The "dog days of summer" seem to already be here.  As I write this pastor's column, the temperature is already 90 degrees outside with a heat index of 99 degrees, and it's not even noon yet!

O course, there are a number of things that occur differently during the summer months at home and at church.  One of these has to do with the clothes we wear.  Recently, someone handed me a bulletin from another church and pointed out what it said about "proper" dress when coming to church.  "Church attire should not distract others and reflect an interior attitude."  It goes on to say that our dress, our demeanor, our discipline ought to speak of our recognition of the sacredness of what we do (the Mass) and manifest a genuine respect for Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

I have heard it said that how we choose to dress for church (in every season) should be likened to how we would dress to meet a great dignitary in the field of religion, politics, entertainment etc., but magnified-because at every Mass we are meeting the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  I'm not writing on this subject because of anything someone has said to me about the way people dress when coming to Mass here, nor is it because of anything disrespectful that I have noticed in the way people dress.  I write so we can be thoughful about how we dress when coming to church during the summer months (and every month) and be sure that the "interior dress" of our minds and hearts is ready to give attentive and energetic praise and thanks to God, and hospitality to those who are worshiping with us-some of whom are looking for and/or need a friendly and kindly encounter.