Vestments at Mass

[benedictgal]

Not to further muddy the waters, but, this is what Redemptionis Sacramentum notes about liturgical vestments:

1. Liturgical Vesture
   [121.] “The purpose of a variety of color of the sacred vestments is to give effective expression even outwardly to the specific character of the mysteries of faith being celebrated and to a sense of Christian life’s passage through the course of the liturgical year”.210 On the other hand, the variety "of offices in the celebration of the Eucharist is shown outwardly by the diversity of sacred vestments. In fact, these “sacred vestments should also contribute to the beauty of the sacred action itself”.211

[122.] “The alb” is “to be tied at the waist with a cincture unless it is made so as to fit even without a cincture. Before the alb is put on, if it does not completely cover the ordinary clothing at the neck, an amice should be put on”.212

[123.] “The vestment proper to the Priest celebrant at Mass, and in other sacred actions directly connected with Mass unless otherwise indicated, is the chasuble, worn over the alb and stole”.213 Likewise the Priest, in putting on the chasuble according to the rubrics, is not to omit the stole. All Ordinaries should be vigilant in order that all usage to the contrary be eradicated.

[124.] A faculty is given in the Roman Missal for the Priest concelebrants at Mass other than the principal concelebrant (who should always put on a chasuble of the prescribed color), for a just reason such as a large number of concelebrants or a lack of vestments, to omit “the chasuble, using the stole over the alb”.214 Where a need of this kind can be foreseen, however, provision should be made for it insofar as possible. Out of necessity the concelebrants other than the principal celebrant may even put on white chasubles. For the rest, the norms of the liturgical books are to be observed.

[125.] The proper vestment of the Deacon is the dalmatic, to be worn over an alb and stole. In order that the beautiful tradition of the Church may be preserved, it is praiseworthy to refrain from exercising the option of omitting the dalmatic.215

[126.] The abuse is reprobated whereby the sacred ministers celebrate Holy Mass or other rites without sacred vestments or with only a stole over the monastic cowl or the common habit of religious or ordinary clothes, contrary to the prescriptions of the liturgical books, even when there is only one minister participating.216 In order that such abuses be corrected as quickly as possible, Ordinaries should take care that in all churches and oratories subject to their jurisdiction there is present an adequate supply of liturgical vestments made in accordance with the norms.

[127.] A special faculty is given in the liturgical books for using sacred vestments that are festive or more noble on more solemn occasions, even if they are not of the color of the day.217 However, this faculty, which is specifically intended in reference to vestments made many years ago, with a view to preserving the Church’s patrimony, is improperly extended to innovations by which forms and colors are adopted according to the inclination of private individuals, with disregard for traditional practice, while the real sense of this norm is lost to the detriment of the tradition. On the occasion of a feast day, sacred vestments of a gold or silver color can be substituted as appropriate for others of various colors, but not for purple or black.

[128.] Holy Mass and other liturgical celebrations, which are acts of Christ and of the people of God hierarchically constituted, are ordered in such a way that the sacred ministers and the lay faithful manifestly take part in them each according to his own condition. It is preferable therefore that “Priests who are present at a Eucharistic Celebration, unless excused for a good reason, should as a rule exercise the office proper to their Order and thus take part as concelebrants, wearing the sacred vestments. Otherwise, they wear their proper choir dress or a surplice over a cassock”.218 It is not fitting, except in rare and exceptional cases and with reasonable cause, for them to participate at Mass, as regards to externals, in the manner of the lay faithful.

I hope this helps.

 

[japhy]

I was quoting G&S’s quote of the GIRM.

My apologies.

How is the decision made as to whether a particular occasion or Mass is sufficiently “solemn” to warrant the use of incense and/or the vesting of the deacon in a dalmatic?

You’d have to ask the priests and bishops (and their directors of liturgy), I suppose.

 

[EasterJoy]

At mass an ALB, STOLE, and CHASUBLE ARE REQUIRED… unless there are extenuating circumstances i.e… the battlefield. If the preist can put on an alb and stole, he can most certainly put on an appropriate chasuble. Now, for concelebrating priest an alb and stole are sufficient.

Did you mean i.e., the battlefield, or e.g., the battlefield? I don’t think the extenuating circumstances are usually interpreted so narrowly by bishops as to use “id est”.

Bishops are to see that all the churches and oratories are supplied with vestments, but sometimes for the purpose of being practically available to the faithful, daily Mass is held at non-church, non-battlefield venues that don’t own any vestments.

Being able to put on a chasuble requires having one, so it is very possible to be able to put on alb and stole and yet unable to put on a chasuble. Many if not most priests own an alb and stoles, but chasubles are expensive, particularly those suitable for Mass. Even if a priest owns his own, constantly dragging them around in a garment bag will eventually render them unbecoming for their use, and he will be back at square one.

If a priest doesn’t own his own chasuble and is at a venue that cannot furnish him any, at any rate, I would argue that that is an extenuating circumstance.

 

[Mattapoisett64]

The GIRM sees a dalmatic at Mass normative for the deacon but it may be omitted for the purpose of less solemnity.

Just curious; Why do deacons never vest with a dalmatic? And why would there be a “purpose of less somlemnity?” I had never seen a dalmatic until attending a solemn Tridentine Mass recently.

As a practical matter, I think much of this is because - at least in our diocese in Massachusetts - if a deacon wants a dalmatic, he has to buy it himself. I know maybe 30 deacons around here, and only one had his parish buy a dalmatic, and that was to match a new set of vestments bought by and for the pastor. Otherwise, the deacons are on their own. Our deacon has a full set of dalmatics in each liturgical color (except rose), and he bought each of them himself at maybe $400 - $500 each, but he is relatively well off. The only place around here where dalmatics are supplied is the cathedral, and those only for occasions where white/gold are the liturgical colors.

On a related note, I am aware of at least one parish around here where the pastor told his deacon not to wear his dalmatic, because doing so would - in the pastor’s mind - “confuse the people” and make the deacon “too much like a priest.”

 

[mosher]

On a related note, I am aware of at least one parish around here where the pastor told his deacon not to wear his dalmatic, because doing so would - in the pastor’s mind - “confuse the people” and make the deacon “too much like a priest.”

This is a perfect example of the neo-clericism. What this priest is really saying is either:

1. I’m to lazy/incompetent to explain the liturgical signs of the Church.
2. The faithful are too stupid to tell the difference between a priest and a deacon.

I find such a disposition insulting.

 

[Phemie]

As a practical matter, I think much of this is because - at least in our diocese in Massachusetts - if a deacon wants a dalmatic, he has to buy it himself. I know maybe 30 deacons around here, and only one had his parish buy a dalmatic, and that was to match a new set of vestments bought by and for the pastor.

I think you have hit the nail on the head. We have no dalmatics in our vestment closet. Permanent deacons are as rare as hen’s teeth in our neck of the woods so it wouldn’t be good stewardship to invest in a set of dalmatics. If you were going to spend big bucks on vestments I’d rather invest in a rose chasuble than a green dalmatic because the chasuble would be worn twice a year whereas the dalmatic would probably not be worn in 10 years.