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CarrieH
Guest
I can’t tell you how many times I have wished I could throw a choir robe on some of the people I see scantily (un)dressed at Mass! And they aren’t even in the choir!
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Sarabande
Guest
Our choir wore robes up until a couple of years ago. The choir no longer wears them because the former robes were so old, shabby and made of polyester. When you get 30-50 people up in the loft, it got very hot and some people would sometimes start to faint. The polyester wasn’t a help. I believe they will eventually get robes again - ones made of cotton or something more breathable, but right now, that is not something that is on the priority list in terms of finances.
I have been to other parishes where the choirs also wear robes. But there are others where they don’t. I believe it depends on the parish and the finances.
I have been to other parishes where the choirs also wear robes. But there are others where they don’t. I believe it depends on the parish and the finances.
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thann
Guest
In the case of my current parish, we didn’t have robes until 3 or 4 years ago because the parish couldn’t afford them. A generous person donated the money specifically for robes, and I am thankful they did!
'thann
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Andreas_Hofer
Guest
I would really love to hear from the “more experienced” among us about choirs’ attire before Vatican II. The parish in which I grew up, for instance, has a small supply of brown choir robes with cinctures that looked a lot like monastic habits, but they were never once used in my lifetime. I know that since singing in the choir used to be a clerical role it would have made perfect sense for laymen to wear clerical attire while filling the role, just as altar boys have traditionally been accorded the cassock and surplice. When you throw women into the mix, though, it makes less sense, since they don’t ever wear clerical dress - so in a mixed choir there would either be a lack of uniformity or the clerical garb (i.e. robes) would need to be discarded. Which may be why we don’t see them in the vast majority of churches nowadays.
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imacountrylass
Guest
I am in the choir at my parish, and we are robed for every Sunday Mass. I think our director said it was for uniformity and it’s also to guard against distraction, as some clothes have the potential to attract our eyes. I love it in the winter because they keep us warm 
especially outside for Easter vigil this year because of the snow! I think it adds a sort of reference too, to show that where we are and what we are doing is special and means something.
especially outside for Easter vigil this year because of the snow! I think it adds a sort of reference too, to show that where we are and what we are doing is special and means something.
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Andrewcarey
Guest
nice…
My Parish Church is never robed but I dunno why but they should be in robed.
My Parish Church is never robed but I dunno why but they should be in robed.
I am in the choir at my parish, and we are robed for every Sunday Mass. I think our director said it was for uniformity and it’s also to guard against distraction, as some clothes have the potential to attract our eyes. I love it in the winter because they keep us warm
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puzzleannie
Guest
when the Mariachis play, sing and cantor for some Masses at the Basilica they are in traditional charro uniforms, in the correct liturgical color. Our choirs are in name only, not real choirs with leaders and practices, so no special dress, but in general Father requires dress clothes for all those on or near the altar who have a role in the Mass, so men wear suits, women dresses, and all servers, adult or youth, wear albs. the Cathedral choirs from Corpus Christi usually wear robes, except the Schola wear choir dress.
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RosalieM
Guest
I’m a choir member in our parish (Catholic) and we always wear robes with the “stoles” that go over our robes and have a crucifix on them. The stoles are removed during Advent and Lent…but we always wear the robes. I am so very glad of that. 
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Andreas_Hofer
Guest
I just ran across this the other day on The New Liturgical Movement, and thought these portions about the rise of (and consequent changes necessitated by) the mixed gender choir might shed analogous light on my speculation as to the disappearance of choir robes. A schola in which men can act in the traditional clerical function is a different beast from a mixed choir that rules out that possibility. Change in position in church, also change in dress.
During the Baroque period, the placement of the choir (meaning the people) was forcibly and drastically changed when mixed choirs of men and women replaced scholas formed of men and boys (males) in order to accommodate the operatic music that unfortunately came into vogue (and which subsequently was thankfully prescribed under St. Pius X’s reform of sacred music). As women were prohibited from the sanctuary during the liturgical services, the placement of the choir (people) was required to be shifted outside of the sanctuary, thus the creation of the choir loft, of which formerly, the only such structure in a church was normally an organ loft.
. . .
*
It was Pope St. Pius X per his motu proprio on the restoration of sacred music (Tra le sollecitudini), particularly of Gregorian chant, who worked to have mixed choirs replaced by actual scholas of men and boys (a desire reiterated by Pope Pius XII in his decree on sacred music in the liturgy in 1958), who as males, could exercise this role as a liturgical office as was intended (i.e., vested in cassock and surplice and situated within the sanctuary). The women meanwhile, could of course sing the Kyriale and other hymns from their proper places in the pews (obviously an exception exists for female religious in their own convents). There were some tolerances made as to mixed choirs and even women executing the propers (clearly stated for extraordinary situations only), but again, these were supposed to be exceptions to the rule, not the norm.*
*thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2008/03/choir-loft-question.html
During the Baroque period, the placement of the choir (meaning the people) was forcibly and drastically changed when mixed choirs of men and women replaced scholas formed of men and boys (males) in order to accommodate the operatic music that unfortunately came into vogue (and which subsequently was thankfully prescribed under St. Pius X’s reform of sacred music). As women were prohibited from the sanctuary during the liturgical services, the placement of the choir (people) was required to be shifted outside of the sanctuary, thus the creation of the choir loft, of which formerly, the only such structure in a church was normally an organ loft.
. . .
