Archaeology cat Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 [quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' post='1882870' date='Jun 4 2009, 02:27 PM']Also, ever notice how much more reverent people are when they are not dressed in casual attire as opposed to those who dress casually? And we wonder why the Mass is not treated with the reverence it deserves.[/quote] I do agree that how a person dresses often affects his demeanour. When I was teaching I noticed that my students were much better behaved if they were dressed nicely. And I know that I carry myself differently if I wear a skirt instead of jeans. Random thought - but ever notice how difficult it is to find dress shoes that aren't heels? I can't wear heels due to my bad knee, or at least I'm not supposed to wear them. [quote name='VoTeckam' post='1882883' date='Jun 4 2009, 02:47 PM']For those of you that do think dressing casually is unacceptable, do you feel the same way about daily Mass and adoration?[/quote] This is something I've thought a lot about. I often wear jeans to daily Mass, but I also think I should wear something a bit nicer. I just often don't think about it until I'm running out the door with a toddler in tow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fides quarens intellectum Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 [quote name='Archaeology cat' post='1882957' date='Jun 4 2009, 10:44 AM']Random thought - but ever notice how difficult it is to find dress shoes that aren't heels? I can't wear heels due to my bad knee, or at least I'm not supposed to wear them.[/quote] i know!! i don't need heels because i'm already tall enough... i only have one cheap pair of dress flats from a Payless (which are not at all very trendy), but it's okay because i only keep them around for Sundays, so they still look new two years later... sorry - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Another way to look at the dressing issue: What is the Mass really? Is it not the wedding feast of the Lamb? And would it appropriate to wear such casual wear to a wedding? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VoTeckam Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 [quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' post='1883006' date='Jun 4 2009, 01:34 PM']Another way to look at the dressing issue: What is the Mass really? Is it not the wedding feast of the Lamb? And would it appropriate to wear such casual wear to a wedding?[/quote] Haha. Yes, probably to the wedding of people who wear casual clothes to cuch on occasion (Like me!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicansoul Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 [quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' post='1883006' date='Jun 4 2009, 11:34 AM']Another way to look at the dressing issue: What is the Mass really? Is it not the wedding feast of the Lamb? And would it appropriate to wear such casual wear to a wedding?[/quote] I totally agree with you! Which is why I quoted this Scripture verse: [quote name='dominicansoul' post='1882889' date='Jun 4 2009, 09:00 AM']"But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' " Matthew 22:11-13[/quote] in light of this verse, it shows that God does in fact wish for appropriate clothing. He does make the analogy of reverent clothing=holiness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Thank you, dominicansoul, I have found your posts very refreshing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 [url="http://www.blogger.com/profile/04600912414364976709"]Fra' Lawrence Lew, O.P. (Paul Lew) writes in response to a blogger on this subject.[/url] [quote]We generally consider what we wear, when we go to an important occasion. If we were invited to a banquet or to meet a king, would we not go in our best? Why then, do some dress sloppily when called to the banquet of the Lord and to meet the King of Kings? The traditional notion of Sunday best still holds because one dresses well to grace an occasion, to signify the importance of the event, not to draw attention to oneself. The idea that the Lord knows and loves us and we should thus be familiar with Him and dress as we like (ie sloppily) is nonsense. The Lord is not our chum; He is the Holy One of Israel and sloppy dressing at Mass only reflects the irreverence one holds for God. Some think we should 'come as we are' and I agree. We come bringing to the Lord our brokenness, our sinfulness etc. We come as people in need of God, but that's no excuse to come in rags. The only people who may and should come in rags is the poor and I suspect there are very few of those in most Singaporean parishes. As for the question of 'sexy' dressing I believe that good Catholics should note the Catechism's teaching on modesty and dress accordingly at all times, whether in church or not. After all, would Our Lady bare her midriff or wear skimpy clothes designed to incite lust or attract men's attention? I very much doubt so! The same attention must be given to those who wear T-shirts with inappropriate slogans (eg: FCUK) or images (Pornstar, demons etc) Women who say they dress to feel good about themselves and not for men are being duplicitous. They feel good because they are being looked at and this in itself is a disordered inclination of low self-esteem and self worth. Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body has much to say on such issues. Granted it is hot in Singapore but let's face it, many many people have no qualms about wandering up and down Orchard in denim jackets and several layers for fashion's sake, so why not cover up decently in our air-conditioned churches? As sacramental people, how we appear is important, just as habits are important for religious; it is truly habit-forming![/quote] [url="http://thresholdofhope.blogspot.com/2005/07/dressing-etiquette-of-catholics.html"]Dressing Etiquette for Mass[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VoTeckam Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 [quote name='dominicansoul' post='1883016' date='Jun 4 2009, 01:43 PM'] I totally agree with you! Which is why I quoted this Scripture verse: in light of this verse, it shows that God does in fact wish for appropriate clothing. He does make the analogy of reverent clothing=holiness.