My Pope Philippines – August 2018

Traditions

don’t go to the office in shorts or

wear jeans when the invitation

to an event says black tie. Most

children wear uniforms in

school. The dress code is there

to set a tone, enhance the sense

of community, and put us in a

certain state of mind. In church,

it is pretty much the same. We

are there to worship and

honor the Lord, thus

some propriety

and dignity

are called for.

Local dress

codes vary. Is

there something

universal that

we can all agree

on?

Perhaps it is

best to take our

cue from the

Vatican, which

has rules for

those who wish

to see the Pope.

This includes

long pants for

men and covering

the knees for

women, while both

are encouraged to

wear short-sleeved

shirts at the very

least. Before entering a church,

think to yourself, “Would Lolo

Kiko approve?” While that’s a

personal judgment call, don’t be

surprised if an usher throws a

shawl over you, depending on

your attire.

Has the dress code changed

over the years?

Yes, and believe it or not, we

have it better than ever before.

An extreme example appears

in Leviticus 19:19, where the

Lord commanded, “Do not

wear clothing woven of two

kinds of material.” But don’t

worry, your cotton polyester-

blend shirts are fine now. And

remember, just a little over 50

years ago, women still had to

wear dresses and veils inside a

church! While the dress code

is certainly more lenient today,

it is still important to respect

the community’s standards

of decency and dress with

modesty, discretion, and

dignity. There’s a reason for

the expression “Dress in your

Sunday best.”

What about weddings? Are

there rules for the bride?

The “rules,” such as having a

white gown, aren’t really set,

but there are some traditions

like this that are nice to keep

alive. Some churches are

stricter than others when

imposing dress codes, such

as the amount of shoulder or

skin you can leave bare.

A former bridal

magazine editor

weighs in: “What

couples tend to

forget during

the high and

rush of wedding

planning is

that marriage

is a sacrament,

and that a bride’s

dream gown may

not necessarily be

fit for the solemnity

and dignity of this

momentous occasion. But there

are so many beautiful gowns

that suit the requirements of

the church—as well as stylish

cover-ups that will do the trick

in case a design doesn’t. And

a bride—should she wish to—

can actually have a second big

reveal when she wears the more

party-ready version of her gown

at the reception.”

O

n social media, it’s easy

to believe that Filipinos

love to dress up; just

scroll through your feed and

count how many Outfit Of The

Day posts pop up. But step into

any church and you’ll see how so

many seem to take proper attire

for granted. Don’t get us

wrong, we’re not asking

you to come dressed

to the nines, only in

appropriate clothing

that is suited to this holy

occasion: the celebration

of the Eucharist. My

Pope explains why a

dress code in church

makes absolute sense.

Is a dress code at

church still relevant today?

Dress codes serve many

functions in society; most of us

The times they are a-changin’, but what about the dress

code for church? Here’s what you need to know.

by Pierre Calasanz

BEST

SUNDAY

A Little Respect No need to

hear Mass decked out in the

very best your closet has to

offer, but be sure to come in

appropriate clothing like an

OOTD that Lolo Kiko would

approve of.

Prior to Vatican II,

women had to wear

veils to Mass, so the

dress code today is

more relaxed!

PHOTOS FROM GETTY IMAGES, INSTAGRAM (CARAMIAELENAKATARINAKRISTINA), AND PEXELS.

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