The picking-up some Pampers or a gallon of milk Mass?

[Prodigal_Son1]

I am not advocating criticizing people. I am advocating supporting *the expectation of respectful dress. *

Just as one pair of shoes does not fit all occasions, a given outward appearance does not fit all occasions. We like our churches to have a certain sacred architecture that enhance our worship, so dressing with respect (note: not finery) indicate a certain significance to the sacredness of the Mass.

What is respectful to one may be overboard for another. To me, wearing a suit and tie every Sunday would be a false presentation of myself, and I wouldn’t be honest in presenting myself in that fashion.

What’s important is that people do what they have to, to come before Christ in the Mass. He is the only judge, and the only one that can see in everyone’s heart. That’s more sacred than any form of dress, or 'architecture for that matter. The most reverent Church I’ve ever attended was a ‘country style’ wood building in Alabama. It was packed and the Mass was beautiful. It was one of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had at a Mass.

 

[estesbob]

You’re on a roll bob, I agree with you again.

We do not know for what reasons people wear what they do, and we should not be judging them for however they’re dressed.

Appropriately is different for people of different walks of life. To me, a nice pair of jeans, a button down shirt and tennis shoes looks good. That’s how I would dress for almost any occasion people can come up with.

I try to attend Mass every day and am always puzzled when I run across these threads where people are upset about something the priest said or did or what somebody in the pews did or the way somebody was dressed. We get to hold the Creator of the Universe in our hands and consume his body!!! I personally never wear jeans or shorts or any other casual clothes to mass, nor do I hold hands at the our father nor am I particularly pleased when the choir sings Morning has Broken BUT all of this is totally insignificant when one considers the awesome experience we’re about to have. . That’s what I keep focused on.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

I try to attend Mass every day and am always puzzled when I run across these threads where people are upset about something the priest said or did or what somebody in the pews did or the way somebody was dressed. We get to hold the Creator of the Universe in our hands and consume his body!!! I personally never wear jeans or shorts or any other casual clothes to mass, nor do I hold hands at the our father nor am I particularly pleased when the choir sings Morning has Broken BUT all of this is totally insignificant when one considers the awesome experience we’re about to have. . That’s what I keep focused on.

Amen.

 

[Incomplete]

I sure don’t, but that’s because I go to a traditional parish where only the traditional Mass is celebrated and sacraments are dispensed only in the traditional form.

I don’t either, and I go to an OF parish, a Newman parish full of respectful college kids, where some of them even end up leaving us for the seminary, or places like the orphanage in Peru that one of my young friends has been working for the past couple of years.

I do agree, though, that I’d rather see unkempt (especially if they are really worshipping) than not there at all.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

By the way, let us have a meeting of the minds on what we are talking about here. Jeans and a button-down shirt can be respectful. Re-read the OP’s post (quoted below). Are we now saying “gym shorts, pajama pants, utilitarian t-shirts and flip-flops” are acceptable Mass attire? If so, then don’t be surprised if your Mass is like the ones I read about on this board. It all comes down to attitude toward the Mass.

And this will be my final post on the matter.

I live in a rural area of Florida. Offshore there is an island that has become a tourist attraction during the summer. We have many people who visit wearing the flowered shirts, shorts and sandals. Did they forget to pack for Mass? I do not know, I am glad they did not miss a Mass because of their vacation.

Because this is a coastal area, a lot of ‘locals’ dress the same.

When I first joined the Catholic Church, in 1985, I was a commercial fisherman. The daily Mass was at 4PM. When I was in from fishing and only had time to go straight to Church from the boat, I did; rubber boots, smelling of fish, and all. There were a few of us that did that, until someone decided to address the way we were dressed. Some of my friends quit coming. Some never returned.

Focus on the Mass and not how anyone is dressed that comes…

 

[LemonAndLime]

Should we dress appropriately for church? Absolutely! . Should we criticize those who show up at church that don’t? Absolutely not.

I agree with you again.

