This week on the Raised Catholic podcast, we're considering God’s take on 'appropriate clothing' to be worn at mass while I tell the story of my unfortunate recent engagement on an Instagram post. I hope this episode blesses (and relieves) you!
If you were born and raised Catholic, you may have heard in a homily or read in a church bulletin all about ‘approved’ and ‘taboo’ clothing items for mass. Lately, this topic has had a resurgence as so-called traditional Catholic culture-warriors have had us looking far more to the aesthetics of a church service than, you know, service to our sisters and brothers.
But if there is such a thing as a dress code for church that has the stamp of approval of the early church, I guess you’d have to say it could be found in Colossians 3:12. Paul says,
“As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
I don’t see a single reference to spaghetti straps or skirt length or sports uniforms anywhere in the New Testament, but I do see a whole lot of Jesus drawing close to the outcasts of His day, without the slightest bit of regard for what they were wearing. Working on clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience should keep us busy enough that what ‘other’ people wear to mass falls very far down on our list of priorities. Now that I think of it, clothing ourselves properly in this way is really the work of a lifetime.
Listen to Raised Catholic ep. 166: Church Clothes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts (or read the transcript) and then come on back here to tell your best ‘church clothes’ story in the comments. I bet you have one and you know I’d love to hear it, see you there!