Summer attire at Mass

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englishredrose said:
I don’t want people to wear clothes that isn’t really them because I would want people to feel comfortable in Church as they do anywhere. To dress different might be dressing falsely. All Christians - all Catholics aren’t the pinstripe suit Christian we so fondly expect. Catholics are a real mix of people who will have a real mix of taste and Jesus loves you.

We can make people conform to our expectations but does that mean their focus is on what we want or is their focus is on God? Yeh it might look a bit shortsighted to some if they choose to go to church in bikinis in summer and jeans etc in winter but if they are comfortable about their attire then they are much more likely to be focused on God. Are we focused on God or are we focused on other people and what they are doing or not doing 😊?
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If they wear bikinis to Mass, you can bet they’ll be drawing attention to themselves.:frighten:
:heaven:
 
englishredrose said:
and you don’t see him (and us servers) wilting in the vestry before and after the service do you 🤷 Luckily no one sees what we wear underneath our gowns, singing or serving 😊 😃 gowns hide our summer attire so if people are being accused of dressing down then they could wear a gown on top, and no one would see 😃
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I love it! Let’s all join the choir and there will be no more problems!
Blessings,
Kathryn Ann:heaven:
 
johnnyjones said:
According to some of the threads I’ve been on it shouldn’t matter what you wear. This all falls into the modesty is subjective notion. Most summer attire is revealing. Short tight shorts on women, muscle shirts on men, flip flops are all inappropriate at mass. But, if you had all your skin hanging out the local pool, and that supposedly has no effect on anyone, why not bare all at mass.

Nothing means anything anymore. Some people want to argue that you can’t tell what is provocative or, as long as your going to mass, what difference is it what state of dress you put on. It’s a circular debate that prompts me to ask, why don’t you just wear a bikini or swimming trunks to the Vatican? Oh, that’s right, you can’t. Do you know why? They don’t allow it!

Must be something to this whole attire issue if the Vatican has such rules.
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You’re on the right path, johnnyjones! Swimming pool attire not appropriate at the Vatican! (Unless you’re invited to swim!)
Good for you.
 
**And about this time I remember why NEVER to get pulled:slapfight::choocho: into a clothing thread!:frighten:
Bless you all, see you on other discussions here as always!!!

Kathryn Ann.**:grouphug::hug1::harp::heaven:
 
I walk to mass. So I wear a muted color shirt, usually an Olive Green V-neck that is NOT low or a charcoal gray, dark jeans, nice flats,and a Beanie/barret looking thing, and my Brown pleather purse.

And yes, it gets distracting. But I wouldn’t like to walk there in slacks, where I live it can get hot. BUT, we are not there to look at people, we are there to hear about the Lord. We can’t force them.to wear what pleases everyone. But we should be there for Mass, not what bugs me and what does not, I gotta remember that!! 🙂
 
Laetus said:
Ever been to a funeral Mass lately? Almost every woman I see under 50 wearing black is wearing some sort of** bare backed cocktail dress**. One wonders if their parents ever taught them how to dress?
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One of our more well-known parishoners loves to show up like this…and enter church doing her Paris Hilton walk. Kinda makes my eyes cross.
 
Laetus said:
That’s also how people dressed back then. Go to a game at Yankee Stadium and men wore suits, hats and if it was cold, overcoats. They don’t anymore, often not even in business. That not necessarily better than khakis, a polo shirt and a nice jacket, only different.

I don’t like being pressured to wear a suit/sports coat which I feel at one parish I attend. I do feel some garments should be* verboten *at Mass though.
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Yeah and I certainly have more respect for people back then than some of the bums of this time. Back then the homeless did their best to look their best, look at the pictures they wore suits…why because they had respect that’s why. Now we have millionaires dressing in rags. I think it’s a smack in the face to all the people around the world who don’t have the luxury of paying $500 to dress like a homeless bum with his t-shirt, and tattered jeans.

Yeah I know I sound like a cranky 85yro curmudgeon, but that’s because I am at heart.

FTR I’m not against men wearing nice dress pants (khakis, dress jeans, or slacks) polo shirts, sweaters or what not…it’s the ones that wear the baseball caps, flip flops and what not. I sometimes wear dress jeans, dress shirt w/sleeves rolled up and a vest to church. I’m just saying you can dress appropriately without having to do the suit & tie. It’s about making yourself look respectable. I’ve seen poor farmers do it…sure they wear their denim overalls to church, but they took time to comb their hair to the side and wear their cleanest and finest shirt (God bless them:)) it’s not a matter of fabrics for me as much as it’s about man’s respect for God, his church and himself.
 
Kathryn_Ann said:
**And about this time I remember why NEVER to get pulled:slapfight::choocho: into a clothing thread!:frighten:
Bless you all, see you on other discussions here as always!!!

