The way people dress to Mass

[lil_flower_luv]

Personally, I feel that what is in your heart is much much more important then what is on your back.

I am not at church to judge others. I am at church for God and for Him alone. I personally do not care if you come in sweats, PJs, jeans, or a Tux. Come with a pure heart and for the right reasons. Come and PARTICIPATE!!! Do not come, just to fulfill you obligation or to be seen.

And while this is off topic - for the love of God, leave your cell phone home or in the car. NOTHING is more distracting in mass, then the person 2 pews up texting.

Does “adore the Lord in holy attire” (Psalm 96:9; Ps 29:2) mean anything to you?

Clothes say something about what we think; what we value. Being ministered to by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is astounding. If we are really thinking about where we are going, what we are doing, or Who we are meeting, casual dress does not seem appropriate for Sunday Mass.

You don’t need to wear a tux or formal gown, but some things really are important and our clothing and demeanor should reflect that.

 

[OurLadyPerpHelp]

With all due respect, I think you may be going down a dangerous path by making false distinctions between “traditional” Catholics and “non-traditional Catholics”. All Catholics loyal to the Magisterium are “traditional” in a manner of speaking. By elevating “traditional” Catholics over what you label as “liberal” Catholics, you imply that the Traditionalist movement in the Church (which is essentially a lay movement in the Church, just as the Charismatic Renewal is) is more 'faithful" version of Catholicism. This could eventually lead one to sedevacantism. If you prefer a more “traditional” expression of Catholicism, that is fine, but that is by no mans superior to other expressions of the faith.

Sorry to break this to you, but you’re wrong.

There isn’t a “false distinction” between traditional and non-traditional Catholics. Although I don’t believe there is any papal decree it is generally accepted traditional Catholics attend the Latin Mass and follow the pre-Second Vatican Council calendar. If there was no distinction then why is there a “Traditional Catholic” forum here?

Nor have I made any judgement or qualitative distinction between the two. Are you deliberately trying to lure me into an argument? Will you report me to the moderator as having offended you? Actually, I think I will and get Mr. Casey’s opinion on your accussations against me.

 

[OurLadyPerpHelp]

Oh, and as you told someone else yesterday, welcome to my Ignore List. I’ve found it a necessary tool for civil and charitable discussions here.

 

[malphono]

These recurring “dress code” threads always remind me of Judge Judy. It happens (relatively often) that people show up in her courtroom in sundresses, or shorts, or with bare midriffs, in flipflops, etc (males as well as females). Invariably, they get dressed-down (in front of 10 million people) with a barbed remark from her sharp tongue about the appropriateness of the attire.

Without getting into “1950s fashions” and such, (and I have serious issues with those who insist on “prairie dresses” and such for women and “Sunday-best” suits for men), it seems to me that the “Judy standard” is probably the most reasonable one: use a little common sense and dress appropriately. It’s really not all that difficult.

 

[Nostradennis]

show me where it shows that we are to dress as nice as we can when we attend Mass.

Show me where it says that you have to dress nice for a funeral? The person is dead. He or she couldn’t less about what you are wearing. What’s the point?

Show me where it says that you have to dress nice for a wedding? Odds are that they will be divorced within five years. Why dress nice for a future divorce event?

Furthermore at the end of your second point you imply that I WOULDN’T be a good example by the way I dress for other people.

By wearing your best suit to a holy place of worship would be looked at by both young and old alike as setting a good example of proper etiquette in clothing attire.

By wearing your workout gear to a holy place of worship would be looked at by both young and old alike as setting a less than good example of proper etiquette in clothing attire.

By wearing your pj’s to a holy place of worship you would probably be seated with the children in the noiseless room.

 

[lil_flower_luv]

Agreed.

What’s this? Recently, you and I have been agreeing more than we have been disagreeing, Jharek! We need to stop this!

 

[Nostradennis]

use a little common sense and dress appropriately

The problem is that common sense is not that common anymore. Hence, a rule or guide book is needed.

 

[malphono]

The problem is that common sense is not that common anymore. Hence, a rule or guide book is needed.

Do people go to work in thongs, even on “casual Fridays?” Yes, sure, someone might try it, but it wouldn’t happen more than once (at least not for the same person in the same place). The person would be laughed at by his/her peers, not to mention probably dressed-down (in public) by the boss. Keep the “dress codes” and “rule books” for children and schools. Adults don’t need them, and frankly I would more than resent them. Sorry, but I don’t think common sense is all that uncommon, even today.

 

[Nostradennis]

Keep the “dress codes” and “rule books” for children and schools. Adults don’t need them, and frankly I would more than resent them. Sorry, but I don’t think common sense is all that uncommon, even today.

I wish I could share your optimism. I would think that it would be common sense for any adult to know not run their loud noisy lawnmower at 6 am on a Sat. morning. But guess what, some adults don’t get it and a law has to be passed to shove common sense into one’s face.

I would think that it would be common sense for an adult to know to keep their large and potentially dangerous dog on a leash while in the public domain. But guess what, some adults don’t get it and a law has to be passed to shove common sense into one’s face.

The law books are full of laws that should not be in there in the first place if we adults all had some common sense.

