Are readers required to wear vestments in some countries?

[John_Lilburne]

Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, wrote an article on 12 June 2015 in the Italian edition of L’Osservatore Romano. It has been translated, at catholicworldreport.com/Item/3947/silent_action_of_the_heart.aspx , and includes:

“In this regard it is deplorable that the sanctuary in our churches is not a place strictly reserved for divine worship, that people enter it in worldly garb, and that the sacred space is not clearly delimited by the architecture. Since, as the Council teaches, Christ is present in His word when it is proclaimed, it is likewise harmful that lectors do not have proper attire that shows that they are not pronouncing human words but a divine word.”

In the General Instruction of the Roman Missal approved for the USA, it has:

“339. In the Dioceses of the United States of America, acolytes, altar servers, readers, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other appropriate and dignified clothing.”

In the GIRM approved for Australia, England and Wales, and Scotland it has:

“339. Acolytes, lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture that is lawfully approved by the Conference of Bishops (cf. no. 390).”

And: “390. It is up to the Conferences of Bishops to decide on the adaptations indicated in this General Instruction and in the Order of Mass and, once their decisions have been accorded the recognitio of the Apostolic See, to introduce them into the Missal itself. These adaptations include: …

· the materials for the altar and sacred furnishings, especially the sacred vessels, and also the materials, form, and colour of the liturgical vestments (cf. nos. 301, 326, 329, 339, 342-346).”

So these countries do not seem to have the approval for lay ministers to wear “other appropriate and dignified clothing” which the USA has.

So in these countries, are the lay ministers required to comply with the direction to wear vestments in the GIRM: “120. Once the people have gathered, the priest and ministers, clad in the sacred vestments, go in procession to the altar in this order: …”?

 

[Draper]

Cardinal Robert Sarah – “In this regard it is deplorable that the sanctuary in our churches is not a place strictly reserved for divine worship, that people enter it in worldly garb, and that the sacred space is not clearly delimited by the architecture. Since, as the Council teaches, Christ is present in His word when it is proclaimed, it is likewise harmful that lectors do not have proper attire that shows that they are not pronouncing human words but a divine word.”

I could suggest the cardinal is talking about immodest or otherwise improper garb as opposed to civilian clothing.

Reading from the OT and the NT epistles is properly the ministry of the layperson. I believe they should be dressed as laypersons.

 

[Phemie]

I could suggest the cardinal is talking about immodest or otherwise improper garb as opposed to civilian clothing.

Reading from the OT and the NT epistles is properly the ministry of the layperson. I believe they should be dressed as laypersons.

I don’t think that’s what he meant at all.

Since the alb is the garment of all the baptized, I’ve always been of the opinion that all adult minsters should wear one when in the sanctuary – and not a cheap, nightgown looking one with a hood like the child altar servers wear but a properly fitting one.

 

[Draper]

I don’t think that’s what he meant at all.

Since the alb is the garment of all the baptized, I’ve always been of the opinion that all adult minsters should wear one when in the sanctuary – and not a cheap, nightgown looking one with a hood like the child altar servers wear but a properly fitting one.

We’re all entitled to our opinions.

 

[GoGoDiego]

Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, wrote an article on 12 June 2015 in the Italian edition of L’Osservatore Romano. It has been translated, at catholicworldreport.com/Item/3947/silent_action_of_the_heart.aspx , and includes:

“In this regard it is deplorable that the sanctuary in our churches is not a place strictly reserved for divine worship, that people enter it in worldly garb, and that the sacred space is not clearly delimited by the architecture. Since, as the Council teaches, Christ is present in His word when it is proclaimed, it is likewise harmful that lectors do not have proper attire that shows that they are not pronouncing human words but a divine word.”

Cardinal Sarah has a point about that. But how dignified is dignified? Some lectors read the word wearing skirts, shorts and the like.

The decision for the vestments for lectors falls upon the Diocesan Bishop or the Parish Priest. Some lectors here wear a white blouse and a white skirt that reaches below the knees, others wear an alb that has a pin or design of the bible, signifying his/her office.

 

[Draper]

I was thinking about this question. Over 10 years ago we had a female reader at my parish. She was actually quite competent. Over time she started wearing an alb.

After awhile she was reading both the OT and NT epistle readings. Then she started wearing a “prayer scarf” (it was a priestly stole) with a matching cincture. Not cool.

Then she was allowed to lead communion services when no priest was available for Mass during the week – she had a lot of female supporters. Then “reflections” during Sunday Mass in place of homilies. That did it. People went to the bishop and she was told to stand down. She was not to be involved in any liturgical ministry.

She’s a fake priest now.

