Priestly Attire

  • Thread starter Thread starter Momof9
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Dear Father JLT,

Having been a mom on more than one occassion and literally had someone else residing in my body for nine months, and the last during a heat wave in August, and having my poor body worn out by the process, not to mention all the troubles and struggles afterwards ad infinitum, I’d never really thought about it much other than to think this is what happens when you give to God what he wants and that was about it. I wore a two day smile after the birth of my first and if I’d been Catholic when making babies, I would have gone for a dozen or more! But I’m told by a few good folks in the Church that it is a sacrifice and honorable and all that. And shucks, I never did it in pearls. I don’t wake up looking like a french maid. And I’m kinda proud of the few “adjustments” my poor body has made to accommodate life, thank you very much. So quite complaining about God asking you to look like a priest for the sake of His faithful. You could consider it like being a little bit pregnant and perhaps in time God might bless you with a son who wants to be just like you, rather than a rebel with an axe to grind. Sheesh and I think your mom who gave you birth would be less worried about the state of your soul.

Peace and all good,

Thomas2
 
My 1st memory of “Catholicism” is standing at a bus stop when I was 7 years old with my grandma. It was 1954. The bus stop was in front of St. Francis Church. As we waited for the bus, 2 Nuns emerged from the church in full habit and as they passed us one smiled at me. Being protestants, I didn’t even know what a Nun was but I carry that memory to this day. I thought they were beautiful!
When my conversion began and I went to my 1st Mass, I fully expected to see Nuns in habits. What a surprise and not a little disappointment. I dearly love The RCC but how I wish to see Nuns in habits. I know, intellectually, that the habit does not the Nun make, but emotionally, I wish they would wear them. They are so beautiful and so reverent looking.
I sure hope this didn’t sound shallow. :o
 
Fr. JLT:
How nice.

YOu know what? I prefer a mother who is dressed like a proper French Maid at all times. Yes, that means when she has her kids at the pool, when she wakes up in the morning, when she is on her own time, when she is nursing, when she is at Mass, when she is shopping, etc etc. Why are you not vacuuming in pearls? Why are you not all always perfectly smiling, polite and respectful? Isn’t that how a WOMAN is supposed to be? Perhaps barefoot and pregnant, too?

Think about it.

And the next time you walk into a church, veil your head in humility, or be cast out onto the street as a whore. Scripture demands it and Vatican II never repealed it (because it couldn’t).

Scripture never demanded that a priest be dressed in the fashion of the French military, which some seem to prefer and, in the hsiostory of some fo the world, including my corner of the woods, was the very attire FORBIDDEN by Rome to be worn in public because it was the very attire that distinguished us from the Anglicans and brought about the priests’ slow, horrific and torturous deaths by tarring and feathering.

– Fr. L.
Click to expand...
Father,
You choose to follow a calling that you discerned to be a priest. The function of a priest is that of saving souls, of calling people to holiness. Holiness consist of being obedient to our Lord. Holiness and disobedience are mutually exclusive. How do you expect to call others to holiness, when you are being disobedient? JPII has called for all clerics to wear their clerical garb, yet you see fit not to? Is that how you show the laity to be obedient to God? To be holy? What else do you demonstrate your disobedience in. Do you violate the rubics of the Mass? Do you oppose Church teaching about contraception, homosexual behavior? I would not be surprised at any of this coming from you, given your post above. Your post certainly does not convey any message of Christian love or of love of Christ or of his Church. Your post certainly does not indicate that you, a priest, are trying to call anyone to holiness least of all yourself. Frankly, you should be ashamed of yourself for posting such a note.
 
I don’t think that any Priest who is not willing to wear Clerical attire at all times has any right to be in the Priesthood.

Why?

Canon law states that a Priest must wear clergical appearal at all times. So, if one is not willing to conform to the laws of the church then why become a part in the first place. If one is knowingly in disobedience to church law then I would venture to say that they are living in rebelion which the Word of God states is as the sin of witchcraft. Therefore they, as Priests, are living in direct disobedience to God.

I know that sounds harsh and I’m not trying to be a grouch but sometimes as Men of God there are sacrifices that we must make in His service.
 
Before I retired I taught in a large Public High School. Aprox. 20 years ago we had a Dominican Father in my town for a retreat. I invited him, Robes, Sandals and all to visit our school.

He was as big as a ProFootball Lineman and the kids swarmed to him like flies to honey. The “uniform” didn’t scare them at all. I think they liked it.
 
Fr. JLT:
How nice.

YOu know what? I prefer a mother who is dressed like a proper French Maid at all times. Yes, that means when she has her kids at the pool, when she wakes up in the morning, when she is on her own time, when she is nursing, when she is at Mass, when she is shopping, etc etc. Why are you not vacuuming in pearls? Why are you not all always perfectly smiling, polite and respectful? Isn’t that how a WOMAN is supposed to be? Perhaps barefoot and pregnant, too?

Think about it.

