Adore the Lord in Holy Attire – On Proper Dress for Mass

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 5/24/2010 | Msgr Charles Pope

[markomalley]

Last week we had a discussion on the women wearing veils in Church. One of the themes that emerged in the comments was that the discussions about what to wear in Church should be broader than just a veil. More specifically BOTH men and women should consider how they dress when going into God’s house. Hence I would like to explore some background issues and  enunciate some principles. You of course will be able to add to them.

1. Scripture – There is very little in Scripture that seems to spell out the proper way to dress for sacred worship. There is the general directive to Adore the Lord in holy attire (Psalm 96:9; Ps 29:2) But this seems more an allusion to holiness (God’s and ours) more than to clothing per se. There are directives for the Passover meal that one should have staff in hand, with loins girt and sandals on their feet (Ex 12:11). But this seems a specific rule for the Passover meal only and hardly something that would done in the synagogue or temple. To gird one’s loins meant to pull up the lower part of one’s outer garment and tighten the belt. This exposed the lower legs and allowed greater mobility for them. It was a sign of being flight or of being at work. It is the ancient equivalent of “roll up your sleeves.”  (more HERE). As a general rule Jewish people would not show their legs unless circumstances strongly required it. They would surely not come to the synagogue or the Temple in this manner. Scripture also speaks of Phylacteries and Prayer Shawls. But these sorts of clothing and accessories seem to have come under some critique in the New Testament (Matt 23:5) and their use was not continued in the New Testament Church worship.

2. Church norms and rules – There are no official and specific Church norms or requirement for lay persons who attend Mass mentioned in Canon Law or the Sacramentary. Surely for priests and other clergy there are many rules and norms but I am unaware of any currently binding norms for the laity. Although the veils were once required for women, the 1917 Code of Canon Law was abrogated and the current code is silent on any requirement.

3. Hence it seems that Culture supplies most of the norms regarding what is considered appropriate attire for Church. And, alas our culture is currently quite unhelpful to us in this regard. Here in America we have become extremely casual about the way we dress for just about everything. It seems we almost never dress up anymore. This has changed somewhat dramatically in my own life time of just less than 50 years. “Sneakers” or “tennis shoes” as we called them were for sports or running around and playing in the neighborhood. But we would never even think of wearing them to school and certainly not to Church. I remember having a special set of shoes just for church. In the 1960s, it was also expected that I would go to Church in formal, pressed trousers, a button down shirt, and, except in the hottest months, a tie and even a suit jacket in winter. My sister and mother always wore a dress. Pants would not even have been considered for them. For the younger girls a skirt and a blouse might be OK but preferably a dress with a hat or veil.

But things changed dramatically around 1970. The photo above right was taken in 1969 in a Parish near my own in the northern suburbs of Chicago Ill. It was the end of an era. Within five years neckties were lost and jeans and a t-shirts came to be the norm. Most of the women as we discussed lost the veil, and dresses gave way to more casual pants suits and then also to other more casual things like jeans etc. Shorts for men and women, unthinkable in previous years also began to appear in church as did tank tops and other beach attire. Within ten years the culture of dressing up for Church was almost wholly abandoned. Now  wearing a tie to Church would seem stuffy and formal.

But this is where our culture has gone. It is not just Church. Years ago when my family went out to eat we almost always dressed up. Maybe it wasn’t a full neck tie but at least trousers and a button down shirt. Maybe not a formal dress for mom and sis, but at least a skirt and blouse. A restaurant was considered a semi-formal outing. School was also considered a place where things like jeans and informal t-shirts were out of place. Going down town to shop meant we changed out of shorts and put on something appropriate. Shorts were basically for running around the house, playing in the yard and such. But you just didn’t go out to more public settings wearing shorts and flip flops or even sneakers.

Pardon me for sounding like and old fud but I am not really that old. My point is that culture has changed,  and changed rather quickly. This has affected the Church as well. What were fighting is a strong cultural swing to the extremely informal. Most people don’t even think of dressing up for most things any more let alone Church.

4. Hence at the cost of seeming old and stuffy I might like to suggest a few norms and I hope you’ll supply your own as well:

1. Men should wear formal shoes to Church. We used to call these hard shoes (because they were) but today many formal shoes are actually quite comfortable.
2. Men should wear trousers (not jeans).
3. Men should never wear shorts to Church.
4. Men should wear a decent shirt, preferably a button down shirt. If it is a pullover shirt it should include a collar. Wearing a plain t-shirt without a collar is too informal.
5. Men should consider wearing a tie to Church and in cooler weather, a suit coat. Some may consider this a bit too stuffy and formal but who knows, you might be a trend setter!
6. Now as I talk about women I know I’ll get in some trouble!

7. Women should wear decent shoes to Church. Flip flops, beach sandals etc. seem inappropriate.
8. Women should not wear shorts to Church.
9. Women, if they wear pants, should never wear jeans to Church. Some nice slacks that are not too tight can be fine.
10. Women should consider wearing a dress or at least a skirt in preference to pants. It just looks a bit more formal than pants.
11. Women should wear a nice blouse (if they are not wearing a full dress). The blouse or shirt they wear should not be too tight.
12. Sleeveless garments are pushing it a bit but can be acceptable.
13. Women should never wear tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, or bare midriffs to Church.
14. Well, you may have at this list. Add or subtract as you will.

