Vestments

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Galicius

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Is there any movement within the Church regarding trimming down or doing away with some the excessively ornate traditional ceremonial attire of the clergy, especially at the higher levels? The Roman Caesars are gone hundreds of years and yet the wearing of the purple remains. There is nothing more down to earth than what a simple Franciscan wears.
 
For everyday, I agree. But what’s wrong with beautiful colors for special occasions? I enjoy them. And I’m sure I’m not the only one.
 
For the most part, 99% of what the clergy wears that’s deemed to be “elaborate” is not for the clergy.

The damask chasubles, orphreyed mitres, velvet buckskins, and gold croziers aren’t for Bishop so-and-so, or Father Smith. When a priest (or bishop) puts on these vestments, he “puts on Christ.” Those moments when this happens, the priest is effectively meant to stop functioning as himself, but to function as an alter Christus (another Christ). A bunch of ordinary middle-aged men running around in pointy hats would be silly. But the Son of God is promised to come in robes of gold, and function as high priest (and every high priest has his certain robes –*just check Leviticus).

The typical dress of the clergy is fairly simple. Black wool (although polyester is common these days), and a plastic or linen collar. If you break it down, if a priest wears what he’s supposed to wear, he spends less money on it than anyone else.

I do want to touch on one thing that does pop up whenever this discussion ensues: the cappa magna. This is indeed a “princely” garment, which has largely fallen out of use. Even it does not belong to the prelate who wears it per se, but it belongs to his office. It is not meant for John Smith, but for the Bishop of Somewhere, who may just happen to be John Smith at the time. We’ll see who wants to hang on that point for a while, and if we get anyone who starts developing schemes to burn all the remaining cappæ magnæ.

For the most part, this isn’t really an issue for the clergy though. The stuff doesn’t belong to them (most priests have a few set of their own vestments, but by and large each parish owns the vestments it uses), and as I said, it isn’t meant for them.

Let me know what you want me to explain further.
 
Well, with Pope Francis having adopted a simpler vestment style, and seemingly having abandoned much of the elaborate vesture Pope Benedict was subjected to, I would think that anyone who continues to use their Cappa Magna may just not “get the message” yet. And of course the Cappa Magna isn’t a liturgical garment, but a processional one.
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
Well, with Pope Francis having adopted a simpler vestment style, and seemingly having abandoned much of the elaborate vesture Pope Benedict was subjected to, I would think that anyone who continues to use their Cappa Magna may just not “get the message” yet. And of course the Cappa Magna isn’t a liturgical garment, but a processional one.
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Is the liturgical heritage of the entire Church meant to be based on the preferences of the current Bishop of Rome?
 
L_Marshall said:
Is the liturgical heritage of the entire Church meant to be based on the preferences of the current Bishop of Rome?
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A few years ago I asked the same question and was told “YES”.
But since Benedict was Pope, I guess I now know why. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Oneofthewomen said:
A few years ago I asked the same question and was told “YES”.
But since Benedict was Pope, I guess I now know why. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
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That’s an unfortunate idea. Granted, everyone has their own ‘style,’ but defining the present state of the liturgical and ritual heritage of Holy Mother Church on one person (besides Christ, that is), seems to be a bit ultramonatist.
 
Please read Exodus 28. God decided what his priests should wear and it was splendid and grand. Our priests should also honor God in their dress.

Exodus 28 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Chapter 28
The Priestly Vestments. 1 Have your brother Aaron, and with him his sons, brought to you, from among the Israelites, that they may be my priests: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. 2 For the glorious adornment of your brother Aaron you shall have sacred vestments made. 3 Therefore, tell the various artisans whom I have endowed with skill[a] to make vestments for Aaron to consecrate him as my priest. 4 These are the vestments they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a brocade tunic, a turban, and a sash. In making these sacred vestments which your brother Aaron and his sons are to wear in serving as my priests, 5 they shall use gold, violet, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.

The Ephod and Breastpiece. 6 The ephod** they shall make of gold thread and of violet, purple, and scarlet yarn, embroidered on cloth of fine linen twined. 7 It shall have a pair of shoulder straps joined to its two upper ends. 8 The embroidered belt of the ephod shall extend out from it and, like it, be made of gold thread, of violet, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of fine linen twined.

9 Get two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: 10 six of their names on one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth. 11 As a gem-cutter engraves a seal, so shall you have the two stones engraved with the names of the sons of Israel and then mounted in gold filigree work. 12 Set these two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod as memorial stones of the sons of Israel. Thus Aaron shall bear their names on his shoulders as a reminder before the Lord. 13 Make filigree rosettes of gold, 14 as well as two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords, and fasten the cordlike chains to the filigree rosettes.

