Laity Wearing Albs

[ASimpleSinner]

I know that the alb represents a liturgical garment that is proper to all the baptized. If and when different lay ministers wear them in different functions it always tends to cause me to bristle a bit.

I often find that the folks most prone to adopting the alb and cincture seem to be drawn from the same ranks of the highly-clericalized laity that (if the truth were to come out and be plain) generally are of the opinion that they themselves should be ordained.

I attended a parish one Sunday when I was in San Diego and when communion time came around, 8-10 lay adults sauntered out of the sacristy in albs, cinctures and pectoral crosses.

It struck me as a fine example of the clericalization of the laity. Some of the super-laity I have known (some of which are in my own family) have a pride about them over their various and sundry certifications for lay ministry that they have collected from workshops, conferences, and diocesan offices and training programs over the years that rivals some of the more prideful *monsignori *I have known… One of whom took great pains to make sure every last piece of clerical attire he owned had red piping on it.

ISTM that at the same time and in the same places the laity look to don albs for their “lay ministerial duties” choir dress, clerrics and even full canonical vestments often go by the wayside. Am I way off the reservation for thinking that there could be a correlation in the de-emphasis of clerical dignity in the externals and elevated sense of need for externals among the non-ordained?

Are there any rules or writings generally dealing with when it may or may not be appropriate for the laity to don albs for different ministerial functions? While the alb-wearing EEMs might in fact not be breaking liturgical laws, something about the practice of EEMs, Lectors and the like all wearing albs seems inappropriate if not exactly “illegal” or illicit.

Thoughts?

 

[Phemie]

Are there any rules or writings generally dealing with when it may or may not be appropriate for the laity to don albs for different ministerial functions? While the alb-wearing EEMs might in fact not be breaking liturgical laws, something about the practice of EEMs, Lectors and the like all wearing albs seems inappropriate if not exactly “illegal” or illicit.

Thoughts?

This is what the GIRM has to say on the matter:

1. In the dioceses of the United States of America, acolytes, altar servers, lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

This is what the GIRM has to say on the matter:

1. In the dioceses of the United States of America, acolytes, altar servers, lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing.

I suspected as much.

Still looks goofy to me.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It does solve the dress code problem.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I know that the alb represents a liturgical garment that is proper to all the baptized. If and when different lay ministers wear them in different functions it always tends to cause me to bristle a bit.

If you knokw it is appopriate, then why do you bristle?

 

[muffinmojo]

Servers and stuff look infinetly better in cassocks and surplices anway…albs just look plain icky. Under a priest’s vestments? Sure. On random lay people? Bleeh.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

It does solve the dress code problem.

I once suggested that there be a rack of albs made on a non-see-through fabric in the vestibule, so people could slip on one as they came in the door.

 

[plato3]

Servers and stuff look infinetly better in cassocks and surplices anway…albs just look plain icky. Under a priest’s vestments? Sure. On random lay people? Bleeh.

Our male altar servers wear the cassocks and surplices and the other lay ministers wear the non see through albs. It seems to work out and adds some reverence to the Mass.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I once suggested that there be a rack of albs made on a non-see-through fabric in the vestibule, so people could slip on one as they came in the door.

I once heard of a pastor who disapproved of the attire of a wedding party, and required all to wear albs while in the church.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

I know that the alb represents a liturgical garment that is proper to all the baptized. If and when different lay ministers wear them in different functions it always tends to cause me to bristle a bit.

If you knokw it is appopriate, then why do you bristle?

Basil don’t rephrase the statement with your own words and then turn it on me in an effort to make me look pedantic.

I didn’t say it was appropriate.

 

[puzzleannie]

I I often find that the folks most prone to adopting the alb and cincture seem to be drawn from the same ranks of the highly-clericalized laity that (if the truth were to come out and be plain) generally are of the opinion that they themselves should be ordained.
?

my experience is otherwise
those lay persons most prone to wearing the alb while engaged in liturgical roles are those who have been instructed to do so by their pastor, rather than on their own initiative, and the garment conveys absolutely NOTHING about their orthodoxy or personal opinions and intent.

 

[Phemie]

Basil don’t rephrase the statement with your own words and then turn it on me in an effort to make me look pedantic.

I didn’t say it was appropriate.

You said it was “proper to all baptized”. If it’s proper to all baptized, then it’s appropriate for anyone involved in ministry.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

Servers and stuff look infinetly better in cassocks and surplices anway…albs just look plain icky. Under a priest’s vestments? Sure. On random lay people? Bleeh.

