Wearing workout clothes to weekday mass?

[Book_Worm]

Wearing a head covering is a discipline, not a requirement. No more scrambling through purses to find a handkerchief just to have something on the head before entering a church.

Or, my personal favorite, a tissue. I’m old enough to remember seeing this on numerous occasions.

I’m still not sure why a rumpled Kleenex was more reverential that the hair that God gave you, but it must have seemed so back then.

 

[Philomeena]

I wouldn’t worry about the clothes too much, but if you’re going to run, then sit through Mass, then into into a small, enclosed space…I might worry more about the priest and his nose…

Haha! Having active, athletic teens I hear you on this one…but he will get over it.
I think it is commendable that the OP has an active sacramental life and makes that life part of her daily routine. Given this active participation, I trust her to use her best judgment…she should trust herself and NOT worry about what anyone else thinks (even the priest)

 

[on_the_hill]

Haha! Having active, athletic teens I hear you on this one…but he will get over it.
I think it is commendable that the OP has an active sacramental life and makes that life part of her daily routine. Given this active participation, I trust her to use her best judgment…she should trust herself and NOT worry about what anyone else thinks (even the priest)

As my sister-in-law once said when she didn’t shower after a run, “I am comfortable in my own flora.”

 

[tawny]

Catechism regarding clothing etc and reception of Holy Communion:

1387 To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church. Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1387

Make a good judgment (I would tend to say simply – bring a change with you…)

There is likely a spectrum of what such clothing would be…

Is there not a bathroom there -to change?

(when I went to University during when it was hot enough for shorts --I carried some clothes with me to change for daily Mass)

Agree. I too work out and sometimes go to Mass after working out. I always change to be apprpriately dressed for Mass, whether it be weekday or Sunday.

 

[oldcatholicguy]

I’m just curious of others’ opinions on this matter. I am going for a run after work today and then I am going to Confession. There is a Mass right after Confession that I would like to stay for but I will be in workout clothing and will not have time to go home and change. How terrible would it be to attend Mass in workout clothing? My family and I dress for Sunday Mass (when I say dress I mean no jeans and the boys wear shirts with collars) so I am having trouble with this. Any thoughts?

I’d say change if you sweat a lot during your run. Other than that I really can’t comment since you’re doing three (really four, but I’m retired so not working doesn’t really count) things I’m not doing today.

 

[DebChris]

Or, my personal favorite, a tissue. I’m old enough to remember seeing this on numerous occasions.

I’m still not sure why a rumpled Kleenex was more reverential that the hair that God gave you, but it must have seemed so back then.

It’s why I was happy when chapel veils came into fashion. Lest we take this thread off track, and there are plenty of threads about head coverings, there is always the stocking cap on a cold day and the baseball cap or visor worn to keep the sun out of the eyes during the summer. At least with workout clothes, we have the headcovering

 

[Christina7783]

I am sorry, what?

That’s just how I was raised. Your church may be different. They have changed a lot in the Catholic church, but we go by the old way.

 

[DebChris]

As my sister-in-law once said when she didn’t shower after a run, “I am comfortable in my own flora.”

Just think of the smells Jesus encountered on a daily basis.
From another thread, and as I mentioned earlier, sometimes workers will stop after their job before going home. They don’t have time to change, so they attend Mass in their paint or plaster splattered clothing. I likewise have attended Mass on my way to work in a distribution center. My clothing would be work boots, jeans, T-shirt, and a flannel shirt. I think God would rather we come as we are than not come at all.
As for communion, one priest did say if you are to receive on the tongue, please brush your teeth first; and if you are going to receive in the hand, please wash them. Many churches have a small washroom that will allow a quick splash of the face.

 

[LightBound]

If you are female you shouldn’t wear pants of any type to church unless your church allows that. I was born and raised Roman Catholic and the women are not allowed to wear pants to Mass and we have to have our heads covered. Not sure if this is the case at your church. I would wear the proper clothes just out of respect.

If you attend a Catholic Church that is faithful to the Magisterium, then pants are allowed and you aren’t required to cover your head. Some Latin Mass communities that are in community with Rome prefer women to wear a dress or skirt and cover their head, but it’s not a requirement.

Here’s what is required to enter the Vatican’s churches:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=9025288&postcount=91

 

[quies]

…thoughts on Mass in yoga pants, tennis shoes and a windbreaker

Sounds okay to me…

…And I don’t know if it’s cold weather where you are – but running in L.A. today shorts, skorts, tights, scooters, and skants seem to be le dernier cri. So on those days, a pair of sweat pants might be a good add-on before Mass?!

