Monastic vestment

[orgel_maestro]

I didnt know where to put this question. I know monks wear habits and that each order has its own style. And I know that once you’ve been accepted into a religious community, that you can also later become a religious priest, right? Well, once ordained a religious priest, I was wondering, do you wear your habit all the time (I’m thinking the more orthodox, conservative monasteries) or can they choose to wear either cassoks or habits (this is outside of church)?

I know, this question’s kinda random…

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

I didnt know where to put this question. I know monks wear habits and that each order has its own style. And I know that once you’ve been accepted into a religious community, that you can also later become a religious priest, right? Well, once ordained a religious priest, I was wondering, do you wear your habit all the time (I’m thinking the more orthodox, conservative monasteries) or can they choose to wear either cassoks or habits (this is outside of church)?

I know, this question’s kinda random…

Everyone in the monastery, except visitors, will wear a habit. It is a sign of humility and a uniform, not a sign of status. A bit like everyone at McDonald’s wearing the Muckky D cap and sweaters.

The exception is when a monk who is also a priest is celebrating Mass, in which case he wears liturgical vestments, which are a sign that he is a consecrated person, and so totally different in their symbolism to the habit.

 

[Toribus]

I wonder, do religious (particularly mendicant friars) sometimes wear the cassocks and birettas proper to “secular” (diocesan) priests? For example, I know certain Dominican friars (one now a bishop) who would ordinarily wear their habits but sometimes wore a clerical shirt and suit.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I wonder, do religious (particularly mendicant friars) sometimes wear the cassocks and birettas proper to “secular” (diocesan) priests? For example, I know certain Dominican friars (one now a bishop) who would ordinarily wear their habits but sometimes wore a clerical shirt and suit.

Yes they can wear clerics but they will never wear a cassock as some religious orders have the cassock as part of their habit.

As for the bishop who used to be a Dominican friar, he is no longer such. He is now only an honorary member of the order as when a religious accepts appointment as a bishop the pope frees him from his vows, as he no longer can be under the vow of poverty, and also releases him from his vow of obedience to the superior as he can no longer be so. He also is released as he can no longer hold office in the order nor have a vote in that order. He would most likely stop wearing the habit but I do not think that it is required that he do so.

I also do not think that religious ever wear the biretta as that is part of the secular clergy attire.