Rules for priests/bishops when wearing vestments and lay vesture of a different rite?

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Thomas48

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Does anyone know the rules that are applied when priests and or bishops wear the vestments/lay dress of other rites? For example can a Latin Rite priest per say wear Maronite vestments during Latin Mass or must they be con-celebrating a Maronite Qurbono? Also if a priest is taking part in a different rites liturgy is it a must to wear that rites vestments? I ask because I have seen many Latin and Syro Malabar priests con-celebrate while retaining there own vesture.

I was intrigued when I saw a picture of the bishops of Kottayam (East Syriac Catholic Archeparchy) in West Syriac vestments and lay vesture. Mar Matthew Moolakkattu (Knanaya Catholic Bishop in the middle) in the picture below is taking part in a Knanaya Jacobite (Syriac Orthodox Qurbana) and wearing their vesture. The second image is of Mar Jacob Pandaraserry (Auxiliary Bishop of Kottayam) celebrating a Syro Malankara Catholic Qurbana.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd....3dee44fe7a70383e75df6673c28e4016&oe=55B1DC43&gda=1437718389_d1cca9e8e9f260bc48b503e62092d2ee

https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/h...=d261800cc865e9d5485c8bb9959592f3&oe=559F43F2
 
I believe it is given that concelebrating clergy members would vest according to their own rite, unless the clergy member were granted bi-ritual faculties.
 
The first image, it seems appropriate if Mar Mathew was celebrating the Malankara Liturgical Rites. It would be just as ok if he kept his East Syriac vestments as well, but since the Knanaya community in Syro-Malabar Church has both Liturgical families, it is understandable.

As to the second picture, I’m a little uncomfortable with it. His Grace was not consecrated to the monastic orders with the eskimo. Was he a monk prior to his elevation, or a diocesan priest? If the latter, it would be inappropriate to dress as a monk. However, it would be as incorrect for His Grace to wear the Malankara/Syriac episcopal vestments without the eskeem, since all bishops are monks in the Malankara/Syriac Churches. With that said, I don’t know, but it doesn’t “feel right”.
 
ByzCathCantor said:
I believe it is given that concelebrating clergy members would vest according to their own rite, unless the clergy member were granted bi-ritual faculties.
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Right. Some years back my pastor had occasion to con-celebrate at a Maronite wedding. We checked at the time; the rule was that he was to wear his Western vestments.
 
they wear their own unless they are bi-ritual (I think bi-ritual priests have their choice)

And if it’s the Pope, he can do whatever he wants. 🙂
 
We had a Byzantine priest friend concelebrate our Syriac wedding at a Latin parish, he wore Byzantine vestments, the Latin priest stood at the side and wore the cassock as they were not concelebrating. At our friend’s wedding, one Syro-Malabar priest wore the Malankara vestment with permission from the Malankara bishop; the rest wore the vestments of their appropriate Church.

Another example, one of our Malankara Syriac bishops filled in while in Germany to celebrate the Roman Mass at the nearby parish. He wore his Malankara Syriac vestment while celebrating the Roman Mass.
 
phil19034 said:
they wear their own unless they are bi-ritual (I think bi-ritual priests have their choice)
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Yes. While this is somewhat rare, bi-ritual faculties may also be granted on an ad-hoc basis for a particular occasion. In such a case, the priest may vest according to the norms of the other Ritual Church for that service only.
phil19034 said:
And if it’s the Pope, he can do whatever he wants. 🙂
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I suppose one could say that but it presents several problems. By way of an extreme example, how about offering Mass in a Speedo? :eek: You see what I mean.

The pope is, as ByzCathCantor has already noted, omni-ritual, which means he may celebrate Mass according to any Rite, but it doesn’t really speak to the matter of vesture. For example, in the recent thread about the [thread=955813]Armenians[/thread], the link in the OP shows that Mass was celebrated according to the Roman Rite Novus Ordo with the pope wearing the usual Roman vestments. Had it been Soorp Badarak according to the Armenian Rite, he would have been vested accordingly in Armenian vestments. Now, had Mass been according to the Armenian Rite with HB Nerses Bedros celebrating and the pope presiding from the throne, he would have worn the usual papal choir robes.
 
