Men and Women: What Should They Wear to Church?

My dear brothers,

Today we celebrate God in three equal and distinct persons.

One day, a little boy in catechism class asked:

— Father, where is the Holy Trinity?

And the priest replied:

— My child, the Holy Trinity is in heaven, on earth, everywhere, but especially in your soul since your baptism. It is in your soul.

Then the little boy asked:

— What? In my soul there are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?

Yes, in your soul live the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as long as you are in a state of grace.

This is a very important reality that we must reflect on. And St. Paul draws a very concrete and practical conclusion from it: we must respect our bodies, because our bodies are temples of the Holy Trinity.

We can even go further and say that, since we must respect our bodies, we must also take care to dress them well. Yes, clothing is a sign of respect.

That is why today I would like to say a few words about how to dress, not for everyday wear, but especially when going to mass on Sunday, because going to mass on Sunday is not a trivial act.

First, we'll look at how men and women should dress. Then, we'll focus specifically on women's clothing. Finally, we'll try to address the objection regarding climate change.

The Appropriate Attire for the House of God

It is important to understand that the Mass is the greatest act that can exist on earth. When we attend Mass, we witness the renewal of the sacrifice of Calvary on Good Friday. It is the second Person of the Holy Trinity who dies on the cross for us.

There is nothing greater we can do than witness this renewal. It is an act of infinite grandeur. That is why our behavior must adapt to this immensity, to this infinity of the act we are witnessing.

This act generally takes place not in just any building, but in a church. The church is the house of God. It was built specifically for this purpose. When one enters the church and sees on the altar the tabernacle covered with a canopy, that fabric of the liturgical color—today white—and when one also sees the small red light shining beside the altar, one knows that Jesus Christ is truly and substantially present.

We are in the house of God, not in the house of a mere creature. That is why we must adapt and tell ourselves: I must behave accordingly, with immense respect for God who is present. That is why we do not dress for Mass on Sunday as we dress for grocery shopping, cycling, or mowing the lawn. We are performing an act of infinite grandeur.

Here in Écône, there's a Mass every weekday morning at six o'clock. There are admirable fathers who come to this Mass in their work clothes before going to work because they're going to the workshop immediately afterward. That's perfectly understandable. But Sunday is different. On Sundays, we don't work in the workshop. Sunday is the Lord's Day. That's why we dress with such special care.

Many Swiss banks impose a very strict dress code on employees who interact with clients: jacket and tie for men, suit for women, closed, black, and classic shoes. And for Sunday mass, the requirements are less stringent?

It's strange. The bank is the temple of money and finance; the church is the temple of Jesus Christ. Which of the two buildings deserves more respect? Dressing better for work in a bank than for going to Mass might perhaps reflect a greater veneration for money than for Jesus Christ. That would be unfortunate.

If a bank employee comes to work in a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, he'll be asked to leave. Is it acceptable for a man to come to Sunday Mass dressed like that? It's an outfit unsuitable for the house of God. And this rule applies to both men and women.

Christian Modesty 

For women, however, an additional consideration must be formulated based on this saying of Our Lord: "He who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

A woman who dresses provocatively, revealing part of her body, risks causing sin in those who look at her. The man will commit the sin, of course, but the woman will bear a share of the responsibility.

A parish priest once said to his parishioners: "Ladies, your clothing: the top is too low and the bottom is too high."

Little Jacinta of Fatima reported these words of Our Lady: "The sins that lead the most souls to hell are sins of the flesh. Fashions will come that will greatly offend Our Lord. People who serve God must not follow fashion."

When you read about Padre Pio's life, it's impressive. He, who was immensely charitable, was strict with people who were improperly dressed and entered the church. One day, seeing a woman approach the confessional in a skirt that was too short, he simply told her: "Out!"

The holy Curé of Ars acted in the same way. He could not bear to see anyone enter the church dressed in a sloppy or immodest manner.

All these holy priests were strict because they loved Jesus Christ. It pained them to see disrespect shown to Our Lord. Of course, there are also lax priests who never say anything. But we have these holy priests like Padre Pio and the Curé of Ars as our models.

One day, a priest sat down on a train. Opposite him sat a young woman wearing a dress. It was summer. This young woman, who was a good Catholic, noticed with embarrassment that her dress was a little too short. Quite self-conscious, especially in the priest's presence, she discreetly tried to lengthen it with her hands. The priest, who had a sense of humor, said to her, "Miss, there's no point in pulling. What you gain at the bottom, you lose at the top."

However, one should not think that dressing modestly means dressing ugly. On the contrary. God does not love ugliness. Nor does He love ridiculous clothing. He does not ask us to dress like in the 19th century. God loves beauty, purity, and elegance.

Let us look at the Blessed Virgin when she appears at Fatima, Lourdes, La Salette, or Pontmain: a ravishing and very modest robe. Mary conceals her body to better reveal to us the radiant beauty of her soul. The immodest woman, on the contrary, displays her body and thus hides her soul.

It is deeply degrading for a human being to place more importance on their body than on their soul. On our last day, we will be judged not only for our own actions, but also for those we have incited in others. Those who set a good example will be rewarded for the good they have inspired. Those who cause sin will have to answer for the bad example they have set. Clothing is never morally neutral: it either elevates or degrades; it either ennobles or debases.

Christian Sacrifice 

Some will object that summer is coming and, with global warming, it will be very hot. Wearing light clothing is more pleasant, especially when the church isn't air-conditioned. That's true. But for a Christian, what is most comfortable is not their primary criterion. Their primary criterion is the will of God.

In the Christian life, sacrifices are sometimes necessary. Yes, it is a sacrifice to wear beautiful and modest clothing when it is very hot. Our Lord told us: "If anyone wants to be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me."

Let's consider the bishops. On July 1st, it will likely be very hot. Yet they will wear their cassocks, amices, albs, tunics, and chasubles, sometimes heavy and richly adorned. They will sweat profusely. Why? Out of respect for Jesus Christ. Dressing well is a sign of respect for the person before us.

One might also say, "Isn't giving a whole sermon on clothing a minor detail?" No doubt there are higher issues. But the Christian life is made up of acts of love for God, and these acts are realized in the small things of everyday life.

In the morning, while getting dressed, we can say to ourselves: "I'm going to choose this outfit rather than another because it's Sunday and it will please God." That's the Christian life: small renunciations, small acts of love, accomplished in very concrete things.

In conclusion, I would like to offer you one last piece of advice: have a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the one who teaches us how to dress well. People with a profound Marian devotion dress with modesty, purity, and beauty.

Why? Because it teaches us humility. It teaches us not to become defensive when someone makes a remark, but to be receptive. Above all, it teaches us the love of God. It also teaches us freedom. Because, in this area, we are sometimes slaves: slaves to fashion, to the opinions of others, to advertising, to social media, or to our own vanity.

The Blessed Virgin teaches us to ask ourselves first and foremost: "What will God think of me?" That is what matters.

Let us remember, therefore, that we are temples of the Holy Trinity and that, if we are in a state of grace, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit live in us.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.