Catholic Seminary

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Cham65

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HI everyone whats your thoughts on new seminarians wearing tonsure clerical shirts to get accustomed to becoming priests
 
The seminary determines what is proper garb both on the grounds and when seminarians leave the grounds.
 
My personal opinion really carries no weight on these matters. It’s up to the seminary and any bishop involved.

That said, you asked for our thoughts, and it’s my very strong opinion that if a bishop won’t permit ordained clergy (permanent deacons) to wear clericals, seminarians have even less business wearing them. It’s a source of confusion and frustration.
 
I agree 100%.
Some of the seminarians in my diocese wear there clerics all the time, even when home on break and not actively doing ministry. Yet our deacons are only allowed to wear a pin when ministering outside of liturgical functions.
It is “clericalism” at its finest.
 
Yeah i think its important that you wear what the bishop or rector of the seminary asks you to wear. After all your vows are obedience to the bishop. Also good for seminarians to get used to the responsibility wearing the collar comes with.
 
I think it risks getting ahead of yourself by focussing too much on the future (i.e. post ordination) and not on the present, that is, where you are at presently in your discernment. There’s a real risk in seminary life of focussing on externals rather than on your own spiritual life and calling with the result that ordination becomes something which just sort of happens as the next thing to do with our any real careful consideration of its significance. In much the same way, priesthood has nothing at all to do with clerical shirts (tonsure collar or otherwise) and everything to do with the man in the shirt. Wearing clericals is, imho, very much a two edged sword - sure it means that I’m visible as a priest and can, at times, even be quite helpful, but at the same time, visibility also means that I’m “on show” and my words and actions (good, bad or otherwise) reflect not just on me as a priest but also on the whole Church.

Clericals don’t create an identity they only express what’s already there. So, wear them, don’t wear them. it’s really a matter for you, your rector and bishop; but if you think that it’ll help you prepare for priesthood, let alone make you a better priest, trust me when I say you’ve got another thing coming!
 
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