Summer attire at Mass

[bearer]

Regardless of the season, I think men and women alike need to be covered, including arms and legs. At Mass we stand before Christ Himself and should not scandalize our Brothers and Sisters with our dress. It would nice for women to cover their heads, as Saint Paul instructed, but I realize that the Church has released them from that necessity following Vatican II.

I can’t remember the last time I was in a church that didn’t have AC, and virtually every car on the road today has it standard as well, so it’s hard for me to accept that weather would play a part in church dress. But what I say, there has been a relaxation of attitudes concerning dress over the past few generations, both inside and outside of church.

Some pastors seem to be afraid that if they start preaching against immodest dress, parishioners and guests will simple stop attending Mass. Sometimes the opening of one’s heart to Christ takes a lifetime, and they don’t want to drive away the lukewarm who may be growing in grace.

I think teaching the virtue of humility from the pulpit would be best, but I’m not a priest, so I can’t say that my ideas on this topic are the correct ones in terms of the bigger picture, which is the salvation of souls.

 

[Mary_Fleurdelis]

Most of the time, we can’t judge someone’s reverence or holiness by the way they dress because we can’t take into account their cash flow or comfort zone. Or if they came from work, vacation, etc. Dressing casual is not distracting except to judgmental people.

But I get really tired of some women dressing like they’re going to a club. I don’t care if it’s trendy. I’m a straight young woman. If I’m distracted by the sea of cleavage and short/tight skirts, I can’t imagine how it affects the men in church.

 

[irishpatrick]

Most of the time, we can’t judge someone’s reverence or holiness by the way they dress because we can’t take into account their cash flow or comfort zone. Or if they came from work, vacation, etc. Dressing casual is not distracting except to judgmental people.

But I get really tired of some women dressing like they’re going to a club. I don’t care if it’s trendy. I’m a straight young woman. If I’m distracted by the sea of cleavage and short/tight skirts, I can’t imagine how it affects the men in church.

It has nothing to do with judging holiness–it is just common decency and respect to dress at least reasonably. When we go to Mass, we are going to be with the Lord–I cannot imagine people not getting at least reasonbly dressed to see the Pope privately.

 

[tabycat]

Reading this thead a question hit me: How would you react if Jesus walked into the church wearing HIis best clothes from His time?

 

[kkollwitz]

One should dress so as not to distract others from the Mass.

 

[SMHW]

Finally!!! It’s time for the Clothing Crusaders!!!

opcorn::extrahappy::bounce: :banghead::yawn::yyeess:

Where are the SHORTS threads?

It just wouldn’t be late spring/summer without them.

This past winter was a little light on the “When do you decorate for Christmas?” and “Do you do Santa Claus?” threads so perhaps this thread will fill the void.

 

[Cat]

It has nothing to do with judging holiness–it is just common decency and respect to dress at least reasonably. When we go to Mass, we are going to be with the Lord–I cannot imagine people not getting at least reasonbly dressed to see the Pope privately.

But what is “reasonable?” Define it.

Your definition will be different from mine, and both of us will have a different definition than everyone else on this thread.

I am a woman, and I have no problems whatsoever with a woman wearing a sleeveless top. I cannot see how this can possibly be inappropriate! My GRANDMOTHER used to wear sleeveless dresses that she made herself–very appropriate for hot summer days in church when there wasn’t air conditioning.

But I see people on CAF who consider a sleeveless top on a woman to be too revealing for Mass. I guess it depends on how skinny the woman’s arms are–a woman like me with arms like hams is not going to reveal as much as a woman with delicate arms.

At any rate, everyone’s definition of “reasonable” is different, and that’s why there is such a difference in how people dress to Mass. I doubt very much that people deliberately dress in provocative or slovenly attire; they merely wear what seems “reasonable” to them.

 

[irishpatrick]

But what is “reasonable?” Define it.

Your definition will be different from mine, and both of us will have a different definition than everyone else on this thread.

I am a woman, and I have no problems whatsoever with a woman wearing a sleeveless top. I cannot see how this can possibly be inappropriate! My GRANDMOTHER used to wear sleeveless dresses that she made herself–very appropriate for hot summer days in church when there wasn’t air conditioning.

But I see people on CAF who consider a sleeveless top on a woman to be too revealing for Mass. I guess it depends on how skinny the woman’s arms are–a woman like me with arms like hams is not going to reveal as much as a woman with delicate arms.

At any rate, everyone’s definition of “reasonable” is different, and that’s why there is such a difference in how people dress to Mass. I doubt very much that people deliberately dress in provocative or slovenly attire; they merely wear what seems “reasonable” to them.

Okay, so what would most people wear to a formal evening wedding?

What would they wear to a family holiday party?

How about something in between those two?

I disagree with your last point. I think a great many people give no thought to what they wear to Church (t-shirts with graphic messages, bras hanging out, short shorts, etc.). I think they roll out of bed and just throw on whatever they want. Many people will say, “what they wear means nothing because Jesus accepts them as they are no matter what they wear.”

What would most people working in an office wear to work?

What would they wear to a Baptism (the irony is those are in Churches)?

What would they wear to a nice dinner out with their spouse to say a high-level restaurant?

Some people have no choice–the vast majority do.

 

[pnewton]

I felt ill at ease last Sunday because I left my tie on the table. I would feel awkward if I did not dress well for Mass. I really do not care what anyone else wears, though. That is between them and God. Even if they dress immodestly, as I too am a sinner, I will not judge them for it.

