Clergy opinions of altar-server vestments?

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I wear a cassock and surplice regularly as a server at the Ordinary Form. The pastor does not frown on it. On the contrary, the Church paid for the vestments.

-Tim-
 
Praedicare said:
Friends,

Can anyone give insights about the acceptability of wearing a cassock and surplice to serve at regular Ordinary Form Masses in North America, as opposed to an alb? What do celebrants generally think, these days?

I’m under the impression that the wearing of a surplice for altar servers has become very unpopular with many bishops and priests. They frown on it implicitly, if not explicitly. Cassock & Surplice = “pre-Vatican II”, and alb = “Vatican II”. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, this is a very narrow question… but I am looking to serve on a regular basis. I would prefer the cassock & surplice, but I don’t want to waste my money if wearing it would make me a “liturgical outcast” and thus unable to serve!

Any experiences or advice would be appreciated.
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We switched from albs for our servers to Cassocks with surplice a couple of years ago. Even though at first skeptical, I do like it very much now. It adds an addition sacredness to the mass.

Deacon Frank
 
FAB said:
We switched from albs for our servers to Cassocks with surplice a couple of years ago. Even though at first skeptical, I do like it very much now. It adds an addition sacredness to the mass.

Deacon Frank
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While young people in cassocks do look fancy, holy even, I doubt that it add “sacredness” to a Mass. I think the sacredness comes from Christ’s presence, no?
🙂
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
There’s also the issue of vesture for altar girls. As frequently discussed here, while apparently there is no specific rule against girls wearing cassock and surplice, those are typically regarded as male clerical attire. While I have no problem with girl altar servers, I think they do look out of place in cassock and surplice. So with a mixed corps of servers, albs would seem to be a better solution. But maybe that’s just me.
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At my parish we use to have an elderly couple who served about once a month. One Sunday they were both wearing cassock and surplice. What servers wear typically doesn’t bother me at all. On this occasion, however, it felt just a bit inappropriate.
 
pianistclare said:
While young people in cassocks do look fancy, holy even, I doubt that it add “sacredness” to a Mass. I think the sacredness comes from Christ’s presence, no?
🙂
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What we wear adds to what we do. As a church of signs and symbols, the way the servers are vested does make a difference. the mass is a sacred celebration, so all that we can humanly do to focus our minds and hearts upon the celebration, does add to the sacredness.

Den Frank
 
At our parish altar boys/men wear cassock & surplice during the OF or EF.
 
In trying to get back to the OP’s question about the wearing of cassock/surplice, in the end the only answer for your parish/situation is to do whatever the priest tells you to do and take into consideration the local (parish) custom!!

So, if your parish uses the alb, then alb it is. If it is cassock/surplice, then get that. If you don’t want to stand out, then if your parish servers use the alb, don’t show up in cassock and surplice!
 
Praedicare said:
Friends,

Can anyone give insights about the acceptability of wearing a cassock and surplice to serve at regular Ordinary Form Masses in North America, as opposed to an alb? What do celebrants generally think, these days?

I’m under the impression that the wearing of a surplice for altar servers has become very unpopular with many bishops and priests. They frown on it implicitly, if not explicitly. Cassock & Surplice = “pre-Vatican II”, and alb = “Vatican II”. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, this is a very narrow question… but I am looking to serve on a regular basis. I would prefer the cassock & surplice, but I don’t want to waste my money if wearing it would make me a “liturgical outcast” and thus unable to serve!

Any experiences or advice would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Isn’t it the task of the parish or other community you are serving to give you the proper vesture?
 
Generally, yes. But let’s face it, most of the vesture for altar servers is a bit on the small side since those positions are usually held by youngsters. Finding a size of alb or cassock in an adult size can prove difficult if that’s the case.

I had to buy a new cassock for myself when I began serving because they just didn’t have a size that I fit into well enough. Our parish doesn’t use albs for servers, so the only ones they have on hand are for the deacon and the priest. So, when I was instructed to use the alb this year, I had to buy one for myself. No big deal since I will be using it for the rest of my life…
 
I would be happy with at least an alb. I’ve often seen servers (generally teens or adults) in trousers and a shirt…just plain street clothes.
 
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