Servers Wearing Amice's

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I frequently serve Mass at my local parish where the servers wear one of these hooded alb things that don’t look the best. I usually wear a collared shirt and this protrudes out of the alb and is clearly visible which makes me look a bit untidy. So my question is can I, a server, wear a amice, because it is a Priestly vestment? The Priest and Deacon at my parish never wear amice’s therefore I might have to buy my own.
 
Yes, you could. An amice is no longer obligatory, it’s just used when the alb does not cover the street clothes, which is exactly your issue.

I would suggest, however, that you check out this: almy.com/Product/36177/category/AlbsForMen/parent/ClergyApparel-Man

I use one myself for the problem you described, it’s like a very short rabat, all white, with a raised collar. Accomplishes the same thing as an amice, without the tying. Also, doesn’t need constant washing and ironing, like an amice.

God bless,
 
Anyone wearing an alb should wear an amice if their regular clothing is showing over the alb. If I were in your situation, I’d go with a traditional amice, but really anything that covers up your clothing would work.

From GIRM 119:

All who wear an alb should use a cincture and an amice unless, due to the form of the alb, they are not needed.

And GIRM 336:

The sacred garment common to ordained and instituted ministers of any rank is the alb, to
be tied at the waist with a cincture unless it is made so as to fit even without such. Before the alb is put on, should this not completely cover the ordinary clothing at the neck, an amice should be put on.
 
Or you could simply fold your collar in? I do it all the time.
 
FAH said:
I frequently serve Mass at my local parish where the servers wear one of these hooded alb things that don’t look the best. I usually wear a collared shirt and this protrudes out of the alb and is clearly visible which makes me look a bit untidy. So my question is can I, a server, wear a amice, because it is a Priestly vestment? The Priest and Deacon at my parish never wear amice’s therefore I might have to buy my own.
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Some more things:

Some Amices

Not only are you allowed to wear an amice, if your clothes are sticking through,** you are obligated**.

Check out my link above, they don’t seem outrageous. I would just buy one.
 
When you go into the sacristy to put on your alb, simply take off your collar shirt and just wear a plain white t-shirt underneath. You do not need, nor should you be wearing, an amice.
 
I have the job of cleaning albs for Altar Servers. If you can keep your bare neck out of contact with the collar or hood of the alb you wear, someone will be thankful.

You could wear an amice. Like the alb, the cassock, and the surplice, while it is worn by priests it is not a garment forbidden the laity (such as the stole and the chasuble are). Except to politely keep your bare neck out of contact with a garment that is harder to clean than an amice, you don’t need one. Priests cannot allow the collars of their street clothes to show, but Altar Servers are allowed to do so.

Honestly, if you choose shirts for altar serving that have collars that are unobtrusive up against the alb (especially white for white, dark neutral colors up against brown, that kind of thing) you will be doing fine. Plaid and stripes aren’t as aesthetically pleasing, but as long as a pattern in the shirt itself doesn’t show through, IMHO it is even permissible to have a pattern in a collar that shows. If you choose a shirt with a collar that buttons down or use a mirror to tuck down the collar of a shirt with a freed collar, it should be sufficiently tidy.

Mostly, be sure you do not let any judgements grow in your heart concerning other servers who merely follow the rules given by the person(s) with authority over them. It is not spiritually safe to have laudable standards that also tempt you into spiritual pride. True virtue before anything else, that is the main thing.
 
EasterJoy said:
I have the job of cleaning albs for Altar Servers. If you can keep your bare neck out of contact with the collar or hood of the alb you wear, someone will be thankful.

You could wear an amice. Like the alb, the cassock, and the surplice, while it is worn by priests it is not a garment forbidden the laity (such as the stole and the chasuble are). Except to politely keep your bare neck out of contact with a garment that is harder to clean than an amice, you don’t need one. Priests cannot allow the collars of their street clothes to show, but Altar Servers are allowed to do so.
Actually, they aren’t. Check out GIRM 336 and 119 below. The GIRM is quite clear that anyone showing street clothes over their alb needs an amice, whoever they are…

Honestly, if you choose shirts for altar serving that have collars that are unobtrusive up against the alb (especially white for white, dark neutral colors up against brown, that kind of thing) you will be doing fine. Plaid and stripes aren’t as aesthetically pleasing, but as long as a pattern in the shirt itself doesn’t show through, IMHO it is even permissible to have a pattern in a collar that shows. If you choose a shirt with a collar that buttons down or use a mirror to tuck down the collar of a shirt with a freed collar, it should be sufficiently tidy.
Agreed.

Mostly, be sure you do not let any judgements grow in your heart concerning other servers who merely follow the rules given by the person(s) with authority over them. It is not spiritually safe to have laudable standards that also tempt you into spiritual pride. True virtue before anything else, that is the main thing.
Agreed, but don’t forget this is more than a “laudable” standard. It should be the standard
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336.The sacred garment common to ordained and instituted ministers of any rank is the alb, to be tied at the waist with a cincture unless it is made so as to fit even without such. Before the alb is put on, should this not completely cover the ordinary clothing at the neck, an amice should be put on.

