Do you ever notice people at Mass or your worship service that are dressed the same as they'd be for a sports game or trip to the movies?
I'm wondering if it's mostly Catholics that disregard the importance of Church in the way that they dress. Not to sound discriminatory, but as I recall my Protestant friends and the way they dressed for Sunday worship, it never consisted of jeans, tank tops, shorts, etc.
I think most people under-dress for Mass. On occasion I do wear jeans or shorts. It's easy to use "vacation" as an excuse, or piled up laundry. But those are just that-excuses. We wouldn't go to meet someone of significance wearing a short jean skirt and spaghetti strap tank top (say, for instance, your potential boss at an interview). Why would we for Church? That's God's house.
We've been making extra effort lately around here to dress more appropriately for Church. No more jeans. No shorts. (except ds, but his are dress shorts for boys that came w/ a suit coat!)
True, God may not care what we wear. He cares that we're there. But there's no denying that HOW we dress effects HOW we act and perform. Kind of along with the lines of why many schools choose uniforms. (and please don't tell me that uniforms deny self expression and individuality-that's such bull).
It took us a long time to choose our parish. Over the weekend though I felt reaffirmed that we joined the right one for us. On the front page of our bulletin, our pastor wrote about Summer Dress at Mass. I'd love to post the entire thing, but they lack a website and I can't link to it. I'd have to type it out-my toddler will prohibit that! ;)
So here's part of it.
I do believe, however, that we should still 'dress up' in some way when*taken from St. Sebastian Parish bulletin.
we come to Church. If this activity is no different from lounging around the
beach or playing or working in the backyard, it loses much of its significance.
It is not too much to ask to wash our face and hands, comb our hair and put on a
clean shirt or blouse and a pair of pants or skirt.
We dress the way we do, and present ourselves the way we do because of
the statement it makes of our awareness of what we are doing.
Our Sunday worship deserves to be special. The Eucharist, and the
Eucharistic Community, deserve our respect. One of the ways we say these things
are true is by the way we dress when we come to take part.
2 comments:
This issue has been addressed in my parish as well. Msgr. Carter had a brief note to parishoners in the bulletin last year. He noted that many people were attending Mass wearing clothing that was more suited towards their after-Mass activities such as going to the golf course or the beach. He understood that people come from different socioeconomic classes but urged everyone to use their best judgement in choosing what they would wear to Mass to worship God.
I must confess that lately I have not been dressing as well as I should. I've been wearing my everyday clothing--a polo shirt, khaki shorts and flip-flops. I have been using those excuses you mentioned of vacation and laundry. I also noted what other people have been wearing to Mass and assumed that I was alright. Of course, I know better than to do that.
I appreciate you bringing this topic up. It reminded me of what my pastor wrote and that I should pay more attention to what I wear to Mass.
Thanks for the appreciation. :)
Summer of all itmes is easiest to wear shorts. And I think guys can wear shorts to Mass for appropriately than women. Unfortunately, too many girls don't seem to care that their shorts reveal more than men's boxers! THAT in church is wrong. (most places it's wrong, but CHURCH especially)
I'm not perfect and certainly wear jeans to Church in the winter at times, and yes, lack of $ for us means a very limited wardrobe. But we can still go to a thrift store and spend $10 or less on a shirt the same we would on a pair of jeans. It's all in what we choose.
I'm glad someone else felt good about the post. I sure felt convicted.
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