Wearing jeans to Daily Mass

[wet-rat]

Karl Keating:

I wonder: Is there anyone on this thread who finds no problem whatsoever with people wearing (modest) shorts to Mass and yet who never himself would wear shorts to Mass? My guess is that just about all of the pro-shorts people are people who already wear shorts to Mass.

I don’t notice shorts all that much, probably because I am used to seeing people wear far worse attire. It’s not so much a “no problem whatsoever” attitude as a desensitized attitude.

However, I do not wear shorts to Mass. My wife does not wear shorts to Mass. We have some very young children, and the older two (one preschool age and one toddler) do not wear shorts. However, the baby sometimes wears pajamas, sometimes wears short overalls, etc. because he’s just a baby and he’s too young to learn about proper dress.

 

[wet-rat]

wet-rat:

I don’t notice shorts all that much, probably because I am used to seeing people wear far worse attire. It’s not so much a “no problem whatsoever” attitude as a desensitized attitude.

However, I do not wear shorts to Mass. My wife does not wear shorts to Mass. We have some very young children, and the older two (one preschool age and one toddler) do not wear shorts. However, the baby sometimes wears pajamas, sometimes wears short overalls, etc. because he’s just a baby and he’s too young to learn about proper dress.

Of course, it does not get very hot in NH.

 

[wet-rat]

kevinfraser:

So does that mean in, say 2418 in the UK, that receiving Holy Eucharist nude could be acceptable before God, depending on local custom? I exaggerate to make the point. Pope Pius XI was trying to stem a tide, bend a vector, just as Pope Paul VI did in Humana Vitae. Because of what the dangers they warned to protect against indeed came to pass, their warnings seem to have a prophetic nature.

Heaven is of such value, the wise will pay it safe.

No. Missionaries serving in unclothed societies have historically required minimal clothing (such as loincloths) for Mass.

 

[wet-rat]

IoA:

There should be one rule for dressing at Mass, whether on weekdays or on Sunday: Dress Modestly.

No, there are other rules.

One should not wear mismatched shoes or socks.

One should not wear pants with holes in the knees.

One should not wear printed shirts bearing an inappropriate message.

One should not wear scuba gear.

One should not wear untied shoes.

If wearing a dress shirt and slacks one should remember to put on a belt.

One should not wear white sneakers with a dress shirt and slacks.

etc.

Not all that is inappropriate is immodest.

 

[wet-rat]

“Never come to this office dressed like that.” (I quickly looked down to see if I was dressed poorly, and then realized he wasn’t talking to me.)

“And don’t come to your wedding like that either.”

Then I noticed that there was about an inch of skin visible between her blouse and her pants. As I’ve said before, my pastor is a stickler for proper dress on church property.

This probably reflects a much larger problem. As a society we have gotten rid of most of our standards of dress.

We no longer are expected to wear appropriate attire. In fact, now in most situations it is hard to say that there is such a thing as appropriate attire.

We also are not expected to follow other rules of personal hygene. As a result, even those of us with some sort of self-imposed standards can slack off.

My personal failing is forgetting to shave and/or being too cheap to consume a disposable razor per day.

 

[yves]

After Mass one day I joined a group of ladies who I found – to my surprise – were bashing other people horribly; I could hardly believe my ears. They would rather see people publicly embarrassed than to see badly chosen clothes.

Stunned – and well and appropriately dressed by all standards-- I walked away, blinking back tears. How could they? Did they pray at all? How could they have received Christ’s body and blood with their hearts full of self-righteousness and hatred?

I mentioned this on another thread: opulent or any jewelry, make-up, hair-styles and colors, designer clothes – all of these things could be considered an offense to modesty and cause others to sin. We don’t know what’s in other people’s hearts or closets. If someone is so indecently exposed that the presiding priest has a problem with it, I have no doubt that he will take care of the matter as he sees fit. We should worry more about ourselves.

Malice and false pride are just as bad as immodesty. Lust and envy have been with us since the fall and they are impulses we have to fight continually. We always have. It’s not just the clothes. It’s human nature and we have to control ourselves. I know how I dress to important celebrations. That’s me. When I invite friends to a party in my home, the most important thing they can “wear” is a genuine, heartfelt smile, a gladness to be there. Whether their clothing shows goodwill or a lack of it, if it’s any indication at all, certainly depends upon each individual. I do not expect my guests to criticize each other, either! Christ, not we, knows what’s in our fellow parishioners hearts and minds. We are attending His celebration. If His representatives (our priests) feel the need to discuss attire with someone, they will. It is not for the rest of us to discuss, decide (I’m not referring to discussion forums,) or enforce how other people dress.

Am I ranting? I was so dismayed that morning. The ladies thought I would agree. . .

God bless.

 

[CD4]

You are not ranting…You have been deeply affected by the thoughtlessness of others…It’a only natural for you to want to share you feelings about your experience.

**Although I admit to being a little put off by shorts, haltar tops and that kind of thing, and do try to dress appropriately for Mass, I have worn jeans to Saturday Mass, and to weekday Masses…Our Sunday night Masses are very casual, too. **

**We must be so careful not to be judgemental. Some people can’t afford “churchy” clothes, and some simply do not knwo any better. What we can do, is be an example to others by dressing as appropriately as possible. **

**I believe that it is more important to be neat, clean and modest than to be “dressy”…Having said that, I have to admit that I was brought up to wear my “Sunday best” on Sunday mornings. I still tend to do that. **

I recently attended a Traditional Catholic Church with a friend, and that church had a clearly displayed dress code…and everyone adhered to it to the best of his/her ability. It was refereshing to not see cutoffs and haltar tops, along with dirty jeans and tank tops that were too small…

I guess I like to see people dressed for church, but try not to worry too much about the casual dressers…That’s not my job…My job is to assist at Mass…

 

[White_Knight]

Wearing shorts to Mass is acceptable in my opinion, but I don’t usually like to. I usually wear a fairly nice collared shirt and jeans/khakis. I definitely support the wearing of jeans to Mass, provided they’re respectable looking…

 

[kevinfraser]

wet-rat:

No. Missionaries serving in unclothed societies have historically required minimal clothing (such as loincloths) for Mass.

In other words, “A long time ago, primitives were allowed to go to Mass in loincloths, so that establishes a precedent for dressing according to my personal taste.” I don’t buy it because it demonstrates legalism seeking a minimalistic loophole. My under-10 neices try to increase their “rights” to extra candy like that. Isn’t that like the judaizers trying to get away with as little as possible?

Do we live in an “unclothed society?”

In those cultures, you will find the trend is towards more modest dress. In our culture, everyone can see the trend is towards less-modest dress. Is this good or bad? As Catholics, are we to take action about it or not?

My point is the issue of standards and who sets them. Changeable social mores based on personal “taste” or Shepherds of the Church teaching the proper application of the un-changed moral teaching of Christ?

As this thread has shown, there are quite a few people, I think including Catholics who’ve decided it’s about personal choice and not about diligence and obedience.

If I claim to be Catholic, and discover a Pope has spoken on a matter of morality, am I obliged to listen, to act? If so or if not then how and why?

If one is in love with Christ, how far is one willing to go in obedience to His Popes when they speak of morals?

 

[reidtgang]

YOU GO GIRL!

Reidtgang