Church attire (all kinds)

callmeChris · #1 Jul 21, '11, 1:10 pm

A great homily on dressing appropriately by Fr John Trigilio. His speech makes us realize that it's not what we want, not even the Church law, but what God himself wants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G_eP...&feature=feedf

Zhenia · #2 Jul 21, '11, 2:14 pm

When I was studying to become Roman Catholic, I was taught that the proper way to dress for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was with a dress or skirt to the knees or below; no sheer fabrics; no sleeves shorter than 3/4 length, no low cut tops, and with head covered. Apart from the head covering, this is also the way traditional Catholic girls and women are supposed to dress normally, too.

MissRose73 · #3 Jul 21, '11, 2:58 pm

Thank you for the link.

I wish more people would show more reverence and modesty at Mass with their clothing choices. I am not asking to return to the days of the dressing to the nine's like the 1950's but there are good choices that are appropriate for Mass.

callmeChris · #4 Jul 21, '11, 4:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissRose73

Thank you for the link.

I wish more people would show more reverence and modesty at Mass with their clothing choices. I am not asking to return to the days of the dressing to the nine's like the 1950's but there are good choices that are appropriate for Mass.

Indeed. You CAN be modest, AND comfortable at the same time

Joe Kelley · #5 Jul 21, '11, 5:40 pm

We always called them our "Sunday go to meeting clothes."

TrueLight · #6 Jul 21, '11, 6:00 pm

Yet another one.

MissRose73 · #7 Jul 21, '11, 6:27 pm

Yes, I make sure my clothing is comfortable for Mass yet appropriate. If I can wear it to my business casual wardrobe office, I can wear it to Mass too but I try to dress up a bit for Mass if I can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by callmeChris

Indeed. You CAN be modest, AND comfortable at the same time

CMatt25 · #8 Jul 21, '11, 7:22 pm

I wear about to the knee (I'm kinda on the tall side) cargo shorts to church. Jesus walked in sandals. I honestly believe He has more important matters for us to be concerned with than our attire or the attire of others at Mass. I believe He welcomes all and is just glad when we are there.

CMatt25 · #9 Jul 21, '11, 7:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueLight

Yet another one.

Love Divine · #10 Jul 21, '11, 7:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMatt25

I wear about to the knee (I'm kinda on the tall side) cargo shorts to church. Jesus walked in sandals. I honestly believe He has more important matters for us to be concerned with than our attire or the attire of others at Mass. I believe He welcomes all and is just glad when we are there.

I wore shorts to Mass once. We were at the lake, and the Church was on an island that was only accessible by boat and required us to wade in the water to get to shore. Aside from that one time, we always wore our Sunday best, even if we were at the lake and had to drive in to town for Mass. We always packed our church clothes.

Love Divine · #11 Jul 22, '11, 4:54 pm

I'm in the process of making myself another mantilla. I made my first one out of black lace (I started veiling at a NO Mass for now until I move in a month and can attend the TLM, so I went with something more subtle), and I accidentally cut it a bit too small. I decided to make another one, in the more appropriate white, but now I think I cut it too big.

It's a semi-circle with the flat side about 49" and the lowest part is 25" and falls about mid to the small of my back.

Does that sound like it's too big for a NO Mass?

karow · #12 Jul 22, '11, 4:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Love Divine

I'm in the process of making myself another mantilla. I made my first one out of black lace (I started veiling at a NO Mass for now until I move in a month and can attend the TLM, so I went with something more subtle), and I accidentally cut it a bit too small. I decided to make another one, in the more appropriate white, but now I think I cut it too big.

It's a semi-circle with the flat side about 49" and the lowest part is 25" and falls about mid to the small of my back.

Does that sound like it's too big for a NO Mass?

If it looks good on you, wear it.

Love Divine · #13 Jul 22, '11, 5:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by karow

If it looks good on you, wear it.

Should I not be concerned about it being "too showy"?

Cider · #14 Jul 22, '11, 5:30 pm

I've yet to see anyone wearing one much past the shoulders in the parishes I've been to.

Metamorphoo · #15 Jul 22, '11, 5:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zhenia

When I was studying to become Roman Catholic, I was taught that the proper way to dress for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was with a dress or skirt to the knees or below; no sheer fabrics; no sleeves shorter than 3/4 length, no low cut tops, and with head covered. Apart from the head covering, this is also the way traditional Catholic girls and women are supposed to dress normally, too.

My brother and his wife have invited me to attend their Traditional Latin parish, and I am trying to decide what to wear to Mass. My sister-in-law and nieces have begun wearing skirts all the time since they started their involvement with this parish community a few years ago (they didn't use to), and the few women friends from their parish that I have met also wear skirts or dresses as their normal everyday attire.

While I certainly believe that modesty is important for those who follow Christ, why is there such a push to eschew pants for women among Traditional Catholics? Personally, I dislike the look of full skirts in general and on me in particular (I feel frumpy in them); and while I think straight skirts look nicer, they are not very comfortable to wear. Pants are much easier to maneuver around in (especially if you have young children or need to bend over a lot or even climb up a ladder), and I never have to worry about a strong gust of wind blowing my skirt up. To make a long story short, I own only one skirt and have no dresses. And that is by my personal preference. Will people be giving me the evil eye if I wear a dressy pant suit to Mass?

I can understand how form-fitting clothing of any style (whether pants, dresses, skirts or tops) would be immodest. That's not what I'm talking about here. What bothers me is the sense that as the quoted poster stated, Traditional Catholic women "are supposed to" normally wear skirts/dresses on a daily basis.

I have heard my sister-in-law make comments (and pass on comments that other Traditional Catholics have made) that allude to the idea that pants incite men to stumble and are unfeminine. While SOME pants would certainly cause men to stumble (i.e., those that are tight), I don't think that wearing pants makes a woman look like a man (unless she is a transvestite--and that is a whole different matter, with a woman who is trying to look like a man and wear men's clothing). Women's pants are made for women.

Wearing skirts/dresses wouldn't bother me if the women did it out of personal preference (we all have them, and that is certainly okay); but it seems to me that there is some pressure to conform to (what appears IMHO to be) a legalistic moral standard within the "culture" of Traditional Catholicism.

I would like to hear input from Traditional Catholics on this issue. I don't want to make any waves at my brother's church, but I really do not care to wear a skirt.