What's in a Dress?

Our Lady of Angels Monastery and Shrine in Hanceville, Alabama

When we went on a pilgrimage to Hanceville, Alabama at the Our Lady of Angels Monastery years ago,  I remember that the Church provided jackets and even pants for those visitors not properly attired for church or mass.

Mass at EWTN (Eternal World Television Network) in Alabama, founded by Mother Angelica

You see, a lot of the pilgrims to the Monastery and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament come from far away states and countries and a lot, during the summer months. So they're clad in shorts and tees; that's why the jacket and pants at the entrance to the Basilica.

I also remember an incident which took place a long time ago in a church in Sta. Ana when a priest refused to give communion to a friend who was wearing a "tube blouse."

What really is the proper way to dress for church?

Common church scene, circa 1950's, somewhere in Canada

At the Chapel of the Holy Eucharist at the Megamall in Mandaluyong, there is a poster at the door prominently showing parishioners the proper attire to wear in church.

Sunday mass - From an unknown source.

Quiapo Church in the Philippines,  circa 1890's. Photo shows how Filipinos dressed for church.

 Quiapo Church and church goers, circa 2012

In Manila, numerous complaints about skimpy attire in church have prompted the Archdiocese of Manila to issue guidelines for proper dress when attending Mass or other church services.

In 2007, the archdiocese began distributing posters on proper church attire in its parishes and shrines. These  posters were to be placed in areas where they are clearly visible.

“The posters clearly show how one can be properly dressed for church,” said Fr. Godwin Tatlonghari of the archdiocese's Ministry of Liturgical Affairs.

The guidelines indicate that women should not wear short skirts, skimpy shorts, sleeveless blouses, tank tops or spaghetti-strap tops and plunging necklines in church. Men should not wear caps, shorts and basketball jerseys. Instead, the archdiocese recommends women wear blouses, corporate or office attire, school uniforms or long dresses, while men should wear shirts, jeans or slacks.

Western Easter Sunday - from the past

One church goer said of the late Fr. John Robbins of the parish of St. Anne's in Houston, Texas. "Fr. John Robbins preached about dressing in church one Sunday, but his take on it was a little bit different.  He suggested that parishioners who worried about the way others were dressed were the ones who needed to adjust their attitudes. He said they should focus on the liturgy, not on the other congregants.

After he finished his homily, and was returning to his seat, someone started clapping; most of the congregation joined in. He looked over his shoulder at us and said, “I bet it was someone wearing shorts."

At the Holy Rosary Parish in Ohio which I used to go to, most of the men and women dressed conservatively for Sunday mass. During Easter, women even wore hats.  Men often wore suits. The youth usually came in sneakers and T-shirts of their favorite sports team but wore jeans and jackets.  A lot had dress shirts and dress pants. Of course there were exceptions.

At the Toronto church where I attend services, the congregants are a mixed population - Canadians, Filipino immigrants and immigrants from Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, India and the Middle East. But again, most dress on the proper side.

But come summertime, women and men tend to wear less because of the oppressive heat, and the priests tend to empathize with them.  Men usually wear casual shirts, dress shorts and women those "bermuda" shorts" which are just above the knee.

When we were kids, we always donned our "Sunday best" for Sunday masses, and on Christmas, New Year and even fiestas, I'd dare say the whole of the Philippines, wore their "pamburol," or the best in their wardrobe - new for most and if old,  always clean and well pressed. 

Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla once said "Sunday best has become a common expression of people who know the value of the Sunday celebration and so those who pride themselves on self-respect choose the best for the Lord. I am not very sure now whether that passage in the Gospel where an invited guest was thrown out because he was not dressed properly, is applicable here. It seems it is," he added.

When in comes to jewelery, most churches, globally and locally, do not mention it in their dress codes.

Maybe that's because jewelery, especially for women, is part of fashion accessories;  even priests wear gold bracelets.

Wearing jewelery in churches is as normal as wearing wrist watches and is not obtrusive or a show off.

Present day Philippine church congregation

Personally,  I don't find it a distraction and I don't see them as an untoward act in their worship.

Showing a lot of skin for women is definitely a no no. But asking women or forbidding them not to wear an earring or a bangle or make up is also a no no.

I remember seeing a Lino Brocka film where two "manangs," or church ladies, instead of focusing on the liturgy, were whispering to each other about the high heeled shoes of the women who were kneeling at the front pew.

To continually intone on proper dressing is a distraction in itself and quite alienating. The low key approach - posting visuals at the church door showing the dress code could work better.