Summer attire at Mass

[creole54]

No lay person should judge anybody else at Mass (I still do sometimes, I admit) for what they wear, but all the arguments are on the side of dressing the best one can at Mass, financial and cultural considerations included.

As I came to realize this I adapted my dress at Mass very gradually as my means changed. I started by going to the thrift store and spending $10 on a tie, sportscoat, and dress shoes, all used. Now I can afford discount suits at the department stores.

Don’t let anyone put you down for not meeting their standard, but definitely do the best you can. Let the way past generations of Catholics dressed for Mass be your guide.

I just wanted to say how much I love the simple logic of this post. Do the best you can. Period.

While I, personally, put on a casual skirt & top or a simple dress, it doesn’t bother me to see others wearing jeans and scuffed up shoes. For all I know, raggedy jeans may be their best. The Lord knows if we’re doing our best or not, and it’s only for Him to judge, not us.
What does bother me is people showing too much skin, such as short-shorts (like Daisy Dukes), strapless tops, low-riding jeans and midriff shirts. I live in an area with little poverty, so I don’t think there are too many people who can’t afford modest clothes to save for Sunday Mass. Like the poster above me said, the thrift store is a great place to start.

 

[Rejoice_Always]

But, reverence that can be seen has gone out of style–as proved by this thread.

I wouldn’t go by the responses in this thread, for some are taking it entirely too seriously and some aren’t taking it serious enough. Nothing here proves much, except that CAF tends to blow basic issues out-of-proportion.

Anything you read in here at CAF isn’t going to amount to too much. Far too anecdotal, don’t you think?

 

[johnnyjones]

But, reverence that can be seen has gone out of style–as proved by this thread.

Not according to the Vatican. I would rather hold to their principles that those who chime in more often concerned with style and comfort.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Well, if people think those clothing rituals should remain, then they are saying they will honor people at higher level than they will honor God.

Wrong! But how nice of you to fill in our motives for us… I did not know you could read hearts and minds…that must be handy…

There is a difference between wearing cutoff shorts to Mass or a hooters t-shirt vs…say a short sleeve blouse… but for some people…unless its what THEY think it should be…it’s not good enough. And it will always be not good enough.

No…I wouldn’t wear a dress to meet the president…nor would I wear one to go out to a fancy restaurant…I would rather stay home then do that. If I was lucky enough to get a PRIVATE audience with the Pope then yes I might go out and buy a dress…it would be a once in a lifetime event. However for Mass…it’s not a once in a lifetime event…it’s an everyday thing for me.

 

[curlycool89]

Would anyone like some for half time?

You learn fast enough to stay out of threads like this, since there’s no real point.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Would anyone like some for half time?

You learn fast enough to stay out of threads like this, since there’s no real point.

It is just that time for this thread…

That came awful fast after the annual washing of the feet debate…it usually takes a little longer…

 

[irishpatrick]

Wrong! But how nice of you to fill in our motives for us… I did not know you could read hearts and minds…that must be handy…

There is a difference between wearing cutoff shorts to Mass or a hooters t-shirt vs…say a short sleeve blouse… but for some people…unless its what THEY think it should be…it’s not good enough. And it will always be not good enough.

No…I wouldn’t wear a dress to meet the president…nor would I wear one to go out to a fancy restaurant…I would rather stay home then do that. If I was lucky enough to get a PRIVATE audience with the Pope then yes I might go out and buy a dress…it would be a once in a lifetime event. However for Mass…it’s not a once in a lifetime event…it’s an everyday thing for me.

You did not read recent postings. I am saying that a person who dresses down is giving an external witness to their motives–that external witness might be 100% wrong, yet people quite often go by how a person acts and dresses.

Mass is an everyday event for you (often daily for me), and yet each time should be treated as if you are going to a Banquet with Jesus–because we are.

I think the disagreement rises out of one point: Do we, as Christians, owe those around us a debt? Some will say no, others say yes.

