I saw a young priest wearing a cassock

[Tsuwano]

You can say the same thing about street clothes…A cassock and a habit are powerful witnesses, that is why they are worn

I do say the same thing about street clothes or any other garb for that matter, that’s why I don’t run around assuming that someone wearing suit and tie is necessarily a genius in business or that someone wearing overalls has a green thumb. Clerical garb can be a powerful witness to a chosen way of life, which may in fact be a life of holiness, but it doesn’t guarantee holiness and neither does not wearing clerical garb negate holiness.

 

[Tsuwano]

Thank you! This thread should be witness enough of that. Four pages of posts and only one comment that wasn’t incredibly positive.

I don’t understand. Did I say something that was false or lacking in charity? I thought my post was positive. I like to see clerics wearing cassocks where appropriate, too, but my response was to someone who simply assumed that wearing a cassock is a sign of holiness. It ain’t necessarily so.

 

[redrosetea]

I do say the same thing about street clothes or any other garb for that matter, that’s why I don’t run around assuming that someone wearing suit and tie is necessarily a genius in business or that someone wearing overalls has a green thumb. Clerical garb can be a powerful witness to a chosen way of life, which may in fact be a life of holiness, but it doesn’t guarantee holiness and neither does not wearing clerical garb negate holiness.

I agree, but so many of the people I admire wear or wore habits, I think that it was important to them that people see them and know they are serving God as a religious

It is sort of like seeing a person in the military, or a policeman, you know that they belong to something that stands for something important

When I see nuns in a habit I am always so proud that they are announcing to the world , I am living a life of consecration…I belong to the army of God

 

[Tsuwano]

I agree, but so many of the people I admire wear or wore habits, I think that it was important to them that people see them and know they are serving God as a religious

It is sort of like seeing a person in the military, or a policeman, you know that they belong to something that stands for something important

When I see nuns in a habit I am always so proud that they are announcing to the world , I am living a life of consecration…I belong to the army of God

Great! I agree with everything you’ve written here.

 

[stteresasgirl]

Tsunamo,
Your comment regarding outer dress reflecting the inner character is very wise and prudent. No offense was taken on my part. It is true…instead of genuine transformation, there can a “wolf-in-sheep’s clothing” phenomena. Or individuals take on their neigbor’s lifestyle in an attempt to change some dissatisfaction within their own life. We have all witnessed this at one time or another. And this can happen in any social setting.

However, I really do believe there is an inner transformation creating a “new generation” in Catholicism. This group is sensing the Holy Spirit moving within them and causing them to experience a great thirst for Christ. If this is originating deep within the soul, I would expect a transformation to create some sort of outward expression: thought, word, deed…or dress. This has been my experience with some clergy and seminarians that I know. Also, I suspect this is why we are seeing an increase of habit use among female religious.

In my own personal experience, I have felt called to the wearing of a chapel veil. In this action, there was no strong human influence that lead me to do this. In fact, I suspected that my wearing one would lead to confusion and misunderstanding among those observing my “change”. (Along with some “persecution” toward me.) However, when God’s grace allows an experience of His great love, you truly begin to identify yourself as His own beloved son or daughter. This is the point when you realize that you are not your own! It was at this point that I first felt overwhelming desire to be “marked”; I was “branded” by His great love. Likewise, I felt a great desire for all to know to Whom I belong. (Oh, how against my true human nature…if you were to know me!) Let me point out that there was no human being who was influencing these thoughts or feelings. I thought life was pretty good up until this point and that I was not “lacking” in anything.

I have concluded that I am not the only one to have experienced this. Plus, I know that God works often in subtle, quiet ways. I suspect this is how He works through most people and there is no need for a dramatic experience of conversion. In either case, could the return of cassocks and habits be caused by the same Spirit which lead me to wear a veil? I believe so. Plus, I think these little, outward signs we are seeing within the Church is just the tip of the iceberg of something larger God has in store for us.

A final note, I have counseled others that they should not imitate others unless they are called by God to do so. He calls us to Truth and we should be authentic and genuine. Otherwise, we are just lying to ourselves, our brothers, and to our Creator.

Peace be with you,
stteresasgirl

 

[redrosetea]

I certainly agree with you…I have gone back to meatless Fridays and so has my husband

I think that God is regrouping His children to recall our roots and do it as a voluntary act of love

 

[stteresasgirl]

Redrosetea,
Amen! And I see this all as something beautiful! He is beautiful!

