SPLIT: Dressing up for Mass

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Clothing is an artificial human construction. Let’s all go nekkid to Mass.

Hey, Jesus can see right through us, so with your argument, why not?
It is through Adam and Eve’s sin that we have to wear clothing…God did in fact make us to be naked. However, since being naked is obviously, validly, distracting to others (since we are a fallen humanity) it makes sense for clothing to be a requirement at Mass.

Now, what type of clothing is the question. Jeans and a t shirt cover me up fine.
 
Catholic90, Okay, so you wear flip flops because you hate shoes.

What does that have to do with how you present yourself to the Lord. You are saying that your dislike for shoes is stronger than your love for the Lord.

Simple as that. Unless you are physically unable to wear shoes I don’t care how many colors or designs of flip flops you have. None are acceptable to wear to Mass.

I remember a number of years ago when a group of young women (can’t remember now exactly who they were); were invited to visit the President at the White House. A group picture was taken, of course, for the newspaper. Some of the young women were wearing flip flops and it hit the print news and television news like an explosion. Imagine, wearing flip flops to visit the President of the United States, at the White House, no less.

And almost everyone agree with the criticism. I’ll bet those young women never wore flip flops again anywhere.

I suppose a visit to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament would not be as important and would not make headlines.

:amen:
I never saw it as an “either or” option. I can love God AND I can wear flip flops. One does not automatically exclude the other.

I bet those young women you spoke of DO wear flip flops!

FWIW, I wore flip flops to both job interviews I have ever had in my life (including the Catholic school where I now work). I was hired for both jobs. Clearly, my employers were more interested in my job skills and what I could offer than in my footwear!
 
And here’s yet another take on things:

When we see a beautiful butterfly, bird, or flowering plant, our spirits are uplifted.

Beautiful Christmas decorations outdoors do the same thing. When I put up my own, others benefit.

Nice clothing does a similar thing. So why wouldn’t you want to be generous in this way?
 
In regards to modesty, remember that not everyone views you from the ground level! Some people who would appear to be modestly dressed are actually wearing quite revealing clothing that allow certain people (cough organists in choir loft cough) to see them in an entirely different light. Now that’s a distraction!
 
I have never found a scripture reading that tells us that Jesus changed His clothes before He prayed in the garden or before the last supper. He told us that if we have two coats, we should give one to a person who has no coat. Clearly He wants us to wear the same clothes to Church as we do everyday
Oh, stop. Seriously. If the President of the USA, or your favorite teacher… someone important came to your house for dinner… you would dress appropriately, I hope. Nobody wants to give the impression of being a slouch to someone they admire.

So if you would dress up for some human person you admire… I am not sure how it can be so hard for you to grasp the concept of dressing up for Him who is so much higher than any person you could ever admire.
 
I am a Lutheran, but have deep respect for the RC Church. I am of the mind that if it is good enough for St. Peter’s Basilica then it is good enough for when I attend Church.
No shorts, bare shoulders or miniskirts.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

EDIT: On that note thought, I know most folks there are tourists. I wear jeans or more formal pants, and always a shirt with a collar. And never sneakers or sandals.
 
Perhaps more churches should put up the Vatican’s sign to deter people from wearing short shorts, tank tops, spaghetti straps, skirts/dress that don’t make it close to the knees etc to Mass. I would have no issue with it personally.
 
Perhaps more churches should put up the Vatican’s sign to deter people from wearing short shorts, tank tops, spaghetti straps, skirts/dress that don’t make it close to the knees etc to Mass. I would have no issue with it personally.
Yeah!! If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us.
 
And here’s yet another take on things:

When we see a beautiful butterfly, bird, or flowering plant, our spirits are uplifted.

Beautiful Christmas decorations outdoors do the same thing. When I put up my own, others benefit.

Nice clothing does a similar thing. So why wouldn’t you want to be generous in this way?
Except in Mass are you suppose to be focusing on other people? Or on what is happening at the altar? If I wanted to watch people pray, I’d go to a Protestant church since I cannot participate in their “services”.
Oh, stop. Seriously. If the President of the USA, or your favorite teacher… someone important came to your house for dinner… you would dress appropriately, I hope. Nobody wants to give the impression of being a slouch to someone they admire.

So if you would dress up for some human person you admire… I am not sure how it can be so hard for you to grasp the concept of dressing up for Him who is so much higher than any person you could ever admire.
Because they are human beings, dressing appropriately is a HUMAN custom. God did note even give Adam an Eve clothes. As it is mentioned numerous times now, why would God care at ALL about what we are dressed as, so long as it is modest, and keeps inappropriate thoughts away?
I think this debate is getting ridiculous. Saying that because Jesus wore sandals; and some Religious Orders of Friars wear sandals it is okay for the laity to wear sandals to Mass is just plain silly.
Older post, but can someone explain to me why if friars and Jesus wore sandals, we cannot? I get told I’m being stubborn and that they aren’t formal. As I’ve shown above, I don’t think that matters. Quite frankly, it make sense to me?
 
