Modesty of Dress and Dress Codes in Mass

The issue of dress is once again a discussion on my blog because there have been a number of people who believe that priests cannot impose a dress code in their church and that such things are arbitrarily done. In the Catholic News (Singapore), there was a letter stating that dress codes were not proper and could not be enforced and to that I wrote the following reply:

A priest can most certainly impose a dress code


I am writing regarding the letter, Correct To Impose Dress Code? (CN, Jan 30).
As a parishioner of the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, I felt that this comment should be addressed because it asserts the opinion that a priest cannot impose a “dress code” for the Eucharistic celebration.

However, it has been the opinion of Holy Mother Church that “bodily demeanour (gestures and dress)” are part of the elements for worthy reception of the Eucharist and that such acts “ought to convey respect, solemnity, and joy of the moment when Christ becomes our guest” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1387).
The posters in the church are guidelines of what should not be worn to Mass and are there in order to keep the Mass a reverent environment that honours Christ.

This can even be deduced from reading the passage cited in the posters, Ecclesia Eucharista no. 49, which explains: “With this heightened sense of mystery, we understand how the faith of the Church in the mystery of the Eucharist has found historical expression not only in the demand for an interior disposition of devotion, but also in outward forms meant to evoke and emphasize the grandeur of the event being celebrated.”

Our outward disposition being an important part of the reverence during the Eucharistic celebration, we should pay attention to the Code of Canon Law, no. 898, which states that the faithful “should reverence [the Eucharist] with the greatest adoration”.

It also goes on to mention that “pastors of souls are assiduously to instruct the faithful about their obligation in this regard,” that regard being reverence for the Eucharist.

Therefore, a priest of a church can guide his flock, or impose dress codes in order to maintain reverence for the Eucharistic celebration and to guide the flock to adore Christ with the proper disposition.

It must never be forgotten that our priests are the guardians not only of our spiritual development, but also of the Most Holy Eucharist and are to ensure that it is treated with the proper devotion and respect.

If anyone still has any doubts with regard to the imposition of a dress code at a church, I would invite you to visit St Peter’s Basilica, either in person or online, and you will see that they have a dress code and it is strictly enforced.

Louis Felix Figueroa
Singapore

Still there are some who believe that the imposition or enforcement of dress standards in are ill advised and not proper; however, the Church has long spoken of the reverence needed in the Eucharistic celebration; additionally, there are also standards of modesty that must be adhered to. Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius XII both made exhortations about modest dressing and how immodest dressing can lead to the occasion of sin.

The good of our soul is more important than the good of our body; and we have to prefer spiritual welfare to bodily comfort. If certain kind of dress constitutes a grave and proximate occasion of sin, and endangers salvation of your soul and others, it is your duty to give it up... (Moral Problems in Fashion Design, Pope Pius XII)

We are encouraged to dress in a respectful and meaningful way in day-to-day life, and how much more so while in the presence of God.

The churches that have been brought into the discussion are the Church of St. Anthony and the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, as they have their dress codes in black and white on the walls.

The Church of Saint Anthony had posted the following in its December 26th bulletin:

After a survey on appropriate attire, it has decided to forbid the wearing of:

* Clothing made of spandex (skin-tight) and translucent (see-through) materials.

* Clothing exposing the entire shoulder, chest, back or thighs.

* Clothing promoting violence and vices such as drug and alcohol consumption.

* Sportswear and flip flops.

The Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea has these posters about the church: The signage and written codes have a great deal to do with modesty, and it has been the belief of the Church that we should always dress modestly.

-Remember:  "You have heard that it was said to them of old: You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Mt. 5:27-28)- 

Parish priests do have a responsibility to ensure that reverence and modesty are kept during the Eucharistic celebration, not only because of the the reasons that I stated in my letter, but also because Pope Pius XII advised as such:

The parish priest, and especially the preacher, when occasion arises, should according the the words of the Apostle Paul (2Tim 4:2), insist argue, exhort and command that feminine garb be based on modesty and that womanly ornament be a defense of virtue. Let them likewise admonish parents to cause their daughter to cease wearing indecorous dress... (Decree of the Congregation of the Council by mandate of Pope Pius XII, 1930)

Some have asserted that there is nothing written how one should dress for mass or any standard, but I beg to differ on that point:

On January 12, 1930, the Sacred Congregation of the Council, by mandate of Pope Pius XI, issued emphatic instructions on modesty of dress to all bishops, directing them to insist on these prescriptions: "We recall that a dress cannot be called decent which is cut deeper than two fingers breadth under the pit of the throat, which does not cover the arms at least to the elbows, and scarcely reaches a bit beyond the knee. Furthermore, dresses of transparent material are improper. (Guidelines for Modesty in Dress)

The virtues of dressing modestly apply both to men and women; however, it is often seen that women's clothing tends to be more fashionable and revealing and is therefore addressed more often; nevertheless, men are called to modesty in dress and should not wear clothing that is revealing to too snug fitting as well. As it pertains to the Eucharist Celebration, we should remember that we are in the presence of God and he deserves respect and our every thought and deed should be consecrated to him; therefore, we should dress in a way that is befitting His majesty and honors what we are, temples of the Holy Spirit. We should dress for the work in which we partake. Consider the words of Bishop Vasa:

I have often heard the argument that the administrators of churches should be pleased to see that people come, regardless of how they are dressed. The other side of that is that people need to demonstrate in word and deed the proper disposition and attitude. I am certain the American people would be rightfully chagrined if the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were to show up in plaid shorts, a tank top and half-laced tennis shoes. It is hard to imagine that he could have a proper interior attitude to the job at hand were he to come to "work" dressed like that.

Our liturgy is a sacred "work". How we come to that work is probably as important as the fact that we come. We must recognize that we come to church for sacred work, sacred worship. This demands a decorum commensurate with the dignity of the work to be done. Even if that "work" is to utter a private prayer, it still demands an appropriate decorum.

Full text at: Dress, Demeanor, Discipline Show how We Value Holy Mass

There may be some who read this entry and think that making people dress in a respectful way will keep them from Mass, but no one is keeping them from Mass but their own pride. Additionally, some may put forward the position that we are scandalizing people, especially the young (Mt. 18:4-8); however, to scandalize means to induce someone into a behavior that is sinful and that act which is being promoted is sinful in itself. The promotion of proper dress, especially in keeping with the Mass is not sinful and only promotes the virtue of modesty and ensures that the parishioner is of the proper bodily demeanor for Eucharistic reception.

Let us keep in mind that even at St. Peter's Basilica there is a dress code:

Dressing properly for Mass is not difficult, but subverting one's pride...that can be quite challenging.

Therefore, let us keep the mass a modest and reverent environment and honor our God with all our heart, thoughts, words, actions and deeds. Let us have forethought when we go to behold our Lord, for our Savior deserves nothing less.

Another work to condsider: http://catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0060.html