St James Cathedral - Seattle, WA

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Does God Care What We Wear to Church?

"God doesn't care what we wear to church, He's just happy we're there."  Who ever believes this might be a little naive, maybe even fooling themselves.  It sounds good at first, reminding us to be thankful that people are coming to church.  But it also implies that people can't do any better, that we should just settle for the pews being occupied, and that's not true at all. 

(I actually avoided writing about this topic for some time.  It's already talked about frequently, and I wasn't sure if I could make any impact.  However, after receiving several prompts from a close colleague and reading comments from the last blog entry connecting what people wear to being properly disposed for Holy Communion, it's definitely a worthy topic.)

When people aren't dressed well for church, I doubt they are trying to be inappropriate, they just haven't put much thought into it.  I'm talking about that lady who wears those very short, bright green gym shorts where the bottom of her butt cheeks peek out, that middle-aged woman with cellulite who shouldn't be wearing a mini-skirt, or that guy wearing a T-shirt with the yellow arm pits that commemorates the last concert tour of a certain grunge band in the late 1990s.  I wonder if their mothers be embarrassed to see what they are wearing to church.

Something else I wonder-  If they were stopped for speeding on the way to church, would the police officer believe that they were on their way to church based on the clothes they're wearing?

Jennifer Fulwiler offers some good insight on this.  She says we aren't dressing up anymore because as a society, we've lost a sense of value and gratitude.  Flying on an airplane, going out to eat at a fancy restaurant, even attending certain sporting events used to be considered a privilege or an honor, so you wore your best attire.  Now that we as a society have less respect and gratitude for things, we've put less effort into our clothing.  When it comes to the Eucharist and what we're wearing, the same thing has happened.  We have devalued what is really the greatest privilege of all, being able to Communicate in such a unique way with God; and it's reflected out in the clothes that Catholics wear to church.

Disproportionate values can also share some blame, especially if someone spends an hour or two getting ready to go out on a Friday/Saturday night, yet can't afford more than 15 minutes to get ready for church on Sunday morning.  There's also that family that goes to church first, then goes home and changes into nice clothes to go out to eat.  Talk about having priorities ordered all wrong!

Not to long ago, Relevant Radio's Fr Francis Hoffman was asked about why more priests don't preach more about the length of a woman's skirt from the pulpit.  He responded jokingly, "Because we fear for our lives!"  It's true- it's hard for a male homilist to tell certain female parishioners what to wear, especially in light of the other issues that have to be waged.  A bulletin insert seems much safer. 

Therefore, a lot of this effort might be up to us lay people.  After all, it is lay people that don't know how to dress up for church.  Of course, please be careful how you go about telling others about this problem.  My wife and I once watched a woman come into church wearing a hoodie, gym shorts, and flip flops.  Shortly after she sat down, another woman approached her with an angry look on her face and said something to the mal-dressed women.  The woman, obviously embarrassed, cried for a few moments and left as Mass started.  I haven't seen her in church since.

If you're in a position to be able to say something to someone else, please do so charitably and with encouragement.  Point out that the individual deserves more, and God does, too.  How much (or how little) effort one prepares externally for church could be an indicator of how much effort they are prepared spiritually.  If you love God, and you're looking forward to the Eucharist, let it show in your attire.  

Women, if you wear nice clothes, other women will notice and follow your example.  Men, tell all your buddies to man up, and dress better for church.  Parents, start now with your kids.  I know it's hard (I have two small kids), but they won't learn it if you don't teach it. 

Lastly, if you're one of those people that actually believes God doesn't care what you wear to church: I don't know if He cares or not (since there are bigger issues out there), but I sure do.  If you don't see the need to do it for God, then please wear appropriate attire in church for the rest of us.  I'm trying to set a good example for my kids and would appreciate your help.

On a side note, since we've been talking about what lay people wear, I thought it would be fun to briefly describe the most frequently used vestments worn by the clergy during Mass.

The outer garment that the priest/celebrant wears is called a chasuble.  The most commonly used style looks like a poncho.  It's color will be that of the Mass.  A deacon wears a similar garment called a dalmatic, but it has sleeves and tends to look a little more like a tunic. 

The next vestment is the stole.  This indicates the rank of the cleric.  A bishop/priest wears it hanging from both shoulders (like an untied scarf or necktie).  A deacon wears it over the left shoulder and fastened at the right hip.  It usually matches the chasuble/dalmatic and is the color of the Mass.  It's worn underneath the outer vestment so you won't really see it unless the cleric isn't wearing a chasuble or dalmatic.

The last garment is the alb.  It's white or off white, worn over the individual's secular clothes (the stole and chasuble/dalmatic are worn over the alb).  It represents the white garment given at baptism.  The alb worn by both clergy and laity that are ministers in the liturgy (such as altar servers).  It can be secured at the waist by a cincture, a cord which acts like a belt.  The cincture can be white or the color of the Mass.  There is an additional piece called an amice, but this is less common and/or often not visible.

