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

[JKirkLVNV]

General:

Catholic90:

General:

Your comments are really nothing more than noise

…

First you make a horribly crude comment regarding “preadolescents.” I’ll chalk that one up to defensiveness on your part because you obviously know that shorts don’t belong in the sanctuary.

Then you bring out the old “if we required that of them, then no one would serve.” Utter hubris – laughable hubris at that. When someone uses that excuse (usually in conjunction with female altar servers) I now wonder if they are aware just how foolish they appear?

Then you go into a diatribe (for unknown reasons) about sandals for which I have no comment.

You’re defensive because you know darn well you are attempting to defend an undefendible position. You’d better get used to more pressure because a great deal of the garbage long tolerated from the late 1960’s no longer receives special license from the laws of PCism and that is sure to enrage people like yourself.

The poster’s position is extremely defensible (not at all undefendible, which I’m not certain is a word). The Church has never prohibited anything as far as dress goes except what is immodest. Even if you regard shorts as immodest, simple logic and rational thought would dictate that in this instance, when the boys are wearing ROBES, it’s a moot point, ie, the robes cover the shorts. Once again, I think we should all be doing something else at Mass other than monitoring what other people are wearing, lest we start to sound like Gladys Kravitz on “Bewitched.”

 

[rcn]

General:

Your comments are really nothing more than noise…

Crusader, have you returned under yet another new name? With your “you disagree with me, so clearly you know that your position is wrong” act? Again? Really?

 

[General]

JKirkLVNV:

General:

Catholic90:

The poster’s position is extremely defensible (not at all undefendible, which I’m not certain is a word). The Church has never prohibited anything as far as dress goes except what is immodest. Even if you regard shorts as immodest, simple logic and rational thought would dictate that in this instance, when the boys are wearing ROBES, it’s a moot point, ie, the robes cover the shorts. Once again, I think we should all be doing something else at Mass other than monitoring what other people are wearing, lest we start to sound like Gladys Kravitz on “Bewitched.”

Shorts are not appropriate dress for the sanctuary. As Dear Abbey used to say " 'nuff said."

 

[General]

rcn:

Crusader, have you returned under yet another new name? With your “you disagree with me, so clearly you know that your position is wrong” act? Again? Really?

It’s extremely condescending to refer to anyone as a “crusader.” It may make you feel good about yourself but in reality it reflects very poorly on you.

In any event, shorts are not appropriate for the sanctuary and people can easily tell if someone is wearing shorts even when they are wearing an alb or a cassock/surplice (a “robe” is not acceptable wear for an altar server."

Wearing shorts is akin (but far more serious) to wearing a short sleeved shirt with a suit or tuxedo. A gentleman simply dosen’t do that – one must show a bit of cuff.

When a man wears a short sleeved dress shirt with a suit it looks rather funny/odd. When a server wears shorts up on the sanctuary it looks offensive.

 

[SMHW]

General:

In any event, shorts are not appropriate for the sanctuary and people can easily tell if someone is wearing shorts even when they are wearing an alb or a cassock/surplice (a “robe” is not acceptable wear for an altar server."

What in the world did altar servers do in the days when it was considered inappropriate for young boys to wear long pants???

General:

Wearing shorts is akin (but far more serious) to wearing a short sleeved shirt with a suit or tuxedo. A gentleman simply dosen’t do that – one must show a bit of cuff.

When a man wears a short sleeved dress shirt with a suit it looks rather funny/odd. When a server wears shorts up on the sanctuary it looks offensive.

But what do I know? I’m used to men wearing shorts and/or jeans to the office/weddings/interviews.

 

[SeekerJen]

La-Petite-Fleur:

I would never wear shorts to mass. But some sandals are actually dress shoes. Is there something wrong with dressy sandals, or should females just stick to Mary Janes?

I wear semi-dressy sandals nearly every Sunday during the warmer months (unless it’s raining hard). They look nice with a skirt or dress pants and a short sleeved sweater- my usual Sunday uniform.

mercygate:

Only Christmas Midnight Mass. DH sometimes goes in Black Tie; I’ll wear a dinner gown (but not a ball gown.) If people can “come as they are” in sweats, we can “come as we are” in party clothes . . . Can’t we?

Of course! Midnight Mass is definitely the dressiest occasion at our parish. Our choir goes all out: men in black suit/red tie, women in whatever Mass-appropriate evening wear (no miniskirts or spaghetti straps, obviously). Last Christmas I had a great red angora sweater ($16 at TJ Maxx!) that looked terrific with my long black skirt and shed all over the place. Between my sweater and another soprano’s glittery red twinset, we covered the risers in very festive dust.

 

[krokal]

General:

It’s extremely condescending to refer to anyone as a “crusader.” It may make you feel good about yourself but in reality it reflects very poorly on you.

In any event, shorts are not appropriate for the sanctuary and people can easily tell if someone is wearing shorts even when they are wearing an alb or a cassock/surplice (a “robe” is not acceptable wear for an altar server."

Wearing shorts is akin (but far more serious) to wearing a short sleeved shirt with a suit or tuxedo. A gentleman simply dosen’t do that – one must show a bit of cuff.

When a man wears a short sleeved dress shirt with a suit it looks rather funny/odd. When a server wears shorts up on the sanctuary it looks offensive.

Has it ever occured to you that you might be a tad superficial?

