What You At Mass Wear Does Matter!

[Chuy]

I wish all I had to worry about was whether some other guy at Mass was dressed good enough for me or not. Maybe we should all take off our shoes before we go into Church. Moses thinks that’s a good idea when coming close to a sacred space. Why don’t we do that? Then we can worry if our socks are good enough or not.

**If anyone is overly concerned about the way someone else is dressed at Mass I suggest closing your eyes and praying. ** You don’t have to look at them and you get the added bonus of doing the thing at Church you came to do.

This place on CAF is always the best place to go when I need a laugh.

The onus is on the slob not to dress in a manner that pollutes the sacred environment. They have no right to degrade the worship space because they believe dressing like a slob for Mass is OK.

It’s not and it does take a toll.

Catholic parishes are typicall very visual – statuary, icons, stained glass, etc. etc. because it all helps our worship experience.

Slobs detract from that and it takes a toll.

 

[ElectricMayhem]

a teenager sitting in front of me at mass was wearing a t-shirt that had skulls with batwings and blood flowing from the neck area like the wear had had their throat cut.

classy.

here it is…

americanteeshirt.com/product/view/AV701032

If I saw that teen, I would have gone up to him/her, extended my hand and said, “I thank God you were here…today’s mass would have been completely different without YOU. I hope to see you here next week…do you want to sit together?”

BTW, it’s called hospitality and evangelization.

 

[Chuy]

If you are dressing immodestly it certainly matters…the CCC says we are not to be our neighbors tempters

I have never seen anyone dressed like a slob at mass

I have on a regular basis…

Shorts, tank-tops, skimpy tops/bottoms for women, ultra tight/revealing clothes, etc. etc. etc.

All quite slovenly within the context of the Mass.

 

[Chuy]

If I saw that teen, I would have gone up to him/her, extended my hand and said, “I thank God you were here…today’s mass would have been completely different without YOU. I hope to see you here next week…do you want to sit together?”

BTW, it’s called hospitality and evangelization.

Actually it’s called enabling.

The Mass would have been “completely different” without their crude t-shirt?

What would you have said if they would have been appropriately dressed for Mass?

 

[Georgia]

As one who spent most of his life as a Fundamentalist before crossing the Tiber, I’ll make a comment on the post about how Protestants dress for church.

In my former church, it was considered showing disrespect for church if someone were to dress too casually. That didn’t mean that the clothes had to be expensive. It only meant that the person should do as well as his means allowed. In other words, clothes should be neat, clean and modest. Nothing had to be fancy.

I know my Protestant family members who come to special occasions at Mass dress nicely as a show of respect and are quite puzzled by the tee shirts, etc. That is the part that scares me a little, that the way some people show up causes my relatives I would like to get into the Church to have a bad impression. I see how they would get the idea that the sloppy appearance sends a message that the Mass is not all that important. They do sometimes make comments to me about that and it is something that just can’t be explained satisfactorily.

No one I know would be offended if the people with lesser means dress in what they can afford. I do think it is a distraction that I can see more skin showing on young people at Mass than would be considered decent at a civic meeting.

No, we should never judge a person by the quality of his clothing, but the way he chooses to present himself can be a real problem. My worst case that I have mentioned in earlier posts was in seeing a man go forward to move a table that had been in the aisle to hold the gifts and reading the advertisement for adult entertainment that was prominent on his tee shirt.

 

[aimee]

I have on a regular basis…

Shorts, tank-tops, skimpy tops/bottoms for women, ultra tight/revealing clothes, etc. etc. etc.

All quite slovenly within the context of the Mass.

But you’re not Catholic are you?

In any case, it matters what you wear but what matters most is that you are there…

Perhaps, you could try and be a good example…

:slapfight:

 

[redrosetea]

I know of woman who do not dare wear slacks to church because their minister disproves…I would never attend a church like that

 

[ElectricMayhem]

Actually it’s called enabling.

The Mass would have been “completely different” without their crude t-shirt?

What would you have said if they would have been appropriately dressed for Mass?

No, it’s a moment of evangelization.

If they were appropriately dressed? That’s a relative term. And this is coming from someone who has lived by a dress code for most of life.

 

[ahollars]

I agree Fr. Before starting this thread I long pondered the litany of excuses people invoke for dressing like slobs at Mass:

• It’s too hot. It’s too cold.
• God doesn’t care.
• At least I attend Mass – that’s all that counts.
• At least they are here – that’s all that counts.
• Only pharisees notice what other people wear at Mass.
• Mass is about worshiping God, it’s not a fashion show.
• I don’t like wearing a suit/tie or dress.
• My pastor doesn’t care.
• I’m going/coming from work.
• Around here blue-jeans are considered dressy.

