Italian bishop turns heads with Giorgio Armani vestments

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The devil may wear Prada, but a Sicilian bishop has set out to show Satan does not have a stranglehold on designer clothing by ordering new vestments from Giorgio Armani.

Bishop Domenico Mogavero drew compliments from churchgoers when he turned out for mass on Monday on the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria in green silk vestments designed by Armani and decorated with symbols of vines, wheat, shells and starfish.

Mogavero said the vestments had turned heads, particularly among female parishioners, but warned he had no intention of turning the aisle into a catwalk.

“This is all not about having brands in church or indulging in the fashion of the moment, but about wearing something beautiful to give glory to God,” said Mogavero, 64, who donned the vestments at a ceremony for the opening of a church on the tiny volcanic island.

guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/03/bishop-domenico-mogavero-armani-italy
 
I worry that this incident will persons with an active dislike of the Catholic Church something more to snipe about.
 
I think that the chasuble is very beautiful. Someone has to design them so why not Armani? It’s like a composer writing a Mass for the glory of God.
 
From the linked article:
Last summer he approached Armani, 76, about vestments for the church on Pantelleria, which is closer to Tunisia than the Italian mainland.
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“I asked him for the vestments as a gift to the new church – to create something beautiful, original and with themes reflecting the island,” he said. “I will see him this summer and I’ll have the opportunity to thank him personally.”
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IMO, the robes are very beautiful, and if it was a gift from Armani, then no one should really criticize… it’s not like the Bishop used money that could have gone to the poor to purchase designer attire.

However, I think it sounds a little tacky to “ask” for a gift…from anyone, not just Armani.
 
Dale_M said:
I worry that this incident will persons with an active dislike of the Catholic Church something more to snipe about.
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They will find something to complain about anyway. It was tastefully done be a designer who is offering up his talent for the glory of God.
 
StJudePray4Me said:
From the linked article:

IMO, the robes are very beautiful, and if it was a gift from Armani, then no one should really criticize… it’s not like the Bishop used money that could have gone to the poor to purchase designer attire.

However, I think it sounds a little tacky to “ask” for a gift…from anyone, not just Armani.
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I don’t think it was tacky at all. The Church often asks for people’s talents to be used to help the Church. I should think the designer was thrilled to produce the vestments. I’d say Armani did it to glorify the Church and not himself because the vestments are very subtle and beautiful.
 
I don’t know why, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. Especially since St. Francis of Assisi and so many other saints asked to wear the poorest garments. I think St. Charles Borreomeo did, too. While God does indeed deserve the best and the most of people’s talents, it kinda bothers me he asked Armani for it instead of Armani spontaneously offering it as a gift. I realize it might be nit-picky, but it gets to me a little all the same.
 
wild_thing said:
I don’t know why, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. Especially since St. Francis of Assisi and so many other saints asked to wear the poorest garments. I think St. Charles Borreomeo did, too. While God does indeed deserve the best and the most of people’s talents, it kinda bothers me he asked Armani for it instead of Armani spontaneously offering it as a gift. I realize it might be nit-picky, but it gets to me a little all the same.
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Friars and monks still wear the habit which is often very threadbare, I know because I live in a Franciscan parish, but for Mass and Benediction they wear beautiful vestments for God’s glory. Just look at Padre Pio’s vestments; they were gorgeous.
 
It doesn’t bother me that he asked Armani to design vestments as a gift to the Church. We often canvass for donations of goods and services, why not ask a designer to do what he does best and donate it?

While I think it’s very beautiful, the starfish do leave me a little perplexed. Shells are used as a symbol of Baptism but I’ve never seen starfish used in the liturgy. Yes, OK, it’s an island but to me that’s like embroidering an Apache helicopter on a chasuble because it’s going to be used at the chapel on an Air Force Base.

I was a bit more concerned with the use of “green vestments” in the middle of the Easter season. Could they be white with a greenish tinge?
 
wild_thing said:
I don’t know why, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. Especially since St. Francis of Assisi and so many other saints asked to wear the poorest garments.
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Voluntary poverty is certainly virtuous when used as a tool for mortification and to identify with the poor. These vestments are not used to beautify self, but to lay tribute to the King of Kings.
 
wild_thing said:
I don’t know why, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. Especially since St. Francis of Assisi and so many other saints asked to wear the poorest garments. I think St. Charles Borreomeo did, too. While God does indeed deserve the best and the most of people’s talents, it kinda bothers me he asked Armani for it instead of Armani spontaneously offering it as a gift. I realize it might be nit-picky, but it gets to me a little all the same.
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St. Francis gave everything away to the poor including the very clothes on his back leaving himself naked in the village square. This was his choice. Christ did not do that. The Roman soldiers actually fought over his garment which was seamless. Even today that would be a prize. Christ obviously appreciated a well made item of clothing. It is okay to enjoy beautiful things.
 
You know I love St. Francis and the whole “poverello” but --somebody correct me if I’m wrong, please–St. Francis was never an ordained priest, right?

