Summer attire at Mass - Page 2

Rejoice Always · #16 Jun 10, '12, 9:49 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithtrekker

As I was reading this, I was sadly reminded that church attire for any season was one of the big reasons I stayed away from the Catholic Church.

I'm a single female & support myself 100% (which means most of my funds go to "survival"). I don't have much of a social life (in that I don't "go out") because I don't have time or finances to purchase clothes for every occasion. I do however, believe in modesty & cleanliness. I don't wear flip flops or shorts to church, but I do attend in jeans & a t-shirt (not tight or flashy) or some other simple "ensemble". I'm honestly not comfortable in much else. Its just not me. Thank God I found a parish where its ok to come as you are! I might not be a Catholic otherwise.

Don't let any of these Wardrobe Witch-Hunters chase you out of the Catholic Church!

englishredrose · #17 Jun 10, '12, 9:52 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hound Dog

One Priest told us to look at how we were dressed. Would we be dressed this way if we knew Jesus was going to walk in the door to celebrate the Mass that day? or would we dress in our finest?

I have seen women wearing shorts that left little to the imagination. I have seen a young man wear a baseball hat all during Mass and received Communion with it on his head and nothing was said.

To be sure people do have different income levels and not everyone can wear $1000 suits. And if all someone has is a pair of old jeans with holes in the knees then that person is wearing their best to honor the Lord.

It is those that can dress better and don't that IMO show disrespect.

what is dressing better - for whom and disrespect for whom? disrespect for you or for God? God sees much deeper than what our attire is. It is not for us to judge

Yeh I have heard the same sermon too - may be different words but same sermon. And yes I hand on heart would dress exactly the same way if Jesus walked through the door that day because Jesus is there all the time anyway and can see us all the time anyway can't he. So why be different just if he appeared in flesh..... I am me whether in church or at home and Jesus will meet me and not some poshed up well behaved me. I speak to our priest as naturally as I can/do to anyone else. He don't get posh aires and graces from me. In fact he actually sees the more distressed me at times than anyone has ever seen anywhere. The priest along with Jesus and God sees me, and not what others want to see of me.

IrishRush · #18 Jun 10, '12, 10:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithtrekker

As I was reading this, I was sadly reminded that church attire for any season was one of the big reasons I stayed away from the Catholic Church.

I'm a single female & support myself 100% (which means most of my funds go to "survival"). I don't have much of a social life (in that I don't "go out") because I don't have time or finances to purchase clothes for every occasion. I do however, believe in modesty & cleanliness. I don't wear flip flops or shorts to church, but I do attend in jeans & a t-shirt (not tight or flashy) or some other simple "ensemble". I'm honestly not comfortable in much else. Its just not me. Thank God I found a parish where its ok to come as you are! I might not be a Catholic otherwise.

I totally understand this response and agree, except for the part at the very end. I'm Catholic no matter what other parishioners think about how I dress. I do wear jeans to church sometimes, with a nice polo shirt or something along that line. I make sure the jeans are neat, not faded or scraggly and I'm very comfortable wearing them in church. Jeans are not the "work" clothes they were in our parents days. They are an accepted item of everyday dress. What do you imagine the apostles wore when they celebrated and worshipped? How was Jesus dressed as he walked the countryside bringing the Good News to everyone?
That being said, I think the emphasis on dress should have a much lower priority than the fact that people are there. I work with someone who thinks it's horrible that people go to church in anything but their finest clothes. Now this individual thinks very low cut shirts and short short skirts are ok, because they're "dressy." One other thing I should mention about this woman with the very strong opinion about how people dress when they go to church - she very, very rarely goes herself. She is pretty much a "Chreaster," because of her daughter's sports schedule she says.
Personally, I think showing up says way more than what you're wearing.

Cat · #19 Jun 10, '12, 10:42 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rejoice Always

We should also ban certain colors (too loud, too garish, too irreverent) and certain fabrics (denim is devilish and seersucker is salicious).

Don't forget footwear, Clothing Crusaders! Improper footwear could quite possibly bring down the entire Catholic Church!

Cover those ankles, sinners!

Banlon (shudder) should be banned from all of civilized society. It even has "ban" in its name.

irishpatrick · #20 Jun 10, '12, 10:48 am

People who want to dress down will do so no matter what anyone says.

bearer · #21 Jun 10, '12, 11:04 am

Regardless of the season, I think men and women alike need to be covered, including arms and legs. At Mass we stand before Christ Himself and should not scandalize our Brothers and Sisters with our dress. It would nice for women to cover their heads, as Saint Paul instructed, but I realize that the Church has released them from that necessity following Vatican II.

I can't remember the last time I was in a church that didn't have AC, and virtually every car on the road today has it standard as well, so it's hard for me to accept that weather would play a part in church dress. But what I say, there has been a relaxation of attitudes concerning dress over the past few generations, both inside and outside of church.

Some pastors seem to be afraid that if they start preaching against immodest dress, parishioners and guests will simple stop attending Mass. Sometimes the opening of one's heart to Christ takes a lifetime, and they don't want to drive away the lukewarm who may be growing in grace.

I think teaching the virtue of humility from the pulpit would be best, but I'm not a priest, so I can't say that my ideas on this topic are the correct ones in terms of the bigger picture, which is the salvation of souls.

Mary_Fleurdelis · #22 Jun 10, '12, 11:18 am

Most of the time, we can't judge someone's reverence or holiness by the way they dress because we can't take into account their cash flow or comfort zone. Or if they came from work, vacation, etc. Dressing casual is not distracting except to judgmental people.