I’m curious. Say I have a pair of $100 dollar sandals and a pair of $10 flats from Wallyworld - which one would show more respect in your opinion? This whole discussion is far from what happens in my parish. I go to 7:30 am Mass and the group does tend to be a little older. There are people wearing dresses, most people in slacks or jeans and every kind of shoe in the world. I haven’t seen flips yet this year, but it’s been cold in Northern California, especially that early in the morning. Our parish is huge and suburban. From what I observe no one is watching what others are wearing, they are praying and taking part in the Mass.😉
 
I’m curious. Say I have a pair of $100 dollar sandals and a pair of $10 flats from Wallyworld - which one would show more respect in your opinion? This whole discussion is far from what happens in my parish. I go to 7:30 am Mass and the group does tend to be a little older. There are people wearing dresses, most people in slacks or jeans and every kind of shoe in the world. I haven’t seen flips yet this year, but it’s been cold in Northern California, especially that early in the morning. Our parish is huge and suburban. From what I observe no one is watching what others are wearing, they are praying and taking part in the Mass.😉
This argument doesn’t hold water. Would you wear a $200 swimsuit, or a $10 sport jacket?
 
This argument doesn’t hold water. Would you wear a $200 bath towel, or a $10 sport jacket?
It does make sense. Shoes are shoes and a bath towel is not a shirt. I was being sarcastic. I’m not talking flips, I’m talking about regular sandals, even Birkenstocks. Will you be on the committee that stands at the door and decides (on a case by case basis) who is dressed appropriately to enter and who isn’t? I have a good idea - I’ve been buying Tom’s canvas shoes lately because for each pair you buy they donate a pair to a child with no shoes. <www.toms.com> I have 3 slip on styles and they are modern and appropriate to wear with slacks or skirts. 👍
 
Except in Mass are you suppose to be focusing on other people? Or on what is happening at the altar? If I wanted to watch people pray, I’d go to a Protestant church since I cannot participate in their “services”.

Because they are human beings, dressing appropriately is a HUMAN custom. God did note even give Adam an Eve clothes. As it is mentioned numerous times now, why would God care at ALL about what we are dressed as, so long as it is modest, and keeps inappropriate thoughts away?

Older post, but can someone explain to me why if friars and Jesus wore sandals, we cannot? I get told I’m being stubborn and that they aren’t formal. As I’ve shown above, I don’t think that matters. Quite frankly, it make sense to me?
It doesn’t to a lot of us others.

Which is more distracting, people dressed in beautiful uplifting clothes, or people who look like they just shoveled out their barn?

And Kozlosap: the flats. The cost of clothes has NOTHING whatever to do with respect or being presentable. Three-quarters of my wardrobe is Wally World White Stag.
 
I have noticed on this thread that those who favor dressing up for Mass are critical of people who do not dress up. I have been called prideful, slothful, stubborn, lazy, and likened to whiny child. The casual folks defend their decision, but do not generally criticize the others and do not try to convince them to dress down.

What do we call people who are critical of others who are not like them?

Although I asked, no one provided an official document, except for the sign, which tells us to cover shoulders and knees. I have provided scripture which implies that we should dress normally. Normally does not mean the clothes worn while shoveling out the barn.

It seems after all of this debate, dress is a personal decision. People on both sides have reasons for their choice that make sense to them.
 
I am a Lutheran, but have deep respect for the RC Church. I am of the mind that if it is good enough for St. Peter’s Basilica then it is good enough for when I attend Church.

http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/Pics/SQR/DressCode-JG.jpg
First time I have ever seen cleavage and belly button on an anonymous-generic-person-figure…😃

…I learn so much on these forums.

For those in the “dressing nice” camp, what should I say to the guys in hawaiian shirts at mass whose job interview would be in a work shirt (similar, but lacking the flowers), since they are blue-collar guys? Does no one else think that social class plays a role here?
 
I hope no one judges others at Mass for not dressing up. I usually try to look my best on Sundays but there was situation where legitimately I had no time to change. My family originally planned to go to the 10:30 a.m. Christmas morning Mass. Instead, at literally 10 minutes before the Midnight Mass started, my parents decided to go to that one. I was just in jeans and a cross country T-shirt. I literally had no time to even change. I’m sure many people in the pews who were nicely dressed wondered why I looked like that, but I hope they gave me the benefit of the doubt. My clothes didn’t hinder my participation in Mass. I still received Our Lord with due reverence. I think the OP is correct by saying modesty is the key. 🙂

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Tony
 
foundmyfaith, why do you wear sandals to Mass?:confused:

And please don’t say “because Jesus wore them.”:nope:
Sandals at Mass are VERY appropriate. Yes, they were the footware of Jesus and His Apostles. Yes, they have a history of use within religious orders and societies. Yes, there is nothing inherently “wrong” with sandals.

Like any shoes however, they need to be tasteful.

Just because clothes do not match a victorian or edwardian standard does not mean they are not dress or somehow less than appropriate for attending Mass.
 
First time I have ever seen cleavage and belly button on an anonymous-generic-person-figure
I know right! You gotta admit though, it does get the message accross in any language. 🙂
 
MtnDweller,

As catholics, we believe in both scripture and tradition. Our tradition can be written and unwritten.

In addition to the long tradition of dressing up for Mass, here’s some scripture for you to chew on:

Matthew 22:8-14.
"Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’For many are called, but few are chosen.’”
 
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