Can I wear albs (or something similar) in my daily life?

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Hi everyone. I am wondering if I can wear albs (or something similar) every day in my life, treating it as a “habit” of simply being Catholic. As you may know, the ways people wear clothes today are terribly far from humility, simplicity, conservation and selflessness. This makes being Catholic already a response to a higher calling. Therefore, do you think lay people can wear “habit” for being Catholic, similar to the case of a religious brother/sister wearing his/her habit? If so, what is okay or permissible to wear? Last but not least, has there ever been “habit” or unified clothing for Catholics in history (in other words, is it ever a part of our Catholic “tradition” or “custom”)? I look forward to your comments! Thank you all!
 
I’m subscribing to this thread. I don’t have an answer, but I think it is a very interesting question. I’m looking forward to reading the replies.
 
I don’t know if this is still a practice of Rome but in the East there are Anchorite monks that live by a rule set by the Episcopate. Any case, a habit is specific to religious orders and Albs are for liturgical wear so it seems that if you are wanting to be set aside you might want to discuss this with your Bishop or consider a Tertiary Order, e.g., Benedictine Oblate. In this way you have a “Regula” or rule of life. Just a suggestion from an Old Catholic priest. I am not RC but I would imagine that wearing a habit or Alb would not be advised. I know as an Old Catholic, we are very careful as not to be confused with the RCC and so I know for us wearing an Alb is a liturgical garment and a habit is usually specific to a religious order, e.g., Benedictines. Remember it is not what you wear but the rule that you live by and putting away of the Old man and Putting on Christ Jesus!
In the Risen Christ!
Fr. Patrick, I.O.C.C., C-GC
 
Reverie said:
Welcome to Catholic Answers Forums, Fr. Patrick. Happy Easter!
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Happy Easter to you too! God be with you in all that you do and please keep me in your prayers, if you would also there are several Anglican Parishes that are being sued and one has lost their litigation. I would say it is terrible when Christians sue Christians but the C of E in America has fallen into dreaded heresy and I would question their adherence to basic Christian tenets. Sad, Sad and Sad…I could not imagine being thrown out of my own parish simply because I acted out of conscience!
 
poptown said:
Hi everyone. I am wondering if I can wear albs (or something similar) every day in my life, treating it as a “habit” of simply being Catholic. As you may know, the ways people wear clothes today are terribly far from humility, simplicity, conservation and selflessness. This makes being Catholic already a response to a higher calling. Therefore, do you think lay people can wear “habit” for being Catholic, similar to the case of a religious brother/sister wearing his/her habit? If so, what is okay or permissible to wear? Last but not least, has there ever been “habit” or unified clothing for Catholics in history (in other words, is it ever a part of our Catholic “tradition” or “custom”)? I look forward to your comments! Thank you all!
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Hello poptown,

Ave Maria!

I am assuming you mean a surplice rather than an alb, as albs are reserved for those in orders whilst a surplice is for altar servers who may or may not be in orders. But to avoid confusion I will use alb/surplice interchangeably for the post if that is okay.

Albs are particular, sacred clothes made for a particular role at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I would think that it is not appropriate to wear something associated with the Mass outside of it’s specific context (the alb/surplice may even be blessed). It would be almost like a priest wearing his chasuble outside of Mass (not quite as bad, but drawing a parallel).

If I may comment further, I also think that having a ‘habit’ should be preserved for those who have taken vows, or oaths, or something similar in order to avoid particular confusion between their ‘state’ and your own ‘state’. Which is not to say that if you were to become some kind of public penitent that a habit is inappropriate; but if you’re just living a secular life, walking around in something that identifies you in the same way that a habit would is a bit confusing to the world.

But! Thanks be to God for the Church. You have a few options. Make your habit visible and invisible! Your visible habit will be a nice big St Benedict crucifix, a scapular, a miraculous medal and a rosary always in your hands as you pray your Ave’s. Your inner habit will be a continual conversion towards Our Lord and an unbound charity towards God and your neighbour - “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another” said Our Blessed Lord.

God bless!
 
Basilios said:
I am assuming you mean a surplice rather than an alb, as albs are reserved for those in orders whilst a surplice is for altar servers who may or may not be in orders. But to avoid confusion I will use alb/surplice interchangeably for the post if that is okay.
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The alb is the garment of all the baptized. The surplice is actually a shortened alb. You can see this in action as the male altar servers at my parish wear the usual cassock and surplice, while the females wear alb and cincture, the cincture being a symbol of chastity. Any baptized Catholic can wear the alb liturgically as a minister. This includes lectors, EMHCs, and choir members.
 
Basilios said:
I am assuming you mean a surplice rather than an alb, as albs are reserved for those in orders whilst a surplice is for altar servers who may or may not be in orders.
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Actually, it is the other way around.

The alb is the baptismal garment of all the faithful. It is worn liturgically by lay people (men or women) serving at the altar.

The cassock is clerical garb, and the surplice is worn over the cassock by clerics. This is called choir dress. It is for those who are ordained to wear at Mass when not celebrating or concelebrating. Male altar servers can wear the cassock and surplice when serving at Mass.
 
Liturgical garments, such as the Alb and the Surplice serve the function of covering up the mundane every day street clothes. this applies even to a Habit or clerical garb of a religious or ordained man…
e.g. For a Priest saying Mass, no part of his street clothing should be visible. (I don’t know how shoes are supposed to fit into this, they are not normally covered).