Kathryn Ann.**:grouphug::hug1::harp::heaven:
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Thank you for your insightful posts in this thread. I hope that others can evangelize others simply by dressing decently and modestly for Mass no matter their income, perhaps they will plant a seed in those who are in need.
 
bmadamsberry said:
I think the entire idea of what to wear at Mass is complex and, at times, paradoxical and contradictory.
  1. On the one hand, we should and shouldn’t care what other people are wearing to Mass. The interior of the heart is important, but so is how one acts on that belief (that’s why we’re faith and works, instead of just faith). Furthermore, I would much rather someone come to Mass dressed immodestly than not at all (unless they’re just there to cause problems). Maybe it’s a matter of “I should care what I wear to Mass, but not what others wear” kind of thing. On the flip side of that, though, is the fact that I do believe that the Eucharist is my L-rd, and should be approached with the respect that the Church allows for.
  2. The idea of modesty does change. If I dressed in khakis, a button-up shirt, and a tie, I would be under-dressed for Mass in the late 19th/early 20th century. Eventually, our idea of modesty changes. At the same time, that doesn’t mean that we can simply change our ideas of modesty to fit with the times. So, at what point do we (rightfully) draw the line, and at what point do we (rightfully) change our idea?
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Why not follow the Vaticans example and wear to mass the clothes that are acceptable there? This way we can’t get into this foolish debate that modesty is subjective.
 
johnnyjones said:
Why not follow the Vaticans example and wear to mass the clothes that are acceptable there? This way we can’t get into this foolish debate that modesty is subjective.
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Honestly, that’s what I’d love to see and have enforced. I understand that there are cultural differences in some clothing but most places in the world, people tend to follow the trends set in the USA and other nations that have similar ways of dress.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
johnnyjones said:
Why not follow the Vaticans example and wear to mass the clothes that are acceptable there? This way we can’t get into this foolish debate that modesty is subjective.
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Like this one? It’s pretty clear on what is and is not acceptable to wear inside St Peter’s Basilica. What’s good enough for the Vatican really ought to be good enough for the rest of us Catholics!!
View attachment 14106
 
MissRose73 said:
Honestly, that’s what I’d love to see and have enforced. I understand that there are cultural differences in some clothing but most places in the world, people tend to follow the trends set in the USA and other nations that have similar ways of dress.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OHdzk3Jls...AGb4/gSxPUHLNveQ/s1600/Vatican+Dress+Code.jpg
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👍 You got yours posted before I could figure out how to upload on here! I love that sign. It really should end the debate about what is appropriate and what is not to wear in Church…
 
anp1215 said:
Same way at my parish. Girls wear tube tops, spaghetti strap tops, shorts that literally end right underneath the butt cheek, etc. That kind of stuff does bother me, especially the booty shorts. T-shirts, jeans, khaki shorts, flip-flops, I don’t think those look very nice at church but it doesn’t bother me because they are at least covered. But shorts that look like underwear? Really? Who in their right mind thinks that’s acceptable to wear to church, or anywhere? Why would a parent allow their daughter to dress like that?

I just turn away. I don’t dwell on it because there’s no point.
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But we don’t know what happened in the homes of these people two hours before the Mass.

Here’s a question for all: Let’s say that you have a teenager, a girl. Your teenager is in that rebellious phase and hates going to Mass or doing anything that you ask her to do. You put your foot down and insist that the teen attend Mass with you. She flounces away and says, “OK, but I’m NOT dressing up.”

What do you do? You can’t very well drag her up to her bedroom and dress her, can you? She’s not a baby or a toddler, and doing such a thing to her would be…um…inappropriate. Or is this how strict disciplinarian parents do it? Do parents REALLY force their children to dress conservatively? Have any of YOU done this? Does it work? What is the long-term outcome on family relationships?

**So do you tell her to stay away from the Mass unless she is willing to put on some decent clothes? Think about it–would you really keep your child away from Mass for the sake of a pair of shorts and a tank top? **

Or do you accept the compromise and say, “That’s fine, honey. We’ll be leaving for Mass in five minutes.”

I think a LOT of families see this kind of battle on a weekly basis with their teenagers, and many of these families choose to not fight this battle, but just accept that it’s more important to have their teens attending Mass even if they are wearing something that is much too beachy.

Wise parents know that it is important to choose their battles with their teens carefully, and that issues of dress, makeup, jewelry, etc. WILL pass, and in a few years, the teen will be through the “rebellious phase.”
 
Cat said:
But we don’t know what happened in the homes of these people two hours before the Mass.

Here’s a question for all: Let’s say that you have a teenager, a girl. Your teenager is in that rebellious phase and hates going to Mass or doing anything that you ask her to do. You put your foot down and insist that the teen attend Mass with you. She flounces away and says, “OK, but I’m NOT dressing up.”