God’s blessings,
stteresasgirl

 

[Gardenman]

I too, thoroughly enjoy seeing priests in cassocks. Growing up, we never saw our priests without their black cassocks or at least their black suits with the collar. The same goes for sisters who still LOOK like sisters.

We would play basketball and softball with the priests in their cassocks.

Even the nuns, God love them, would play ball with us in their old habits. We loved it.
It brings back extremely happy memories.

When you see a priest or sister in their habit, go up to them and tell them you appreciate that they are wearing it! I always do and they are grateful for the comment.

We need MORE religious wearing habits these days…more now than ever.

 

[Tsuwano]

Tsunamo,
Your comment regarding outer dress reflecting the inner character is very wise and prudent. No offense was taken on my part. It is true…instead of genuine transformation, there can a “wolf-in-sheep’s clothing” phenomena. Or individuals take on their neigbor’s lifestyle in an attempt to change some dissatisfaction within their own life. We have all witnessed this at one time or another. And this can happen in any social setting.

However, I really do believe there is an inner transformation creating a “new generation” in Catholicism. This group is sensing the Holy Spirit moving within them and causing them to experience a great thirst for Christ. If this is originating deep within the soul, I would expect a transformation to create some sort of outward expression: thought, word, deed…or dress. This has been my experience with some clergy and seminarians that I know. Also, I suspect this is why we are seeing an increase of habit use among female religious.

In my own personal experience, I have felt called to the wearing of a chapel veil. In this action, there was no strong human influence that lead me to do this. In fact, I suspected that my wearing one would lead to confusion and misunderstanding among those observing my “change”. (Along with some “persecution” toward me.) However, when God’s grace allows an experience of His great love, you truly begin to identify yourself as His own beloved son or daughter. This is the point when you realize that you are not your own! It was at this point that I first felt overwhelming desire to be “marked”; I was “branded” by His great love. Likewise, I felt a great desire for all to know to Whom I belong. (Oh, how against my true human nature…if you were to know me!) Let me point out that there was no human being who was influencing these thoughts or feelings. I thought life was pretty good up until this point and that I was not “lacking” in anything.

I have concluded that I am not the only one to have experienced this. Plus, I know that God works often in subtle, quiet ways. I suspect this is how He works through most people and there is no need for a dramatic experience of conversion. In either case, could the return of cassocks and habits be caused by the same Spirit which lead me to wear a veil? I believe so. Plus, I think these little, outward signs we are seeing within the Church is just the tip of the iceberg of something larger God has in store for us.

A final note, I have counseled others that they should not imitate others unless they are called by God to do so. He calls us to Truth and we should be authentic and genuine. Otherwise, we are just lying to ourselves, our brothers, and to our Creator.

Peace be with you,
stteresasgirl

I’m very pleased that you have felt a spiritual renewal in your life and that you feel the desire to express this in some way. I think this is a good thing. I feel that the Holy Spirit is constantly working and moving within the Church and it may indeed be that the changes you have noticed are the work of the Holy Spirit. You remain in my prayers and I hope you will keep me in yours.

 

[odopa]

I do say the same thing about street clothes or any other garb for that matter, that’s why I don’t run around assuming that someone wearing suit and tie is necessarily a genius in business or that someone wearing overalls has a green thumb. Clerical garb can be a powerful witness to a chosen way of life, which may in fact be a life of holiness, but it doesn’t guarantee holiness and neither does not wearing clerical garb negate holiness.

NO, no no!!!
Tsuwano, you are looking at this from the wrong angle. On the whole, when you see a cassock, you think about God, in the same manner, when you see a man with many tatoos, pierced body in leather jacket you think about a biker. When you see a man in overalls with a stethoscope around his neck you think about a doctor etc etc. You don’t go beyond that to evaluate if the person is a good biker or a good doctor. That is all we are trying to depict in this thread.

Love and Peace
Odopa

 

[Tsuwano]

NO, no no!!!
Tsuwano, you are looking at this from the wrong angle. On the whole, when you see a cassock, you think about God, in the same manner, when you see a man with many tatoos, pierced body in leather jacket you think about a biker. When you see a man in overalls with a stethoscope around his neck you think about a doctor etc etc. You don’t go beyond that to evaluate if the person is a good biker or a good doctor. That is all we are trying to depict in this thread.