This is a dangerous precedent estesbob.

 

[karow]

It’s chic these days around here (at least for college aged people) to go grocery shopping and out to eat for breakfast in their pajamas.

And to work. On occassion I supervise graduate students who are on paid internships, and I have a “We All Need to Dress with Dignity” talk I must trot out at the beginning of their tour of duty, which goes something like this:

Showing up looking like you’ve just pulled an all-nighter might be impressive to your thesis committee, but it’s just sloppy here. Everyone understands you’re a broke college student so no one expects Saville Row splendour, but at a minimum we need you to be in a pair of pressed slacks, no denim, a button-down shirt or sweater, no sweatshirts or hoodies, and dress shoes, no flip-flops, slippers, or sneakers. Save the dishevelled genius look for Silicon Valley or your bedroom; here you’re expected to look tidy, so shave if you have wiskers and run a comb through your hair.

Sadly, some choose think they know more than me, and I have seen judges slap a couple of them with fines for disrespecting their courtrooms.

So… Is it unreasonable to expect people not to rock up to Mass in their jammies? Yes, of course. Should we be surprised when they do. Sadly, very little surprises me about the way North Americans dress. (It’s been my exprience that Asians and Europeans dress better than we do. Haven’t spent enough time in Africa to form an opinion. Don’t hate. Don’t flame.)

What can we do? Unlike judges, priests can’t issue fines or jail time (I’ve seen that, too, with cocky young attorneys who think they know more than God Almighty). We can’t sit them down and give them a Dress with Dignity speech. We can rail on these threads, we can shoot pointed looks from the pews. But these actions are unlikely to affect dressing desicions.

Or, we can concentrate on the Mass. Which is why we’re all there, after all.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

There must be some way in which we can exhibit genuine caring in making a statement or decision and not be labelled ‘judgmental’, and there must be some way in which we can convey a worry about assumptions being made and not be called ‘liberal’ or ‘slobs’.

I sure hope somebody can find the way!

 

[TrueLight]

What can we do? Unlike judges, priests can’t issue fines or jail time (I’ve seen that, too, with cocky young attorneys who think they know more than God Almighty). We can’t sit them down and give them a Dress with Dignity speech. We can rail on these threads, we can shoot pointed looks from the pews. But these actions are unlikely to affect dressing desicions.

Or, we can concentrate on the Mass. Which is why we’re all there, after all.

I truly believe we have a responsibility to speak of it. That way no one will ever say, “I didn’t know”.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

I truly believe we have a responsibility to speak of it. That way no one will ever say, “I didn’t know”.

Okay, let’s speak of it. Could you please start by showing us what Christ, or the Apostles, taught on the subject through scriptures? Once you provide the scriptures, I’ll check them against the Catechism.

 

[laszlo]

Better to show up unkempt than to not show up at all,

Only if you have very serious reason to be unkempt (e.g. being in front line of a war) The parable of the wedding garment (Matt 22:1-15) should be taken seriously.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

Only if you have very serious reason to be unkempt (e.g. being in front line of a war) The parable of the wedding garment (Matt 22:1-15) should be taken seriously.

That parable should be taken most seriously.

Haydock Catholic Commentary

Mat 22:12 Not having a wedding garment. By this one person, are represented all sinner void of the grace of God. (Witham) — To enter with unclean garments, is to depart out of this life in the guilt of sin. For those are no less guilty of manifesting a contempt for the Deity, who presume to sit down in the filth of an unclean conscience, than those who neglected to answer the invitations of the Almighty. He is said to be silent, because having nothing to advance in his own defence, he remains self-condemned, and is hurried away to torments; the horrors of which words can never express. (St. John Chrysostom, hom. lxx)

 

[ConstantineTG]

I sure don’t, but that’s because I go to a traditional parish where only the traditional Mass is celebrated and sacraments are dispensed only in the traditional form.

What does a traditional parish have to do with it? I’m pretty sure I can walk into an FSSP parish this Sunday wearing my jammies if I want to.