 

[irishpatrick]

I wouldn’t go by the responses in this thread, for some are taking it entirely too seriously and some aren’t taking it serious enough. Nothing here proves much, except that CAF tends to blow basic issues out-of-proportion.

Anything you read in here at CAF isn’t going to amount to too much. Far too anecdotal, don’t you think?

Yes, I do agree.

 

[irishpatrick]

A boy watches his father go to work dressed in nice pants and a nice dress shirt (no tie).

The same boy watches their father complain about going to Mass on Sunday, but his father concedes to go and dresses in old shorts and a t-shirt.

The boy complains to his Mom because she made the boy wear nice pants and shirt to Mass. He complained because from his point of view, Mass does not mean all that much because he watched his father dress nicer for work, than he did for Mass.

People discern something about us by viewing what we do–since they cannot know what we think!

Actions always speak louder than words, and certainly much louder than private thoughts of the heart!

**Like it or not, we are walking, living examples to all those around us. How we act, and how we dress–DOES MATTER. **

 

[johnnyjones]

Would anyone like some for half time?

You learn fast enough to stay out of threads like this, since there’s no real point.

There is one clear point and that is the blessed sacrament is as holy at the Vatican as it is at your local catholic church. The Vatican does not except certain styles of dress for a reason, and we should follow their example and adhere to it.

 

[irishpatrick]

There is one clear point and that is the blessed sacrament is as holy at the Vatican as it is at your local catholic church. The Vatican does not except certain styles of dress for a reason, and we should follow their example and adhere to it.

I agree 100%, and will only add that the Vatican posts the minimum. In the USA, if Catholics even just followed those minimums, it would be an improvement.

 

[Dorothy]

Granted, this is coming from the view of an evangelical, I myself would not make attire a point of contention that might harden the hearts of those we criticize enough to have them quit celebrating the Mass.

We can’t see in their hearts, only God can. And, others who may dress a little “better” than others, are not necessarily purer in heart, spirit, and love than those who appear as we think they should have to convey respect.

Do we remember John the Baptist for his bringing people to conversion, or for his shabby dress? If he walked into our church this morning, would be cast unapproving eyes on him…kind of like the Pharisee who remarked in the Temple how glad he was that he was not a sinner like the tax collector?

Jesus addresses the virtue of faith over appearance in Matthew 11:7-8 …maybe we should have as much understanding.

***As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. ***

Pax

Modesty is the point, not the cost of the clothing.

 

[irishpatrick]

Modesty is the point, not the cost of the clothing.

Exactly–modesty and respect for the situation, both for others, and for the Lord. The cost of the clothing means nothing.

 

[johnnyjones]

Exactly–modesty and respect for the situation, both for others, and for the Lord. The cost of the clothing means nothing.

The problem is too many people keep setting up this notion that modesty is subjective and everyone seems to be clueless as to how to dress.

It’s a false argument used to justify todays revealing styles. Some women (and men) want to actually implythat they “just don’t realize what they are wearing.”

 

[cerad2]

Doesn’t your god have super powers like x-ray vision? He can see right through your clothes can’t he? So how could it possible matter to him what you are wearing?

 

[Dorothy]

Doesn’t your god have super powers like x-ray vision? He can see right through your clothes can’t he? So how could it possible matter to him what you are wearing?

It has nothing to do with the fact that God knows what we look like.

If all the ladies that went to Mass dressed modestly (not expensively) they wouldn’t be a distraction to many males.

It is good to train children from when they are young about modesty, and the reason for it.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

No, I’m not writting about going all the way to the elbow. I was creating a standard, like the Vatican does (for a reason). The Vatican sign has some amount of coverage on the womens arms. That is why I brought up “some amount of coverage” on the arm, not because it will turn someone on.

Please…I’ve been ogled when I was wearing a mock turtleneck sweater…some people don’t have appropriate custody of their eyes…to blame a bare arm for your sins is dumb.

My point is that no matter what you wear there is always some one to judge that it is not right…if it falls with the Vatican rules then you are just doing the bare minimum…and so on and so on…where does it end?