What do you do? You can’t very well drag her up to her bedroom and dress her, can you? She’s not a baby or a toddler, and doing such a thing to her would be…um…inappropriate. Or is this how strict disciplinarian parents do it? Do parents REALLY force their children to dress conservatively? Have any of YOU done this? Does it work? What is the long-term outcome on family relationships?

**So do you tell her to stay away from the Mass unless she is willing to put on some decent clothes? Think about it–would you really keep your child away from Mass for the sake of a pair of shorts and a tank top? **

Or do you accept the compromise and say, “That’s fine, honey. We’ll be leaving for Mass in five minutes.”

I think a LOT of families see this kind of battle on a weekly basis with their teenagers, and many of these families choose to not fight this battle, but just accept that it’s more important to have their teens attending Mass even if they are wearing something that is much too beachy.

Wise parents know that it is important to choose their battles with their teens carefully, and that issues of dress, makeup, jewelry, etc. WILL pass, and in a few years, the teen will be through the “rebellious phase.”
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Church is not the place to dress the way teens want because they are going through a rebellious phase. Even I had to dress decently and modestly for Mass even when my peers were not. They can dress how they want outside of church but they can give 2 hours a week at most wearing modest & decent clothing for Mass even if they have 1 or 2 outfits suitable for Mass.

My mother had to fight that battle with my younger sister as a teen, and I wished she would have been more forceful as my sister often came to Mass dressed too casually & sometimes immodestly looking back in time. I still can picture my sister at the Mass for graduates at the church I attended growing up that I was part of wearing a long tee shirt, long bike shorts that came a few inches above the knees, and Air Jordan tennis shoes. I was wearing a nice short sleeve knee length dress under my graduation gown. In fact, I remember the church bulletin telling the grads to wear appropriate clothing under their graduation gowns.

I remember my 2 female cousins wore up to date clothing most of the time in the late 80’s/early 90’s as teens to school, at home etc. But when it came to Mass, they had to wear a modest & decent dress or a shirt/skirt combination as that was their mother’s rule (and is to this day). The few times I went to Mass with them, I was subject to the same rule, and abided by it (and also if our family attended their church for special occasions, we knew to dress up).
 
I seriously cannot comprehend why it is so hard for some people to just dress modestly, conservatively, for Mass. Some of the justification that people put forward, I think, is just ridiculous! “We can’t afford it; It’s uncomfortable” Just ridiculous! Anyone living in first world countries, besides the homeless, can afford modest clothing. For men, a dress shirt and pants with black shoes, with an optional tie. For women, a long sleeve top (or at least 3/4 length on the arms) with a long skirt or dress; with a mantilla and appropriate shoes. Shop at the right place and its very cheap. Buy a decent pair of black dress shoes and they last 2-3 years. The overwhelming number of churches in first world countries have air conditioning, so I see no justification for wearing immodest, revealing clothing during Summer.

The absurd excuses have to stop. Dressing inappropriately is sinful and causes scandal.

I.F.
 
I believe that Jesus, being a guy and all, doesn’t really notice what other people are wearing.

.
 
ImmaculataFides said:
I seriously cannot comprehend why it is so hard for some people to just dress modestly, conservatively, for Mass. Some of the justification that people put forward, I think, is just ridiculous! “We can’t afford it; It’s uncomfortable” Just ridiculous! Anyone living in first world countries, besides the homeless, can afford modest clothing. For men, a dress shirt and pants with black shoes, with an optional tie. For women, a long sleeve top (or at least 3/4 length on the arms) with a long skirt or dress; with a mantilla and appropriate shoes. Shop at the right place and its very cheap. Buy a decent pair of black dress shoes and they last 2-3 years. The overwhelming number of churches in first world countries have air conditioning, so I see no justification for wearing immodest, revealing clothing during Summer.

The absurd excuses have to stop. Dressing inappropriately is sinful and causes scandal.

I.F.
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This is what the Vatican has to say about appropriate apparel in their Churches:View attachment 14107

It differs a little from what you think everyone should wear…I’m not trying to be rude or argumentative, but I think I’ll go with what the Vatican says when making generalized suggestions for those attending Mass. BTW, in case you weren’t aware, a mantilla and dress/skirt are optional for women,…as shown in picture above.
 
LightBound said:
This is what the Vatican has to say about appropriate apparel in their Churches:

It differs a little from what you think everyone should wear…I’m not trying to be rude or argumentative, but I think I’ll go with what the Vatican says when making generalized suggestions for those attending Mass. BTW, in case you weren’t aware, a mantilla and dress/skirt are optional for women,…as shown in picture above.
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Excellent. An individual can only do whatsoever they themselves are prompted to do by the Spirit, but should never take it upon themselves to become their own sentinel fashion sign by their icy stares of rejection and displeasure.
 
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