ByzCathCantor said:
Or perhaps more formally put, the Pope is omni-ritual.
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Actually, the Pope is a-ritual. As Supreme Pontiff he is not bound by any ecclesiastical law, he is only bound by the moral law. He can choose whatever vestment he wants because he is Pope. He can eat a pound of bacon during Mass and then receive communion if he wants. He just dispenses himself from the fast. He can wash feet of women at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. He can do many things.

However, the question then becomes: should he? In most cases, the answer is that he shouldn’t even though he can because it would cause all sorts of confusion and set a bad example.
 
Windmill said:
Actually, the Pope is a-ritual.
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The Pope’s official title is:

Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God

First and foremost, he is Bishop of Rome, a diocese of the Latin Church. He is also Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, again of the Latin Church. How could he therefore be “aritual” (meaning of no primary rite)?
 
Thomas48 said:
Does anyone know the rules that are applied when priests and or bishops wear the vestments/lay dress of other rites? For example can a Latin Rite priest per say wear Maronite vestments during Latin Mass or must they be con-celebrating a Maronite Qurbono? Also if a priest is taking part in a different rites liturgy is it a must to wear that rites vestments? I ask because I have seen many Latin and Syro Malabar priests con-celebrate while retaining there own vesture. …
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Bi-ritual and adaptation of rite, indults, allow wearing a different vestment than the sui iuris Church of enrollment. Without an indult, the following apply:
CCEO Canon 701 - A concelebration between bishops and presbyters of different Churches sui iuris for a just cause, especially that of fostering charity, and for the sake of manifesting unity between the Churches, can be done with the permission of the eparchial bishop, while observing all the prescriptions of the liturgical books of the principal celebrant, having removed any liturgical syncretism and wearing the appropriate vestments and insignia of his own Church sui iuris.

**CIC Canon **929 - In celebrating and administering the Eucharist, priests and deacons are to wear the sacred vestments prescribed by the rubrics.
 
SyroMalankara said:
As to the second picture, I’m a little uncomfortable with it. His Grace was not consecrated to the monastic orders with the eskimo. Was he a monk prior to his elevation, or a diocesan priest? If the latter, it would be inappropriate to dress as a monk. However, it would be as incorrect for His Grace to wear the Malankara/Syriac episcopal vestments without the eskeem, since all bishops are monks in the Malankara/Syriac Churches. With that said, I don’t know, but it doesn’t “feel right”.
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Ah I see, yes Mar Jose was a diocesan priest before his ordination to the bishopric. I guess the whole situation can get confusing when rules for vesture vary from the rite of origin to the rite of special use.

Thanks for the great replies everyone. Do these same rules apply for Catholic priests when celebrating and or taking part Orthodox liturgies? In the first image of Mar Matthew, His Beatitude is actually taking part in an Knanaya Jacobite (Syriac Orthodox) celebration and not a West Syriac Rite Catholic celebration. We have a level of personal communion between the Orthodox and Catholic Knanaya diocese’, however I’m not sure if this situation was reflecting off of that or official rules of vesture when taking part in Orthodox liturgies.

Whatever the case, I think it is great to see such an awesome level of communion between the different Sui Juris churches. I would think it is an amazing feeling for a priest to vest in the attire/vestments of a different rite. If anyone would like to share pictures of priests and especially hierarchs in alternative vesture besides their own, please do!
 
Thomas48 said:
Ah I see, yes Mar Jose was a diocesan priest before his ordination to the bishopric. I guess the whole situation can get confusing when rules for vesture vary from the rite of origin to the rite of special use.

Thanks for the great replies everyone. Do these same rules apply for Catholic priests when celebrating and or taking part Orthodox liturgies? In the first image of Mar Matthew, His Beatitude is actually taking part in an Knanaya Jacobite (Syriac Orthodox) celebration and not a West Syriac Rite Catholic celebration. We have a level of personal communion between the Orthodox and Catholic Knanaya diocese’, however I’m not sure if this situation was reflecting off of that or official rules of vesture when taking part in Orthodox liturgies.

