Priests not wearing their collars in public

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“Becoming a soldier of Christ” in confirmation was an old elementary school catechetical thing that I’m sure had metaphorical value when instructing young children in the character of the sacrament, but had nothing to do with the ritual (except possibly being informally introduced in the examination of the candidates by the bishop). In the ritual, all the bishop said to the candidate was “[Confirmation name], Signo te signo crucis et confirmo te unctione salutis, in nomine Patris, etc.” (I sign you with the sign of the cross and I confirm you with the unction of salvations, in the name of the Father, etc.) Then he gave you a tap on the cheek and said “Pax tecum” (peace be with you).
 
jbuck919 said:
“Becoming a soldier of Christ” in confirmation was an old elementary school catechetical thing that I’m sure had metaphorical value when instructing young children in the character of the sacrament, but had nothing to do with the ritual (except possibly being informally introduced in the examination of the candidates by the bishop). In the ritual, all the bishop said to the candidate was “[Confirmation name]
, Signo te signo crucis et confirmo te unctione salutis, in nomine Patris, etc.” (I sign you with the sign of the cross and I confirm you with the unction of salvations, in the name of the Father, etc.) Then he gave you a tap on the cheek and said “Pax tecum” (peace be with you).
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I referenced an article by two good priests that made an argument for wearing the Roman collar. Part of their argument is that Holy Orders, like Confirmation, makes one a soldier for Christ. They did not mean the ritual contained those exact words. It is a reference that makes it clear that priests have an obligation to stand up for the faith. I see no reason way that phrase is inaccurate, does not apply, or is incorrect in any manner.
 
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ComradeAndrei:
If everything works out (and I see no reason that it wouldn’t) I’ll be entering the seminary this fall.

If I get ordained, you bet I will wear clerical garb at every moment I am in public or around the church. Also, I’ll probably just wear a cassock and not the usual suit. Why? Because I think that a vocation like the priesthood puts you into a whole different life. Sure, you do need a little personal time, but I think it is a bad idea to put the vocation aside to have it. I want to stand out like a sore thumb because I have given my life to the Church and to Christ and I have a duty to serve my fellow Catholics and more generally my fellow Man as a priest.

If I am ordained, I want people to be able to tell that I’m a priest a mile away. Not because I want any breaks or pharasiacal honor given to be, but rather because I want to be a witness to the priesthood, to the Church and of course to Christ. I want to make myself available to my parishoners or other Catholics who may want to confess or to have something blessed or want to ask about something dealing with theology or whatever.

I also want to make myself visible to the enemies of the Church. I don’t want to hide my collar in shame of the Church and its teachings because it is either too “old fashioned” or we “worship” Mary etc.

Also, I don’t want to take on secular garb out of a false sense of “humility” as some folks like to think of it as. I think this opinon is the most disgusting and insulting of all of them for not wearing clerical garb. We do not wear clerical garb (cassock or suit) or habit for religious out of pride-one reason for this distinctive dress was to get rid of the vanity of wearing fancy clothes and put on something that isn’t popular or stylish.

In ending, I think a priest (or religious men and women) should always wear their garb out in public and in their respective rectories, abbeys, or convents. Canon law demands it (except for extreme circumstances) and respect for the office demands it.
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With an attitude like that you will make a GREAT priest. Thank you for your inspirational comments. It made reading this thread worthwile! You will be in my daily prayers.

For those who referred to priests being “off duty”, when are any of us Christians “off duty” (“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” 1 Peter 3:15).

None of us know when God will call us to share the good news with someone, so we must always be ready. Of course it’s difficult for a priest to always be “on duty” and that’s why the Sacrament of Holy Orders provides the necessary grace. Also, we must always remember to pray for our priests daily. They have an awesome responsibility.

God Bless,
Gary
 
Thank you everyone for the kind words and prayers. You are all in mine as well. 👍
 
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ComradeAndrei:
If everything works out (and I see no reason that it wouldn’t) I’ll be entering the seminary this fall.

If I get ordained, you bet I will wear clerical garb at every moment I am in public or around the church. Also, I’ll probably just wear a cassock and not the usual suit. Why? Because I think that a vocation like the priesthood puts you into a whole different life. Sure, you do need a little personal time, but I think it is a bad idea to put the vocation aside to have it. I want to stand out like a sore thumb because I have given my life to the Church and to Christ and I have a duty to serve my fellow Catholics and more generally my fellow Man as a priest.

If I am ordained, I want people to be able to tell that I’m a priest a mile away. Not because I want any breaks or pharasiacal honor given to be, but rather because I want to be a witness to the priesthood, to the Church and of course to Christ. I want to make myself available to my parishoners or other Catholics who may want to confess or to have something blessed or want to ask about something dealing with theology or whatever.

I also want to make myself visible to the enemies of the Church. I don’t want to hide my collar in shame of the Church and its teachings because it is either too “old fashioned” or we “worship” Mary etc.

Also, I don’t want to take on secular garb out of a false sense of “humility” as some folks like to think of it as. I think this opinon is the most disgusting and insulting of all of them for not wearing clerical garb. We do not wear clerical garb (cassock or suit) or habit for religious out of pride-one reason for this distinctive dress was to get rid of the vanity of wearing fancy clothes and put on something that isn’t popular or stylish.

In ending, I think a priest (or religious men and women) should always wear their garb out in public and in their respective rectories, abbeys, or convents. Canon law demands it (except for extreme circumstances) and respect for the office demands it.
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I also am (hopefully) entering in the coming year and can agree and attest to everything you have just said. Thank you.
 