And when it comes down to it, they are just that, excuses. I don’t think people should be required to wear suit and tie or a dress – that’s purely up to them.

What I do know is that shorts, shower flip-flops, soccer uniforms, tank tops, tube tops, other revealing clothes, overly tight clothes, blue jeans, t-shirts with crude graphics, etc. etc. have NO PLACE at Mass. None. The fact that they are routinely worn at Mass says something terribly wrong about the prevailing situation.

Yes they do show a lack of respect for God but they also pollute the worship space. The onus is not on people to ignore the slovenly dressed people but for the slovenly dressed to wear clothes that will not pollute the worship space.

I have to disagree with this one. I am a regular wearer of blue jeans to mass. I make it a point to make sure they aren’t faded or worn. I usually pair it with a collar shirt of some type and shoes that are not tennis shoes. People take offense being told they are not wearing proper clothing when it has nothing to do with modesty or effort. “Would you wear something like that to work, or a professional meeting?” For the record: YES! Not all of us have desk jobs. I don’t own a single necktie. As for where my money goes, let’s just say that the size of my family qualifies us for food stamps, but I still don’t get them. I draw the line there. I agree with everything else you said. But I don’t want to wear the only pair of slacks that I own every single time I go to mass. My children are more fortunate in that my daughters have dresses to pick from as well as casual clothing that is modest. Those of us who actually have to pack peanut butter and jelly for lunch don’t appreciate being told that it’s disrespectful to wear some of our best clothing. Just because you can afford more doesn’t mean all of us can. Come back and tell us the same thing after you have four children.

 

[dconklin]

What if someone IS a slob? If it wasn’t for my wife and my mother before her, I would always dress like a slob. Is someone who has no taste not welcome?

 

[redrosetea]

Catholics are taught to practice Charity when they observe others…I guess your church doesn’t teach that sort of thing

I suspect this thread is just another fundy taking a swipe at all catholics

 

[aimee]

I have to disagree with this one. I am a regular wearer of blue jeans to mass. I make it a point to make sure they aren’t faded or worn. I usually pair it with a collar shirt of some type and shoes that are not tennis shoes. People take offense being told they are not wearing proper clothing when it has nothing to do with modesty or effort. “Would you wear something like that to work, or a professional meeting?” For the record: YES! Not all of us have desk jobs. I don’t own a single necktie. As for where my money goes, let’s just say that the size of my family qualifies us for food stamps, but I still don’t get them. I draw the line there. I agree with everything else you said. But I don’t want to wear the only pair of slacks that I own every single time I go to mass. My children are more fortunate in that my daughters have dresses to pick from as well as casual clothing that is modest. Those of us who actually have to pack peanut butter and jelly for lunch don’t appreciate being told that it’s disrespectful to wear some of our best clothing. Just because you can afford more doesn’t mean all of us can. Come back and tell us the same thing after you have four children.

:tiphat: I appreciate your post …I agree

 

[Chuy]

I know of woman who do not dare wear slacks to church because their minister disproves…I would never attend a church like that

Why bring-up a red herring like that?

Wearing slacks is not the action of a slob and does not detract from the worship space.

 

[Chuy]

Catholics are taught to practice Charity when they observe others…I guess your church doesn’t teach that sort of thing

I suspect this thread is just another fundy taking a swipe at all catholics

No, that much I know is wrong.

VERY few people dressed like slobs for Mass before the late 1960’s/early 1970’s. It seems the Church has never really recovered in many ways from that especially septic time.

I’m not sure why Eastern Catholics, the Orthodox, Protestants, etc. did, but it’s a problem in the Catholic Church.

N.B. I am a cradle Catholic.

 

[Chuy]

I have to disagree with this one. I am a regular wearer of blue jeans to mass. I make it a point to make sure they aren’t faded or worn. I usually pair it with a collar shirt of some type and shoes that are not tennis shoes. People take offense being told they are not wearing proper clothing when it has nothing to do with modesty or effort. “Would you wear something like that to work, or a professional meeting?” For the record: YES! Not all of us have desk jobs. I don’t own a single necktie. As for where my money goes, let’s just say that the size of my family qualifies us for food stamps, but I still don’t get them. I draw the line there. I agree with everything else you said. But I don’t want to wear the only pair of slacks that I own every single time I go to mass. My children are more fortunate in that my daughters have dresses to pick from as well as casual clothing that is modest. Those of us who actually have to pack peanut butter and jelly for lunch don’t appreciate being told that it’s disrespectful to wear some of our best clothing. Just because you can afford more doesn’t mean all of us can. Come back and tell us the same thing after you have four children.

