Sunday, January 30, 2011

Mass Chat: Hats on or off in church?



No longer a big deal.
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This winter I have noticed men with hats on in church - even during Mass and while they receive communion.  The past couple of weeks I have noted three different adult men doing so.  One guy had a beret on backwards - which is always a cool look to be sure, he was with his wife and kids, all finely dressed.  Traditionally men tipped their hats to ladies, or when passing a church out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament, while etiquette dictated a gentleman always removes his hat indoors - especially when in church, or in the presence of someone/someplace holy, etc..
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Now it seems to me the men I've noticed doing the opposite should know this custom.  I only mention it because it surprised me.  I didn't much care, really.  I wasn't distracted but for a second in fact.  After all, it is winter and maybe these guys have that neuralgia disease Mother Delores Hart suffers from.  Or maybe they don't want to be seen with "hat hair" - although what's the difference between that and the ever popular "bed hair" look.  I can't tell the difference.
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Of course women were once obliged to cover their heads in church and now few do.  Again - not a big deal - although hats or scarves often look better than mantillas - in my opinion that is.  I hate mantillas worn with some out of date, worn and dirty ski jacket over a denim skirt hovering just above the tops of her Sorels.  But I digress.  I just find it interesting that men now wear hats in church and women rough it these days wearing nothing but hair-coloring on their pretty heads.  It's like a bit of role-reversal, gender confusion I think - very unconscious to be sure. 
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Of course priests and clerics wear birettas during Mass... and Knights of Columbus wear hats with maribou... but that's another Mass chat, isn't it. 

19 comments:

  1. In traditional Catholicism, the catechism teaches when Christ is taken down from the cross, and His resurrection and birth become more important than the death on the cross, among many other things, men become effeminate, and women be come masculine.

    I would hate to see what the modernists have on under their clothes if the outward signs are reversed…

    *

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  2. Father Joe12:16 PM

    I once asked an obvious non-Christian to remove his doo-rag for Mass. He wasn't happy but he did it.

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  3. How old were the men? Anyone under 30 has probably never heard of the 'no hats indoors' rule.

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  4. Angela, probably men under 50. I went to Mass today; no haircoloring, mantilla, babushka or hat.

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  5. I fall into the haircoloring group...

    But there has been times when I've arrived at Mass and reluctantly removed my fleece beanie...hat hair big time!!

    Sara

    P.S. I also know what Sorels are..I have black heavy duty steel toed one I use for mucking out stalls in winter...they sure do keep my feet warm!!

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  6. men should not be wearing hats in church. period.

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  7. men should not be wearing hats in church. period.

    Unless it's a beretta or mitre... :-)

    I bet Terry wears a sombrero on Cinqo de Mayo, though.

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  8. I'm always amazed that in 17th century art, men were always depicted hatless, but not without those funny "Cher" wigs.
    KofC wear their funny hats to Mass during special functions.
    Should priests be allowed to wear those gawd-awful toupees when saying mass?
    ...just some thoughts

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  9. My grandpa was a high-level K of C, and was very active, nut he never wore the suit with the "skunk hat".

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  10. clerics excepted, of course ... thanks larry. :)

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  11. Nan, I went last night - grown out roots, mantilla in the bottom of the drawer...I should be shot!

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  12. Anonymous10:03 PM

    In winter, I do wear a hat - summer, not so much. Never felt comfortable in one. Grey hair, no colouring -- and heaven forfend, it's short!!!

    Patricia Gonzalez

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  13. michael r.7:00 AM

    I don't think I have seen a hat worn by a man in church, EVER. Perhaps it is just my neck of the woods. Actually, I wish it were NOT as much of an issue. Since I have had two major brain surgeries, I can imagine that this is an issue for some people. I certainly don't want to cause distraction or draw attention to myself. So what does one do? Do you not go to Communion, or sit in the last pew, and leave first... For some months now, I'm not allowed to drive anyway, so I don't have to worry, but it is a concern.

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  14. Both men and women cover their heads at Shul.

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  15. +JMJ+

    Hi, Patricia, my friend! ;-)

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  16. Michael - I'm so happy you are doing well - I keep praying. Actually I thought of your situation in the case of one older man - older being in his 50's. But it wasn't that he was sick. However - in my opinion - if a man is in recovery from surgery or illness, wearing a hat is reasonable and no one's business.

    Actually, in the situations I witnessed, I didn't think it was any of my business, nor did it offend me - these guys weren't at Mass for me.

    I pretty much posted this just to see what people would say.

    Once many years ago I was at a downtown church for adoration. It was right around the time the Zeferelli film on Francis came out - Br. Sun Sr. Moon. A guy came in, took off every stitch of clothing and prostrated himself on the floor. I didn't look but saw enough from my peripheral vision. He was fat.

    Anyway - old ladies in church were gasping and tsk-ing and clearing their throats as if someone should do something about him. Like me. He was right next to my pew up fron in the middle aisle, but I just kept praying my rosary - trying not to laugh. Within minutes a sacristan hurried out, covered him up and a minute later the police were there escorting him out of the church. I just kept vigil.

    Later the sacristan, a little indignant, asked me why I didn't do anything and I told him, "He wasn't bothering anyone. Anyway - I knew someone would call you out to take care of things." There was a phone in the vestibule and any of the church ladies could have used it - and obviously one had.

    So you see, I honestly do not care what people wear to Mass. Except for doilies and sashes - one is a fashion thing, the other is for the ushers to take care of. LOL!

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  17. +JMJ+

    Terry, you had me at . . . "He was fat."

    And you're right: he wasn't bothering anyone. =P The throat-clearing, fake-coughing ladies were probably more of a nuisance than he was.

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  18. LOL! I knew someone would pick up on that. Remember fat naked guy on "Friends"?

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  19. I knew you posted this just to get a reaction ... :)

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