Does the Church have a Dress Code for Mass?

by Admin · October 7, 2025

Question: I find that reverence is lacking in Mass, especially in the way people dress. Young girls come to Mass with skimpy clothing, grown women with bare shoulders, and men as if they have just come from the beach with shorts and flip-flops. Is there a Church rule on appropriate dress for Mass?

Answer: The Catholic Church does not have a universal dress code for attending Mass — necessarily so, given the diversity of cultural and moral norms within the global Church.

However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “bodily demeanour — gestures, clothing — ought to convey the respect, solemnity and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest” (1387).

Over the past five decades or so, there has been a shift towards more casual attire at Mass. Once, the “Sunday best” was the norm. In the 1920s, a lively debate in The Southern Cross even focused on the “immodesty” of women who dared to bare their ankles. Today, sartorial attitudes have relaxed across society, including at weddings, funerals and even in business settings. As you note, in some cases, dress standards at Mass may seem overly loose.

In short, dress norms are shaped by the fashions, culture and climate of a particular place. Still, parishioners may sometimes forget that they are participating in solemn worship in a holy place. Advocating for modesty in dress at Mass therefore is not wrong — but how should such modesty be defined?

In the Holy Land and Rome, many churches enforce dress codes: no sleeveless tops, nor shorts, skirts or dresses above the knee. These basic standards could be adopted in parishes where attire is a concern.

That said, even when dress codes are posted, the spirit of the Mass is not served by zealous “attire enforcers” turning people away. A dress code should be a guideline, not the law. We should rejoice when a teenager comes to Mass — even if her dress is too short — rather than reprimanding her for failing to meet our expectations.

There is another issue at play: The Mass etiquette debate risks focusing on external matters, when in fact it is our interior state that is far more important — and one’s interior state cannot be judged by appearance.

We must guard against judgment, which can lead us into sin (Matthew 7:1-5), and we must always show charity to those who may see dress norms differently. Conversely, people should also be mindful of how their dress might trouble other congregants.

(Günther Simmermacher)

Published in the August 2025 issue of The Southern Cross magazine