Vestments for altar server in Tridentine Mass

[Nils]

Dear friends,

I hope this is the right place to post my thread. If I made a mistake, please correct me!

I sometimes serve the altar in Mass, also the Tridentine Mass. In the new Mass I wear a white alb, but I have been told that I need a cassock made from wool in the Tridentine Mass.

My parish does not own a cassock for the altar server. I tried to look up some prizes to buy one, but the cheap ones were about 800 dollars, and at the moment that is a bit much for me to pay since I am still working my way through my last years of university.

So here are some questions: The Priest wants my help. When I am not there, the sisters of my parish gives him the responses instead, which is not good. But would it be better for me to serve in a nice suit for example, rather than in the alb? I have been told that they sometimes do that when they offer Mass for the military for example.

My beloved and always so helpful said she could make a cassock for me, she is very good with textiles. Do you know where I could find patterns and instructions for how it is made? This would be of such tremendous help!

Thank you in advance!

In Christ,
NilsPontus, Växjö Sweden

 

[johnnykins]

Dear friends,

I hope this is the right place to post my thread. If I made a mistake, please correct me!

I sometimes serve the altar in Mass, also the Tridentine Mass. In the new Mass I wear a white alb, but I have been told that I need a cassock made from wool in the Tridentine Mass.

My parish does not own a cassock for the altar server. I tried to look up some prizes to buy one, but the cheap ones were about 800 dollars, and at the moment that is a bit much for me to pay since I am still working my way through my last years of university.

So here are some questions: The Priest wants my help. When I am not there, the sisters of my parish gives him the responses instead, which is not good. But would it be better for me to serve in a nice suit for example, rather than in the alb? I have been told that they sometimes do that when they offer Mass for the military for example.

My beloved and always so helpful said she could make a cassock for me, she is very good with textiles. Do you know where I could find patterns and instructions for how it is made? This would be of such tremendous help!

Thank you in advance!

In Christ,
NilsPontus, Växjö Sweden

what you need is a surplice (called a cotta, i.e. a short surplice, in the Anglican church) and cassock. Whether you want wool or not is up to you. Here s a site that has surplices at about $50 and cassocks at about $80 - no idea what the quality is nor do i know what shipping costs might be to Sweden. stpatricksguild.com/browse.cfm/cassock-surplice/2,1862.html
Good luck - BTW I bet you could find used ones somewhere…

 

[EasterJoy]

Oh, goodness, choir dress for an altar server does not need to cost $800!!! That’s has to be a day-in-day-out street-quality cassock for a priest.

Black cotton or a cotton blend (which wears better, wrinkles less, but is sometimes hotter) with a zip-up front is fine; it doesn’t have to have 50 buttons up the front. I don’t think altar servers cassocks have had that luxury since zippers were invented. The surplice (cotta) can also be very simple, made from a shirt-weight white cloth…something on the order of a blouse weight. These used to be made from almost a handkerchief-weight cloth, although somewhat heavier than that. Have someone who sews look at pictures of what you want, and they’ll figure it out. The old ones had lace, but that is a nicety that is not vital.

If you’re buying, you can get a child-sized cassock for about $80; the adult size is a little over $100.
almy.com/Product2/ZC0002902/category/AcolyteRobesServerAlbs/parent/WebNav-ProductCategory

You can get a cotta for a little over $40; the adult size is $55.
almy.com/Product2/ZC0002916/category/AcolyteRobesServerAlbs/parent/WebNav-ProductCategory

Since you know someone who sews, there is a great lady who runs a altar linen and vestment-making website, churchlinens.com. Your seamstress can e-mail her. If she doesn’t have the answers, chances are that she’ll know someone who does.

The other possibility is to ask Father if the Altar Society will get something for the parish. The parish usually supplies these things, after all. The other people he may ask on your behalf are the ladies who go to the Tridentine Mass. I bet the adults who go would like to chip in to help get you (and your successors) into “the right thing”.

But don’t worry about wool and real linen. It’s not necessary, and if your sewing expert doesn’t find the right weight, it might give you more penance than you’d bargained for (because it would be so hot).

 

[YoungTradCath]

I would just wear an alb. You can find very cheap (albeit low quality, but for this it doesn’t really matter) cassocks in some places.

Help, anyone?

 

[Chatter163]

I am an adult, and I have never paid more than $48 for a cassock and the same amount for a surplice. You are looking in the wrong place. I use Tonini Church cupply.

