06 April 2014

Just a little modesty, please!

This is going to get me into trouble. But it must be said.

Catholic Women, this. . .



















. . .is not appropriate attire for attending Mass!

Yes, I've seen these (and worse) at Mass on more than one occasion. I've seen pregnant women wearing shorts and flimsy blouses that just barely covered their belly-buttons.

The worst examples of this casualness at Mass occur at the so-called Youth Mass where teenaged girls seem to compete with each other over how short they can go.

I'm not saying that you should be wearing prairie skirts or ball gowns, but wearing shorts to Mass is a step too far toward casual.

Same goes for men.
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14 comments:

  1. Just as bad in England: young woman in cut-off denim hot-pants sashaying up to Communion this morning. But when Father tried suggesting rather more modest clothing a few years ago, total outrage and one (quite middle-aged) woman of my acquaintance stopped going to Mass. Makes you think, doesn't it: trading your immortal soul for someone else's right to dress inappropriately.

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  2. Anonymous12:43 PM

    Grown up girls, only your husbands should behold your thighs; he'll delight seeing them. As for those men who are not your husbands, beholding your thighs is an occasion of sin. They may be just members to walk about to you, but they have sexual connotations to us men. Please, be kind to us and spare us this temptation, especially in the House of God, and forgive us men for objectifying you for merely exposing your legs.

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    Replies
    1. I think this is a good way of expressing it. Sort of a "we're doing our best, but help a brother out, OK?"

      Dressing modestly is an act of charity. :)

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  3. Not just legs on show, low necklines showing breasts, also seen Eucharistic Minister, and others. in see-through blouses. So sad.

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  4. Anonymous3:48 PM

    As a father of a girl, even grown women have no idea about the effects of their showing their... assets has on men. Most certainly pick clothes based on how feminine they'll look in them, but, as Fr. P pointed out, they should keep modesty in mind, for the sake of the Church.

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  5. Anonymous3:50 PM

    Modesty is a badly needed virtue in our society.

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  6. Gregg the Obscure4:16 PM

    This Sunday Mass included young women attired in yoga pants and bicycle shorts. Please if you don't respect the other folks in the parish, at least have some respect for the Lord. You wouldn't dress like that to go to a dinner at the White House, would you?

    It's particularly awkward when such folks stand in front of someone who is kneeling.

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  7. I've found that sometimes mentioning how harmful it can be to others, especially their brothers in Christ, often curbs the problem. More carrot than stick, if you will. Young women want to be brave, they want to be held accountable and nothing makes them stand up straighter in their pews than the thought of engendering holiness in their fellow brothers in Christ.

    In the same homily I'll often say something along the lines of "Men will rise to the level of excellence and holiness that you demand."

    Just a thought from my pulpit to yours... Well said brother.

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    1. Good approach! If I were say anything in a homily about this, I would be VERY "pastoral." Fortunately, I'm not a pastor anywhere and the occasion will not arise. I just have Ye Ole Blog.

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  8. It is the Lord's House, dress accordingly. Would you kneel before the King in shorts and a halter top? I do think that some, if not many, women don't understand that in dressing certain ways they are only objectifying themselves. I only know because I did this for many years, thinking I was happy as I was doing it, and looking back I can see that those were the most miserable years of my life. Respect yourself.

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  9. This is why I hate this time of year and would prefer moving to Alaska if the wife would go for it. As a sub sailor I've seen my share of booty being shaken but NEVER felt a house of God was the place to look at it.

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  10. My daughter Meg has talked about this kind of thing a lot. Especially here: http://www.piercedhands.com/god-matters/ "[T]here is nothing that scares me more than telling teenage girls that leggings are not pants." I think you'd enjoy this, Father!

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  11. Anonymous9:56 AM

    Just came back from my daughters Confirmation. How completely sad ( and scandalous ) that our beautiful Catholic young ladies are dressed in dresses so short that they barely cover their behinds, and 3-4 inch heels. What benefit are we doing by remaining silent? To the young ladies dressed like this ~ the young men that 'see' you, arn't looking at your smile and they arn't thinking about your personality.

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  12. Anonymous12:15 PM

    I agree, it really is appealing! But it's not just in the chapels. I was at my daughters soccer game recently and they were wearing "very short" shorts, and the coach has the audacity to complain when I insisted that my daughters should were more appropriate sweatpants. Guess she is also not a church goer....

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