One last piece of liturgical vestment trivia.  A priest who is present but is not a concelebrant doesn't have to wear a stole or chasuble.  This if often the case when the priest is acting as an acolyte or master of ceremonies for the bishop.  You'll see a priest don a stole if he takes a priestly ministry such as proclaiming the gospel or assisting with the distribution of Holy Communion.  The same goes with a deacon who is in the sanctuary- if he takes one of the roles proper to a deacon, he will wear a stole.  If he doesn't, the alb (or surplice with cassock) is sufficient.






8 comments:

  1. Paul:
    Firstly, no one should be wearing a mini-skirt in Church, regardless of the amount of cellulite she might have.

    Secondly, I am of the firm opinion that God doesn't care what you wear to mass... so long as you come with a humble, open and contrite heart. I think that if people are strong in their faith, and I mean really understand the profoundness of God's love for them and what that actually means, then they will naturally want to look respectable in His presence. I don't think it's about their clothes, it's about a perceived lack of effort. And while most of the time that is a fair assumption, there are times it's not. Yet even if it is, I feel like it's speaking towards a deeper problem we have. People don't take Church seriously because they don't have enough faith. Ultimately, if you want people to look more respectable at mass, then help them increase that.

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  2. Paul, great post. In the deep South, I see a lot of people still dressing up for Church and moving here has honestly changed the way my family and I dress up for Mass. I'm teaching our children that our outside dress reflects how much our souls respect and reverence the Blessed Sacrament.

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  3. Great post! I seem to remember a spot in the Gospel where Jesus Himself talks about those invited to the wedding feast being expected to wear the proper garments. The man who did not wear a proper garment was to be thrown outside where there would be gnashing of teeth and where the fire always burns.

    Jesus seems to care. Good enough for me. No jeans, no t-shirts at Sunday Mass. Going to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, the King of the Universe, to receive Holy Communion at the hands of a priest who has been ordained by one of the successors to the Apostles. I think I can take a few minutes to put on some nice clothes--clothes that I bought for Mass.

    But, truthfully, I think a lot of people have simply never given it any thought and no one has dared to say anything to them about it. But it's also true that a lot of people don't care about proper ways of doing things, either. Not how they make the sign of the cross (what is that thing they do?), or bow (barely), or genuflect (not at all), or get to Mass early enough to prepare (which takes more than 30 seconds, for me, anyway), or kneel and talk with the Lord after entering the pew (I watched the mother and daughter in front of me carry on a conversation with each other the entire time they were kneeling, which for some reason struck me as funny and I almost giggled out loud).

    Some people will just poo-poo everything I just said and think I'm being "judgmental". On the contrary, I see it as a matter of justice. In justice we owe the Lord a certain attitude of reverence and respect and also a certain decorum. We owe Him worship done well.

    My take, anyway.

    Lee :)

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  4. Not a single bible verse to back up your opinions. To summarise your point, everyone should wear what you want them to because that would make you feel better. mmmmm I don't really see God in that at all sorry

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  5. Who are we to judge? God truly wants us in his house to praise him. He sees what is in our hearts. If we focused have as much on God as we do on others we may actually learn something. We are in church to pay attention to what the preacher is teaching us not whats on others bodies!

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  6. Most of the time people use the word 'judge' out of context. I have to tell my clients when they go on an interview what not to wear so they can be successful. It does have to do with the heart, and a relationship. If I have an appointment with the President, I will certainly dress appropriately. Yet, for new believers you must give them time. Get the fish on board first, let them get cleaned by the Word. Be careful how we entreat new people. There are people who dress too extreme; flashy, Pay attention to the preacher and not the bodies??? Ok. Boobs should not be hanging out, skirts should not be high up to the yang, yang, men's or ladies pants should not be wrapped tight around you. The Bible says be modest in everything we do and let everything we do please God. So we need to look into the mirror of our heart and an actual mirror and say, Father, are you pleased with such and such? We dress nice to go to restaurants, theaters, Friday night get togethers. Society has disproportionate values, and the Church is following after the ways of the world. If your best is jeans, cuz you're a Texan country boy, or you just love jeans, so be it. Your best may not be a suit. Some churches don't like female leaders to wear pants, Traditions kill faith. And don't forget, we have the Milennials now in our midst; sneakers, white t-shirts. There are scriptures on dress code, but we have to ask God for wisdom, insight, and study it contextually. Be blessed everyone. The greatest of anything is LOVE.

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    Replies
    1. I am of old schooling but feel as mentioned above. God is to be greater than a president but if one was invited to have dinner with the president they would probably dress very nice. A suit if having one but many come to church to worship God, someone that died for us but I’ve seen them come in pajamas. Shouldn’t God deserve better than a president.

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