 

[Nils]

Thank you so much for your responses!

An acquaintance of mine who runs one of the very few Catholics stores here in Sweden helped me to look up the prices. The 800 dollar one was the cheap kind, the suppliers were all located in Italy I think. Ordering from the US is a bit complicated because you need to pay extra taxes etc. when importing. But your country is a lot cheaper, I know this from travelling over there!

I think I will just let my beloved mother sew it for me, she is always happy to help! The “traditional ladies” of my parish hardly exist, normally we are only tops twenty people showing up for traditional Mass. The Missionaries of Charity sisters are the ones most excited about this form of worship, and they are “the poorest of the poor” so I do not think they have any money for me.

Anyway, thank you so much for all your help! I am sure the store who sells patterns will be of great help, EasterJoy!

 

[superamazingman]

Thank you so much for your responses!

An acquaintance of mine who runs one of the very few Catholics stores here in Sweden helped me to look up the prices. The 800 dollar one was the cheap kind, the suppliers were all located in Italy I think. Ordering from the US is a bit complicated because you need to pay extra taxes etc. when importing. But your country is a lot cheaper, I know this from travelling over there!

I think I will just let my beloved mother sew it for me, she is always happy to help! The “traditional ladies” of my parish hardly exist, normally we are only tops twenty people showing up for traditional Mass. The Missionaries of Charity sisters are the ones most excited about this form of worship, and they are “the poorest of the poor” so I do not think they have any money for me.

Anyway, thank you so much for all your help! I am sure the store who sells patterns will be of great help, EasterJoy!

Ok, Nills. If you’re looking at $800 for a cassock, one or more of the following things is happening:

• You’re looking at cassocks designed for a priest’s or deacon’s daily wear
• There’s something funky going on with exchange rates or something like that

You just need a plain and simple altar server cassock.

 

[Nonnovi]

Albs in the EF are not an option I bought my cassock in England: jandmsewing.com/shop/Products/Cassocks/Product/Cassock%20-%20Budget,%20Single-Breasted/
It costed about €150 but it’s worth the price. Made of polyester (machine washable), upper part is lined, slits to the pockets of your trousers + pockets in the cassock itself,… It’s actually a priest cassock but a budget version. They also sell server cassocks wich are cheaper (you might want to take the “choir cassock single breasted for gents”). You just have to give your measurements and they make it. Fits very wel!

My surplice I made myself. They are way to expensive if you buy them in a real shop in my opinion, and I wanted a nice one with lace (wich is very hard to find).
My cassock
My surplice

 

[superamazingman]

Albs in the EF are not an option I bought my cassock in England: jandmsewing.com/shop/Products/Cassocks/Product/Cassock%20-%20Budget,%20Single-Breasted/
It costed about €150 but it’s worth the price. Made of polyester (machine washable), upper part is lined, slits to the pockets of your trousers + pockets in the cassock itself,… It’s actually a priest cassock but a budget version. They also sell server cassocks wich are cheaper (you might want to take the “choir cassock single breasted for gents”). You just have to give your measurements and they make it. Fits very wel!

My surplice I made myself. They are way to expensive if you buy them in a real shop in my opinion, and I wanted a nice one with lace (wich is very hard to find).
My cassock
My surplice

That surplice is very classy, the cassock as well! A surplice like that would cost $600 (about €490) if you bought it somewhere. How much do you think it cost you for materials?

 

[AJV]

Dear friends,

I hope this is the right place to post my thread. If I made a mistake, please correct me!

I sometimes serve the altar in Mass, also the Tridentine Mass. In the new Mass I wear a white alb, but I have been told that I need a cassock made from wool in the Tridentine Mass.

My parish does not own a cassock for the altar server. I tried to look up some prizes to buy one, but the cheap ones were about 800 dollars, and at the moment that is a bit much for me to pay since I am still working my way through my last years of university.

So here are some questions: The Priest wants my help. When I am not there, the sisters of my parish gives him the responses instead, which is not good. But would it be better for me to serve in a nice suit for example, rather than in the alb? I have been told that they sometimes do that when they offer Mass for the military for example.

My beloved and always so helpful said she could make a cassock for me, she is very good with textiles. Do you know where I could find patterns and instructions for how it is made? This would be of such tremendous help!

Thank you in advance!

In Christ,
NilsPontus, Växjö Sweden

As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, what you need to be rubrically correct is a surplice. The cassock is optional (in fact, in some countries like Poland, it is still not worn unless one is at least, a seminarian. The surplice is worn over a suit).

