The way people dress to Mass

[CMatt25]

Seriously, would you go to mass in shorts at summertime or in jogger-pants at winter? Think about it and remember, it is the House of God - a certain decency should not be so hard of us to do, right?

You guys are still discussing other people’s dress at Mass? But to answer your question. Yes. I do the first scenario all the time. And I don’t know if others welcome me. But God welcomes me into in his house just as much as He does the next. Whether in 3 pc suit and tie or shorts or inbetween, God will never turn anyone away who comes to Him. (Jn 6:37 GNT)

 

[Padraig1972]

Of course He welcomes everyone. Hey, maybe it`s just me setting too high standards. I will leave this ball alone.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Yes, I agree with you. I was just responding to the posts about women not being supposed to wear pants at all and some churches having dress codes. It just kind of shocks me and I thought maybe that’s what it was saying Traditionalism was.

I know what you mean…I was shocked by the “we turn woman away at Mass that are wearing pants”

Obviously I’m not talking about the immodest dressers…there are some things I don’t want/need to see…not just at Mass…but in general. It’s kind of like…don’t you people feel a breeze?

 

[lil_flower_luv]

I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that Mass isn’t like anything else we do or experience. In the Book of Revelation, we learn that in our earthly Mass, we join with the heavenly worship. In a real way, being present at Mass is being present in heaven.
Personally, I would never show up to heaven wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

This is how every Catholic ought to feel.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

This is how every Catholic ought to feel.

What part? The part about showing up in heaven in jeans and a T-shirt? Or the part about Mass?

So…does that mean I’m somehow lesser of a Catholic because I show up in jeans? The way I figure it…I’m usually at Mass 6-7 days a week…He’s going to catch me in jeans every now and then:shrug:

 

[CMatt25]

Personally, I would never show up to heaven wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

That’s fine. But if it’s heaven and someone else would feel more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt, I’m guessing jeans and a t-shirt would be allowed for that person. I don’t believe Jesus cares about what’s on the outside as much. It is what’s on the inside that matters most.

 

[stormy99]

What I find to be poor etiquette is when people don’t seem to have the decency to take off their coats and leave them on during the entirety of Mass, or before service even ends they start rushing to put their coats on. Seriously, since when were coats considered an actual item of clothing? I thought they were “outerwear”?

There are times when I want to tell ladies who wear skirts and dresses coming 2 or more inches above their knees to don stockings or tights, and not walk around bare legged, especially in winter! That looks so odd. Even if their skirt of dress was somewhat “casual,” the very fact that they are wearing tights/stockings would make them look way more dressed up.

I have also come to the conclusion that wearing basic jeans to church isn’t appropriate either. Just a personal preference that I’ve thought and reflected about over time.

**I’m not taking off my coat…it’s cold in church…and I think my nice coat would be acceptable to God…

stormy**

 

[bluelake]

Sophistry? Really?

What is your definition of traditional Catholicism and traditional Mass attire?

Would you like to run an experiment? How about in conversation with our fellow Catholics this week, we ask them who a traditional Catholic is? I would like to know because I have been lead to believe it is a group of people who prefer the Latin Mass and most of the pre-Second Vatican Council culture, calendar, etc.

Try googling “traditional catholic” and see what comes up.

The Bible does teach modesty. See 1Tim.2:8-15
Dress codes do change. However, low-cut necklines are getting way to low.
Have you noticed this at the mall? It makes me wonder if mothers are guiding their daughters,
concerning modesty. It may be that mom isn’t shopping with their young girls.
I know I would be . My girls are married and have children of their own.
I’m happy to be grandma instead of a young mom.

God bless,
bluleake

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

The Bible does teach modesty. See 1Tim.2:8-15
Dress codes do change. However, low-cut necklines are getting way to low.Have you noticed this at the mall? It makes me wonder if mothers are guiding their daughters,
concerning modesty. It may be that mom isn’t shopping with their young girls.
I know I would be . My girls are married and have children of their own.
I’m happy to be grandma instead of a young mom.

God bless,
bluleake

Some times its hard to buy anything but the latest style…but that what is layering is for…

 

[stormy99]

Sounds like Theology of the Body. Yes, our bodies are created by God and are good and wonderful and full of dignity. But our society has objectified the body and demoted it to a mere plaything. We think of the sexual organs as nothing more than tools for sex. They are dirty and when we see them we either shamed by it or lusted by it. That shouldn’t be the case, but we can’t help with our fallen nature.

While what you have stated is true, we should recognize the common mentality in our society today. We should do our best to avoid the occassion for sin, for ourselves and for others. Modest dressing means responsbility. Sure, rape still happens in the middle east eeven if the women are wearing burquas. But that doesn’t mean we should toe the line in an already sexually charged society.

**Not everyone has that same idea about the human body…and viewing it as lusting after sin…no way. I don’t support immodest clothes at mass…but I do think dress codes and shirts and ties and such…are gone now…whether it’s good or not our society is causal…period. Some older people still dress up but not the young ones…we got to Sat. 5:30 PM…MASS. Dress there is more causal that on Sunday 10 am mass for sure…sat…I will wear whatever I have on during the day…not so on Sunday…I upgrade my clothes a bit.

