Tuesday, July 03, 2007 Speak out: In defense of dress code in churches By Mia P. Rodriguez
“IN the Traditional Latin mass where the priest faces the altar, it should be of little concern if the Dress Code is upheld or violated by a spaghetti strap as the priest does not even see the congregation he has turned his back on.”
Correction: In the Traditional Latin (Tridentine) Mass (TLM), the priest does not turn his back to the congregation at all times. He faces the congregation several times and gives the Homily, as in the Novus Ordo, in the vernacular facing the people. Also, only priests give Communion (no “lay” extraordinary eucharistic ministers), so spaghetti straps and plunging necklines are at close-up range and definite no-no’s.
Please explain to Yaya that refraining from jeans and revealing clothes are our assistance to men (priests included), who just can’t stop themselves from looking which might lead to lustful thoughts - they end up committing sin at Mass! If one would never visit Malacanang or the White House scantily-clad or dressed in a duster, shouldn’t we care about our appearance even more when we meet Our Lord and His representatives?
The TLM is also not incomprehensible because in the Latin Missals, the English translation is printed right beside the Latin. The priest may also repeat the readings in the vernacular and hopefully, the Church will see fit to print the readings in the vernacular on Sunday bulletins as they do in Novus Ordo Masses.
I find it ironic that you wrote this article since you described yourself as a “soulless heathen,” haha. But I think you did a good job for the most part.
I hope you will experience the beauty of the TLM and that you don’t remain an AWOL Catholic. There is so much beauty in our faith, and like everything else, we need to know it to love it.