 

[irishpatrick]

I felt ill at ease last Sunday because I left my tie on the table. I would feel awkward if I did not dress well for Mass. I really do not care what anyone else wears, though. That is between them and God. Even if they dress immodestly, as I too am a sinner, I will not judge them for it.

Yet, we should care, we are supposed to help build each other up. It is not about sin, or judgment–it is just about acting maturely and understanding that each one of us is an example for those around us. Do people in our lives see Christ in our actions, in our words, in our behaivor, in our lives? Or do the people in our lives have a hard time seeing any difference between us and the rest of the world?

In the world, not of the world.

How can we Catholics help convert the world if we do not show the world that we are different? That we have gifts that every person should desire?

Take for example the ancient Roman world. During those days it was very common for the mainly pagan population to have tattoos and body piercings. Christians, however, did not have those and they stood apart from the rest. Interestingly, today, the percentage of people getting tattoos and body piercings appears to be on the rise, at the same time so many just do not seem to care about the faith or how they dress going to Mass. Coincidence? Maybe.

 

[Rejoice_Always]

Banlon (shudder) should be banned from all of civilized society. It even has “ban” in its name.

Reading this thead a question hit me: How would you react if Jesus walked into the church wearing HIis best clothes from His time?

There would be a thread here at CAF about a long-haired bearded guy wearing sandals who was really distracting and made it tough for pewmates to pray. His robe would be too loose, too.

 

[The_Curt_Jester]

I just scanned through this, but I hope there aren’t (or won’t be) a bunch of "I can’t afford anything but the shorts, tank top, and designer flip-flops that I’m wearing. Aside from my shoes, I probably wear clothes that cost about $3 total every day. My entire “wardrobe” probably cost no more than $100 (and that’s because of a couple new pairs of jeans!). Thrift stores are your best friend if you don’t have a lot of money to spend. Lots of clothes, and quite often some nice ones. The main problem is that certain sizes are difficult to find, especially if you live in area with a less dense population.

I try not to notice what people wear, and I’m more successful now that I work in an organ loft that blocks my vision of everything except the front pew (where hardly anyone sits) and the sanctuary. At another church I couldn’t help seeing what people were wearing because it was my job to count attendance. The things I saw (and didn’t see!) were astounding.

Sometimes you don’t need sight to tell what a person is wearing. If I were to ban something based on sound alone, I’d take every flip-flop shoe used in church and toss them in the nearest landfill. About the most annoying sound to me after receiving communion is the whacka-whacka-whacka I hear as an army of flip-flop-wearing communicants shuffle their way back to the pews.

 

[Laetus]

At Mass today I happened to notice two people as they processed-up for communion. One is a friend, a retired orthopedic surgeon. He wears the same rumpled khaki shorts outfit each Sunday. He looked bad. He should know better.

Another guy was wearing what was obviously the coat of a former grey pinstripe suit with navy slacks. He had the mafioso dark shirt/light tie thing going too. He also had his perennial scowl on his face, looking down at those not “dressed-up for Mass” (we have chatted before.) He doesn’t have a clue but he shouldn’t judge others.

When all is said and done, Catholics on average simply don’t allocate as much importance to the Mass as many Protestants do to their services. The Mass for many Catholics is a 45 minute task on Sundays. Many Protestants on the other hand spend the entire day at church.

 

[Laetus]

There would be a thread here at CAF about a long-haired bearded guy wearing sandals who was really distracting and made it tough for pewmates to pray. His robe would be too loose, too.

I suspect Jesus Christ incarnate probably fit in fairly well with His peers, at least with respect to how he dressed.

 

[Rejoice_Always]

When all is said and done, Catholics on average simply don’t allocate as much importance to the Mass as many Protestants do to their services. The Mass for many Catholics is a 45 minute task on Sundays. Many Protestants on the other hand spend the entire day at church.

Hilarious! One billion Catholics on average don’t think Mass is as important as Protestants think about Protestant services. Blanket meet statement! Anec meet dotal!

 

[irishpatrick]

What would any of us do if the President of the company we worked for called us on the phone and said he/she is coming to our house for dinner? Would we clean our home? Would we make a special meal? Would we make sure we wore respectful clothes? Or would we not care about doing any of those things?

 

[Rejoice_Always]

I suspect Jesus Christ incarnate probably fit in fairly well with His peers, at least with respect to how he dressed.

No doubt about it!

But he couldn’t wear now what he wore then without getting the eye from from our Holy Haberdasher Hounds sniffing around our parishes.

 

[irishpatrick]

No doubt about it!

But he couldn’t wear now what he wore then without getting the eye from from our Holy Haberdasher Hounds sniffing around our parishes.

No one would say a word, just as they do not today. We are discussing this outside of Mass, without speaking of any single individual.

Again, what many people miss is that Mass is NOT just about the single person. The Mass is a gathering together of the faithful to Celebrate the Mass together. How we act, what we wear, whether or not we participate, all matters. We owe a debt to those around us. It is not about sin, or salvation, or whether or not Jesus would accept us in lesser clothes (of course He would)–it is about recognizing the fact that each person owes a public debt to all those around them!

 

[Jordan719]

The majority don’t believe Christ is truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. If God isn’t there, why bother.

 

[irishpatrick]

The majority don’t believe Christ is truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. If God isn’t there, why bother.

Excellent point. If Communion is just a piece of bread, then who cares if you receive that bread wearing old shorts and a t-shirt…