A final thought: Clothes say something about what we think, what we value. They also influence how we behave and feel. That our culture has become so casual about everything says something about us. I cannot exactly articulate it but it seems to say, “nothing is really all that important.” But that is not true. Going to God’s house IS  important. Being ministered to by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is astounding. Casual attire in these circumstances is simply inappropriate if we really think about what we are doing, where we are going and who it is we will meet. It does not necessarily follow that we must wear tuxedos and formal gowns. But decent semi-formal attire seems wholly appropriate. Sunday is special, God’s House is special. Somethings really ARE important and our clothing and demeanor ought to reflect this truth.

[MIlle]

About 6 or 7 years ago, I attended a church Easter service where a teenager (seated next to his mother) was wearing a black tee-shirt with a picture of a skull with a large snake entwined around and through it. I think it said something like “Mega Death” -— name of a band, I guess. Words just failed me. As my mother would have said, “I don’t blame the kid, I blame his mother.”

Unbelievable.

[Jemian]

About appropriate church attire, God accepts just as we are, but we regard an activity as more important if we take care and consideration as to how we dress and present ourselves. If we dress casually, we tend to view worship casually. If we dress as if we are giving homage to the Ruler, than we tend to view worship as a priviledge.

[Publius Valerius]

I think that is an appropriate view. In Protestant churches, the question of whether women should wear hats is a big deal in a lot of congregations, as in the age of women’s lib, this has fallen out of favor with a lot of women.

I think the danger in these types of discussions is that too much emphasis is placed on tradition at the expense of the Word. This is something about which Christ warned.

[narses]

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[Tax-chick]

My 16-year-old sometimes tries to get out the door in his rock-band t-shirts. I don’t allow it.

[xsmommy]

I am of two minds about this. As for the kid wearing the skull shirt, yes, it seems inappropriate, but on the other hand at least he is THERE, in church. I think you should dress respectfully and modestly. What I would wear or let my kids wear to Saturday evening Mass would not be the same thing I would wear/have them wear on Sunday AM. I am also opposed to mandating women to wear a dress or skirt. One can look perfectly elegant and dressed up in pants, and I do not see the need for it to be skirt. One can exalt form over substance with regard to dress for church, and IMO that is wrong.

[ronniesgal]

my biggest pet peeve are brides in strapless gowns in church.
No need to show your cleavage in church.

[Jemian]

Indeed, the hat or no hat discussion can get very big. Paul was a bit ambiguous when he stated just ten verses after the admonition not to pray with our heads uncovered, that our hair is given to us for a covering. So, does having locks, or long locks constitute an appropriate covering? I say yes, but my mennonite friends say no.

When we all get to heaven, these issues will be moot.

[Jemian]

too much emphasis is placed on tradition at the expense of the Word. This is something about which Christ warned.

One can exalt form over substance with regard to dress for church,

I don't think there is any disagreement between the three of us. My prayer is that I will exalt the Lord and if I see someone dressed inappropriately (as defined by me), my prayer is that I will gain God's viewpoint and not be judgmental. I find I am often confessing a judgmental and, alas, a condemning attitude. Please be patient with me. God isn't through with me yet.

FWIW, I know this is a "catholic" thread. However, I am a protestant. This topic is often discussed in "our" churches, too.

[Desdemona]

My parish is a major tourist attraction. You can always tell the who the tourists are by how badly/inappropriately they are dressed. I realize that they dress for the day early and are probably headed to the Garden or the Zoo or something that requires a lot of walking and in the summer it can be incredibly hot here, but the priests have been known to kick people out of the Blessed Sacrament chapel if they're in shorts and a tank top. We've had blurbs in the bulletin for a few years regarding appropriate dress and I'm not talking about the medical personnel who are on their way home from work and come in their scrubs, I'm talking about lazy weekend clothes. In the last few years, it seems that parishioners are dressing more appropriately. You see a lot more coats and ties and the ladies look like ladies. There is a contingent of old money in the parish as well as professionals, so it's not much of a stretch for them. For the rest of us, long skirts and three-quarter sleeves are readily available. For the guys, khakis and a polo isn't that much to ask.

Now, off to the office where coats and ties are still required (except between Memorial Day and Labor Day so long as the guys have no meetings), where the women are in jackets and skirts and where there are no casual Fridays. At some level, this still exists.

[markomalley]

FWIW, I know this is a "catholic" thread.

This is not a "caucus" thread. Whoever wishes to comment is more than welcome to do so.

[xsmommy]

no prob! my brother converted to Baptist and i know they dress up more than the catholics, but have complained that standards are slipping there too. my problem is indecent, immodest clothing, more so than stuff that is too casual, not dressed up enough. women should not make it hard for men to concentrate on God in church by dressing provocatively.

[Bigg Red]

mark

[ADSUM]

While the manner of dress may have an impact, I would rather see more in attendance and living their life in Christ.

Shouldn’t we be more concerned about following the commandments and loving God and our neighbor?

Lead by example. God is our Judge. We need to love and help our neighbor as difficult as that may be.

[Publius Valerius]

Right on.

[silverleaf]

Just try visiting churches, synagogues or mosques in the Holy Land amd not exalting both form and substance

They won’t let men in without long slacks, women with arms and heads covered

I believe they remember the days when people dressed in such a way as to show modesty and respect for the Almighty before entering His sanctuaries. Even Moses had to take off his shoes to approach the burning Bush. It was not a suggestion.

[mlizzy]

Respectful Mass, respectful dressing. Casual (or sloppy) Mass, same applies to the dress of some of its customers.

I saw a mom and a son come to Mass together on a Harley, and the son, all pierced, with long hair/tattoos and an inappropriate "t" turned it inside out in the parking lot and put it back on. Made my heart melt a bit (because he well could have gotten away with wearing it the other way around). It's the effort Christ sees IMO.

[A.A. Cunningham]

When we all get to heaven

If we get to heaven