Wearing flannel pj bottoms to church

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1ke:
It was a reminder lecture that those who are improperly dressed will not be allowed to enter the sactuary. They had signs on the door and everything. Seems like it’s a regular thing there.
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True story.

Just over one year ago, my husband had a heart attack. He was in the hospital for four days. Just over two weeks later, he had another issue that caused him to be in the hospital over night. I rushed him to the hospital in sweats and slippers. I had my hair in a messy ponytail, I had no make up and I had not brushed my teeth since morning. All in all, I looked a sight. It was a Saturday evening. I stayed in the hospital with him while he had surgery, then slept in a chair in his room. So far all true.

Now, lets say when I woke up I found out that he would be in the hospital for a long time? Feeling down and scared, I rushed off to Mass so I could be with our Lord. At this church, I would not be allowed in. I can’t think of how I would feel being turned away.

In truth, he came home Sunday. I did not attend Mass as I was caring for him at home. (He wasn’t allowed to be alone for 24 hours.)

Now, most likely, this woman just didn’t think about what she had on. But how can we, miles away from her, make a judgement? Who are we to judge?

She needs our prayers, not our contempt.
 
Generally, one is going to get more cover-up with flannel jammies than with a pair of trousers spouting “Hollister” across the back-side.

I can see maryjk’s point, too. While I might not wear jammies to Mass, it doe snot mean somebody else isn’t doing that for a good reason.
 
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jrabs:
Just when I think I’ve seen it all, yesterday I saw a teen boy wearing pj bottoms to church.

I realize it’s fashionable for teens to wear their pj pants out and about in public. :o Though I must be too old to understand why they would want to…

But to church??? :nope:
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One of the components to charity, is to assume the best. Maybe the teen spent the night at a friends, he spilled or fell ini the mud with his only pair of pants or realized at the last moment that he had forgotten to take pants to his friends house, and he knew he had to make Mass no matter what.

I recall a time I was hunting on a weekend with the plans to leave for home in time to change and get to Sunday evening Mass. Well, becuase of inclement weather, I barely made it to Mass. I hadn’t shaved, was in my dirty bloody hunting clothes and had serious bad hair. Rather than causing a ruckus, I participated in Mass in the family room by myself and snuck in at the end of Communion for the Eucharist and quickly went back to the family room. After Mass, Father didn’t stand at the back to greet people but made a beeline to catch me in the parking lot. His message to me was to say he was glad I made it and next time to feel free to participate in the main church. I expressed my intention to not cause a commotion in my condition and felt better not being seen by the congregation. He made it very clear that Jesus desires us to come as we can adn that people shouldn’t assume that my intention wasn’t to be disrespectful.
 
As long as it is not a near occasion of sin like immodest dress, I think it is probably better for us to try to set an example.

It is difficult for us not to form judgements on others’ attire. I’m sure it reflects on our lack of recollection (for me, anyway). 🙂

It might just be that her washing machine was broken. Or, she had gained some weight and nothing fit. I have a hard time finding clothes to wear postpartum, I know. Or, she may be depressed.

We are supposed to make excuses for others. 🙂
 
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jrabs:
Just when I think I’ve seen it all, yesterday I saw a teen boy wearing pj bottoms to church.

I realize it’s fashionable for teens to wear their pj pants out and about in public. :o Though I must be too old to understand why they would want to…

But to church??? :nope:
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Tacky and inappropriate at best. Many years ago, when I ran the altar server program at my Episcopal church, I instituted a dress code! And it was usually followed!!!

Blessings,
 
I like the charitable reasons for the woman to be in pj bottoms and for the teen as well.

I thought of on other reason the teen was in pj bottoms - he was told to hurry up or the family would be late for Mass, he didn’t hurry so he was told to get in the car as he was so all could go to Mass. This is a great method to get a pokey teen to hurry up and get ready when they are told to.

BTW, I have heard that the styles this year are longer shirts and higher waisted pants - no bellies hanging out anymore! I have noticed with the Spring line at the stores that this is indeed so. We will have to wait and see for the summer line though.

Brenda V.
 
JMJ Theresa:
As long as it is not a near occasion of sin like immodest dress, I think it is probably better for us to try to set an example.

It is difficult for us not to form judgements on others’ attire. I’m sure it reflects on our lack of recollection (for me, anyway). 🙂

It might just be that her washing machine was broken. Or, she had gained some weight and nothing fit. I have a hard time finding clothes to wear postpartum, I know. Or, she may be depressed.

We are supposed to make excuses for others. 🙂
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thank you for the reminder…it is much appreciated, and much needed in my house…

maybe she’s in that in between stage of a pregnancy where her old clothes don’t fit and the maternity doesn’t either or early on when the morning sickness zaps all your energy…or maybe she’s just otherwise ill same for the teenager…

Jamie
 
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maryjk:
True story.

Just over one year ago, my husband had a heart attack. He was in the hospital for four days. Just over two weeks later, he had another issue that caused him to be in the hospital over night. I rushed him to the hospital in sweats and slippers. I had my hair in a messy ponytail, I had no make up and I had not brushed my teeth since morning. All in all, I looked a sight. It was a Saturday evening. I stayed in the hospital with him while he had surgery, then slept in a chair in his room. So far all true.

Now, lets say when I woke up I found out that he would be in the hospital for a long time? Feeling down and scared, I rushed off to Mass so I could be with our Lord. At this church, I would not be allowed in. I can’t think of how I would feel being turned away.

In truth, he came home Sunday. I did not attend Mass as I was caring for him at home. (He wasn’t allowed to be alone for 24 hours.)

Now, most likely, this woman just didn’t think about what she had on. But how can we, miles away from her, make a judgement? Who are we to judge?