 

[laszlo]

What does a traditional parish have to do with it? I’m pretty sure I can walk into an FSSP parish this Sunday wearing my jammies if I want to.

My former pastor repeatedly made sermons against the improper outfits. This is a mixed ordo parish. This sermons made a significant difference. The majority of the people is benevolent.

 

[laszlo]

That parable should be taken most seriously.

Haydock Catholic Commentary

The commentary says that the parable refers to the sanctifying grace only.

Do you think that a person who do not honor the mass more that a formal invitation to a wedding cares about the sanctifying grace.

Are you going in pajamas to a wedding? Does it anything different that mass is in every week, weddings are rare?

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

The commentary says that the parable refers to the sanctifying grace only.

Do you think that a person who do not honor the mass more that a formal invitation to a wedding cares about the sanctifying grace.

Are you going in pajamas to a wedding? Does it anything different that mass is in every week, weddings are rare?

I don’t think I, or anyone on earth, can look at someone at the Mass and see with our eye if they are honoring the Mass or not through their heart; or if they are covered with sanctifying grace.

What one wears to Mass is being evaluated by people in the Church. You brought up Matthew 22, read Matthew 23 and see if it can apply to this discussion.

BTW, I have been to several weddings wearing jeans, including my 10th anniversary when we renewed our vows in the Catholic Church. We’ve been married for 36 years now.

 

[Christopher1983]

I like to consider church as a place where one doesn’t need to worry about being judged by others, for obvious reasons

 

[nanacat]

I remember hearing a story about a woman who gave two copper coins at the temple out of her need while others gave gold coins from their excess…

I remember another story about a guy who liked to have dinner with those whom society considered unworthy of much at all…

I remember yet another story about a guy who had a hard time with the speck in his brother’s eye due to the big plank in his own…

I’m trying to figure out who told those stories… hmm… Oh, that’s right, JESUS!!!

Should we dress up for Mass? Of course we should. Are there times when we might not look our best for good reason? Sure. Are there times when we get lazy and don’t look as good as we could? Sure. Should we rush through Mass because of a tee time? Nope.

But, maybe we should rejoice with our brothers and sisters when we all gather in the House of The Lord. We all have stuff in our lives that we need to deal with. Is there a way to help each other while reflecting the command to love? Absolutely!

I agree whole-heartedly! I am a new member to this forum, and while I enjoy reading many of the posts, and am learning a lot, I have been appalled by the judgmentalism in many of the threads–(this one and the thread about wearing shorts to Mass, for example.)

I live in South Florida and when I go to Mass in our church on Sunday, I always wear capris or long pants. But I go to Mass daily in our chapel and I often wear shorts. LOTS of people wear neat, modest length shorts, young and old alike. We go to Mass to worship our Lord Jesus Christ–what else should concern you?

Also, I have severe arthritis in my neck and am often in pain. I move my head around a lot to relieve the stiffness, and I know I squirm a bit more than I would like to. Am I to be chastised too for irreverent behavior? What ever happened to “Judge not, lest ye be judged”?

 

[Miserissima]

My husband takes the car to work on Sundays and if I don’t have a ride, I have to take the bus/metro. I time it so I can get my toddler ready, and I usually stop at the store on the way to Mass because the bus timetable doesn’t give me a stop near the store on the way home. In the 90+ degree heat, I am a mess by the time I get to Mass, and so is my son.

On these particular Sundays, I dare anyone to judge what I bring to Mass besides my “state of unworthiness before God and [my]…need for reconciliation.”

Luke 18:9-14 (NASB)

1. And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:10. "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.12. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'13. "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'14. “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

[Will_S]

What does a traditional parish have to do with it? I’m pretty sure I can walk into an FSSP parish this Sunday wearing my jammies if I want to.

I suppose you theoretically could, but 1) You won’t. 2) If you did, someone will speak to you about it. 3) If you start to attend regularly in your PJs, the priest will speak to you and tell you to correct your clothing.