*
It was Pope St. Pius X per his motu proprio on the restoration of sacred music (Tra le sollecitudini), particularly of Gregorian chant, who worked to have mixed choirs replaced by actual scholas of men and boys (a desire reiterated by Pope Pius XII in his decree on sacred music in the liturgy in 1958), who as males, could exercise this role as a liturgical office as was intended (i.e., vested in cassock and surplice and situated within the sanctuary). The women meanwhile, could of course sing the Kyriale and other hymns from their proper places in the pews (obviously an exception exists for female religious in their own convents). There were some tolerances made as to mixed choirs and even women executing the propers (clearly stated for extraordinary situations only), but again, these were supposed to be exceptions to the rule, not the norm.*
*thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2008/03/choir-loft-question.html
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muffinmojo
Guest
My church’s choir always has robes-plain white albs. The only church I’ve been to that didn’t have a robed choir also had the choir in the sanctuary behind the altar, had most of the Mass led by a woman lay-person, and so on. I get a bad feeling when I hear of churches that don’t have robed choirs(or churches that have altar servers wearing albs, ick) for that reason.
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DIT
Guest
Liturgically speaking, by your Baptism you are entitled to wear an white robe or alb. It represents the white garment placed on you in your Baptism. Stoles of any sort are not proper vestments for the laypeople as they signify clerical status (deacons, priests, bishops).
If you have a function in the liturgy (reader, acolyte, EMHC, etc.) you could wear a white alb. It is the always advisable to receive permission from your pastor or ordinary.
God bless -
If you have a function in the liturgy (reader, acolyte, EMHC, etc.) you could wear a white alb. It is the always advisable to receive permission from your pastor or ordinary.
God bless -
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RosalieM
Guest
I just finished about a half-hour’s searching on the internet and there is a difference in a choir stole and a stole worn by the clergy. The choir stole is a v-shaped collar-like piece that goes over the head and rests on the robe. From what I saw it looks like most of them have a crucifix in the middle of the “v” in front, like the ones we wear. Perhaps they shouldn’t be called “stoles”.
Pax et Bonum
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RosalieM
Guest
I couldn’t edit my last post. I guess to much time had passed, but I’d like to add something.
It’s the women who wear the “v” shaped apparel. The men in our choir wear what looks like a thin version of the clergy stole. I still think it’s not the same thing, though, as they are specified as “choir stoles”. Also, I’m learning a few things about clergy vestments and the terms for various vestments. Quite interesting.
It’s the women who wear the “v” shaped apparel. The men in our choir wear what looks like a thin version of the clergy stole. I still think it’s not the same thing, though, as they are specified as “choir stoles”. Also, I’m learning a few things about clergy vestments and the terms for various vestments. Quite interesting.
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Andreas_Hofer
Guest
You should keep in mind that many vestment companies serve all sorts of denominations - if it’s called a stole, and especially if it looks like a priest’s (i.e. two strips hanging down the front), then it shouldn’t be worn by a non-cleric.
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RosalieM
Guest
The men’s apparel is like that. What to do?
I don’t want to make waves and draw attention to myself. An anonymous letter to our archbishop?
I don’t want to make waves and draw attention to myself. An anonymous letter to our archbishop?
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CarolAnnSFO
Guest
At my previous parish, we wore robes. They had been donated by one of the parish groups (Ladies’ Guild? I don’t remember.) They were bright blue polyester – no dry cleaning bills (throw them in the wash). They were hot, but in this climate, that isn’t a problem for most of the year. In that church, the choir was located in a special space in front, next to the sanctuary.
In my current parish, we don’t wear robes. Nobody can see us, anyway. We sing in the choir loft, which is not only in the back of the church, but high up enough that you’d need binoculars to see up there.
In my current parish, we don’t wear robes. Nobody can see us, anyway. We sing in the choir loft, which is not only in the back of the church, but high up enough that you’d need binoculars to see up there.
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Spiller
Guest
That sounds like a “tippet.” A tippet is worn by some Anglican Protestants when they read, etc. Google it.I couldn’t edit my last post. I guess to much time had passed, but I’d like to add something.
It’s the women who wear the “v” shaped apparel. The men in our choir wear what looks like a thin version of the clergy stole. I still think it’s not the same thing, though, as they are specified as “choir stoles”. Also, I’m learning a few things about clergy vestments and the terms for various vestments. Quite interesting.
I agree with the others, it would be totally inappropriate in a Catholic parish for a layperson to wear a tippet.
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down_under
Guest
just as a side note color is also very important. It should always be black and white. according to the catholic dictionary red should never be “tolorated” there word not mine.
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RosalieM
Guest
Note to Lollergirl:
I can’t access your private message to me.
I can’t access your private message to me.
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Crumpy
Guest
I like the Fraciscan brown robes that the choir uses at EWTN Masses. It was a rare day, but once I saw an athletic shoe sticking out from under one of those robes.
In my parish, once in a while there is a female altar server who not only distinguishes herself with head scarves that contradict the server’s humble uniform, but this one in particular spends half of her time stroking and fluffing her hair, to make sure she is noticed, no doubt. AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH. What is the point, except to be disruptive, obviously?
In my parish, once in a while there is a female altar server who not only distinguishes herself with head scarves that contradict the server’s humble uniform, but this one in particular spends half of her time stroking and fluffing her hair, to make sure she is noticed, no doubt. AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH. What is the point, except to be disruptive, obviously?
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