She needs our prayers, not our contempt.
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Sweatpants are not immodest.

Please read my post more carefully. I was not commenting on the sweatpants but on the immodest dress some wear to church.
 
If you watch closely, it will be the same people Sunday after Sunday. Even the poorest of the poor, have one set of Sunday clothes they wear to church every Sunday. Many say that blue jeans are the best clothes they have, but it’s only because they don’t make the effort.

The occasional illness, oversleeping, emergency, etc. is more than understandable for wearing fuzzy slippers. 😉

You have to take it on a case by case basis.
 
Or could it simply be yet another example of how sloppy and irreverent the congregation is becoming - for if no one addresses this from the pulpit, then how do we learn to improve and make the right choice? Someone needs to teach us reverence for Our Lord.

Maybe not this particular situation but at my parish, the level of sloppiness and immodesty has sharply increased - but please…we have all seen improper attire that makes us cringe.

And I don’t think all of it can be chalked up to freak accidents right before mass = someone falling in a mud puddle just before mass and all they had left to wear was a middi-tank top or fuzzy jammies.

What happens when we stop speaking up? Can no one speak up without being called uncharitable? How do you bring issues or problems to the table?
 
The only time I’ve heard/seen anything said about Church attire is in the weekly bulletin. Usually in the Summer, the pastor will mention inappropriate clothing in reference young women. Backless dresses, halter tops, etc.

I think the Church is most interested in getting bodies in the pews no matter how they’re dressed.
 
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jrabs:
What happens when we stop speaking up? Can no one speak up without being called uncharitable? How do you bring issues or problems to the table?
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I think this is the crux of the matter. We need to address the increased sloppiness without being uncharitable to those who find themselves in a predicament. The priest should mention the “dress code” for Mass and modesty should be discussed in chatechism classes, but we should try to err on the side of charity when faced with a particular situation.
 
When I had a few children and others did not,I used to go to church and it seemed all the children were dressed nicely(dresses, pattern-leather shoes,bows in hair). I was embarrassed as mine were clean but with regular pants and top. So I stopped going to morning masses on Sunday.

As long as people are covered even with jeans especially teen girls(some priest address modesty), is it that important to have a priest mention sloppiness? The ones who like to dress will and many people know atleast to dress with pants and top. Other adult may just want to dress down from being dressed all week at work.
 
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gam197:
When I had a few children and others did not,I used to go to church and it seemed all the children were dressed nicely(dresses, pattern-leather shoes,bows in hair). I was embarrassed as mine were clean but with regular pants and top. So I stopped going to morning masses on Sunday.

As long as people are covered even with jeans especially teen girls(some priest address modesty), is it that important to have a priest mention sloppiness? The ones who like to dress will and many people know atleast to dress with pants and top. Other adult may just want to dress down from being dressed all week at work.
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I’m wondering why your children wore regular pants and tops. Were you not able to afford anything better, would they refuse to wear anything else or did you not care that they wear nicer clothes to church? If you can’t afford better, do the best you can. If they won’t wear anything else, get them to Mass in the best clothes they’ll wear. If you don’t care, there’s a problem.

Is work more important than God? :eek:

Personally, I think God and Jesus Christ, our savior, are important enough in my life that I will honor them by dressing in nice clothes to worship. That’s the big issue in the poor choice of attire at church.

Unfortunately, YOUR embarrasment deprived them of a religious education. Very sad.
 
Were you not able to afford anything better,
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My embarrassment deprived them of nothing. I went to an evening Mass which was not formal.

It is difficult enough to get a group of children to church on time without insisting they were dresses and finding patent leather shoes that fit never mind the fashionable long coats. What is wrong with a blouse and pants?

|Many people do dressup but to require it of everyone?
 
haven’t had this yet, but did have to ask one young man to stay out of the choir and had to find a substitute lector for one young lady, both at youth Mass this morning, both for highly inappropriate attire. Spent the homily composing a letter for parents in my head, especially after seeing what pre-teens were wearing. Wish my dad was still around, he would have had some choice words on this topic. are parents brain dead, sending a child, especially a young girl, out into this world today dressed like a hooker?
 
I know this is a little off-topic, but I saw a teenage boy walk into Mass slurping on an ICEE! I was quite honestly too shocked to say anything to him. :eek:
 
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gam197:
My embarrassment deprived them of nothing. I went to an evening Mass which was not formal.

It is difficult enough to get a group of children to church on time without insisting they were dresses and finding patent leather shoes that fit never mind the fashionable long coats. What is wrong with a blouse and pants?

|Many people do dressup but to require it of everyone?
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I apologize. I misread your post. I thought you said you quit taking them to church.

I’m all for getting children dressed as best you can in situations where it’s difficult to get them to wear something other than what they want and getting to Mass in time.

Getting to Mass is most important. Some people just don’t care. For them it’s not a matter of the effort required to get several children dressed by an appointed time, they’re just lazy.

Your situation is a good reason a dress code is not required.

Again, my apologies.
 
When I hear someone say that God loves us no matter how we dress, I remember that while my mother loves me even without a birthday present, it still would sadden her if I made no effort to honor her.

What would these people wear to meet the president? Is Jesus less important?

I agree that we need to be charitable about individual situations. I feel strongly, though, that every effort be made to give honor to God in our behavior, and dress choice is a behavior.
 
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AquinaSavio:
I know this is a little off-topic, but I saw a teenage boy walk into Mass slurping on an ICEE! I was quite honestly too shocked to say anything to him. :eek:
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Eating or drinking is bad enough in church. However, nothing beats answering a cell phone during Mass. I am so tempted to say" If that isn’t the Lord, you darn well better hang up! "
Kathy
 
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