I think we should also propose another Catholic saying "lex clothing orandi lex credendi" (Apologies, i don't know enough latin). i.e The law of wearing clothes for prayer affects your beliefs about God
Some of us would probably have read about the dresscode debate within the Catholic Church. If you have not, you can read an exercpt here.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_631895.html
http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5570%3Areaders-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&catid=263%3Afebruary-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&Itemid=79#comment-472
One may ask why are people spilling so much ink over this. Actually, from a theological/sociological perspective, that makes a lot of sense. Clothing is always culturally symbolic and never neutral. Gandhi wore homespun clothing. Do you think he did it without any intention?
Likewise how we dress for mass will necessarily have symoblic and even theological meaning whether we are conscious of it or not. If a middle class family decides to "just happen" to put on whatever is available at the moment i.e shorts, t-shirt and slippers, they may not consciously intend to make a statement but they do bring a certain attitude to worship. (what that really is, only they know themselves)
I also notice a bit of an irony when i read these debates. We are told very often in homilies, especially in the Post-Conciliar Church after the Second Vatican Council that the Mass should not be a privatised devotion but should spur us on to care for and notice our neighbor.
And sometimes, clergy do that by getting (during mass!) people to shake hands with the person next to you.
Those who wear the spaghetti straps and flip flops et al will like it but those who wear mantillas etc will cringe. (i am generalisng and being ironic here)
But suddenly when it comes to dress code, i have noticed that those who defend the spaghetti strapprs etc or the spaghetti strappers themselves will say when they are challenged that they come to Church "only for God" and hence my dressing is God's business and none of my neighbour's business. If a guy stumbles because of my spaghetti strap, than it is his problem not mine. Also if by your flipflops and bermudas and singlets cause the little ones i.e children to have less reverence for a place of worship, and form the impression that attending Mass is no big deal, its the children's problem not mine.
You can't have it both ways. Either the Mass is a purely private deovtion, then everybody can wear what they want i.e including mantillas or spaghetti straps etc and receive Holy communion kneeling on the tongue without being refused and also with the words on your clothing "F*ck You God" without being refused since every one relates to God in their own way.
Or the Mass is necessarily a communal sacrifice, a communal and public act of worship.
Which means all the ten commandments apply when one is in Church.
Which also means, that all the relevant litrugical norms ought to be followed.
We go for mass among other things, to ask God for the grace for the week and to help us love our neighbour better.It will be a tragedy and the greatest irony when going for mass becomes an occasion for sin and where the battle against sin has to begin right within the Sanctuary.
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