Whatever the case, I think it is great to see such an awesome level of communion between the different Sui Juris churches. I would think it is an amazing feeling for a priest to vest in the attire/vestments of a different rite. If anyone would like to share pictures of priests and especially hierarchs in alternative vesture besides their own, please do!
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CCEO** Canon 702** Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Divine Liturgy with non-Catholic priests or ministers.

CIC Canon 908 Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of Churches or ecclesial communities which are not in full communion with the catholic Church.
 
Vico said:
CCEO** Canon 702** Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Divine Liturgy with non-Catholic priests or ministers.

CIC Canon 908 Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of Churches or ecclesial communities which are not in full communion with the catholic Church.
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The pictured scene was definitely not a Divine Liturgy, it looks like some kind of blessing of an object, building or space with Morning or Evening prayer.
 
SyroMalankara said:
The pictured scene was definitely not a Divine Liturgy, it looks like some kind of blessing of an object, building or space with Morning or Evening prayer.
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Some non-sacramental liturgical worship is approved by the Church. Guidelines are below.
Code: 
                 **Pontifical Council for Christian Unity
                                March 25, 1993**
             **                                                      DIRECTORY FOR THE APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES AND NORMS ON ECUMENISM**
Sharing in Non-Sacramental Liturgical Worship
Code: 
                 116. By  liturgical worship is meant worship carried out according to books,  prescriptions and customs of a Church or ecclesial Community, presided  over by a minister or delegate of that Church or Community. This  liturgical worship may be of a non-sacramental kind, or may be the  celebration of one or more of the Christian sacraments. The concern here  is non-sacramental worship.

                 117. In some  situations, the official prayer of a Church may be preferred to  ecumenical services specially prepared for the occasion. Participation  in such celebrations as Morning or Evening Prayer, special vigils, etc.,  will enable people of different liturgical traditions Catholic, Eastern,  Anglican and Protestant to understand each other's community prayer  better and to share more deeply in traditions which often have developed  from common roots.

                 118. In  liturgical celebrations taking place in other Churches and ecclesial  Communities, Catholics are encouraged to take part in the psalms,  responses, hymns and common actions of the Church in which they are  guests. If invited by their hosts, they may read a lesson or preach.

                 119.  Regarding assistance at liturgical worship of this type, there should be  a meticulous regard for the sensibilities of the clergy and people of  all the Christian Communities concerned, as well as for local customs  which may vary according to time, place, persons and circumstances. In a  Catholic liturgical celebration, ministers of other Churches and  ecclesial Communities may have the place and liturgical honors proper to  their rank and their role, if this is judged desirable. Catholic clergy  invited to be present at a celebration of another Church or ecclesial  Community may wear the appropriate dress or insignia of their  ecclesiastical office, if it is agreeable to their hosts.

                 120. In the  prudent judgment of the local Ordinary, the funeral rites of the  Catholic Church may be granted to members of a non-Catholic Church or  ecclesial Community, unless it is evidently contrary to their will and  provided that their own minister is unavailable,123 and that the general provisions of Canon Law do not forbid it.124

                 121.  Blessings ordinarily given for the benefit of Catholics may also be  given to other Christians who request them, according to the nature and  object of the blessing. Public prayer for other Christians, living or  dead, and for the needs and intentions of other Churches and ecclesial  Communities and their spiritual heads may be offered during the litanies  and other invocations of a liturgical service, but not during the  Eucharistic Anaphora. Ancient Christian liturgical and ecclesiological  tradition permits the specific mention in the Eucharistic Anaphora only  of the names of persons who are in full communion with the Church  celebrating the Eucharist.
adoremus.org/EcumenismNorms.html
 
Thanks Vico, I beleive like SyroMalankara said it was just a blessing, I think of a new construction.
 
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