 

[rcn]

General:

It’s extremely condescending to refer to anyone as a “crusader.”

Bwa-ha-ha. Pretending not to understand. That’s an old tactic, isn’t it. We’ve missed you.

Wearing shorts is akin (but far more serious) to wearing a short sleeved shirt with a suit or tuxedo. A gentleman simply dosen’t do that – one must show a bit of cuff.

Can I add this to my collection of other dress code “rules” you’ve posted as Crusader, Nota Bene, Pariah Pirana… what other ID’s have I forgotten?

 

[justice]

Recently inserted in our church bulletin was information on how
we should dress for mass. Our Fr. stated that if we would
wear it to sports events, mow the yard or someting in that general
category, don’t wear it to church. There still people wearing shorts
and sandals. I still wear sandals with dresses and will do so as
long as it is still hot. I live in Arkansas, hot and humid here!

 

[General]

gnat:

Has it ever occured to you that you might be a tad superficial?

Has it occured to you that your manners and appreciation of the Mass has been dumbed-down to a level that is offensive to others?

 

[General]

justice:

Recently inserted in our church bulletin was information on how
we should dress for mass. Our Fr. stated that if we would
wear it to sports events, mow the yard or someting in that general
category, don’t wear it to church. There still people wearing shorts
and sandals. I still wear sandals with dresses and will do so as
long as it is still hot. I live in Arkansas, hot and humid here!

Hurray for your pastor!

I don’t believe sandals were ever an issue. Their use is well documented in the Bible after all.

Shorts in the sanctuary on the other hand is truly offensive.

 

[Catholic90]

General:

Has it occured to you that your manners and appreciation of the Mass has been dumbed-down to a level that is offensive to others?

General, if I am offending you, then so be it. I’m not too worried about you!! If all you have to worry about in your life is whether or not someone wears shorts to mass, then you must be pretty darn well off!!:whacky:

A young boy wearing shorts is “offensive”?? A snobbish, full of himself, obnoxious, holier than thou know it all is offensive to me!!

General, you are drawing so many people to the church with your welcoming, hospitable attitude!! Jesus would be proud!!

(I shake my head in disbelief at people like you.)
I bet you really are Crusader. It all suddenly is becoming very clear.

 

[HelpingHands]

Say, I haven’t read the whole thread since it has so many posts. But, on the subject of sandals, I think that Jesus wore them, and that they were very common footwear back then. What about that? Didn’t Jesus wear sandals? I think they’re fine.

 

[buffalo]

HelpingHands:

Say, I haven’t read the whole thread since it has so many posts. But, on the subject of sandals, I think that Jesus wore them, and that they were very common footwear back then. What about that? Didn’t Jesus wear sandals? I think they’re fine.

Jesus came down to meet us, so it makes perfect sense he would dress as a commoner. At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we go to meet Jesus therefore should dress UP to Him.

 

[HelpingHands]

buffalo:

Jesus came down to meet us, so it makes perfect sense he would dress as a commoner. At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we go to meet Jesus therefore should dress UP to Him.

Okay, I guess that’s a theory. I think sandals are fine. I think basically that’s what people wore back then. I like sandals, and they look nice with skirts.

 

[krokal]

But the notion of dressing up is not something we get from our faith, it is something we get from society.

 

[General]

Catholic90:

General, if I am offending you, then so be it. I’m not too worried about you!! If all you have to worry about in your life is whether or not someone wears shorts to mass, then you must be pretty darn well off!!:whacky:

A young boy wearing shorts is “offensive”?? A snobbish, full of himself, obnoxious, holier than thou know it all is offensive to me!!

**General, you are drawing so many people to the church with your welcoming, hospitable attitude!! Jesus would be proud!!

(I shake my head in disbelief at people like you.)
I bet you really are Crusader. It all suddenly is becoming very clear. **

Did posting your crude (an inaccurate) judgement of me make you feel better?

Keep in mind one thing – your crude comments derive from guilt. If you actually believed it was OK for people to wear shorts in the sanctuary I am certain your comments would be far different, if you commented at all…

 

[buffalo]

gnat:

But the notion of dressing up is not something we get from our faith, it is something we get from society.

Not really. It’s an expression of thankfulness and respect.

 

[Catholic90]

General:

Did posting your crude (an inaccurate) judgement of me make you feel better?

Keep in mind one thing – your crude comments derive from guilt. If you actually believed it was OK for people to wear shorts in the sanctuary I am certain your comments would be far different, if you commented at all…

You’re funny!! Do you make up your own material!?!?

It’s just fine for you to judge others, but no one dare judge you!!

What crude comments have I made?? I have stated my opinion. If you think my opinion is “crude”, you are more uptight than I first thought (which is really funny!!).

Welcome back, Crusader! You sure do know how to stir the pot and keep it lively around here!!

 

[General]

Catholic90:

You’re funny!! Do you make up your own material!?!?

It’s just fine for you to judge others, but no one dare judge you!!

What crude comments have I made?? I have stated my opinion. If you think my opinion is “crude”, you are more uptight than I first thought (which is really funny!!).

Welcome back, Crusader! You sure do know how to stir the pot and keep it lively around here!!

Your comment about “preadolescents” in posting #179 was both crude and disturbing. It does show a certain, rather chilling mindset.

I’m not sure who “Crusader” is, but I am certain that you know down deep that shorts have no place in the sanctuary.