Blue jeans have never been acceptable attire for church, govt situations, many restaurants, civic events, private events, etc.

Take a look at a show like “The Waltons.” Even during very dark times like the Great Depression, people had their “Sunday finest” for church. I’m not suggesting people wear “Sunday finest” to church every Sunday, but I think just about ANYONE could procure a pair of appropriate pants.

I routinely wear blue jeans – I love them but they aren’t acceptable attire for Mass. If I am wearing them and I drop in for a Mass, I pull a pair of simple black pants over them in the parking lot. I don’t think it takes me 30 seconds…

You say you have slacks but don’t want to wear them every time you go to Mass? What are you saving them for?

As far as four children, I could have told you about my experiences beginning in 2002…

 

[xmydreamsfadex]

i want to add this.

about a month and a half ago i was at confession. i was wearing a polo shirt, shorts and shoes since i was out running errands. well, after i came out of confession i had a really strong urge to stay for the vigil mass and recieve the Eucharist. the more i was heading for the door the stronger the urge to stay for mass was. so i went to the bathroom, tucked my shirt in and waited for mass. i think that the Holy Spirit wanted me there. i truely do. when i took the Eucharist i had such a peace like i never had before.

 

[Chuy]

i want to add this.

about a month and a half ago i was at confession. i was wearing a polo shirt, shorts and shoes since i was out running errands. well, after i came out of confession i had a really strong urge to stay for the vigil mass and recieve the Eucharist. the more i was heading for the door the stronger the urge to stay for mass was. so i went to the bathroom, tucked my shirt in and waited for mass. i think that the Holy Spirit wanted me there. i truely do. when i took the Eucharist i had such a peace like i never had before.

People will always have excuses for not dressing appropriately for Mass.

Always.

Consider keeping a pair of pants and if need be a shirt nicely rolled-up in your trunk.

While I live in shorts on the weekend if I was going to confession I might just don some long pants as there is always the chance I might stay for Mass…

 

[Chuy]

What if someone IS a slob? If it wasn’t for my wife and my mother before her, I would always dress like a slob. Is someone who has no taste not welcome?

Dressing like a slob for Mass does not equate to not having taste.

It’s about being insensitive to God and those around you…

 

[Chuy]

As one who spent most of his life as a Fundamentalist before crossing the Tiber, I’ll make a comment on the post about how Protestants dress for church.

In my former church, it was considered showing disrespect for church if someone were to dress too casually. That didn’t mean that the clothes had to be expensive. It only meant that the person should do as well as his means allowed. In other words, clothes should be neat, clean and modest. Nothing had to be fancy.

I know my Protestant family members who come to special occasions at Mass dress nicely as a show of respect and are quite puzzled by the tee shirts, etc. That is the part that scares me a little, that the way some people show up causes my relatives I would like to get into the Church to have a bad impression. **I see how they would get the idea that the sloppy appearance sends a message that the Mass is not all that important. **They do sometimes make comments to me about that and it is something that just can’t be explained satisfactorily.

No one I know would be offended if the people with lesser means dress in what they can afford. I do think it is a distraction that I can see more skin showing on young people at Mass than would be considered decent at a civic meeting.

No, we should never judge a person by the quality of his clothing, but the way he chooses to present himself can be a real problem. My worst case that I have mentioned in earlier posts was in seeing a man go forward to move a table that had been in the aisle to hold the gifts and reading the advertisement for adult entertainment that was prominent on his tee shirt.

Powerful words indeed…

 

[redrosetea]

Blue jeans have never been acceptable attire for church, govt situations, many restaurants, civic events, private events, etc.

Take a look at a show like “The Waltons.” Even during very dark times like the Great Depression, people had their “Sunday finest” for church. I’m not suggesting people wear “Sunday finest” to church every Sunday, but I think just about ANYONE could procure a pair of appropriate pants.

I routinely wear blue jeans – I love them but they aren’t acceptable attire for Mass. If I am wearing them and I drop in for a Mass, I pull a pair of simple black pants over them in the parking lot. I don’t think it takes me 30 seconds…

You say you have slacks but don’t want to wear them every time you go to Mass? What are you saving them for?

As far as four children, I could have told you about my experiences beginning in 2002…

You are also a die hard, fashion has changed and jeans are not considered barn attire…I wear them to mass and I look very nice