But I get really tired of some women dressing like they're going to a club. I don't care if it's trendy. I'm a straight young woman. If I'm distracted by the sea of cleavage and short/tight skirts, I can't imagine how it affects the men in church.

irishpatrick · #23 Jun 10, '12, 12:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary_Fleurdelis

Most of the time, we can't judge someone's reverence or holiness by the way they dress because we can't take into account their cash flow or comfort zone. Or if they came from work, vacation, etc. Dressing casual is not distracting except to judgmental people.

But I get really tired of some women dressing like they're going to a club. I don't care if it's trendy. I'm a straight young woman. If I'm distracted by the sea of cleavage and short/tight skirts, I can't imagine how it affects the men in church.

It has nothing to do with judging holiness--it is just common decency and respect to dress at least reasonably. When we go to Mass, we are going to be with the Lord--I cannot imagine people not getting at least reasonbly dressed to see the Pope privately.

tabycat · #24 Jun 10, '12, 1:00 pm

Reading this thead a question hit me: How would you react if Jesus walked into the church wearing HIis best clothes from His time?

kkollwitz · #25 Jun 10, '12, 1:15 pm

One should dress so as not to distract others from the Mass.

SMHW · #26 Jun 10, '12, 1:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rejoice Always

Finally!!!! It's time for the Clothing Crusaders!!!

Where are the SHORTS threads?

It just wouldn't be late spring/summer without them.

This past winter was a little light on the "When do you decorate for Christmas?" and "Do you do Santa Claus?" threads so perhaps this thread will fill the void.

Cat · #27 Jun 10, '12, 1:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishpatrick

It has nothing to do with judging holiness--it is just common decency and respect to dress at least reasonably. When we go to Mass, we are going to be with the Lord--I cannot imagine people not getting at least reasonbly dressed to see the Pope privately.

But what is "reasonable?" Define it.

Your definition will be different from mine, and both of us will have a different definition than everyone else on this thread.

I am a woman, and I have no problems whatsoever with a woman wearing a sleeveless top. I cannot see how this can possibly be inappropriate! My GRANDMOTHER used to wear sleeveless dresses that she made herself--very appropriate for hot summer days in church when there wasn't air conditioning.

But I see people on CAF who consider a sleeveless top on a woman to be too revealing for Mass.

I guess it depends on how skinny the woman's arms are--a woman like me with arms like hams is not going to reveal as much as a woman with delicate arms.

At any rate, everyone's definition of "reasonable" is different, and that's why there is such a difference in how people dress to Mass. I doubt very much that people deliberately dress in provocative or slovenly attire; they merely wear what seems "reasonable" to them.

irishpatrick · #28 Jun 10, '12, 1:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cat

But what is "reasonable?" Define it.

Your definition will be different from mine, and both of us will have a different definition than everyone else on this thread.

I am a woman, and I have no problems whatsoever with a woman wearing a sleeveless top. I cannot see how this can possibly be inappropriate! My GRANDMOTHER used to wear sleeveless dresses that she made herself--very appropriate for hot summer days in church when there wasn't air conditioning.

But I see people on CAF who consider a sleeveless top on a woman to be too revealing for Mass.

I guess it depends on how skinny the woman's arms are--a woman like me with arms like hams is not going to reveal as much as a woman with delicate arms.

At any rate, everyone's definition of "reasonable" is different, and that's why there is such a difference in how people dress to Mass. I doubt very much that people deliberately dress in provocative or slovenly attire; they merely wear what seems "reasonable" to them.

Okay, so what would most people wear to a formal evening wedding?

What would they wear to a family holiday party?

How about something in between those two?

I disagree with your last point. I think a great many people give no thought to what they wear to Church (t-shirts with graphic messages, bras hanging out, short shorts, etc.). I think they roll out of bed and just throw on whatever they want. Many people will say, "what they wear means nothing because Jesus accepts them as they are no matter what they wear."

What would most people working in an office wear to work?

What would they wear to a Baptism (the irony is those are in Churches)?

What would they wear to a nice dinner out with their spouse to say a high-level restaurant?

Some people have no choice--the vast majority do.

**pnewton** · #29 Jun 10, '12, 2:00 pm

I felt ill at ease last Sunday because I left my tie on the table. I would feel awkward if I did not dress well for Mass. I really do not care what anyone else wears, though. That is between them and God. Even if they dress immodestly, as I too am a sinner, I will not judge them for it.

irishpatrick · #30 Jun 10, '12, 2:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnewton

I felt ill at ease last Sunday because I left my tie on the table. I would feel awkward if I did not dress well for Mass. I really do not care what anyone else wears, though. That is between them and God. Even if they dress immodestly, as I too am a sinner, I will not judge them for it.

Yet, we should care, we are supposed to help build each other up. It is not about sin, or judgment--it is just about acting maturely and understanding that each one of us is an example for those around us. Do people in our lives see Christ in our actions, in our words, in our behaivor, in our lives? Or do the people in our lives have a hard time seeing any difference between us and the rest of the world?

In the world, not of the world.

How can we Catholics help convert the world if we do not show the world that we are different? That we have gifts that every person should desire?

Take for example the ancient Roman world. During those days it was very common for the mainly pagan population to have tattoos and body piercings. Christians, however, did not have those and they stood apart from the rest. Interestingly, today, the percentage of people getting tattoos and body piercings appears to be on the rise, at the same time so many just do not seem to care about the faith or how they dress going to Mass. Coincidence? Maybe.