And the next time you walk into a church, veil your head in humility, or be cast out onto the street as a whore. Scripture demands it and Vatican II never repealed it (because it couldn’t).

Scripture never demanded that a priest be dressed in the fashion of the French military, which some seem to prefer and, in the hsiostory of some fo the world, including my corner of the woods, was the very attire FORBIDDEN by Rome to be worn in public because it was the very attire that distinguished us from the Anglicans and brought about the priests’ slow, horrific and torturous deaths by tarring and feathering.

– Fr. L.
Click to expand...
Father JLT, I understand you. I did read your other post and I approve. Yes, today at Sunday Mass one can see teenagers and women dressed as if they were going to a “Night Club”. Some of the women dress in clothes so tight they had a difficult time kneeling. I understand. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
 
Now THAT is a priest, cant remember the last time I went to Mass and saw my priests even have something that looked like a CROSS on their garb. They dont even wear vestments any more, it looks like it has all of these designs on it and a dove or something from week to week. I remember when the priests wore the beautiful cassocks, the beret as they entered mass, and the alb and vestments that corresponded to the day and season. Why would that ever have changed is beyond me and who allowed these changes, that is a good question?
40.png
aByzantineCatho:
Eastern Catholic Pries Vestments:

http://www.oca.org/pages/events/200...erence/images/19-All-Orthodox-Christians,.jpg
Click to expand...
 
No I agree with you, sort of like a Police man in kahkis or something. The sisters in my Parish wear slacks or I guess a skirt, a white blouse and short hair, not even a crucifix. I cant even tell them apart from the older ladies going to Mass. I remember when the sisters in school wore habits and full dress, and I always remember someone asking one of the sisters if she was hot in the garb, being that it was 90 degrees or so, and what she said stuck with me all of my life and why I am disheartened by some and all of these changes. She said that when she took her vows to be part of the sisterhood, and when she looks at Jesus on the cross and the sacrifice that he made for us, the least she could do as a representative of Christ is to be a little uncomfortable at times and “Offer it Up”, a phrase that I have not heard one single Catholic mention probably in the last 20 years. My mother says it as does my wife and I do also when I am uncomfortable or whatever, we “Offer it up” to expiate our sins. Most people think that when they leave the confessional and do their 10 Hail Marys or whatever their slate is wipped clean, but in the “Old” church, you always still had to expiate your sins. What we have today is a sad and weak catechism that needs to be restructured. I was taught by nuns my catechism, my nephews are being taught by a twice divorced woman with 5 kids living with her boyfriend at their house every Wednesday.
40.png
catsrus:
My 1st memory of “Catholicism” is standing at a bus stop when I was 7 years old with my grandma. It was 1954. The bus stop was in front of St. Francis Church. As we waited for the bus, 2 Nuns emerged from the church in full habit and as they passed us one smiled at me. Being protestants, I didn’t even know what a Nun was but I carry that memory to this day. I thought they were beautiful!
When my conversion began and I went to my 1st Mass, I fully expected to see Nuns in habits. What a surprise and not a little disappointment. I dearly love The RCC but how I wish to see Nuns in habits. I know, intellectually, that the habit does not the Nun make, but emotionally, I wish they would wear them. They are so beautiful and so reverent looking.
I sure hope this didn’t sound shallow. :o
Click to expand...
 
40.png
CrusaderNY:
I was taught by nuns my catechism, my nephews are being taught by a twice divorced woman with 5 kids living with her boyfriend at their house every Wednesday.
Click to expand...
Do your nephews live nearby? Perhaps you can teach them yourself.

Scullinius
 
40.png
PASCENDI:
How many states still have laws on the books forbidding a priest to wear a cassock in public?
Click to expand...
No States (in the US) regulate by law what a priest may or may not wear in public - that would be an unconsitutional infringement on the priest’s 1st Amendment rights!
Now in Mexico, until about 5 years ago, the wearing of clerical garb in public was strictly prohibited (they even had to make special exceptions for the Pope and his antorage when he came to visit). The law has been relaxed since.
 
However, either by custom or law (pre-dating the Council), priests in the USA do not wear the cassock on the street, as is done in other countries.
 
40.png
Momof9:
I met a priest about a week ago who was dressed in flip flops, shorts, and a teeshirt. He can over to say hello to the boys at a scout meeting. He introduced himself as Fr. Matt. Honestly, I did not even feel like I was in the presence of a Catholic priest. I prefer a more traditional priest, who wears the garb. I have seen photos of JP2 skiing in his cassock! I beleive the dress is part of the priesthood.
Click to expand...
If I were a boy-scout leader, I would be leary of any person, especially an adult male coming over to converse with my boys - especially in this day and age (I don’t know if he looked for their adult leader - you - first, to ask permission to speak to the boys) - for the security of the boys, I would have been reluctant for this ‘priest’ to continue to interact with my boys. I would have asked for his identification, the parish he is a pastor or associate pastor in, their emergency phone number - they all have one, etc…, excused myself (briefly) and called on my cell phone to verify the information. Just because someone says they are a ‘priest’ doesn’t make it so.
 