Note that it mentions the alb, and says that street clothes should not show. It doesn’t just say it about priest.
  1. … All who wear an alb should use … an amice unless, due to the form of the alb, they are not needed.
    It says that they should an amice, unless it’s not needed. Since the primary purpose of the amice is to cover street clothes, then it would be needed if the “form of the alb” showed street clothes. Note how it also portrays the amice as the norm, not the exception.
 
TheMc said:
336.The sacred garment common to ordained and instituted ministers of any rank is the alb, to be tied at the waist with a cincture unless it is made so as to fit even without such. Before the alb is put on, should this not completely cover the ordinary clothing at the neck, an amice should be put on.

Note that it mentions the alb, and says that street clothes should not show. It doesn’t just say it about priest.
  1. … All who wear an alb should use … an amice unless, due to the form of the alb, they are not needed.
    It says that they should an amice, unless it’s not needed. Since the primary purpose of the amice is to cover street clothes, then it would be needed if the “form of the alb” showed street clothes. Note how it also portrays the amice as the norm, not the exception.
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You may be absolutely correct. The only possible hole I see in your analysis is that altar servers are not instituted ministers. This is why females and children may be altar servers.
  1. The liturgical duties that are not proper to the priest or the deacon and are listed above (cf. nos. 100-106) may also be entrusted by a liturgical blessing or a temporary deputation to suitable lay persons chosen by the pastor or rector of the church.89 All should observe the norms established by the Bishop for his diocese regarding the office of those who serve the priest at the altar.
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I think GIRM 107 puts the norms for altar servers who are not instituted acolytes under the jurisdiction of the local ordinary. Therefore, while a seminarian who happens to actually be a true instituted acolyte would be required to use an amice as you describe, I don’t think it is entirely clear that the same applies to lay altar servers.
 
EasterJoy said:
You may be absolutely correct. The only possible hole I see in your analysis is that altar servers are not instituted ministers. This is why females and children may be altar servers.

I think GIRM 107 puts the norms for altar servers who are not instituted acolytes under the jurisdiction of the local ordinary. Therefore, while a seminarian who happens to actually be a true instituted acolyte would be required to use an amice as you describe, I don’t think it is entirely clear that the same applies to lay altar servers.
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But look at 119. It says all who wear the alb should wear one, if needed.

Re: GIRM 107: Unless the bishop says otherwise, you should assume that the “regular” non-acolyte servers should follow the same procedures, because altar servers are really just filling in for acolytes.
 
Note that there is no requirement for servers even to be vested. It is tradition that they are, but it is not required.

US GIRM
339. In the dioceses of the United States of America, acolytes, altar servers, lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing.

key word: may.
 
Aramis said:
Note that there is no requirement for servers even to be vested. It is tradition that they are, but it is not required.

US GIRM
339. In the dioceses of the United States of America, acolytes, altar servers, lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing.

key word: may.
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Right, but that may only imply that if the altar server cannot be properly vested, he or she ought not wear an alb at all.

This isn’t an issue in our parish, because we have albs with collars that cover the collars of street clothes. Still, it would imply that the dress code for altar servers ought to stipulate that no street clothes be worn that can be seen at the neckline of the alb.
 
TheMc said:
I should point out that the amice is usually used when you have this kind of alb (look at the neck):

http://www.nechurchsupplies.com/communities/3/004/007/015/483/images/4537784009.jpg

These types of albs are the standard usage for an amice. Yes, it can be used with any alb, but that is the normal usage, at least the way I see it.
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Yes thats what I call a proper alb for a Priest.

The alb I wear looks a bit like this vanpoulles.co.uk/ProductView.ink?Row_ID=1975&pcode=2004&category=16&SubCategory=48&pcategory=Albs%20&manufacturer=&subcategory=Albs An the collar of my shirt sticks out round the front.

I suppose the obvious answer would be not to wear a collared shirt but A, most of my clothes polo shirts ect… have collars that protrude out of the alb and B I try and dress smartly to attend the Sacrifice of the Mass and don’t like wearing casual clothes.
 
FAH said:
Yes thats what I call a proper alb for a Priest.

The alb I wear looks a bit like this vanpoulles.co.uk/ProductView.ink?Row_ID=1975&pcode=2004&category=16&SubCategory=48&pcategory=Albs%20&manufacturer=&subcategory=Albs An the collar of my shirt sticks out round the front.

I suppose the obvious answer would be not to wear a collared shirt but A, most of my clothes polo shirts ect… have collars that protrude out of the alb and B I try and dress smartly to attend the Sacrifice of the Mass and don’t like wearing casual clothes.
Click to expand...
If you can’t buy an amice to wear, I would do this:

When you go to Mass, first put on a white tee shirt, or undershirt, then put on your dress shirt. When you arrive in the sacristy, take of the dress shirt, and put on the alb. Tada! It does the trick for me.
 
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