How to Dress Properly in the Mass

But why is a dress code when we go inside the church or going to mass? Can’t we wear the dress that we want because God will understand who we are? Yes, God loves and understand us, but in order for us to show respect to God and His Body inside the tabernacle, we must wear a proper dress to show our modesty. And Modesty pleases God.

“You must strive with all possible care to please God in such a manner as neither to do nor behold anything, without first consulting Him, and in everything to seek Him alone and His glory.”
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

But it is sad that most people are not wearing proper clothes anymore. So, what are the proper dress that we must wear when we enter the church and when we attend the Holy mass? Most Catholic Churches post a billboard of what we must wear. But the list that we will give you is the most proper dress that we must wear and we only can see this dress from the the Traditional Catholics. We also include the dress that we must not wear.

PROPER DRESS FOR MEN

1. POLO – Polo is the most common dress when entering or attending the holy mass especially in the traditional mass. It can be a long or short sleeves. Some countries still wear polo when they attend the mass.
2. POLO SHIRT – Polo Shirt is also a proper dress, it is a substitute of Polo if you don’t have one. It can be a long or short sleeves. 
3. T-SHIRT – Yes, T-Shirts are also a proper dress, but some churches put some condition on wearing a T-Shirt, it must have a minimal print.
4. PANTS – Just like the Polo, Pants are one of the most common dress. It can be a slack or a denim pants. But some churches does not allow denim pants.
5. SHOES – Shoes are the most basic foot wear in our everyday life and also part of the proper dress when you enter the church or attending the Holy Mass.

If you look at the list, it’s like you are attending a business meeting, attending a job interview or meeting a client. But this time, we are wearing proper dress to meet Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Because he is the most important person in the universe.

IMPROPER DRESS FOR MEN

1. TANK TOP or SLEEVESLESS SHIRTS – Tank tops are not proper dress when you enter the church or attend the Holy Mass. We cannot expose some part of of our bodies even the wearer is male. This may catch a attention to other people may get distracted in their prayers. Remember, we must focus on God when we attend the mass so let’s help others to focus on God too.
2. T-SHIRTS THAT HAVE IMPROPER PRINT OR WORDS – What is a improper print or words? Prints like have the word “Sex” “Devil” or any graphics and words that can offend our Lord. We were allowed to wear shirt but we must avoid wearing this kind of prints.
3. TEARED JEANS – Teared Jeans are also part of improper dress. Because it exposes the skin of your leg. Even if we say that it is fashion, we must wear proper pants.
4. SHORTS – Even the shorts are part of our everyday dress or when we go to different places, this is also an improper dress when we enter the church or attending the mass. We must not expose our leg even if it is a male. But, if the person has a wound in his legs and cannot wear a pants, this will be allowed. But you must tell it to the altar servers, lay ministers or the priest about your condition.
5. SANDALS – Sandals or slides is also part of the improper dress. In the previous centuries or years, sandals are allowed because shoes are not already made or it is expensive. Sandals are allowed to be wear if you have a foot injury. But some Churches are allowing wear sandals but you must wear the other proper clothes.
6. CAPS – The church is not stopping you to wear a cap, but you must remove it when you enter the church or attending the mass.

If you look at the list, this are the dress that most people wear in this generation today when they enter the church or attending the Holy Mass. Because some of them are not aware of what is the proper dress to wear or some doesn’t care at all. But if you are now aware, please wear the proper ones. We are inside the church to please God, not the other people.

PROPER DRESS FOR WOMEN

1. SHIRTS – This Shirts must have a sleeve, even it is a long or the short ones. It is improper for a woman to expose her shoulder inside the church.
2. SKIRT – The skirt’s length must be on the knee or below the knee. It doesn’t matter if it is a denim skirt, the length is the most important. Women must present herself to God as a woman inside the church and in the Holy Mass.
3. SHOES OR SANDALS – Just like men, Women should wear shoes as a proper dress. But they can also wear sandals.
4. VEIL – The last one is the most important dress for a woman, the Veil. When a woman enters the church, she must wear a veil. Veiling the head is the common dress for women in the past centuries. Even we are living in the modern world. A woman must wear veil inside the church.

IMPROPER DRESS FOR WOMEN

1. TANK TOP or SLEEVESLESS SHIRTS – Woman cannot expose their skins when they enter the church o attending the mass.
2. REVEALING CLOTHES – Revealing clothes like backless, or shirts that expose your belly or chest. Because this will catch the attention of other people including the male, and become a distraction to other people who prays in the mass. Remember, we must focus on God when we attend the mass so let’s help others to focus on God too.
3. T-SHIRTS THAT HAVE IMPROPER PRINT OR WORDS – Even we list this to improper dress for men, women cannot also wear this kind of shirts.
4. MINI SKIRTS – Skirts that is above the knee or skirts that we usually see on female Japanese uniforms or cheer dancers. This will also catch the attention and give distraction to others. Because it is improper to show the skin of her legs when inside the church. Remember, we must focus on God when we attend the mass so let’s help others to focus on God too. When a woman enters the church wearing mini skirts, members of the church give her a cloth to cover her legs.
5. PANTS – Though pants are one of the basic dress that women wear today, but it is important that a woman must wear skirt especially in the Holy Mass. But some churches allow women to wear pants and some members of the church give her a cloth to cover her pants.
6. SHORTS – Shorts are not also allowed for women to wear when they attend the Holy Mass. Because it is improper to show the skin of her legs when inside the church. But when a woman enters the church wearing shorts, some members of the church give her a cloth to cover her legs.

The Church always give this proper dress that is questioned by other. For example, why men must not wear cap or any head gear on his head when inside the church but the women must wear a veil. Because wearing a veil is a symbol of authority of men over women.

“A man should certainly not cover his head, since he is the image of God and reflects God’s glory; but woman is the reflection of man’s glory. For man did not come from woman; no, woman came from man; ·and man was not created for the sake of woman, but woman was created for the sake of man. That is the argument for women’s covering their heads with a symbol of the authority over them, out of respect for the angels.”
St. Paul the Apostle (1 Corinthians 7-11)

Some women don’t wear veil because some people will say that they will look like an old woman because it is an old style or old fashioned. But we assure you, that while you are wearing a veil, you will look beautiful. A living proof a beautiful woman who always wear a veil is none other than the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some saints and people who saw her said that she is beautiful and she is wearing a veil.

“I saw only the Blessed Virgin, and she was more beautiful than ever!”
St. Bernadette Soubirous