Dominican Habit Colour

[civilwar]

I’m just wondering about the Dominican habit;
Has it always been black and white? The reason I ask this is that our local chapel has a statue of Saint Thomas Aquinas and the part of it which is usually black is blue. Also, in old paintings Dominican habits seem blue-ish, but maybe that’s just due to the fading of the black paint over time.

Thanks!

 

[bardegaulois]

I think it’s just a matter of faded paint. The Dominicans have always worn a white habit, and were known as Black Friars due to their black mantle. I believe lately, though, the black mantle has fallen into desuetude.

 

[Usige]

Must be faded paint or a way to add shadows in the painting. As far as I know, Dominicans have always worn a white tunic, with white scapular and white capuce (aka hood). When it was cold or they were traveling they would wear the the black cappa (aka cape) and black capuce over the whites. The few Dominicans I know, I’ve never encounteted outside so I don’t remember them wearing the cappa.

I beleive before vatican ii that lay brothers wore a black scapular instead of a white one (seems paintings of St Martin de Porres always show that, but I could be wrong).

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Must be faded paint or a way to add shadows in the painting. As far as I know, Dominicans have always worn a white tunic, with white scapular and white capuce (aka hood). When it was cold or they were traveling they would wear the the black cappa (aka cape) and black capuce over the whites. The few Dominicans I know, I’ve never encounteted outside so I don’t remember them wearing the cappa.

The ones I’ve met and seen wear the blacks when in community, traveling, and for particularly solemn occasions.

I beleive before vatican ii that lay brothers wore a black scapular instead of a white one (seems paintings of St Martin de Porres always show that, but I could be wrong).

I’m not sure about lay brothers for the Dominicans, but what you describe is the regular habit of Trappists.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Usige is correct about the habit of the lay brothers…as well as it being the habit Saint Martin de Porres is seen wearing. Here is a nice photo from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington DC.

This is different from the Trappist habit because the Dominican lay brother’s scapular was worn over the belt while the Trappists wear the belt over the scapular. Also, the Trappists do not have the capuce but only a hood integrated into their scapular. And, of course, Trappists do not wear the rosary as part of their habit.

1.bp.blogspot.com/_ynN-UTH7fgM/TRuqsViALuI/AAAAAAAAA1A/E4g9X-fNkV0/s1600/Dominican+Brothers+Washington+DC.jpg

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I should add: the black cappa is used by the Dominicans in Rome. It is also used extensively in the United States by the friars of the east coast province.