"Why regulate our dresses?" "Can we not wear what we want? God will understand!" "How could you dictate what is decent and what is not?" These are some of the reactions and question of some mass goers in our parish after we announced that we will implement a dress code next month. When I and the Dress Code Committee met, we anticipated those questions. We know that it be hard to set a standard for it. But we know too that there is a need to regulate what people wear in the church. Some parishioners had already made complaints about some people who were very indecent in their dresses. Maybe some think that they can just wear anything in church. But we believe that dressing is part of Christian responsibility and discipline.
So what is in a dress? Why dress up and why wear specific dresses for the occasion? In the first place, all of us were born without dresses. But because we belong to a society which requires a certain level and manner of dressing, we abide by it. That alone already limits our freedom about what we may or may not wear. But still, dressing up has its more relevant and important reason. It was not just done for the sake of doing it. We dress up because of respect. How we look is our expression of our regard for the people we meet. The more dignified is the person, the more we dress up. I believe that we feel respected when we meet people who are aptly dressed. We feel somewhat insulted when people face us poorly and improperly dressed. Somehow, the way we are dressed affect the way we will relate. Dresses may not be a perfect reflection of our inner self, but it does communicate who we are, in a way. If we are invited to an important function, say to meet the president or receive an award, we dress up. If you will go to Malacanang in maong pants to meet the president, I am sure you will not be allowed no matter how important is your business. Without saying any word, you have already disrespected the president. (I assume here that the person involved has a capacity to dress up. Farmers are, of course, are exempted because they are limited in their capacity to dress up.)
But our everyday affairs will also tell us the importance of proper dressing. Functions and activities have their own requirements so that people who will join these activities can participate better. In sports, you have a uniform from head to foot in order to perform well. You do not wear a barong or a tuxedo to run, jump or compete in these activities. You will not only be out of place, but it will be hard for you to perform well. In the same manner, you do not wear a bikini or swimming trunks in gala parties. You will be under dressed and may be a sore thumb in the midst of everyone. We dress up. We try to fit ourselves in those occasions not only physically and mentally, but also externally.
This brings us to the mass. It is the summit of Catholic worship. There we meet fellow Catholics and the Lord. The Lord is present in the community, in the Word, in the priest, and par excellence, mismo, in the Eucharist. In the mass, no less than the Lord is the host. How should we dress before Him? The Lord will understand? I think, He will not understand if we know we could have appeared before Him better dressed. That is why we are encouraged to be in our Sunday's best. It is not necessarily the best dress that we have but the best as far as worshipping is concerned. Here will come in our best judgment. If we are not sure, we should not be ashamed to ask others or be willing to be guided by authorities. This is not discriminatory nor oppressive. It is encouraging and challenging everyone to show respect and give the best for the occasion. In this case, the Mass.
My prayer is that people will be open and concerned. Other religions had been known to be particular about their dresses in times of worship. The dress might not be the reason why one will be saved or not, but it certainly will reflect the level of maturity and religiosity of a believer. It is not different for us Catholics. We must show to others and to our God that we have a sense of respect. And we can begin by being dressed for the occasion.
(See also the following relevant websites; http://www.rcam.org/liturgical_news/2007/proper_attire_in_church_posters.htm and http://www.rcam.org/liturgical)news/proper_attire.htm)
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