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frommi:
OK…you’ve repeated the answer, so I’ll repeat the question…

Where is this ‘soliders’ thing referenced directly as it involves the two aforementioned sacraments?

When are our priests told at ordination to go out and “Soldier on for the Lord”?

I missed “soldiering” as one of the grace filled gifts of the spirit.
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I think your emphasis on the text of the rite is seriously hampering your ability to appreciate what the sacraments of initiation achieve in us. Confirmation, in the ordering of the Western Church, is the final binding of the Catholic to the Church, bringing with it the gifts of the Spirit that one might bring forth true fruit of the Spirit. Of course, being thus bound fully to the Church, a Catholic can most fully take up his role in the communion of saints, the living members of which (i.e. earthly life) form the, da da-da-dah!, Church Militant.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle…
 
**A Priest must also be brave in these modern times. just out here in las vegas, over 24 priests were arrested for molestation charges, so people think that we all do it and we all should get abused for it. so far, we have been spit on/at, shoved off the sidewalk, had things thrown at us. I was sitting at bus stops a few times and had drinks and food thrown at me. I used to see priests and nuns shopping in their cassocks and habits, but no more. so the camp out here is sort of divided. almost no one will go out in clerics or habits, those that need stuff send a runner or go out in secular clothing. I myself venture out on the city bus in cassock and zuchetto and get wierd stares and comments. my favorite is, nice dress dude. and alot just say, shalom.

**
 
FrCorey said:
**… and alot just say, shalom.

**
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😃 Well, at least you’re doing better than most of the others if people are wishing you peace.
 
FrCorey said:
**A Priest must also be brave in these modern times. just out here in las vegas, over 24 priests were arrested for molestation charges, so people think that we all do it and we all should get abused for it. so far, we have been spit on/at, shoved off the sidewalk, had things thrown at us. I was sitting at bus stops a few times and had drinks and food thrown at me. I used to see priests and nuns shopping in their cassocks and habits, but no more. so the camp out here is sort of divided. almost no one will go out in clerics or habits, those that need stuff send a runner or go out in secular clothing. I myself venture out on the city bus in cassock and zuchetto and get wierd stares and comments. my favorite is, nice dress dude. and alot just say, shalom. **
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Hello, Father, I’m a communicant of the Las Vegas Diocese. Can you please source the 24 priests arrested on molestation charges? I’ve lived here for seven years and traveled here and attended Mass here for nearly 16 (I’ve close friends that I visited, one the music director of our parish). In that time, I’ve only heard of one priest (the former pastor at Saint Peter’s in Henderson).
 
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JKirkLVNV:
Hello, Father, I’m a communicant of the Las Vegas Diocese. Can you please source the 24 priests arrested on molestation charges? I’ve lived here for seven years and traveled here and attended Mass here for nearly 16 (I’ve close friends that I visited, one the music director of our parish). In that time, I’ve only heard of one priest (the former pastor at Saint Peter’s in Henderson).
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well, this was over the years and mostly chat between
church staff, priests, brothers and nuns. alot gos on that is not for the public to worry about.
 
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FrCorey:
well, this was over the years and mostly chat between
church staff, priests, brothers and nuns. alot gos on that is not for the public to worry about.
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I see. Thank you, Father.
 
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FrCorey:
well, this was over the years and mostly chat between
church staff, priests, brothers and nuns. alot gos on that is not for the public to worry about.
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Father, Are you serious? “arrested on molestation charges” but “not for the public to worry about?” On what planet have you spent the last four years? :banghead:

Anna
 
Anna Elizabeth:
Father, Are you serious? “arrested on molestation charges” but “not for the public to worry about?” On what planet have you spent the last four years? :banghead:

Anna
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I’m on Benedict’s World.
we do and say what we are told.
or our next job is as a friar, a french friar…
 
**The thread topic: Priests not wearing their collars in public

Those wishing to discuss other topics may feel free to initiate or join an ongoing discussion on them.

Thanks for your help.**
 
One of our parish’s priest is from Nigeria and wears dashikis.
In public one wouldn’t really know he’s a cleric much less a Catholic one. I’ve always wondered if he would be identifiable as a priest in Nigeria, if his type of dashiki was a clerical one that Nigerian Catholics would recognize…I’ve always wanted to ask him, but feel it would be disrespectful to bring it up.
 
I must confess, I did not read the entire thread, so I may repeat someone. In any case…I just don’t remember Pope John Paul II, when “Off Duty” skiing, wearing anything BUT Clerical garb. Also, I guess no one ever told Mother Theresa she had the “day off”, because I don’t recall her not in her clerical garb.

And I guess going a step further, if we as what ever calling we say we have, need time to get “away” from the calling, then I guess it might not be called that, it would be called a “job”.

Just an observation.
 
One of our parish’s priest is from Nigeria and wears dashikis. In public one wouldn’t really know he’s a cleric much less a Catholic one. I’ve always wondered if he would be identifiable as a priest in Nigeria, if his type of dashiki was a clerical one that Nigerian Catholics would recognize…I’ve always wanted to ask him, but feel it would be disrespectful to bring it up.
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What is a “dashikis”? I assume it is some sort of native African garment.

That is odd though, I’ve seen many visiting priests from Africa and the Caribbean (all really good priests too) and they always wear clerics.
 
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jbuck919:
Thus it is not only in Saudi Arabia where a priest would not be allowed to dress clerically, but even in an allegedly Catholic country like Mexico.
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Are you saying even in Mexico priests do not wear the Roman collar?
 
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