40.png
KCT:
I do believe priests should have wholesome, fun. They need to relax and recreate as much as we do. Too bad water parks don’t have a ‘clergy only’ day so the priests can have a blast while not having to look at women who may be dressed immodestly. —KCT
Click to expand...
Good grief! I don’t think priests need to be singled out for protection. They neither naive nor hot house flowers. Immodest is immodest, for anyone to see. And don’t forget what priests hear in the confessional. I’m sure they hear things far more immodest than a skimpy bathing suit.
 
40.png
CrusaderNY:
… I remember when the priests wore the beautiful cassocks, the beret as they entered mass, and the alb and vestments that corresponded to the day and season. Why would that ever have changed is beyond me and who allowed these changes, that is a good question?
Click to expand...
perhaps the expense of replacement and upkeep? shouldn’t the parish supply those things? (the laborer is worthy of his hire–st paul) yes, those things are moving, but what is most important?
 
I voted for the second option. Like others, I had an embarassing moment with a casually dressed priest at a Knights of Columbus meeting.

Anyway, no one introduced me, and I started making small talk. It was a noisy venue. When he said something about “his parishioners”, I said “your prisoners?”. His response was “I guess some may consider themselves prisoners…” He didn’t sound happy.:o He was a former Presbyterian Minister (and married) who converted and became a priest. He wasn’t comfortable wearing a collar at casual events. (He also preferred to not be called “father”.)

Needless to say, I was pretty embarassed. If he had a collar on, I probably would have guessed “parishioners”.
 
i think priest and nuns should wear the old things from the past .
 
I was looking through some old alumni magazines of my Jesuit university and noticed that only a few of the priests pictured had anything at all that was identifiable as a priest. In my day (and one of the reasons I went to a Jesuit university), they wore their distinctive cassock and commanded the respect and admiration of everyone.

In my parish, there is one priest who wears a cassock at all times. He is the one who is most faithful to Rome. There is one who wears tan slacks under his Mass vestments. He is the one who does not require the penitent to say an Act of Contrition in Confession.

I believe that some priests are totally priests. They wake up with the attitude that they are set apart and have work to do that day that is special; they go about their day mindful of their special vocation; and they go to sleep at night grateful that God has chosen them to be set apart. They have no desire to revert back to their old selves who were not set apart, and, by being thus set apart, wear garb by which they are identifiable as being set apart.

A priest cannot become less than a priest. He is a priest forever. That is a great honor and carries with it a great burden. When he is ordained, he takes off his civilian garment and puts on Christ. He is Christ to the world.

But a priest can want to be less than a priest. He can want to forget that he is a priest, just for a little while. Or he may want to be a priest with less fuss and bother so that he will fit in better. And thus he wants to more approachable – call me Father Bob or “Mac” and forget that oppressive cassock and give me a pair of Dockers.

But that way of thinking and acting is foolish. It leads the priest to think that perhaps it might be more comfortable to change other aspects of his life or it might make him more popular still if he were to tell his parishioners that it didn’t really matter if they went to Confession at all or that if they don’t want another child, birth control isn’t really all that bad.

I guess it is as with all of us who are waiting for the Bridegroom – He will come when least expected. I wouldn’t want to be the priest who has taken the day off from his vows! He has put Christ on forever. His black is a sign of that undertaking (no pun intended). It should be worn with confidence and humility and gratefulness and with the knowledge that he is the servant of all he meets and should be available to all AS A PRIEST. If he is hiding that fact, how can he be true to his obligation?
 
40.png
kellie:
My two priests dont wear the collar, but they are always nicely dressed, in a shirt and tie.

They always have a cross on their lapel.

I dont think the collar is necessary anymore.

I wouldnt want to see them wearing an “eminem” t-shirt though 🙂

Love Kellie
Click to expand...
I am sorry but i do not see it this way. A priest should be wearing priestly garb!! He is not here to fit into the world! Rarely do i come across a person who does not understand that concept!! And yes, The collar is necessary!! he is a priest for goodness sake!!
 
Thank you, Thomas2. Poor Father JLT. I don’t think Rome forbids his wearing a collar today. These days in our country, I don’t think anyone should mind what he wears or does, it being so tolerant and all. Do you think anyone would tar and feather him? I think plenty of people would love to be reminded, and some people might learn that there still exists something like the Catholic faith and the priesthood, which most Catholics I know still honor. I think the priest who dresses in laymen’s clothes must miss a lot of wonderful opportunities to speak, silently or otherwise, of his belief and what his collar or cassock signify. I think God shall call us all to account for the opportunities we pass or let slip by in our lives.

We suffer here and now or have fun here and now. Eternity is what matters. I think our priests can always use more than a few prayers. The devil knows what he is doing when he tempts our priests to any kind of disrespect, disobedience, laziness, secular-ness, and worse.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top