Angelic Warfare Confraternity Cord

[ohsnapitslennon]

I apologize ahead of time if this is not the proper section for this. Moderator, please excuse my double posting. Please delete the other tread.

Is it possible that I may make my own cord? It will have 15 knots, but my cord will be different.

The book of Numbers says:

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: Throughout the generations to come, you are to make tassels on the corners of one’s garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all My commands, and will be consecrated to your God. I am the Lord your God.’”(15:37-41)

I believe that this cord given to St. Thomas Aquinas is a “continuation” of the tassels spoken about in Numbers. To remind ourselves not not fall into sexual sin. Would it be okay to leave the ends of my cord on the sides, like a tassel, or to attach an actual tassel, to remember my Jewish roots as Catholic?

I know it would personally remind me not to lust, and I recognize that I have struggled with such an issue.

Would this be allowed? I have attached a picture of my cord hanging from my sides. I’d really like to keep them and I just know it will help me stop falling into sexual sin.

Thanks!

 

[StGerardMajella]

Would this be allowed? I have attached a picture of my cord hanging from my sides

The tassels to which you refer are called “tzitzit”, and are more commonly worn by Orthodox Jewish men. There are very specific rules and regulations on creating tzitzit in Jewish law, and as such, they are not typically made by a layperson unfamiliar with these rules and regulations.

The commandment to wear tzitzit is a commandment to the Hebrews in the Torah, not to Gentiles. The daily commandment is met by wearing a tzitzit shirt all day long either under one’s shirt (unexposed to the public), or outside one’s shirt. The commandment can also be achieved by wearing a prayer shawl with tzitzit during the morning Jewish prayer service (called “Shacharit”).

As Catholics, we are not obligated to wear tzitzit. Catholics, aside from the tassels worn by priests in liturgical vestments, do not generally wear tzitzit, unless one is a Hebrew Catholic wearing these as part of their Jewish heritage. A small number of Torah-observant Christians, though not typically Catholic, might also wear tzitzit, but these would be the minority.

A more Catholic alternative would be to wear a scapular, and carry a rosary, St. Benedict medal, and a Miraculous Medal in your pocket. You might also consider wearing a St. Benedict cross or Miraculous Medal as a chain necklace as reminders to avoid sin. You also might consider carrying a small Catholic Bible, Missal, or prayer book on your person as well.

 

[ohsnapitslennon]

The tassels to which you refer are called “tzitzit”, and are more commonly worn by Orthodox Jewish men. There are very specific rules and regulations on creating tzitzit in Jewish law, and as such, they are not typically made by a layperson unfamiliar with these rules and regulations.

The commandment to wear tzitzit is a commandment to the Hebrews in the Torah, not to Gentiles. The daily commandment is met by wearing a tzitzit shirt all day long either under one’s shirt (unexposed to the public), or outside one’s shirt. The commandment can also be achieved by wearing a prayer shawl with tzitzit during the morning Jewish prayer service (called “Shacharit”).

As Catholics, we are not obligated to wear tzitzit. Catholics, aside from the tassels worn by priests in liturgical vestments, do not generally wear tzitzit, unless one is a Hebrew Catholic wearing these as part of their Jewish heritage. A small number of Torah-observant Christians, though not typically Catholic, might also wear tzitzit, but these would be the minority.

A more Catholic alternative would be to wear a scapular, and carry a rosary, St. Benedict medal, and a Miraculous Medal in your pocket. You might also consider wearing a St. Benedict cross or Miraculous Medal as a chain necklace as reminders to avoid sin. You also might consider carrying a small Catholic Bible, Missal, or prayer book on your person as well.

We’ll see, I already do all that. Scapular, rosary, etc. I was just wondering if it was possible to attach one…it doesn’t have to be Jewish. My parish priest’s cincture has a tassel, and so do some of the altar servers. Although not an tzitzit, it is symbolic of the promise. I emailed the director of the confraternity requesting permission, though.

I mean, I have Jewish roots. I know as Catholics we aren’t obligated to do anything ceremonial int the OT. Just wanted to see your opinion thanks

I also want to use it as a way to get people talking about chastity at school. I am a teenager and hang around a lot of…boys that are…well you know where I am going.

Thanks!

