Diaconate Formation and Alb

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I have been advised by my deacon director to pick up an alb. I have already been instituted as a lector, and God willing, I will be instituted as an Acolyte by the Bishop later this month.

I have seen a number of different types of albs, some nice and heavy that look really nice when worn, and others that look a lot lighter (like the material that a bed sheet is made of).

Since I will be wearing this without a dalmatic at this time, it will not be covered, so I want the alb to look nice with minimal fuss. That being said though, I get warm really fast, so I don’t want to sweat if I can avoid it.

The seminary has some nice albs that are made by Beau Veste, and they look really nice, but they can get warm. I’m not sure what the fabric is, but it does seem a bit heavy. I do see they have a tropical weight fabric, but I don’t know exactly what that is.

I have also seen some nice pleated albs, but they are of a fabric that is more like a bed sheet. My concern here is it would wrinkle quickly.

I don’t want to spend a lot of money on one of these just yet, as who knows, I may never be ordained (only God knows for sure). But I want something that looks nice, and doesn’t need a lot of care other than to keep it on a hanger to keep it looking nice.

I’m hoping that those of you who are ordained can give me some ideas on what to look for and help in this matter. I do realize that going and trying them on is the best thing, but I’d like to get some advice before I do that.

Thank you and God bless!
 
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@(name removed by moderator)
@Don_Ruggero
@frjuan

Personally, I’d steer clear of the cassock-alb vibe, and find one that needs an amice - the symbolism behind it is beautiful, and getting in the habit of wearing one now will save your Dalmatic from gross sweat stains later.

Good luck in PD formation! It’s a beautiful ministry.
 
I can’t help much with the alb itself, but I can help you with the fabric: linen or cotton.

If you are concerned about getting too warm you need natural fiber that breathes. I’d go with linen as it will wear better and is cooler than cotton. It might cost a bit more though.

Avoid polyester at all cost! You might as well put on a plastic bag. You will be soakin wet by the end of mass.
 
Thanks (name removed by moderator)… can you recommend any of the particular Slabbinck styles?
 
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A simple one without any embroidery suites all deacons or servers. When you are ordained you might like to buy (or some people like giving gifts 😃 ) one with embroidery or smaller lace decorations along the hem and sleeves might be considered. It is good to have an extra one as they do get dirty especially along the hem. Wash inside out to keep looking nice longer (especially with embroidery and lace).

Would you like one that needs to be pulled over your head or one with buttons on the shoulder opening?
 
I have a surplice from Slabbinck, and though it’s simple, it’s of very high quality. I’d recommend them too.

(When it comes to vestments, like most other things, you get what you pay for, usually.)
 
HeDa said:
Would you like one that needs to be pulled over your head or one with buttons on the shoulder opening?
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I prefer the ones that have the shoulder openings and not the ones you have to pull over your head. I have only used the ones with the velcro, so I have not tried the buttons…not sure if there are advantages or disadvantages. Obviously, Velcro is easy to take off, but sometimes is a bit harder to line up (and if you step on the alb, you ran step right out of it accidentally).

I don’t care for the shoulder zippers (I think they look sloppy when the zipper pull in hanging on your shoulder).
 
A thicker, more polyester-y alb with a higher collar as opposed to one intended for an amice.
 
Maximilian75 said:
find one that needs an amice - the symbolism behind it is beautiful
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Okay… I always thought the purpose of the amice was two fold… to prevent your street clothes from showing, and to keep the alb a bit cleaner around the collar. What is the symbolism behind it that you reference?
 
Thanks Maximilian… it’s nice to know the symbolism, but I think for now, and since I am only in formation, I will worry about finding an alb that a) is affordable, b) looks nice, and c) is comfortable so I am not sweating like a pig in it. Possibly after I get (God willing) ordained, I will look for a much nicer alb that will need an Amice, and I will think of this conversation and the meaning behind it when I wear it.

Questions for those in the know… what is “tropical weight” fabric when I see that described for the Alb? Does it wrinkle easily? I’m assuming it is lighter and cooler, but don’t know much else about it.
 
Certainly- I get it

I’m not completely sure, but I’d imagine a blend leaning more towards cotton or linen as opposed to polyester
 
It’s most valuable to actually have two different kinds of albs:
  1. Lightweight cotton - for travel and when you get ordained to wear under a dalmatic.
  2. Heavier poly or poly blend - for use now as an acolyte or when wearing with just a stole (if the church doesn’t have a dalmatic of that color). Better drape, less wrinkles, opacity covers street clothes underneath.
While the vesting prayers are beautiful and should be used; you can still say them even if the alb doesn’t need an amice and/or has a built in belt instead of a separate cincture. I say them all regardless if the amice and cincture are separate or not.

Peace to you, reader!
Deacon Christopher
 
A cotton/linen blend will give you a nice weight without being hot. The cotton in the blend will help with the wrinkles, and if you can find one with a little rayon, it will be wrinkle-free.
 
Diaconia said:
It’s most valuable to actually have two different kinds of albs:
  1. Lightweight cotton - for travel and when you get ordained to wear under a dalmatic.
  2. Heavier poly or poly blend - for use now as an acolyte or when wearing with just a stole (if the church doesn’t have a dalmatic of that color). Better drape, less wrinkles, opacity covers street clothes underneath.
While the vesting prayers are beautiful and should be used; you can still say them even if the alb doesn’t need an amice and/or has a built in belt instead of a separate cincture. I say them all regardless if the amice and cincture are separate or not.

Peace to you, reader!
Deacon Christopher
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Thank you Deacon Christopher. I agree that the heavier one does look nicer. I was really hoping that I could get away from that and go with a lighter one, but it doesn’t sound like I can do that and have it look nice. Do you have any specific makes and blends that might be lighter? I know Slabbinck has a nice chart (see below) that shows the blends they have. Just currious if you have had any experience with these fabrics. From looking at the chart, it looks like the Pius material is the most cool and wrinkles the least. Not sure what that fabric is like though… I guess I will have to make some time to go visit a store to see what the materials are like. Only downside of Slabbinck, is it takes over 4 weeks for the vestment to get to you since it comes from Europe.
 
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I do not own a Slabbinck alb, and those are brand names of that company.

I have a Beau Veste at home that is nice, but I’m not sure of the fabric, I will look at the label when I get home.

Here at the parish I have one of the light cotton ones from Abbey, a fancy one from a store in Rome, and an excellent draping monastic one that was made by a monk friend when I was ordained. That monastery is no longer in existence, unfortunately.

Jersey would probably be a good choice for opacity and drape.
 
Diaconia said:
Jersey would probably be a good choice for opacity and drape.
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I guess I’m not sure what Jersey is. To me that sounds like T-Shirt material, but I doubt that is the case.

At the seminary they also have the Beau Veste as well, but it seems quite heavy, but has a nice drape. If you wear a plaid or pattern dress shirt though, you do see it under the alb.

At the advice of some of the ordained deacons, I purchased a banded collar shirt that will hide the collar and that is white. Worst off though, I just take my dress shirt off (if it has a pattern) and just wear a white t-shirt under it.
 
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