Photo by Alison Girone
A priest in Ohio recently offered an explanation on why Catholics should consider dressing with care and reverence when attending church, not just for Mass, but for any occasion in the sacred space.
In a published response in The Catholic Times, Fr. Paul J. Keller, OP, STD, addressed a family of former Mormons who recently joined the Catholic Church and were curious about whether dressing up for Mass is still necessary, especially when so many others now attend dressed informally, and sometimes even immodestly.
“Dressing up for church is important,” Fr. Keller affirmed. “Notice that I say ‘church’ and not just ‘Mass.’ That’s because there are other church services besides Mass, such as Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, baptisms, weddings, going to confession, and more.”
He said that what we wear to church should reflect the reality that we are coming before God. Citing the Catechism, Fr. Keller explained that our outward conduct — including how we dress — should express the reverence due to such a sacred encounter: “Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest” (CCC 1387).
Even when one cannot afford expensive clothing, Fr. Keller noted, it is still possible to dress tastefully and modestly.
“God is not impressed by how much we spend on clothing or hairdos,” he said. “He is honored when we try to show respect for him and his house.”
At the core of his explanation is the idea that how we dress is an “external sign of what we believe interiorly.”
“Dressing appropriately is a crucial way to show our respect for God and the sacraments, most especially the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,” Fr. Keller wrote. “The Mass and sacraments are sacred gifts from God, and the Eucharist is the very presence of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
He pushed back on the popular sentiment to “come as you are,” explaining that while God sees the heart, the human body also matters.
“We are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that includes our bodies and souls,” he wrote.
Fr. Keller noted that our appearance at church isn’t just about tradition but about offering something intentional to God.
“God sees everything, including our efforts to offer him the best we have,” he said. “He sees our heart, and one way we express what is in our heart [is] by what we wear.”