What I mean is, if St. Francis had been an ordained priest, no matter what threadbare garment he ‘normally’ wore wouldn’t be what he wore to celebrate Mass, right? He’d put on the finest robes that were available for the liturgy and wear them without a second thought had he been an ordained priest, correct?

Every time I see one of these threads somebody will invariably bring up “St. Francis wore rags”, “Mother Teresa just wore a simple sari”. Um, neither was an ordained priest.

And then always comes the “JESUS WORE HUMBLE CLOTHING”. That usually makes me sigh because, if His clothing was so ‘humble’, why were the soldiers ‘casting lots’ for His robe? Why Scripture even tells us. . ."It was seamless and well made and therefore the soldiers did not divide (that is, tear it) but rather, cast lots so the winner would take it as is. . .a ‘prize’. I’m not saying that Jesus wore Armani, but He certainly didn’t wear rags! And in His ‘glorified’ body (as we see foreshadowed at the transfiguration) His garments were DAZZLINGLY white and glorious. . .showing that just as the priest wears ‘the best’ to give to God, Christ Himself in His glorified body as our High Priest wears HIS best to give to the Father.
 
aicirt said:
St. Francis gave everything away to the poor including the very clothes on his back leaving himself naked in the village square. This was his choice. Christ did not do that. The Roman soldiers actually fought over his garment which was seamless. Even today that would be a prize. Christ obviously appreciated a well made item of clothing. It is okay to enjoy beautiful things.
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Your post made me think of His kingdom is not of this world and the least and the greatest
becoming a servant…From the world’s view they don’t understand our Lord and King…I just can’t picture Jesus wanting Armani…I don’t know for any trying to impress with worldly goods
just don’t sit right.
 
wild_thing said:
I don’t know why, but it makes me feel uncomfortable. Especially since St. Francis of Assisi and so many other saints asked to wear the poorest garments. I think St. Charles Borreomeo did, too. While God does indeed deserve the best and the most of people’s talents, it kinda bothers me he asked Armani for it instead of Armani spontaneously offering it as a gift. I realize it might be nit-picky, but it gets to me a little all the same.
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Your post made me think of His kingdom is not of this world and the least and the greatest
becoming a servant…From the world’s view they don’t understand our Lord and King…I just can’t picture Jesus wanting Armani…I don’t know for any trying to impress with worldly goods
just don’t sit right.
 
To lend ones skills in craft or art (including song) to the beautification of a chapel, church, altar, sacramental vestments, or sacramental vessels is a form of prayer and worship. It would be extremely uncharitable to disparage someone’s sincere offering when it does not transgress against any norms of the Church.

Armani didn’t make the priest a pair of shoes to go out dancing - he made the church vestments for the Mass where the priest stands in persona Christi.
  • Marty Lund
 
Hiskid1973 said:
Your post made me think of His kingdom is not of this world and the least and the greatest
becoming a servant…From the world’s view they don’t understand our Lord and King…I just can’t picture Jesus wanting Armani…I don’t know for any trying to impress with worldly goods
just don’t sit right.
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it is not about impressing with worldly goods. It is about honoring God with the best you have to offer.

When offering sacrifice to God, the priest used only animals without blemish. Did God need unblemished animals? No, but the people needed to show how they honored God. The Temple was not just another building but adored in gold and made beautiful to show honor to God. It is true that God has no need of gold and fine clothes. But we need to show honor to God. Using the finest materials in the celebration of the Mass is one way to show honor to God.
 
It isn’t so much that the cardinal is wearing Armani vestments for mass that made me uncomfortable, it was that he asked for them. As I said before, I think the Lord deserves the best- that’s why I wear my nicest dresses to church on Sundays; but I agree with another poster in that it was a little tacky to ask for them from a fashion designer instead of the designer offering to make the garments as a kind of gift or almsgiving. Do you know what I mean?

And maybe Jesus had well-made clothes. Ven. Catherine Emmerich and Mary of Agreda said that the garment that the soldiers cast lots for was made by His Mother. I think Christ might’ve kept things elegant but simple. So beautiful chausables, yes- but maybe not neccessarily by a well-known worldly designer. It’s just my opinion though- we can agree to disagree! 😃
 
vsedriver said:
it is not about impressing with worldly goods. It is about honoring God with the best you have to offer.

When offering sacrifice to God, the priest used only animals without blemish. Did God need unblemished animals? No, but the people needed to show how they honored God. The Temple was not just another building but adored in gold and made beautiful to show honor to God. It is true that God has no need of gold and fine clothes. But we need to show honor to God. Using the finest materials in the celebration of the Mass is one way to show honor to God.
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👍

aaaaah…you beat me to it! I would add riches are made available only through the bounty of Christ and He does not condemn them, only an improper use of them!
 
wild_thing said:
It isn’t so much that the cardinal is wearing Armani vestments for mass that made me uncomfortable, it was that he asked for them.
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it is quite possible that the cardinal asked armani to design the vestments and the designer donated them as a thank you for the honor of being asked.
 
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