If you want a pattern for a cassock, then there are 3 here (instructions in German). Pay no attention to the names, the writer mixed all of them up. Any of them will do, though the one marked “Die talar” is probably the most standard.

If you want a surplice, I have a book that has patterns. PM your email address and I can send it to you. Alternatively, we also have a couple of extra surplices here, so if you PM me your size, and it works, I can sell it to you at below cost (+ shipping and costs associated with that…not sure how much that would come to).

 

[Brendan]

Albs in the EF are not an option

Technically, true, but it does not mean that .

The requirement is for the altar boys to be in choir dress, which means wearing a surplice.

It is commonly worn over a cassock, as the cassock is the daily dress of the cleric. Altar boys may wear a cassock, as they are emulating clerics, but the requirement is to wear the surplice, as that is what denotes choir dress. It was worn over the daily clothes.

If the server was wearing a surplice over a dress pants and shirt, the requirements are met.

(and I think I paid about $50 for my cassock and about $80 for the surplice ( I went a little facier with the surplice)

A surplice can be easily sewn for about $8 in white fabric. It is not a complex garment.

 

[Nonnovi]

The requirement is for the altar boys to be in choir dress, which means wearing a surplice.

It is commonly worn over a cassock, as the cassock is the daily dress of the cleric. Altar boys may wear a cassock, as they are emulating clerics, but the requirement is to wear the surplice, as that is what denotes choir dress. It was worn over the daily clothes.

If the server was wearing a surplice over a dress pants and shirt, the requirements are met.

Doesn’t that look just ridiculous? It’s true that the rubrics only mention the surplice. But the rubrics also assume that al those who participate are clerics (and thus wear cassocks), laymen are never mentioned. In fact, the priest doesn’t have to wear a cassock either in that case, because the rubrics only mention “vestium” (clothing), without further specification.

If you ever have doubts on what has to be done or worn in the Tridentine Mass, buy the book “The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described”, it’s all in there
p.32:

The Vestments of the Roman Rite
The common dress for servers and all who assist at any function in choir is a black cassock (vestis talaris) with a white linen surplice (superpelliceum) and not the alb.

 

[AJV]

Doesn’t that look just ridiculous? It’s true that the rubrics only mention the surplice. But the rubrics also assume that al those who participate are clerics (and thus wear cassocks), laymen are never mentioned. In fact, the priest doesn’t have to wear a cassock either in that case, because the rubrics only mention “vestium” (clothing), without further specification.

The missal said “vestibus…quarum exterior saltern talum pedis attingat”. So no, a priest didn’t have to wear a *cassock *but what he wore would end up looking a lot like one in order to satisfy the rubric…

 

[malphono]

The missal said “vestibus…quarum exterior saltern talum pedis attingat”. So no, a priest didn’t have to wear a *cassock *but what he wore would end up looking a lot like one in order to satisfy the rubric…

It seems to me that perhaps the quoted rubric was written in an intentionally oblique fashion in order to cover those religious who wear a proper habit iso a cassock.

 

[jeanannemarie]

Albs in the EF are not an option I bought my cassock in England: jandmsewing.com/shop/Products/Cassocks/Product/Cassock%20-%20Budget,%20Single-Breasted/
It costed about €150 but it’s worth the price. Made of polyester (machine washable), upper part is lined, slits to the pockets of your trousers + pockets in the cassock itself,… It’s actually a priest cassock but a budget version. They also sell server cassocks wich are cheaper (you might want to take the “choir cassock single breasted for gents”). You just have to give your measurements and they make it. Fits very wel!

My surplice I made myself. They are way to expensive if you buy them in a real shop in my opinion, and I wanted a nice one with lace (wich is very hard to find).
My cassock
My surplice

You look very nice. What a good job on the surplice.

 

[Zosimus41]

I am an adult, and I have never paid more than $48 for a cassock and the same amount for a surplice. You are looking in the wrong place. I use Tonini Church cupply.

I deeply admire the acolytes with the Latin Mass.The duties they perform are numerous. I couldnt last over five minutes and thats if I could remember what I should be doing and where I should be doing it!

 

[Nonnovi]

Someone named Cassandra tried to contact me a while ago about my surplice with lace. She saw it in this thread. Unfortunately I didn’t see her message until today and erased something by accident so she probably didn’t see my answer.

Cassandra, if you’re still here somewhere, please PM me.