 

[G_S]

I was thinking about this question. Over 10 years ago we had a female reader at my parish. She was actually quite competent. Over time she started wearing an alb.

After awhile she was reading both the OT and NT epistle readings. Then she started wearing a “prayer scarf” (it was a priestly stole) with a matching cincture. Not cool.

Then she was allowed to lead communion services when no priest was available for Mass during the week – she had a lot of female supporters. Then “reflections” during Sunday Mass in place of homilies. That did it. People went to the bishop and she was told to stand down. She was not to be involved in any liturgical ministry.

She’s a fake priest now.

Corpus Christi, Rochester?

 

[G_S]

When Paul VI re-instituted the diaconate as a permanent order open to both celibate and married men, he issued on the same day the letter Ministeria Quaedam which eliminated the minor orders and established the “ministries” of Lector and Acolyte. These can be stable ministries but, since they are only open only to men, they are only practiced as steps towards ordination to the diaconate. I think but am not sure that the diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska has installed acolytes who serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. I am not aware of any other diocese that has them – except for men who are in diaconal formation. Men installed as lectors or acolytes are to wear the alb when serving at Mass. The individuals who are usually called lectors at Mass are not installed lectors nor are altar servers installed acolytes. Neither one would have an alb required as an ordinary vestment. The diocesan bishop could, however, require that they wear an alb.

Personally, I think the alb is a bad idea for laity because it gives the impression that only clergy should have a role in the liturgy and this diminishes the lay state. The practice of altar servers (altar boys) wearing vestments has so many centuries of practice behind it that it has probably gained the force of liturgical law. (One for the canonists) However, at our parish, adult men serve the funerals and they wear a suit rather than vestments. In the past, we had some immodest EMHC situations and an alb would have been a nice alternative. Now, however, we train them better and it is no longer a problem. An alb might be a good cover but should not be a cover for a pastor who does not have the courage to insist on modest and appropriate attire when serving.

 

[MissRose73]

I still believe enforcing policies about modest yet appropriate & dignified clothing needs to be done for lay ministers (lectors, EMHCs etc.) at Mass before purchasing robes/albs for coverup. I’ve gone to some parishes, and mainly in summer some are serving wearing shorts, sleeveless tops/dresses, flip flops etc & have to keep my uncharitable thoughts to myself.

 

[Mintaka]

Theoretically, the alb is the garb of all baptized persons. Clerical vestments go on top of the alb.

Practically speaking, though, most laymen and laywomen seem to have a hard time wearing the alb in such a way that it denotes “I was baptized and this is my white robe” versus “I am playing clergy.” Giving people crosses to wear during ministry seems to make them act even more fake-clericish.

Servers/non-instituted acolytes/instituted acolytes never seem to have this problem. Some go too far into civvies, but most seem to know how not to pretend to be clerics.

The other exception, oddly enough, is choir robes. Nobody seems to be confused about the lay status of choirmembers wearing albs. Probably because the cut is a little different.

Obviously, the solution is to go back to chanting the readings (whether in English or Latin), and have choirmembers in albs or servers in albs do the chanting.

 

[Chatter163]

When Paul VI re-instituted the diaconate as a permanent order open to both celibate and married men, he issued on the same day the letter Ministeria Quaedam which eliminated the minor orders and established the “ministries” of Lector and Acolyte.

Just a correction, the letter *Ministeria Quaedam * suppressing the minor orders (very unfortunate, IMHO) was promulgated on 15 August 1972, but the restoration of the permanent diaconate was several years earlier, with the promulgation of Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem, on 18 June 1967. The former had more to do with the suppression with the subdiaconate and the four minor orders of porter, lector, exorcist and acolyte. While there were only a handful of permanent deacons already ordained, a few were already around, and more in formation, when the subdiaconate was suppressed.

 

[G_S]

Just a correction, the letter Ministeria Quaedam suppressing the minor orders (very unfortunate, IMHO) was promulgated on 15 August 1972, but the restoration of the permanent diaconate was several years earlier, with the promulgation of Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem, on 18 June 1967. The former had more to do with the suppression with the subdiaconate and the four minor orders of porter, lector, exorcist and acolyte. While there were only a handful of permanent deacons already ordained, a few were already around, and more in formation, when the subdiaconate was suppressed.

Thanks for the correction. I’m not sure where I heard that they were promulgated on the same day but I’m almost positive I saw it in print somewhere. I think that Paul VI envisioned the ministries being common among lay people. Relying on my recollection of Ministeria Quaedam (What! Haven’t I learned a lesson here?), Paul also spoke of other ministries being established such as psalmist.