Priestly attire in a confessional

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Dandelion_Wine

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I asked this question in the Q&A but it apparently was one of those that got rejected.

About a month ago I went to Confession at the usual parish I go to for Confession. As I walked in, I saw the Pastor walking down from the altar. When I entered the Confessional, I went face-to-face and was greeted by a gentleman who I can only assume was a priest.

The first words that were on my tongue though when I saw him was ‘are you a Priest?’.

He was wearing a suit jacket with an open buttoned down shirt - thus there was no white collar (nor a tie for that matter). He also was not visibly wearing that cloth (what is it called? a stole? an alb?).

Instead of actually asking him if he was a priest, my mind raced and I assumed that even though he wasn’t wearing what I expected that he must be since the Pastor was right there in Church and if the Pastor wasn’t doing Confession, he must know someone is.

Anyone know if priests are required to wear that cloth in the confesional.

It seems like no big deal but I had an experience once where a deacon attempted to hear my confession so when things like this are an occasion to pause.
 
Generally speaking, one should always wear the “symbol of office” when ministering. In this case a stole is required. I’ve never heard of a priest hearing confessions in the attire you mention – I would have asked the question!

Deacon Ed
 
Hello

Interesting I would have asked myself if in doubt.

God Bless
Saint Andrew.
 
attended a conference last week where the participants - lay, married, religious, priests – were deliberately not identified on name tags or rosters by titles or honorifics, and only 2 priests wore clericals, and 2 nuns in habits. Most of us went around all weekend asking “are you a priest?” or “are you a nun?” especially in light of comments etc. during the classes and sessions. I am too old to go around calling priests “Bob” and “Larry” and sisters “Mary” and “Catherine”. 12 years of Catholic school leaves its mark on you.
 
During confession a priest is required to wear that long thing (the proper name presently escapes me … anyone?) around their neck.
 
Sir Knight:
During confession a priest is required to wear that long thing (the proper name presently escapes me … anyone?) around their neck.
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It’s a stole.
 
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cecelia:
And it should be purple
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Being picky here: it’s “violet.”
 
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mercygate:
Being picky here: it’s “violet.”
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Don’t worry about being picky. That’s correct. It should be violet, and it should be on, else one is not under the seal of Confession. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I don’t see the violet stole on, then I won’t confess. So yes, the priest should look as though he’s prepared to act in the person of Christ.
 
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Dandelion_Wine:
I asked this question in the Q&A but it apparently was one of those that got rejected.

About a month ago I went to Confession at the usual parish I go to for Confession. As I walked in, I saw the Pastor walking down from the altar. When I entered the Confessional, I went face-to-face and was greeted by a gentleman who I can only assume was a priest.

The first words that were on my tongue though when I saw him was ‘are you a Priest?’.

He was wearing a suit jacket with an open buttoned down shirt - thus there was no white collar (nor a tie for that matter). He also was not visibly wearing that cloth (what is it called? a stole? an alb?).
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This type of action should be avoided. This could lead to public scandel if one did not know or assume the man was a priest. One might get the impression that he was a layman. When doing ministerial work, I believe the priest should be dressed in appropriate attire.

matt
 
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cecelia:
Don’t worry about being picky. That’s correct. It should be violet, and it should be on, else one is not under the seal of Confession. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I don’t see the violet stole on, then I won’t confess. So yes, the priest should look as though he’s prepared to act in the person of Christ.
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Although the priest should wear a stole as a sign of ministry and authority while in confession, it is not necessary for one to hear a confession. The confession will still be valid even if he is not wearing a stole. The seal of confession is not dependent on whether the priest is wearing a stole.

matt
 
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marty1818:
Although the priest should wear a stole as a sign of ministry and authority while in confession, it is not necessary for one to hear a confession. The confession will still be valid even if he is not wearing a stole. The seal of confession is not dependent on whether the priest is wearing a stole.

matt
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You’re right about that too, but I just need to see it. But I go to the same priest all the time during regularly scheduled times, and he always wears the stole.
 
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cecelia:
You’re right about that …
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I don’t know about that. I think you were right the first time – I think the stole needs to be present for all sacraments … at least, I’ve never seen a priest perform a sacrament without having one on.

Can someone help clarify this?
 
stole yes, even if the clerical vestments are not worn & it also helps to know all of the priests (including retired) in the given parish('s) that you attend
 
Yes, the priest should always wear a stole for confessions.

In some places, a stole is left in the confessional for this purpose.

When I was in the Air Force, I recall that the chaplain always wore his dress blues to the confessional; which always irritated me. As an enlisted man, I hated having to confess to an officer.
 
I would have asked the same question!

At one church I [briefly] attended, we had a young priest with a ponytail, who rode a Harley. He was thoroughly orthodox in his preaching, celebrated a perfectly correct liturgy with no abuses, and gave wonderful advice in confessions. However, the big “put-off” was that he always came to confession in the summer months dressed in shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops!

Yes, he would wear his stole, but it was very disconcerting to be in the middle of confession, look down, and see a big, hairy toe sticking out behind the screen!

If I had attended that particular church longer, I would have probably written a nice letter about his attire needing to be more appropriate to his position.
 
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JimG:
Yes, the priest should always wear a stole for confessions.

In some places, a stole is left in the confessional for this purpose.

When I was in the Air Force, I recall that the chaplain always wore his dress blues to the confessional; which always irritated me. As an enlisted man, I hated having to confess to an officer.
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He would still have been an officer even in fatigues, no?

Why are chaplains officers, anyway? My Dad was a medic in WW2 with the rank of Technicla Sergeant – maybe that would work for chaplains – and make it easier for enlisted men to confess ?
 
For the absolution to be valid the Priest must be wearing the stole, unless it is a dire, urgent situation.
 
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didymus:
He would still have been an officer even in fatigues, no?

Why are chaplains officers, anyway? My Dad was a medic in WW2 with the rank of Technicla Sergeant – maybe that would work for chaplains – and make it easier for enlisted men to confess ?
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I didn’t mind that chaplains were Officers. I just thought that when performing liturgical and sacramental functions they should wear clerical, not military, dress. So, a cassock, or priest’s black outfit would have been OK. After all, would he have worn dress blues with his insignia of rank to celebrate Mass?
 
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didymus:
He would still have been an officer even in fatigues, no?

Why are chaplains officers, anyway? My Dad was a medic in WW2 with the rank of Technicla Sergeant – maybe that would work for chaplains – and make it easier for enlisted men to confess ?
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The Chaplians are officers because they have college educations as any other officer and are commisioned.
I never felt like I couldn’t confess to a priest/officer…to me, he was just a priest, and I respect them more than officers.
 
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