 

[ohsnapitslennon]

The tassels to which you refer are called “tzitzit”, and are more commonly worn by Orthodox Jewish men. There are very specific rules and regulations on creating tzitzit in Jewish law, and as such, they are not typically made by a layperson unfamiliar with these rules and regulations.

The commandment to wear tzitzit is a commandment to the Hebrews in the Torah, not to Gentiles. The daily commandment is met by wearing a tzitzit shirt all day long either under one’s shirt (unexposed to the public), or outside one’s shirt. The commandment can also be achieved by wearing a prayer shawl with tzitzit during the morning Jewish prayer service (called “Shacharit”).

As Catholics, we are not obligated to wear tzitzit. Catholics, aside from the tassels worn by priests in liturgical vestments, do not generally wear tzitzit, unless one is a Hebrew Catholic wearing these as part of their Jewish heritage. A small number of Torah-observant Christians, though not typically Catholic, might also wear tzitzit, but these would be the minority.

A more Catholic alternative would be to wear a scapular, and carry a rosary, St. Benedict medal, and a Miraculous Medal in your pocket. You might also consider wearing a St. Benedict cross or Miraculous Medal as a chain necklace as reminders to avoid sin. You also might consider carrying a small Catholic Bible, Missal, or prayer book on your person as well.

Just to clarify, I am not a Jewish convert…some family was Jewish a while back.

 

[StGerardMajella]

Unless you are seriously considering converting to Judaism, the most traditional, conservative advice would be to refrain from wearing tzitzit in public for any number of reasons.

First, it could be offensive to those of the Jewish faith, even antagonizing, as the Jewish faith places special religious meaning to wearing tzitzit. (By comparison, if you saw a holy relic being sold on Ebay, you would find this offensive to your Catholic faith.)

Secondly, if your objective is to encourage chastity, Catholics would not wear tzitzit to encourage others to avoid sin. The Catholic “reminders” to avoid sin I have already mentioned - the Rosary, etc.

Your best best would be to lead by example, encourage young men to attend regular confession, and start a prayer group that says the Rosary daily to encourage chastity.

While you may have some distant Jewish ancestry, if you are not a practicing Orthodox Jew nor a potential convert, you would run into dangers - spiritual and social - in wearing tzitzit in public.

 

[ohsnapitslennon]

Unless you are seriously considering converting to Judaism, the most traditional, conservative advice would be to refrain from wearing tzitzit in public for any number of reasons.

First, it could be offensive to those of the Jewish faith, even antagonizing, as the Jewish faith places special religious meaning to wearing tzitzit. (By comparison, if you saw a holy relic being sold on Ebay, you would find this offensive to your Catholic faith.)

Secondly, if your objective is to encourage chastity, Catholics would not wear tzitzit to encourage others to avoid sin. The Catholic “reminders” to avoid sin I have already mentioned - the Rosary, etc.

Your best best would be to lead by example, encourage young men to attend regular confession, and start a prayer group that says the Rosary daily to encourage chastity.

While you may have some distant Jewish ancestry, if you are not a practicing Orthodox Jew nor a potential convert, you would run into dangers - spiritual and social - in wearing tzitzit in public.

Very true. We’ll see what the director says about it.

 

[St_Francis]

He is planning to wear a cord which is an option under the Confraternity of Angelic Warfare (the other option is a medal).

I think asking the Confraternity is the best solution How wonderful you found this, and thank you for sharing the information!

 

[ohsnapitslennon]

He is planning to wear a cord which is an option under the Confraternity of Angelic Warfare (the other option is a medal).

I think asking the Confraternity is the best solution How wonderful you found this, and thank you for sharing the information!

I am planning on wearing the cord who knows…next step may be the Dominican habit

Long story short, when I was in 3rd grade, I wanted St, Thomas the Apostle as my confirmation saint, but for some reason (I either didn’t specify on my sheet which Thomas, or I enjoyed Thomas Aquinas) I ended up with a certificate stating I was “Lennon Thomas Aquinas Audrain”. I promised my aunt, who was my confirmation sponsor, that I would take the name of her parish (Thomas the Apostle)

Funny how things work out. Four years later Dominjcan sisters started teaching at my school, and apparently my confirmation saint has this wonderful confraternity.

My priest said it very nicely: “we don’t choose the saints, the saints choose us”

God Bless