 

[fabricdragon]

i have no problem with a dress code, as long as it has enough leeway for “usual variation”

if it just says “no cleavage showing, skirt below the knee or non tight pants for women, pants and a shirt for men” “no shorts or flip flops”
or whatever thats DANDY.

if it gets into “men must wear ties and a jacket” land then i think thats going to be a hardship/obstacle to Mass, because not everyone owns such things

 

[OurLadyPerpHelp]

Do people go to work in thongs, even on “casual Fridays?” .

Wouldn’t that depend on where they work?

 

[Indyann]

Sorry to break this to you, but you’re wrong.

There isn’t a “false distinction” between traditional and non-traditional Catholics. Although I don’t believe there is any papal decree it is generally accepted traditional Catholics attend the Latin Mass and follow the pre-Second Vatican Council calendar. If there was no distinction then why is there a “Traditional Catholic” forum here?

Nor have I made any judgement or qualitative distinction between the two. Are you deliberately trying to lure me into an argument? Will you report me to the moderator as having offended you? Actually, I think I will and get Mr. Casey’s opinion on your accussations against me.

If my computer had not crashed last week, I would have the link handy to let you read that the Holy Father decried that people choose to label themselves.

There is a Traditional Catholic forum here, because despite the Holy Father’s wishes, some insist on labeling themselves “traditionalists”. Much easier for the Mods to monitor when all this carping is in one place, rather than spread around the forum.

 

[malphono]

Wouldn’t that depend on where they work?

Perhaps. I suppose if someone was a lifeguard at a clothing-optional beach, a thong might be considered appropriate attire. Beyond that, I’m not so sure.

 

[catharina]

i have no problem with a dress code, as long as it has enough leeway for “usual variation”

if it just says “no cleavage showing, skirt below the knee or non tight pants for women, pants and a shirt for men” “no shorts or flip flops”
or whatever thats DANDY.

if it gets into “men must wear ties and a jacket” land then i think thats going to be a hardship/obstacle to Mass, because not everyone owns such things

Yes.

Wish more folks would recognize that some Catholics are POOR.

 

[catharina]

If my computer had not crashed last week, I would have the link handy to let you read that the Holy Father decried that people choose to label themselves.

There is a Traditional Catholic forum here, because despite the Holy Father’s wishes, some insist on labeling themselves “traditionalists”. Much easier for the Mods to monitor when all this carping is in one place, rather than spread around the forum.

Precisely.
Very well stated.

 

[OurLadyPerpHelp]

If my computer had not crashed last week, I would have the link handy to let you read that the Holy Father decried that people choose to label themselves.

There is a Traditional Catholic forum here, because despite the Holy Father’s wishes, some insist on labeling themselves “traditionalists”. Much easier for the Mods to monitor when all this carping is in one place, rather than spread around the forum.

Fair enough. I’m not the biggest fan of labels either, however, they can be useful. It would be nice if I could describe my political philosophies in a word or two. Am I wrong in thinking “traditional Catholic” is used to describe someone who prefers the Latin Mass? If not then how people are encouraged to dress at Mass would be described as the traditional dress code. We use labels when it is prudent to make a distinction. We’re Christian, yet when speaking about Lutheran services it’s appropriate to distinguish ourselves as Catholic. Do you agree?

 

[OurLadyPerpHelp]

Yes.

Wish more folks would recognize that some Catholics are POOR.

I"ve been following this thread quite closely and can’t recall anyone saying the Latin Mass is for rich people only or anything else to restrict it from the poor. Did I miss something?

The poor can dress appropriately for Mass. To suggest otherwise is insulting to them. I know this from personal experience.

 

[OurLadyPerpHelp]

IfThere is a Traditional Catholic forum here, because despite the Holy Father’s wishes, some insist on labeling themselves “traditionalists”. Much easier for the Mods to monitor when all this carping is in one place, rather than spread around the forum.

I hope you are not inferring traditional Catholics are prone to “carping”.

 

[Indyann]

Fair enough. I’m not the biggest fan of labels either, however, they can be useful. It would be nice if I could describe my political philosophies in a word or two. Am I wrong in thinking “traditional Catholic” is used to describe someone who prefers the Latin Mass? If not then how people are encouraged to dress at Mass would be described as the traditional dress code. We use labels when it is prudent to make a distinction. We’re Christian, yet when speaking about Lutheran services it’s appropriate to distinguish ourselves as Catholic. Do you agree?

As I said, the Holy Father said something to the effect that there is no need for labels in Catholicism. He said “Christian is my first name and Catholic is my second”. “No need to add anything else”. I am paraphrasing here.

If everyone would follow the dress code at the Vatican, there would be no problem. I do not think that pants are prohibited nor or veils mandatory.

Can’t get much more “traditional” than the Vatican.

 

[catharina]

I"ve been following this thread quite closely and can’t recall anyone saying the Latin Mass is for rich people only or anything else to restrict it from the poor. Did I miss something?

The poor can dress appropriately for Mass. To suggest otherwise is insulting to them. I know this from personal experience.

When some suggest that a nice suit and tie, a good dress with good footwear
will be the proper attire, I’m saying that not all poor people can manage that.

I can’t, for one.

I dress modestly and cleanly - and that’s it.
If you can do better, hurray for you.