Therefore to wear the Liturgical garments like the Alb or Surplice, which are “Choir Dress” outside a liturgical setting is highly inappropriate, and perverts the use of these garments as set apart for liturgical use.

I would point out that there are many religious communities who do not have a formal habit. these have greatly increased since VCII. - Yet Nuns or Lay Religious who are members of these communities are normally clearly identifiable. Ditto with the lay Brothers (but I’m less familiar with them)

These lay sisters tend to wear a “Uniform” which is simple modest clothes based around a single colour chosen by their community.
They may or may not wear some item of head covering.

It is a good and pious thing to choose to wear clothing which eschews the rat-race of posh clothes and lots of choice. - you might choose to select a wardrobe which espouses the virtues of Simplicity, Modesty, Charity and Poverty.

Simplicity: You could look at secular Priests. They don’t face tough choices about what to wear each day. they have a black or grey suit or cassock, and sufficient changes of similar clothes to enable laundry to not cause a problem.
The same applies to the Lay religious described above.
These garments are similar to the modern street fashions of the masses. they don’t stand out and draw attention.

Modesty: The clothes do not draw attention to the wearer. they are simple and modest They cover up the wearer (you don’t see priest’s or religious running around in revealing gym clothes when they’re not at the gym). They are not tight fitting to accentuate the figure of the wearer, not too baggy to make him or her look like a slob, or androgenous.

Charity: The clothes do not come from unjust sources. They do not carry logos or meanings that criticize or condemn those we do not agree with. They do not cost lots of money that could have been given to a worthy cause if the purchaser had chosen simpler clothes.

Poverty: The clothes should be selected in a spirit of poverty. They should not cost more than they need to. You should not have many spare Items if you can make do with fewer.

Similarity to a Habit or Clerical Dress.
It is inappropriate to wear clothes that make you look like you are a cleric (that’s a crime in cannon Law) or a religious when you are not entitled to do so. I have seen this done and it is confusing.
 
When I serve I would just wear my cassock when am setting up for mass then when every thing is ready for mass then i put on my surplices saying the pray for vesting
 
I think it would just be wierd to walk around in an alb.

*We have to act in shuch a way that other will be able to say, when the meet us: this man nis a Christian, because he does not hate, because he is willing to understand, because he is not a fanatic, because he is willing to make sacrifices, because he shows that he is a man of peace, because he ,nows how to love.
  • St. Josemaria Escriva*
We show we are Christians, followers of Jesus by how we treat other human beings, not by what we wear.

-Tim-
 
Laypeople ought to wear the ordinary clothes of the culture they find themselves in, with any necessary modifications for the sake of modesty of course. Liturgical garments and religious habits both in their own very different ways set the person apart for sacred pursuits in a way not appropriate for ordinary laypeople living out their ordinary lives.

For those who wish to wear something to remind themselves of their Catholic identity, I would recommend things like crucifixes or medals worn around the neck.
 
Wear whatever you want to. As long as you aren’t doing it to try to pass yourself off as a religious I don’t see a problem. Get yourself a robe and go for it:thumbsup:
 
The only one,s that I seen wearing albs,are are reiglous people,so I would say no, but you can find out by asking a Nun. Amen
 
I agree with those who encourage you not to wear garments set aside for clerics. Again, the Bible instructs us to put on Christ. With this said, I would encourage you to wear the scapular, or as others have mentioned, a crucifix or miraculous medal. Those things will undoubted identify you as Catholic, which may be a challenge in the event that you re employed by someone who subscribes to a secular mindset and is hostile to people wearing articles of their faith, particularly if they are Catholic/Christian. I think the bigger challenge would be in putting on Christ. I believe that it would be easier to wear a habit than it would be to walk in love for our neighbor. God bless you in your pursuits.
 
Once again… albs are not “set aside for religious and clerics”, the alb is the garment of the baptized Christian.

The objection to everyday wear of the alb is that it is liturgical and should be retained as such.
 
=poptown;10602551]Hi everyone. I am wondering if I can wear albs (or something similar) every day in my life, treating it as a “habit” of simply being Catholic. As you may know, the ways people wear clothes today are terribly far from humility, simplicity, conservation and selflessness. This makes being Catholic already a response to a higher calling. Therefore, do you think lay people can wear “habit” for being Catholic, similar to the case of a religious brother/sister wearing his/her habit? If so, what is okay or permissible to wear? Last but not least, has there ever been “habit” or unified clothing for Catholics in history (in other words, is it ever a part of our Catholic “tradition” or “custom”)? I look forward to your comments! Thank you all!
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🙂 Making the Sign of the Cross in public and public prayer:thumbsup:
 
I also recommend simple, plain regular clothes rather than an alb. A scapular, religious medal, or ordinary crucifix necklace is enough extra.

You should be set apart by your behavior rather than your clothing.
 
Elizium23 said:
Once again… albs are not “set aside for religious and clerics”, the alb is the garment of the baptized Christian.

The objection to everyday wear of the alb is that it is liturgical and should be retained as such.
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The objection is that it is just plain wierd to walk around at the grocery store or go to a business meeting in an alb.

If you walk around in a alb then you really can’t complain that the security guards at the mall are following you around and shouldn’t wonder why no one in your neighborhood wants to talk with you or come to your backyard cookout.

Some guy wearing an alb to McDonands to draw attention to his Catholicsm isn’t doing anything to attract people to Catholicism either. Everyone will probably think he is some kind of Islamic guy anyway.

-Tim-
 
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