Our priest told us not to wear halter tops and shorts to
Mass on Sunday. Why is this wrong? God knows how we look, since He made us
without any clothes at all.
We Americans are extremely informal and casual. However, none of us would attend a white-tie White House dinner dressed immodestly or too casually. Male Congressman are required to wear ties and coats when in Congress. Better restaurants and stores often make certain dress demands not only on their employees but also on their customers. Mass is an encounter with the risen Lord himself. God surely knows how you look with few or no clothes on. But, the people at Mass with you do not know and generally do not care to know. It is distracting and insulting to them, to the priest and to the Lord to be dressed immodestly or improperly for Mass. I am siding with you r priest on this matter. If you do not have any other clothes to wear, it is better to attend Mass with your shorts and halter top than not. However, it is hard to believe that you do not have better clothes. Wear your shorts and halter top at the swimming pool or in your garden. At Mass on Sunday wear your "Sunday best" for the Lord.
Reprinted from July 3, 1998
In attending Mass in churches outside the Diocese of Lincoln, I have noticed
that the bread at Mass sometimes seems to be dark and heavy. Is this allowed?
In the Latin rite of the Catholic Church the only ingredients permitted in the altar breads which will be consecrated at Mass are wheat flour and water. The wheat flour may be whole or refined. It is illicit (illegal) to use any other ingredients and it would be seriously sinful for a priest to knowingly permit such an abuse. If more than half the liquid were not water (for instance, eggs, molasses, shortening, etc.) or if more than hallf the flour were not wheat flour, the Eucharist offered would not only be illicit but also invalid. In other words, it would truly not be a Mass at all. To knowingly worship an invalid Eucharist would be a sin of idolatry.
Reprinted from July 17, 1998
At a recent wedding Mass celebrated at 7:00 p.m., the priest told the people that the Mass did not count for Sunday, because the wedding Mass did not count for Sunday, because the wedding Mass did not include the Gloria, the Sunday readings, and the Creed. I was under the impression that any Mass after 4:00 p.m. on Saturday counted for Sunday. Who is right here?
You did not say if this happened in the Diocese of Lincoln or elsewhere. Bishops have the option of permitting Saturday evening Masses to fulfill the Sunday obligations of the faithful and so it is in this diocese. However, it could be different in another place. If the local bishop permits wedding Masses at the time indicated and also permits anticipated Sunday Masses on Saturday evening, it is difficult for me to see how the priest could declare which of the Saturday evening Masses "count for Sunday" and which do not. Of course, perhaps not legally but liturgically speaking, the priest is correct and, I would imagine, a sincere Catholic would not want his Sunday Mass to be merely be fulfilling a legal obligation, but also to be a genuine liturgical encounter with the Risen Lord.
Reprinted from February 27, 1998
Are the words used in the singing of a Polk Mass liturgically acceptable?
If the words are being sung as part of the Mass text, they must be in accord with what is in the missal or sacramentary. If they are part of a hymn, they must be orthodox and appropriate for the time and place of Mass. I suggest you talk to your parish priest if you have any doubts or questions about the suitability of the words.
Reprinted from March 27, 1998
Is it a sin to
miss Mass on Ash Wednesday?
No, it's not a sin.
Reprinted from March 27, 1998