Is it a problem when dalmatics begin to look just like chasubles?

[Mi_Rose]

Exactly Fr David.

 

[Charybdis]

I think I see what the “problem” is. One of the replies hit it on the head when they stated that it was the design on the front of the dalmatic which very closely matches the design on chasubles. I don’t think it’s the actual design of the vestment, as has been stated before, the chasuble has no sleeves and the dalmatic does. There is no problem with that since they have always been like this.

Here’s a story for you, though. When I was ordained a deacon early last year, our church had only one set of dalmatics. (btw, the dalmatic is the proper vestment for the deacon at mass, not sure how all of this alb and stole stuff got started, but deacons should be wearing a dalmatic, IMHO). THey were absolutely plain, no design, no nothing on them at all, just the liturgical color. Personally, I thought they were very bland, but I digress.

Well, when I was going to be ordained, we needed another set of dalmatics for me to use. We got permission from our pastor to check into new sets for both of us deacons who were going to be serving at the parish. I checked into the places from Poland and we were able to get very nice dalmatics with beautiful ornamentation for a fraction of what US based suppliers would charge.

All of the sets we purchased were the ‘ladder’ type design. Why? My deacon colleague told me before we ordered that he had been called “Father” enough in order to differentiate between us, so he did not want to get any dalmatic sets which had the single orphrey design down the middle of the front. So, we got all dalmatics in the ladder style.

Is it that important? Probably not. But sometimes there is confusion out there. Is it against liturgical norms? No.

Like most people here have posted, don’t pay too much attention to the design on the vestments, pay attention to the roles of the priest and the deacon and what they do during mass. There should be no confusion if you do that.

Peace.

 

[Duesenberg]

I think I see what the “problem” is. One of the replies hit it on the head when they stated that it was the design on the front of the dalmatic which very closely matches the design on chasubles. I don’t think it’s the actual design of the vestment, as has been stated before, the chasuble has no sleeves and the dalmatic does. There is no problem with that since they have always been like this.

Both the decorations on the vestment, the fullness/length of the vestment, lack of trim on sleeves. and the cowling can make the two look identical.

All of the sets we purchased were the ‘ladder’ type design. Why? My deacon colleague told me before we ordered that he had been called “Father” enough in order to differentiate between us, so he did not want to get any dalmatic sets which had the single orphrey design down the middle of the front. So, we got all dalmatics in the ladder style.

That makes a lot of sense.

Is it that important? Probably not. But sometimes there is confusion out there.

I have never been confused as to who was who as others have coarsely implied – I’m just curious if it’s OK for dalmatics to look like chasubles? I notice the deacons here locally leave them in the closet when the bishop visits.

Like most people here have posted, don’t pay too much attention to the design on the vestments, pay attention to the roles of the priest and the deacon and what they do during mass. There should be no confusion if you do that.

Yes, that’s axiomatic. Thanks for taking the time to actually answer my question, using your real-world experience.

 

[Charybdis]

No problem. That’s why there is always things to learn. I had also never seen any deacon prior to me moving to my present location and parish wearing anything other than alb and stole. So when I first saw that the deacon wore a dalmatic, I was wondering what that was as well.

But, sure enough, the dalmatic is the proper vestment of the deacon and should be worn at mass. I would argue that a huge majority of parishes do not have their deacons wearing the dalmatic, but that is up to local customs and the parish priest.

Fortunately, we have had nothing but very good priests who accept and endorse the role of the deacon and wearing a dalmatic is no problem at our parish…

 

[FrDavid96]

No problem. That’s why there is always things to learn. I had also never seen any deacon prior to me moving to my present location and parish wearing anything other than alb and stole. So when I first saw that the deacon wore a dalmatic, I was wondering what that was as well.

But, sure enough, the dalmatic is the proper vestment of the deacon and should be worn at mass. I would argue that a huge majority of parishes do not have their deacons wearing the dalmatic, but that is up to local customs and the parish priest.

Fortunately, we have had nothing but very good priests who accept and endorse the role of the deacon and wearing a dalmatic is no problem at our parish…

I think you might have hit on the real problem here.

If people never (hardly ever) see a dalmatic, but instead (almost) always see a deacon wearing only an alb and stole, then THAT might prompt them to think that a deacon is a priest when they see him vested in a dalmatic.

If they don’t know what a dalmatic is in the first place, then they might think it’s a chasuble. It isn’t about being unable to distinguish between the 2 vestments—it’s about not knowing that there is such a thing as a dalmatic.