
Originally Quoted by Lady Cygnus:

Out of curiosity, does this apply to all shorts or just the really skimpy ones? 'Cause if it does apply to all :eek: I may never wear shorts again (even though I bike to work).
Click to expand...
Well, to tell you the truth, the more exposed flesh I see of a girl, the more excited I get. 😛 So, yeah, girls who wear the skimpy ones distract me the most, but even the less skimpy ones distract me to some degree at Mass.

But don’t mind me, because even if all the girls at my church wore burkhas, I’d still get distracted by them, in all seriousness. It’s probably just me.

Not to scare you or anything.
 
Pug:

Maybe your pastor was just meaning the “flip flop” kind of sandals. I know that’s what I would mean. After all, Capuchin friars wear sandals as a part of their habit.
40.png
Pug:
Our pastor recently in his homily asked the congregation to not wear shorts or sandals. I find the request not to wear sandals annoying. Yeah, flip-flops and the like I get. But sandals are part of some people’s religious attire and cannot be considered immodest or too casual for mass. CarolAnn’s picture seems okay to me! Anyway, my sandals are my best. On to the loafers. SIGH.
Click to expand...
On a related note, I can tell you that I don’t care really what you wear, so much as how you wear it. For the priest and the deacon it is incredibly distracting to see young women dressed immodestly. It causes other men to be put in a near occasion of sin, and is disrespectful to God’s house, his sacred ministers, and most of all, to YOURSELVES.

Short shorts, bare stomachs, plunging necklines, etc. have no place in God’s house. A good rule of thumb is the rule of the Vatican City - no entry into any Vatican church with bare shoulders or bare knees, period.

I am surprised young women would even WANT to wear clothing that draws the wrong sort of attention to themselves. If you are looking for a mate to spend the rest of your life with, what sort are you trying to attract with skimpy clothes?

Modesty is what our American culture is starving for!

God bless you all for your faithfulness in attending the Eucharist,
 
🙂 I understand that some people have grown up/are growing up thinking that it is ok, and apropriate to wear shorts and flip-flop sandals to Mass. So I try and not think about what others are wearing, because I don’t know if they know that it’s not okay. As for myself, I disagree with wearing shorts and flip-flop sandals to Mass. 🙂
 
40.png
Iohannes:
What about those LifeTeen Masses? Can it be justified for the Teens to wear shorts, t-shirts and sandals to make it more relevent to the Teens?
Click to expand...
It is not the job of the Church to become relevant to teens; rather, teens should take the initiative to make the Church more relevant (and therefore more respected) in their lives.
 
40.png
Diaconia:
Pug:

A good rule of thumb is the rule of the Vatican City - no entry into any Vatican church with bare shoulders or bare knees, period.
Click to expand...
then I guess sandals, even flip-flops, are okay … when I was in Vatican City I did not see any regulations regarding footwear. This is rather interesting … indeed.
 
You know, one of the things I struggle with at Mass is seeing what someone else is wearing and thinking that it is inappropriate. I do struggle with this. When it happens, I close my eyes and pray that the Father will forgive my lack of focus on the Mass and to help me regain that focus.

I won’t wear shorts to Mass. Yes, it gets hot here in Houston in the summer, but I just can’t imagine wearing shorts to Mass. When I see other grown men wearing shorts, I usually have to go into my eyes closed praying mode.

As a clarification for myself when I am not in Mass, I ask myself if I were to stand at the door of the church, would I deny entrance to anyone who wanted to enter to attend Mass. The answer is no. The next question is would Jesus deny entrance to someone who may not be wearing “appropriate” clothing? I don’t believe He would.

Peace

Tim
 
I try to get to church early, sit in the front, close my eyes in prayer after receiving Communion, stay and pray after people have left - then I am not distracted by what other people are wearing or doing.
 
40.png
Pug:
Our pastor recently in his homily asked the congregation to not wear shorts or sandals. I find the request not to wear sandals annoying. Yeah, flip-flops and the like I get. But sandals are part of some people’s religious attire and cannot be considered immodest or too casual for mass. CarolAnn’s picture seems okay to me! Anyway, my sandals are my best. On to the loafers. SIGH.
Click to expand...
Shucks. I was recently on a retreat with about 30 people, of whom at least a third spent much of the time barefoot. (Ever hear of discalced Religious communities?). Allowing that this was a special setting and not Sunday in the local parish, we need to maintain perspective on this.

There are sandals – and there are sandals. Who could object to CarolAnn’s? Spaghetti strap high-heel backless sandals with sequins are another story. Use good judgment, if you have any – and if you’re asking the question, you probably haven’t. So if you’re asking, just do whatever mercygate thinks is appropriate because mercygate is always right. :rolleyes: .

The question I would ask is: If I wear “X” could it cause anybody to notice negatively? E.g., some people think short sleeves (not to mention shorts) are inappropriate. I don’t think they are, but I wouldn’t wear a sleeveless blouse to church because the style is widely considered “immodest.” But then, I’m not an “up your nose” kind of person when it comes to stuff like this; if there is error, I prefer it to be on the side of charity and prudence.
 
For anything to realistically happen, the USCCB should probably address dress norms in some way. It would be hard at any other level if it isn’t heard consitently. The local pastor tried to make an issue of it, but he really has no authority to enforce so it becomes meaningless, especially since we live in a “seasonal” area where the large number of visitors week to week aren’t aware.

Even an individual bishop would probably have a problem from an enforcement standpoint, but an established norm would over time probably at the least greatly reduce the issue.
 
Mass is not a rock concert. Rather a representation of Christ’s Sacrifice and a celebration as such respectful attire. Not everybody has a suit. And I try to advoid clothes I must wear to work. I will wear a suit when I lector.
 
hilde the dog:
And I try to advoid clothes I must wear to work.
Click to expand...
Why is that? None of my business, but the statement sparks my curiosity.
 
Well in my opinion going to church is not about what you wear as the doors of the lord are open to everybody (including the homeless) the homeless are not able to dress formaly so therefore would be indirectly judged by the congregation. I personally do not take a interest in what i wear to church as it is unimportant.

I shall quote from the bible now rather than stress my opinion.

Matthew 7:25-35
''Therfore i tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?.."

Text continues look it up. Hope this help to answer your question.

Marc,
Psalm:27:1-‘The lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall i fear’
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top