Choosing A Cotta

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FAH

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Hello

I have been asked to Altar serve at a family members wedding and am planning on purchasing a cassock and cotta to serve in. In choosing the cotta I would be looking toward the more lacy designs, I do remember a member of the forum saying the more lace the more grace.

But my question is should the more lacy cottas be only used by Priests or is it alright for servers to wear them as well?

I also seek your opinion: do you prefer to see serves in plain cottas or in lacier designs?

Any information would be appreciated.

Yours in Christ
FAH
 
I think more having lace in the server’s surplices (that is usually what they are called) adds much dignity to the celebration.

If you are going to be using the surplice on only one occasion, I would just get a “standard issue” surplice:
matthewfsheehan.net/DisplayPages/Products/ProductImages/dt_rjt_ls_pg_7_890.jpg

You don’t have to buy it from that site. You can get them nearly everywhere, and they usually cost about $20-40.

Now, if you’re planning on using it in the future, and you would like something a bit nicer, after “standard issue,” there’s a number of different styles:

There’s the standard issue, with an inch or so of lace added (click any of the pictures to see their webpages):
matthewfsheehan.net/DisplayPages/Products/ProductImages/dt_pg11-IHS-Surplices.jpg

Then there’s these, which can also look very nice, but many don’t like them.
matthewfsheehan.net/DisplayPages/Products/ProductImages/dt_1415x-pg7.jpg

If you have a little more money on hand, and plan on serving for a while, you could buy something like these (I own the first one, I wish I owned the second one):

thehouseofhansen.com/surplices/corectwlac.jpgthehouseofhansen.com/surplices/f-407lc.jpg

And finally, this is my ideal surplice, if I had the money ($500):
usagranda.com/images/RO004.5_lg.jpg

I hope this helps!
 
An altar server is not supposed to bring attention to himself, thus you have to make sure that you do not turn a vestment from an act of reverence into an act of vanity. A reasonable trick to avoid that it is to make sure that your attire is never more elaborate than the one worn by the celebrant. Your attire should also be consistent with the other servers if they are present. Having said that, I believe that glory to God is also given through elaborate vestments especially if it is a real sacrifice for you to purchase them. Just keep track of all the intentions behind your purchase and get something nice without breaking the bank.
 
Cristiano said:
An altar server is not supposed to bring attention to himself, thus you have to make sure that you do not turn a vestment from an act of reverence into an act of vanity. A reasonable trick to avoid that it is to make sure that your attire is never more elaborate than the one worn by the celebrant. Your attire should also be consistent with the other servers if they are present. Having said that, I believe that glory to God is also given through elaborate vestments especially if it is a real sacrifice for you to purchase them. Just keep track of all the intentions behind your purchase and get something nice without breaking the bank.
Click to expand...
True, don’t do it for pride, but that being said, it also adds dignity to the celebration.
 
I think it needs to be said that “more lace” does not, in fact, equal “more grace.” That’s just a saying. But maybe you knew that.

Personal tastes also vary. What one person thinks might add more dignity might, to another, become a distraction if they see an altar server wearing something more fancy than a bishop’s MC. Personally, I think there’s merit in the thought that “less is more,” but that’s just me.
 
Now I am going to throw one more rock in the pond. 😃

Considering that your attire is for special occasions why don’t you get a very simple cotta and on top of that a mozzetta? I have seen a lot of altar servers wearing one; however, I am not sure that it is proper for them to wear one.
 
Cristiano said:
No I am going to throw one more rock in the pond. 😃

Considering that your attire is for special occasions why don’t you get a very simple cotta and on top of that a mozzetta? I have seen a lot of altar servers wearing one; however, I am not sure that it is proper for them to wear one.
Click to expand...
Our altar boys wear them - either red or yellow, depending on the liturgical significance - on Ordinary Sundays they do not wear them at all:

Grotto Altar Boys

~Liza
 
If you’re buying one that you intend to use again, I would buy what I wanted, but with a mind to the “middle,” as it were (I like the photos posted by TheMc of the gentleman (priest?) wearing the lace cottas. I think the “middle” would be the one on the left). That said, be prepared for the priest that presides at this wedding to say he’d prefer you to wear something simpler…in which case, he would need to provide it.
 
My opinion is forget the “mozzetta” (its use would be ostentatious to say the least) and spurn the lace. What I would suggest is something in linen (preferably a linen-blend so it doesn’t have to ironed every 5 minutes), in a longer cut (some may call it “Anglican”) that falls to about the knee. Something like this for example. A gentleman I’ve met (who serves at the Usus Antiquior occasionally) has one of similar length in a natural-colored linen-blend that really does look quite nice.
 
I think you better check first with the priest who will be presiding and also with the bride. you don’t want to upstage either one
 
Run it past the presiding priest, that would be essential. He’s the boss.

If the priest agrees with you, I would go for the cotta you really like best and think of it as a life purchase. I like the one on the right that the guy was modelling (TheMc post) because it reminds me of ones worn when I was a kid, plus it has the ‘JHS’ monogram.
 
puzzleannie said:
I think you better check first with the priest who will be presiding and also with the bride. you don’t want to upstage either one
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I cannot agree with this enough.

Remember, it’s not about you, it’s about Christ, and then, maybe, the bride. But not about the altar server.
 
MusicMan said:
I cannot agree with this enough.

Remember, it’s not about you, it’s about Christ, and then, maybe, the bride. But not about the altar server.
Click to expand...
Thirding this. At the wedding, it is so not about you. 😛

If you expect to use these garments often, then do buy what you like – trending toward the middle as a previous poster said and remembering that the lacier ones will require more upkeep. In the examples given my TheMC, I would choose the standard with a bit of lace, or the left side version of the one the man is showing.
 
Thank you all for the Informative posts. I’ll either go with a lace trim ( like they have at EWTN ) or I might ask if I can borrow a friends. Anyway shouldn’t dwell too much on the things of this earth but rather on the things of the world to come.
God bless
FAH
 
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