A brief but powerful video on the reasons why we should dress respectfully for Mass is a refreshing reminder of the extraordinary nature of the Mass and the special encounter that awaits us every time we participate.

Filmed by Eric Coughlin, cinematographer and owner of Two Sense Films, the four minute video features everyday parishioners getting ready for Mass and explaining why they’re taking the time to don a dress or put on a shirt and tie

“The way we dress for mass shows our respect for God in a lot of ways,” says Trevor Stefansky, a parishioner at Incarnation Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida. “When you dress for a funeral you dress to show mourning. When you’re going out on a date, you dress to impress someone.”

“And so our dress, by dressing in an extraordinary way, communicates that this event is special. This event is different,” says Brandon Vogt of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Parish in Orlando.

“Our preparation for mass begins at home,” adds Father Justin Paskert, Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Magdalen, “and so I think that is ultimately reflected when we get to the celebration of Mass itself.”

Coughlin, who describes himself as a “tech geek”, is a former homeschooler and graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville. He founded his film company in 2011 and has produced several moving documentaries on the Tridentine Mass and What It Means to be an Altar Server as well as filming the Immaculate Heart of Mary Conferences and local homeschooling events.

This particular video is scripted to appeal to Catholics of all ages, young and old, and is produced in a down-to-earth style that gets the message across without being preachy.

Check it out – and share it liberally!