Do you personally prefer to see altar servers wearing albs, cassocks/surplices or cassocks/cottas?

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Do you personally prefer to see altar servers wearing albs, cassocks/surplices or cassocks/cottas?


Example of an alb


Example of cassock and surplice


Examples of cassocks and cottas
 
Obviously an alb looks most formal. Particularly if it’s worn over a cassock (where the cassock can be seen through lace) with an amice and a cincture.

The cassock and cotta are quite historic for servers – at least in the USA, but given their priestly origin, they really wouldn’t be appropriate for female servers, where the alb is the garment of all baptized Catholics.
 
I have never seen an alb worn over a cassock.
Do you mean lace surplice?
I am confused?

My opinion, I prefer them to be in albs.
 
@(name removed by moderator)
What is the difference?
Is it the sleeves?
 
Cassock and cotta is the usual attire for servers and the option I prefer.
As a small point of interest, in the UK, a surplice has a rounded neck and fuller bell-shaped or even long triangular sleeves (otherwise known as a Gothic surplice); a cotta has a squared neck and straight sleeves.
 
All (cottas, surplice, alb) are forms of and represent albs, which ultimately represents the white baptisimal garment that is given to us on our day of baptism. Ultimately, It is appropriate for any person participating in a liturgy in and around the altar (including lay readers of the word, lay extra-ordinary ministers of communion, and altar servers) to wear a form of their baptismal garment (alb) when serving, though it is most common for priests and pastors to request only the altar servers to do so. The cassock (without the white collar piece) should (in my opinion) be reserved for men or boys, as this indicates a potential future call from God to the clerical state.

I disagree that the alb is the most formal looking, as my preference lies with the cassock and surplice.
 
steve-b said:
Black cassocks and white (surplice) is what I wore back in the 50’s. Only black slacks under the cassock and highly polished black shoes allowed.
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Amazing how organized and squared-away there were back then. Where I lived it’s not uncommon to see kids wearing shorts and flip-flops under a too-short alb. It really looks terrible and it gives the distinct impression that the Mass isn’t worth a bit more effort.
 
Duesenberg said:
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steve-b:
Black cassocks and white (surplice) is what I wore back in the 50’s. Only black slacks under the cassock and highly polished black shoes allowed.
Click to expand...
Amazing how organized and squared-away there were back then. Where I lived it’s not uncommon to see kids wearing shorts and flip-flops under a too-short alb. It really looks terrible and it gives the distinct impression that the Mass isn’t worth a bit more effort.
Click to expand...
In my day if an altar boy wasn’t squared away with colmed hair, surplice straight and shoes highly polished, etc etc, one wasn’t allowed to go onto the altar.
 
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Big_Feet said:
All (cottas, surplice, alb) are forms of and represent albs, which ultimately represents the white baptisimal garment that is given to us on our day of baptism.
Click to expand...
No. The alb does. The surplice/cotta and cassock were always priestly garb (not vestments) that had long been on loan to male altar servers. It’s wrong for females to wear men’s garb, this is why we see at places like the National Basilica Shrine (where they understand the nuances and still care) male servers wearing cassocks/surplices and female servers wearing albs at the same Mass.
Big_Feet said:
Ultimately, It is appropriate for any person participating in a liturgy in and around the altar (including lay readers of the word, lay extra-ordinary ministers of communion, and altar servers) to wear a form of their baptismal garment (alb) when serving, though it is most common for priests and pastors to request only the altar servers to do so.
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It wouldn’t really be appropriate for lay readers to wear anything other than street clothes to underscore the fact their ministry of lection is properly that of the laity. Although given what some readers actually wear, it might be a good idea to wrap some of them in albs.
Big_Feet said:
I disagree that the alb is the most formal looking, as my preference lies with the cassock and surplice.
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A nice alb, worn with a correct amice and cincture over a cassock is certainly the most formal manner in which a male altar sever might dress. A properly worn amice makes for a far more refined look than a Roman collar missing the tab. The cincture adds formality as well – plus of course an important meaning. One problem seems to be that very few have seen servers dressed in this manner. Then again my question wasn’t about formality.
 
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steve-b said:
In my day if an altar boy wasn’t squared away with combed hair, surplice straight and shoes highly polished, etc etc, one wasn’t allowed to go onto the altar.
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I have a picture of myself at age 3. I am at the communion rail before Mass watching the altar boys lighting the candles – which was quite a ceremony in itself. Each Mass had 4-5 altar boys (thurifer, sometime a incense boat-boy, 2 lucifers and a crucifer) and as you note, they were all very squared-away. How did they do it? Just more effort and greater expectations back then I suppose.

I look at that photo when people make excuses for altar girls, slovenly dress in the sanctuary, etc. It makes me realize just how coarse and utilitarian (at least locally) society has become – including inside the sanctuary.
 
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Our altar servers wear the cassock and surplus and look and behave impeccably.

On solemnities they wear a cape thing over the surplice.
 
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Remarkably ornate alb over black cassock with amice and cincture.
Probably a gift from his great uncle the cardinal.
 
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Duesenberg said:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
Remarkably ornate alb over black cassock with amice and cincture.
Probably a gift from his great uncle the cardinal.
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The embodiment of the old saying “More lace, more grace?” Cardinal uncle or not, that seems like a lot of lace for a male to wear.
 
Interesting. Kind of shows us cultural differences. If I wore something like that with a different top, I might fit in quite well at a Renaissance Faire.

At a Mass? Not my preference.
 
Duesenberg said:
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steve-b:
In my day if an altar boy wasn’t squared away with combed hair, surplice straight and shoes highly polished, etc etc, one wasn’t allowed to go onto the altar.
Click to expand...
I have a picture of myself at age 3. I am at the communion rail before Mass watching the altar boys lighting the candles – which was quite a ceremony in itself. Each Mass had 4-5 altar boys (thurifer, sometime a incense boat-boy, 2 lucifers and a crucifer) and as you note, they were all very squared-away. How did they do it? Just more effort and greater expectations back then I suppose.

I look at that photo when people make excuses for altar girls, slovenly dress in the sanctuary, etc. It makes me realize just how coarse and utilitarian (at least locally) society has become – including inside the sanctuary.
Click to expand...
To this day, I can’t get myself to go on the altar without black shoes all shined up 😃
 
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