Worry about people just coming to Mass and not what they wear…geeze.

stormy**

 

[TimothyH]

People might put a little more effort into how they dress if they had occasion to be in the vestry while a priest is vesting.

Preists put a tremendous ammount of effort into vesting for our benefit and those garments arn’t cheap! Deacons too. Even altar servers.

I sometime think of this when I’m tempted to just throw on a polo shirt or to skip shaving.

-Tim-

 

[paperwight66]

People might put a little more effort into how they dress if they had occasion to be in the vestry while a priest is vesting.

Preists put a tremendous ammount of effort into vesting for our benefit and those garments arn’t cheap! Deacons too. Even altar servers.

I sometime think of this when I’m tempted to just throw on a polo shirt or to skip shaving.

-Tim-

Well, this might be true at the EF, but I wouldn’t describe vesting for the OF as requiring a tremendous amount of effort. Where I am sacristan, the clergy are so busy that they frequently have get ready in three minutes or so.

 

[lil_flower_luv]

What part? The part about showing up in heaven in jeans and a T-shirt? Or the part about Mass?

The part about Mass being Heaven on Earth.
We can all lecture each other on what is appropriate and what is not appropriate to wear to Mass - but we shouldn’t forget that very real fact.

Blessed Sunday!

 

[lil_flower_luv]

Worry about people just coming to Mass and not what they wear…geeze.

I tend to worry about both:

*"Adore the Lord in holy attire." *(Psalm 96:9; Ps 29:2)

 

[StTommyMore]

I tend to worry about both:

"Adore the Lord in holy attire." (Psalm 96:9; Ps 29:2)

This does raise a question, form the context of Psalms 96 and 29, I am having problems discerning what “holy attire” consists of. You really can’t use these verses as proof-text for a dress-code based on European dress standards. And lets face it, that is exactly what many are advocating here: a universal standard based on European cultural tradition.

 

[lil_flower_luv]

This does raise a question, form the context of Psalms 96 and 29, I am having problems discerning what “holy attire” consists of. You really can’t use these verses as proof-text for a dress-code based on European dress standards. And lets face it, that is exactly what many are advocating here: a universal standard based on European cultural tradition.

Yes, I suppose that does raise questions. I, however, was hoping no one would read much into it – and that they would see what I am getting at. Should we leave it up to personal interpretation in this case? The verses do not contradict my earlier posts.

Casual dress to Mass started in the late '60s. Is it so wrong to advocate for a return to the right kind of dress? I don’t support a dress code; just some common sense!

 

[catharina]

Yes, I suppose that does raise questions. I, however, was hoping no one would read much into it – and that they would see what I am getting at. Should we leave it up to personal interpretation in this case? The verses do not contradict my earlier posts.

Casual dress to Mass started in the late '60s. Is it so wrong to advocate for a return to the right kind of dress? I don’t support a dress code; just some common sense!

In support of common sense:

I always wear athletic shoes, slacks, tops, jacket to Mass.
In the late 60s, I’d might have been too embarrassed to attend Mass in such dress.

Nevertheless it’s the way I dress 7 days a week.
I have rheumatoid arthritis and I dress as I can.

 

[lil_flower_luv]

In support of common sense:

I always wear athletic shoes, slacks, tops, jacket to Mass.
In the late 60s, I’d might have been too embarrassed to attend Mass in such dress.

Nevertheless it’s the way I dress 7 days a week.
I have rheumatoid arthritis and I dress as I can.

Your common sense comes from the bold, Catharina. You do what you can. And the slacks and tops? That’s what I wear! They’re nice black slacks with a clean, modest top (cardigans, etc). For Sunday and other holy days, it’s still something nice and modest.

This is what I am talking about.

 

[catharina]

Your common sense comes from the bold, Catharina. You do what you can. And the slacks and tops? That’s what I wear! They’re nice black slacks with a clean, modest top (cardigans, etc). For Sunday and other holy days, it’s still something nice and modest.

This is what I am talking about.

Yet would I be actually unwelcome to attend Mass
if a women-in-dresses rule existed??? Bizarre, IMO.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Yet would I be actually unwelcome to attend Mass
if a women-in-dresses rule existed??? Bizarre, IMO.

I don’t think so, catharina. Really, I don’t.
Because there are all kinds of dresses out there which are loose fitting and comfortable (even for those of us with arthritis --and believe me, I’m right there with you) which can be worn over pants.

Just think of it as wearing a shirtdress style (instead of a shirt) over lighter weight pants.

I always thought the sort of Turkish style dressing (long dress over pants) was extremely flattering and stylish. It combines (IMO) the best of both worlds – the freedom and coverage of pants for the legs, along with the femininity of a dress.

And while some might say, “I live in a hot climate, I couldn’t manage the weight of both”-- actually, yes you can and in fact it’s better for you. A light color loose weave protects you from the sun and sun damage and keeps you cooler than going ‘bare.’

As for those in cold climates, this style of dressing is eminently practical with heaver weights. More attractive than throwing on a sweatshirt over jeans but just as warm and comfy.

If I were ever to win the lottery (since I hardly ever play it isn’t likely) I would love to launch a fashion line with this style of dressing and market it not only to the young, but also to us ‘older women’ who want to look stylish but either cannot physically wear complicated tight things, or who emotionally don’t want to wear styles which do not flatter us in any way.