15 The breastpiece[c] of decision you shall also have made, embroidered like the ephod with gold thread and violet, purple, and scarlet yarn on cloth of fine linen twined. 16 It is to be square when folded double, a span high and a span wide. 17 [d]On it you shall mount four rows of precious stones: in the first row, a carnelian, a topaz, and an emerald; 18 in the second row, a garnet, a sapphire, and a beryl; 19 in the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 in the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. These stones are to be mounted in gold filigree work, 21 twelve of them to match the names of the sons of Israel, each stone engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

22 When the chains of pure gold, twisted like cords, have been made for the breastpiece, 23 you shall then make two rings of gold for it and fasten them to the two upper ends of the breastpiece. 24 The gold cords are then to be fastened to the two rings at the upper ends of the breastpiece, 25 the other two ends of the cords being fastened in front to the two filigree rosettes which are attached to the shoulder straps of the ephod. 26 Make two other rings of gold and put them on the two lower ends of the breastpiece, on its edge that faces the ephod. 27 Then make two more rings of gold and fasten them to the bottom of the shoulder straps next to where they join the ephod in front, just above its embroidered belt. 28 Violet ribbons shall bind the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod, so that the breastpiece will stay right above the embroidered belt of the ephod and not swing loose from it.

29 Whenever Aaron enters the sanctuary, he will thus bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastpiece of decision over his heart as a constant reminder before the Lord. 30 In this breastpiece of decision you shall put the Urim and Thummim,[e] that they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus he shall always bear the decisions for the Israelites over his heart in the presence of the Lord.

Other Vestments. 31 The robe of the ephod you shall make entirely of violet material. 32 It shall have an opening for the head in the center, and around this opening there shall be a selvage, woven as at the opening of a shirt, to keep it from being torn. 33 At the hem at the bottom you shall make pomegranates, woven of violet, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen twined, with gold bells between them; 34 a gold bell, a pomegranate, a gold bell, a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe. 35 Aaron shall wear it when ministering, that its sound may be heard as he enters and leaves the Lord’s presence in the sanctuary; else he will die.

36 You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, as on a seal engraving, “Sacred to the Lord.” 37 This plate is to be tied over the turban with a violet ribbon in such a way that it rests on the front of the turban, 38 over Aaron’s forehead. Since Aaron bears whatever guilt the Israelites may incur in consecrating any of their sacred gifts, this plate must always be over his forehead, so that they may find favor with the Lord.

39 The tunic of fine linen shall be brocaded. The turban shall be made of fine linen. The sash shall be of variegated work.

40 Likewise, for the glorious adornment of Aaron’s sons you shall have tunics and sashes and skullcaps made, for glorious splendor. 41 With these you shall clothe your brother Aaron and his sons. Anoint and install them,[f] consecrating them as my priests. 42 You must also make linen pants for them, to cover their naked flesh from their loins to their thighs. 43 Aaron and his sons shall wear them whenever they go into the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the sanctuary, lest they incur guilt and die. This shall be a perpetual ordinance for him and for his descendants.**
 
=Galicius;12638150]Is there any movement within the Church regarding trimming down or doing away with some the excessively ornate traditional ceremonial attire of the clergy, especially at the higher levels? The Roman Caesars are gone hundreds of years and yet the wearing of the purple remains. There is nothing more down to earth than what a simple Franciscan wears.
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No, and here’s why:

These vestments are rooted in long-Tradition:

Each color is an aid to help us focus our thoughts on a particular seanson, or Mass.

They are to ADD too a sense on Godly Wonder and AWE:thumbsup:

God Bless you,
Patrick
 
L_Marshall said:
Is the liturgical heritage of the entire Church meant to be based on the preferences of the current Bishop of Rome?
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No, it’s meant to be based on worshiping God, right intention in our hearts and right action with our lives. I believe that most objections to elaborate vestments are centered on the belief that the expensive vestments draw attention away from the reason we are at Mass. Very simple vestments are also a part of the Church’s tradition… look to the Franciscan’s for an example. Ultimately, the objections are largely subjective. Although a case can be made (in my opinion) in favor of less costly vestments so that money can be used in productive manner (i.e. supporting Catholic schools, paying off debt, investing in catechisis, paying teachers, ministry programs, etc.)
 
PJM said:
No, and here’s why:

These vestments are rooted in long-Tradition:

Each color is an aid to help us focus our thoughts on a particular seanson, or Mass.

They are to ADD too a sense on Godly Wonder and AWE:thumbsup:

God Bless you,
Patrick
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It occurs to me that the Papal States were also a long-time tradition…:rolleyes:
 
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