I will say that there seems to be hight quality albs available than the synthetic things that would melt if they got to close to a flame that we had in the parish where I went to gradeschool in the 80s.

They don’t look so bad if they actually fit and are made of decent material.

Actually I recently attended Mass at a local seminary where there seemed to be a mix of seminarians serving - some in nicer albs and cinctures, others in their cassock and surplice. It did not look bad at all (to my surprise) but I realized that they were all wearing higher quality albs, not the ones that look like worn bedsheets.

 

[SMHW]

I didn’t say it was appropriate.

Appropriate and Proper mean something different in this case? I thought they were both variations on the Latin word *proprius.

*I’m not trying to be difficult but I think most people here would consider *proper *and *appropriate *to be synonyms.

 

[a_pilgrim]

Dear ASimpleSinner,

You asked for ‘thoughts,’ so here’s mine…

I think that the issue which you address may actually begin prior to the donning of any piece of liturgical garb by the laity. The root of the issue may actually reside in semantics, namely the titles given to these lay individuals who serve in liturgical roles. Perhaps some of these titles inadvertently serve to “blur the line” between lay and clergy. Perhaps if the titles given to these roles emphasized the lay status of those who perform them, there’d be less perceived need to “look the part.”

Here’s one eparchy’s common-sense solution (note: an ‘eparchy’ is the Eastern Catholic equivalent of a ‘diocese’)… this Article (20.2) is taken directly from the Statutes of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma:

20.2. Laity who fulfill tasks of the ministry are not to be entitled “ministers”. This term is reserved to the ordained clergy.

I think it makes sense.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

Appropriate and Proper mean something different in this case? I thought they were both variations on the Latin word *proprius.

*I’m not trying to be difficult but I think most people here would consider *proper *and *appropriate *to be synonyms.

You said it was “proper to all baptized”. If it’s proper to all baptized, then it’s appropriate for anyone involved in ministry.

That dichotomy simply doesn’t work in and of itself.

That it would be proper to any baptized person as needed or where needed doesn’t mean that it follows that it would have to be appropriate for engaging in any of the various functions of the Eucharist.

If we want to reduce this to semantics, winter coats are proper to midwestern winters. While working in my office, I don’t think I would wear one all day.

If I was inarticulate in my thinking let me clarify: it seems to be rather a heady expression of what is allowable that does not confirm with a certain aesthetic. Very much my personal opinion, I concede that, but I am wondering if I alone in bristling at this practice that has gained so much currency in so many places.

If I as a baptized Catholic had a need for any liturgical garment whatsoever, the alb would be it. Does it then follow that

 

[ASimpleSinner]

my experience is otherwise
those lay persons most prone to wearing the alb while engaged in liturgical roles are those who have been instructed to do so by their pastor, rather than on their own initiative, and the garment conveys absolutely NOTHING about their orthodoxy or personal opinions and intent.

Well there you have it then I suppose.

 

[Phemie]

That dichotomy simply doesn’t work in and of itself.

That it would be proper to any baptized person as needed or where needed doesn’t mean that it follows that it would have to be appropriate for engaging in any of the various functions of the Eucharist.

I’m sorry, but if it’s proper for all baptized, nowhere is it more appropriate than when involved in performing one’s ministry.

If we want to reduce this to semantics, winter coats are proper to midwestern winters. While working in my office, I don’t think I would wear one all day.

Perhaps not, but it would be appropriate in most Catholic churches all winter.
If I was inarticulate in my thinking let me clarify: it seems to be rather a heady expression of what is allowable that does not confirm with a certain aesthetic. Very much my personal opinion, I concede that, but I am wondering if I alone in bristling at this practice that has gained so much currency in so many places.

Ministers are not vested in our parish but then again, they are not seated in the sanctuary either. Personally, I’d prefer to see both.

If I as a baptized Catholic had a need for any liturgical garment whatsoever, the alb would be it. Does it then follow that

 

[ASimpleSinner]

I’m sorry, but if it’s proper for all baptized, nowhere is it more appropriate than when involved in performing one’s ministry.

Why are you sorry?

I think we may have to agree to disagree - I simply think it odd how this aspect of liturgical dress has been so latched on to in so many circles.

 

[vocatio]

It does solve the dress code problem.

Yes it does. I think it would be appropriate for many more to be forced to wear an alb when you take a look in the congregation. Many women, though beautiful, dress quite inappropriate for even going to secular public places. Could you see it now…a new ministry donning albs over half naked women …and inappropriately dressed men? Frankly, it’s distracting to me and I have to position books in front of my face to keep from seeing it. It’s very distracting I’m ashamed to admit.