[/quote] I fail to see how the verse you quoted links clothing to holiness. The verse [b]compares [/b]someone's lack of effort in dressing for a royal wedding to other's lack of desire to strive for holiness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 See post above yours, VoTeckam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VoTeckam Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 The post above mine has not shed any new light on this conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 [quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' post='1882848' date='Jun 4 2009, 08:32 AM']Respect. That's a word that has been left out of most posts. Modesty is continually being used, but not respect .[/quote] The people posting in this thread are DEVOUT CATHOLICS. Do you honestly think that they would show up to Mass dressed in disrespectful rags? When they say "I dress modestly for Church" it's IMPLIED that modestly = respectfully. [quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' post='1882870' date='Jun 4 2009, 09:27 AM']Also, ever notice how much more reverent people are when they are not dressed in casual attire as opposed to those who dress casually?[/quote] No, because I'm too focused on the Mass. I don't have time to scrutinize a parishioner's outfit, nor do I have the time to sit there judging how reverent everyone is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicansoul Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 [quote name='VoTeckam' post='1883028' date='Jun 4 2009, 11:53 AM']I fail to see how the verse you quoted links clothing to holiness. The verse [b]compares [/b]someone's lack of effort in dressing for a royal wedding to other's lack of desire to strive for holiness.[/quote] i respect your interpretation of that verse, but it is not mine... I think it is very interesting how Jesus would use this lack of effort in dressing for MASS to the lack of respect to the King...a lack of respect to the Banquet, a lack of respect to the invitation... i think people at Mass should realize that they are in the PRESENCE of the King of kings... and dress appropriately... I see people get all dressed up for their proms, for worldly banquets, awards shows, weddings, etc... but at Mass they feel comfortable in scruffy clothes and flip flops??? to me, this speaks volumes on how much we think about where we are and what we are doing.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) I'm not questioning the devoutness of anyone posting in this thread. One can be devout, and yet still wear something that is disrespectful for Mass. Jeans and a t-shirt and tennis shoes can be very modest, but they are not respectful to the Mass (unless there are extenuating circumstances). Someone posted that they'll dress up to go on a date with their special someone, and put make up on, but they won't take an extra effort to look nice for Christ in the Mass. Do you not see the irreverence of not looking your best when you attend Mass, especially on Sundays? VoTeckum: The post above was written by a religious brother. Does his opinion count for nothing? Do you not think that those religious brothers and sisters (and priests) not find it disheartening when we aren't putting our best foot forward in both actions and dress when we come to Mass on Sunday? If a priest were to do a Mass without his habit on, would we not say that he was disrespectful and irreverent even though what he was wearing was modest? Christ is not our chum, not our buddy, and to think otherwise is a great error on our parts. Christ is our Savior, our Heavenly Father, our [b]King[/b] and yet it is not seen as appropriate to dress in such a way that shows the utmost respect that we claim to have in our hearts for him? ETA: And may I add that the issue that is being questioned is whether it is appropriate for jeans and tennis shoes to be worn instead of dressing up for Mass. If we can dress to impress our dates, why can't we put at least that much effort into dressing for Mass? I have two young children that, during the school year, I usually have to get ready by myself. Neither can dress themselves. Not only do I make the extra effort to get everyone dressed and fed, but I put forth the effort to make sure that my dress is appropriate to the presence of who I am off to see. Edited June 4, 2009 by Mrs. Bro. Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicansoul Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 i'm not trying to judge anyone's soul either, but i particularly do not like it when the altar boys dress down at Mass. You can see their jeans and scruffy tenny shoes sticking out of their albs... it just seems so wrong, especially at the banquet of the King... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) [quote name='dominicansoul' post='1883045' date='Jun 4 2009, 12:13 PM']i'm not trying to judge anyone's soul either, but i particularly do not like it when the altar boys dress down at Mass. You can see their jeans and scruffy tenny shoes sticking out of their albs... it just seems so wrong, especially at the banquet of the King...[/quote] I remember my brother wearing pants or slacks of some sort under his altar boy attire, they were too long and my mom didn't have time to hem them so she rolled them up. The older kid he was serving with got the larger gown, so his was too short. I remember him walking down the aisle to get something before mass and us siblings were all laughing at him from our pew...he didn't like it very much. Ah memories. Edited June 4, 2009 by Ash Wednesday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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