I think we all agree on no short shorts, midriffs showing…basketball shorts, super plunging necklines…mini shirts and things of that nature.

But here at CAF it seems like their is always someone waiting to say that slacks for women are out of line…and yes I have been told here on CAF that anything above the elbow was immodest…

 

[cerad2]

It has nothing to do with the fact that God knows what we look like.

If all the ladies that went to Mass dressed modestly (not expensively) they wouldn’t be a distraction to many males.

It is good to train children from when they are young about modesty, and the reason for it.

You really think males won’t be distracted by females regardless of the clothing?

 

[anp1215]

Thank you. I was just going to post something like this. Teenagers are minors. Don’t buy immodest clothes for your children. If they buy them while out with a friend take them away. If your teen owns something borderline immodest or inappropriate for Mass make it know that it’s going in the trash if another outfit isn’t chosen. I know I’m getting old when I start thinking that kids are running over their parents.

As for adults. I can honestly say I’ve yet to see an adult wearing something immodest to Mass. I go to a college chapel. Only once have I seen shorts on a female that were even mid-thigh an they weren’t tight.

I’m not the fashion police. I’d rather sit behind two teens dressed in short and t-shirts reverently participating in Mass than behind two ladies moderately dressed whispering through the consecration. I’ve been around those 2 ladies twice. I now sit somewhere else so I can focus more on my Lord.

:thumbsup:I’ve been around those ladies too!

It’s times like this when parent’s need to lay down the law. You don’t keep your child away from mass for the sake of shorts and a tank top, you make them put on something better, and bring them to Mass. You’re the parent, act like it.

:thumbsup:Amen. I understand the concept of “choosing your battles.” Making my teenager choose an outfit for Mass that does not expose her boobs or butt is absolutely a battle I would choose to fight.

I go through this every other Sunday. I put my foot down. My oldest daughter learned what is expected of her pretty quickly. My youngest daughter is more stubborn these days, but she is getting better in her choice of clothes.

I let them wear fun, teen styles, to church, but I stand my ground when it comes to wearing inappropriate clothes (too tight, cleavage, shorts, mini-skirts, etc).

Being a parent is hard. It’s tiring. That doesn’t mean we should give up.

I consider myself to not only be a wise parent, I am sure my kids will thank me for this when they are grown.

Good for you.

 

[buffalo]

On a parish website:

Proper Dress Attire for Mass

There is a time and place for just about everything. How
we dress for Church fits into this category.

How we dress should be guided by the spirit of respect

and modesty we have for ourselves, Church, and the people

around us. The Parish Church of Our Lady of Pompeii

is a House of Worship and Prayer; it is the House of God

where we gather as God’s people.

It is “The Temple of God” where we

celebrate the Sacred Mysteries of our Faith.

Does it matter what we wear when we enter Church to

participate in Religious services? The answer is yes!

Absolutely!!

Despite changing cultures, some things do not and should

not change. RESPECT is the key word. We can be

casual and comfortable and still be respectful and modest

in our attire.

In recent years, we have become lax and careless in this

area. The Church of God is not a beach, a backyard, a

mall,a football game or your name it!! Styles change,

but RESPECT for God’s House, for yourself, and for others,

does not. How have some reached this point of

embarrassment as we lookaround the Church?

We have forgotten that how we look and dress

for different occasions makes a statement about

who we are and what values guide our personal lives.

Parents need to teach their sons and daughters what is

modest, appropriate, and respectful for church, as well as,

many other social events. But parent must first look at the

example they give by the way they dress. Church is no

place for short shorts, cut offs, (male or female); halter

tops; tank tops, crop tops, tee-shirts with

inappropriate symbols or words. At times it is

embarrassing to see how some enter the House of God.

Does it matter? YES!!! It is about RESPECT for God,

for self and for others!!

-Fr. Beiter

http://www.olpparish.com/020425_1468_0120_lslp.jpg

http://www.olpparish.com/010803_0909_0082_lslp.jpgVery Nice for the Beach