 

[Philomeena]

That’s just how I was raised. Your church may be different. They have changed a lot in the Catholic church, but we go by the old way.

I see. I was not aware that it was ever taught in the Catholic church not to wear pants. I imagine pants were not always popular with women, but I cannot imagine a rule about them.

So your parish does not allow women to wear pants? Would a woman be turned away from worshipping or receving the sacraments if she wore pants at your parish?

 

[LightBound]

I see. I was not aware that it was ever taught in the Catholic church not to wear pants. I imagine pants were not always popular with women, but I cannot imagine a rule about them.

So your parish does not allow women to wear pants? Would a woman be turned away from worshipping or receving the sacraments if she wore pants at your parish?

The Vatican doesn’t have a problem with women wearing pants in Church:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=9025288&postcount=91

If it’s good enough for the Vatican, it should be good enough for the rest of the parishes in full communion with Rome!

 

[Philomeena]

The Vatican doesn’t have a problem with women wearing pants in Church:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=9025288&postcount=91

If it’s good enough for the Vatican, it should be good enough for the rest of the parishes in full communion with Rome!

Well, of course! But if her church has a dress code how would the Vatican feel about that? This could all be her personal opinion, that is what I am trying to figure out. There is a church in my diocese that has strong suggestions for how women should dress…not sure what would happen when push came to shove though.

 

[Dnice]

I wouldn’t worry about the clothes too much, but if you’re going to run, then sit through Mass, then into into a small, enclosed space…I might worry more about the priest and his nose…

This made me LOL! It is pretty chilly here so I will sweat very little, if at all - but I will keep this in mind when I am running in a few months when its 100 degrees outside. I might be a bit more ripe then :coolinoff:

Sounds okay to me…

…And I don’t know if it’s cold weather where you are – but running in L.A. today shorts, skorts, tights, scooters, and skants seem to be le dernier cri. So on those days, a pair of sweat pants might be a good add-on before Mass?!

I would never in a million years wear the shorts that I run in to Mass! Or anywhere besides the running track for that matter Today is fairly chilly so I will have long pants on.

 

[babochka]

It doesn’t matter anymore. The days of people actually caring how they dress for Mass are just about dead except in FSSP areas.

I’m sad to hear that you believe this. My family and I always dress nicely for Sunday Mass, as do most people in my (non-FSSP) parish.

 

[babochka]

I’m just curious of others’ opinions on this matter. I am going for a run after work today and then I am going to Confession. There is a Mass right after Confession that I would like to stay for but I will be in workout clothing and will not have time to go home and change. How terrible would it be to attend Mass in workout clothing? My family and I dress for Sunday Mass (when I say dress I mean no jeans and the boys wear shirts with collars) so I am having trouble with this. Any thoughts?

I think something like sweat pants and a t-shirt would be fine, but not running shorts and a sports bra.

 

[Havard]

I think something like sweat pants and a t-shirt would be fine, but not running shorts and a sports bra.

I see running shorts over yoga pants/tights as fine. I think yoga pants by themselves are no less immodest than running shorts by themselves.

 

[maryjk]

I’m sad to hear that you believe this. My family and I always dress nicely for Sunday Mass, as do most people in my (non-FSSP) parish.

Our parish does too.

 

[graceandglory]

Catechism regarding clothing etc and reception of Holy Communion:

1387 To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church. Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1387

Make a good judgment (I would tend to say simply – bring a change with you…)

There is likely a spectrum of what such clothing would be…

Is there not a bathroom there -to change?

(when I went to University during when it was hot enough for shorts --I carried some clothes with me to change for daily Mass)

And if there is no bathroom in which to change, would you recommend that the OP skip the daily Mass?

 

[zab]

This may be a little sidetracked but this thread reminded me of the barefoot bum that I spotted across the street from the church and standing at the coffee drive through. At second glance, I recognized him as Fr. John, our visiting priest, a discalced Carmelite who was wearing his brown clerical garb and I think he may have been wearing sandles.
To the OP, you seem like a sensible person who knows to dress properly for Church. And we know that people go to daily Mass dressed in their work clothes and those work clothes are not always dress clothes. I think this is one of those times when you have to ask yourself, what is the better thing to do- go to Mass or don’t go at all. I would say that as long as your workout clothes are decent then stay for Mass. My opinion.