2 questions on Mass

[a83192]

First, Do priest still wear a surplice when not celebrating Mass but doing another liturgical function like baptism in the OF form? I am asking because in the EF form priests wear a surplice over the cassock when administering Baptism. What is the status of the surplice in the Church today?

What is more popular for altar servers today? cassock and surplices or the alb?

 

[Spencerian]

First, Do priest still wear a surplice when not celebrating Mass but doing another liturgical function like baptism in the OF form? I am asking because in the EF form priests wear a surplice over the cassock when administering Baptism. What is the status of the surplice in the Church today?

What is more popular for altar servers today? cassock and surplices or the alb?

Hi.

Based on my research from the Catholic Encyclopedia, the surplice, even at the start of the 19th Century, before the 2nd Vatican Council, became more used as the liturgical dress for lower clergy, particularly during the administering of most Sacraments (the Eucharist being the exception; the celibrant is to wear the chasuble, too). I note that surplices appear to be the norm in papal Masses for attending but non-celebrant priests there.

While the alb is typically worn under the chasuble, it seems that a surplice is also allowed.

I’ve seen altar servers at my parish wear the surplice, while I’ve seen the priest wear both alb and surplice depending on the instance.

Some newer priests are getting back into wearing the cassock as a normal daily wardrobe. I think this is most awesome, although my enjoyment of “The Matrix” movies is heavily influencing my appreciation of them.

 

[Pregustator]

Roman Catholic priests–regardless of whether they typically celebrate Mass according to it’s ordinary or extraordinary form–are meant to wear the surplice over the cassock when in choir, or when administering the sacraments (in that case, with a stole). The surplice is worn only when a cassock is worn, however.

Priests are not obliged, though, to wear the cassock. They may wear an alb, instead, in which case a surplice would not be called for.

 

[Spencerian]

Roman Catholic priests–regardless of whether they typically celebrate Mass according to it’s ordinary or extraordinary form–are meant to wear the surplice over the cassock when in choir, or when administering the sacraments (in that case, with a stole). The surplice is worn only when a cassock is worn, however.

Priests are not obliged, though, to wear the cassock. They may wear an alb, instead, in which case a surplice would not be called for.

That makes more sense, as I didn’t remember until now that the papal Masses have priests with only cassocks. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[diggerdomer]

First, Do priest still wear a surplice when not celebrating Mass but doing another liturgical function like baptism in the OF form? I am asking because in the EF form priests wear a surplice over the cassock when administering Baptism. What is the status of the surplice in the Church today?

What is more popular for altar servers today? cassock and surplices or the alb?

Depends on the individual church, priest, server, etc.