Love and Peace
Odopa

You’re right, Odopa. It is a good thing that when you see a person who is dressed as a religious, you think about God. I also agree that it is a bit cynical to go beyond that and then question the person’s holiness without actually knowing the individual. In my posts I was simply trying to point out the danger of doing the same thing with someone who does not wear religious clothing and thus assume the individual is not holy or a good priest. I think this is a dangerous way of thinking. Now, perhaps this thread was the wrong thread in which to make my post, but I certainly meant no offense to anyone and am not disparaging of those who choose to wear or those who like to see men and women in religious garb.

 

[redrosetea]

You’re right, Odopa. It is a good thing that when you see a person who is dressed as a religious, you think about God. I also agree that it is a bit cynical to go beyond that and then question the person’s holiness without actually knowing the individual. In my posts I was simply trying to point out the danger of doing the same thing with someone who does not wear religious clothing and thus assume the individual is not holy or a good priest. I think this is a dangerous way of thinking. Now, perhaps this thread was the wrong thread in which to make my post, but I certainly meant no offense to anyone and am not disparaging of those who choose to wear or those who like to see men and women in religious garb.

I wasn’t offended…It isn’t always easy to convey what we think in this medium…You can’t hear a voice, or see a face ,so things might sound harsh, when they are not intended that way

We aren’t always going to agree about everything, and we are all entitled to our opinions, and to change our minds too…

I think even once you get used to seeing people doing sports in a habit, or a cassock it doesn’t seem so strange…I have seen nuns playing basketball wearing their habits and even their veils…I felt it looked odd, but then I watched them for a while, and it just didn’t seem so unusual

It is just unusual because we don’t see it very often, but the times they are a changin…!

 

[Tsuwano]

I wasn’t offended…It isn’t always easy to convey what we think in this medium…You can’t hear a voice, or see a face ,so things might sound harsh, when they are not intended that way

We aren’t always going to agree about everything, and we are all entitled to our opinions, and to change our minds too…

I think even once you get used to seeing people doing sports in a habit, or a cassock it doesn’t seem so strange…I have seen nuns playing basketball wearing their habits and even their veils…I felt it looked odd, but then I watched them for a while, and it just didn’t seem so unusual

It is just unusual because we don’t see it very often, but the times they are a changin…!

I’m pleased you weren’t offended by anything I posted, and you’re right, on a forum of this sort, where faces go unseen and voices unheard, it is easy to forget that real human beings are actually behind the printed letters on the screen.
As to the second part of your post, I’m a veteran of the “casssock wars” that took place in the seminaries in the 70’s and early 80’s and there is certainly more to the argument (and the experience of wearing the cassock) than simply getting used to it. There were good and valid reasons why some people stopped wearing the collar and cassock, just as there are good and valid reasons for others to wear it. It has a lot to do with one’s personal image of priesthood and ministry, as well as offering a witness to a particular vocation and lifestyle. My opinion is that to wear the cassock or collar without an awareness of the purpose and meaning of the garb is to take the image of the cassock for granted and to play to one’s vanity. Playing sports in a cassock strikes me as highly inappropriate, something akin to an airline pilot wearing a kilt in the cockpit or a ballet dancer wearing hiking boots. I understand the spur of the moment may make such occasions unavoidable, but I would frown on teams of seminarians planning their afternoon basketball game with the intention of wearing their cassocks. The times may or may not be changing, but I certainly hope their is reflection going on and not merely game playing. Again, I mean no offense in this post. It’s just an opinion that is easily rejected.

 

[paweljip]

Hello,

I just wanted to make a comment to this thread.
I’m a seminarian in my 3rd year beginning to study theology.

I think that it is very important for priests, religious itd to wear some sign of their commitment to God, cassock, collar or something. Personally I prefer cassock because of it makes someone think immediately of Catholic and especially in Canada or north America it is very unusual sight so it makes a bigger sign to God.

Wearing cassock to play sports? I don’t know, I wear one all the time but not to play sports, I mean if someone was worried about witnessing to God with his dress he could simply wear cassock with his jersey underneath then take it off before he played so everyone knows he is priest or seminarian, that to me is OK, but wearing it during to play sports is not necessary. Besides you cannot kick the ball so well in a cassock and it gived you unfair advantage I think in area betwen your legs when defending in soccer

What about people giving a bad name because they don’t know how to behave as priest but they wear cassock?

well, the Church is made of saints and sinners, it is same as police force. We do not make all police wear polo shirts because some cop someplace beat up an innocent guy. The fact that priest or seminarian is wearing cassock immediately makes someone think of God or the church, they do not think immediately how Good or bad is that person wearing cassock, they just think ohh religious… maybe they think… did I go to Church yet, did I love my brothers and sisters like I should itd.

In short, my view, and kind of view of many of my brother seminarians is, defintely wear cassock or clericals as a sign, but be normal when you wear them, I mean that you should act like yourself, down to earth and so on. Wearing cassock does not make you into superhuman, you must have priestly qualities already in you before you put it on, otherwise you will disgrace priesthood and should not be priest, either in T-shirt or a cassock. When young people see that you are normal and can act in the world but are not of the world they will follow. I was inspired to think about priesthood from my priests, they are wearing the cassock all the time, but down to earth normal guys that I went hunting, fishing, play hockey, soccer (we did not do these things in cassocks ) with.

I’m sorry for my bad english, unfortuantely I am better at Polish but we are in Canada now so I must practice on writing to people. (in this time it happens to be you)



God bless. Pawel

 

[Tsuwano]

Thank you, Paweljip. I think your approach to wearing the cassock is highly sensible and I appreciate the fact that you’ve actually thought about why you wear the cassock and collar.

 

[Captain_America]

Just re: the OP:

I think cassocks look fantastiic!

But with the caveat that you gotta keep the weight down. I’d say being able to wear a plain black cassock is like a job perk: it’s that good a look.

 

[redrosetea]

Just re: the OP:

I think cassocks look fantastiic!

But with the caveat that you gotta keep the weight down. I’d say being able to wear a plain black cassock is like a job perk: it’s that good a look.

Actually a cassock is slimming, it is black and long…It doesn’t cut you in two…You are one long line from shoulders to your feet…I think they might be a bit expensive from things I have read

I recall photos of Pope John XXIII wearing one and he was a really heavy man…He looked much slimmer in a cassock than he did wearing the papal white

I think that a cassock is very kind to every shape and very forgiving

 

[Bob_Byrnes]

My priest at Our Lady of Victory parish in Rochester, NY wears a cassock. It is incredible. It is a beacon almost of orthodoxy. You know you can trust them.

How can you possibly connect trust with a person’s garb. That just makes no sense whatever. People certainly have the right to traditionalism and orthodoxy but it so often manifests itself as nostalgia and a desire to return to the past. Fine with me but let’s call it what it is…not some sort of theological purism.

Bob Byrnes

 

[jbelokur]

How can you possibly connect trust with a person’s garb. That just makes no sense whatever. People certainly have the right to traditionalism and orthodoxy but it so often manifests itself as nostalgia and a desire to return to the past. Fine with me but let’s call it what it is…not some sort of theological purism.

Bob Byrnes

This is just my oppinion, that is all. But it has been my experience that the more a priest embrases or rejects the garb of the priesthood the more or less they seem to feel tied to the traditional stances and practices of the Church. For instance at my home parish where my priest wears a cassock, after the concecration of the host the priest never separates his forefinger and thumb less a crumb of the host be lost and defiled. Another parish I had the misfortune of attending for a while the priest refused to even wear a collar also refused to genuflect during the consecration. In the US today I would say that when one see a priest wearing a cassock it is likely but obviously not universal that the priest is orthodox in theology and practice. That’s all.

Also it is not a desire to return to the past but rather a sence of conectedness with the past that people want. The ability to see continuity with the faith of the last 2000 years.

 

[Tsuwano]

Just re: the OP:

I think cassocks look fantastiic!

But with the caveat that you gotta keep the weight down. I’d say being able to wear a plain black cassock is like a job perk: it’s that good a look.

You’re not alone in thinking a cassock looks good, but is this a valid reason to wear one? I remember arguments of this sort where seminarians actually talked about the “swish factor” of the cassock. I can accept the cassock as a means of pointing out one’s dedication to the Church and one’s vocation of service, but I hope no one becomes a priest merely to be stylish or to look thin.