Why should I get an alb?

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unitive_mystic

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When I was baptised my parish had me wear a grey alb over my clothes, I didn’t know why until I did my research.
My understanding is that the alb is something that baptised members of the church are actually permitted to wear.
That being said, I don’t see anyone at mass wearing an alb so I assume it is optional.
However, why should I get an alb? I am permitted to wear it, but what would be the point?
 
Unless you serve at Mass on a regular basis, I don’t see why you would. Unless you want to shove it in a backpack and have it on you at all times to serve as acceptable clothes at Mass, but that’s quite extreme.
 
Would it be a good thing to go to that extreme of have your baptismal vestment as acceptable mass clothes?
 
unitive_mystic said:
Would it be a good thing to go to that extreme of have your baptismal vestment as acceptable mass clothes?
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I personally don’t think it’s necessary. I can’t say if it’s good or not, per se.
 
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Strictly speaking there is no reason you couldn’t though it would be highly unusual to see someone wear an alb that is not assisting in the liturgy. There are liturgical requirements where an alb is required, but very few non-clergy actually own an alb.

One argument against it is that low cost albs tend to wrinkle and look like cheap bed sheets. A good alb can run into several hundred dollar range (and still wrinkles 🙁).
 
What about wearing an alb in other public places?

“Excuse me, what is that odd garb you have”

“Well you see this is a baptismal alb, this alb signifies that I am a baptised member of the catholic church”

“Oh you don’t say? Well that is quite intriguing, I will have to look into it myself”
 
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unitive_mystic said:
My understanding is that the alb is something that baptised members of the church are actually permitted to wear.
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Laity wear albs when they are serving in some capacity at the altar: altar server, extraordinary minister of holy communion. Lay choirs sometimes wear choir robes that may be alba or alb-like. Laity might wear albs when receiving baptism or confirmation. In these cases, the Church provides the albs.

Those in the pew don’t wear albs. It’s not the common dress of the laity in every day church going.
unitive_mystic said:
I don’t see anyone at mass wearing an alb so I assume it is optional.
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It’s not just “optional”. I’ve never heard of anyone wearing an alb outside of a liturgical role at mass. If you read that this is done, I think you misunderstood.
unitive_mystic said:
why should I get an alb?
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You shouldn’t.
 
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I mean, you could…?

I don’t think there’s any precedent for this
 
unitive_mystic said:
“Excuse me, what is that odd garb you have”

“Well you see this is a baptismal alb, this alb signifies that I am a baptised member of the catholic church”

“Oh you don’t say? Well that is quite intriguing, I will have to look into it myself”
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No offense, but if I saw someone wearing an alb outside of church, I’d assume they’re either mocking it, or, more likely, are part of a cult.
 
“Excuse me sir, are you some sort of cultist?”

“Why no madam, in fact I am a Roman Catholic, I wear this as signification of my baptism”

“Well interesting, I have never seen anything like that, I might have to take a look myself one day”

I’m not saying you are wrong or anything but catholics put ashes on their foreheads and go in public.
 
unitive_mystic said:
I don’t see anyone at mass wearing an alb so I assume it is optional.
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You’d really stand out if you exercised the option, for sure.

You might need a 2nd alb for the winter season if you live in a temperate climate.

Generally speaking, Catholics usually wear their overcoats during Mass- I haven’t seen many Catholic churches with cloak rooms.
 
unitive_mystic said:
I’m not saying you are wrong or anything but catholics put ashes on their foreheads and go in public.
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Catholics, Episcopalians, Methodists, and multiple Christian denominations wear ashes on their head one day out of the year. They do not wear liturgical vestments as casual wear in public.
 
Just don’t do it.

If you were wearing an alb in church in the pews, and not serving, then people would think you were really strange or worse.

If you were wearing it on the street and told strangers what you just said, you would just add fuel to the fire of people who think Catholics are whackos. Why be a bad witness?

Leave the albs to the clergy. If you like it that much, become an altar server or join a monastic order.

There is a young man at our parish who is joining an order and I see him in his white robes at mass sometimes. Now THAT’S cool.
 
Well i was just saying that in terms of a situation where you stumbled across someone that doesn’t know much about Christianity and getting a cult vibe. I think if you saw a group of people with ages on their forehead, that too can give off a cult vibe until you clarify and educate them.
 
unitive_mystic said:
What about wearing an alb in other public places?
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I’m not sure what you read or where you read it, but the alb isn’t streetwear.

In the ancient church the newly baptized wore albs (white garments) at mass from Holy Saturday through the following Sunday— called Low Sunday and also called Dominica in Albis.

If you are under the impression that people in the church go around wearing their albs everywhere they go, you have seriously misunderstood something.
 
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unitive_mystic said:
Well i was just saying that in terms of a situation where you stumbled across someone that doesn’t know much about Christianity and getting a cult vibe. I think if you saw a group of people with ages on their forehead, that too can give off a cult vibe until you clarify and educate them.
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Context, however, is key. You compared Lenten ashes to albs.
 
I don’t really want to wear an alb I just don’t know whether it would be good or not.
 
Well yeah because both, in public, can start conversations. And conversations lead to conversions.
 
Or “oh, interesting…” (turns to his friend after you leave) “so…are Catholics like weird cult members or something?”
 
No. It’s worn during baptism and has special significance. Wearing it outside of baptism would lessen that special meaning and be strange.

Wearing it around as street clothes would not lead to conversions.

When people think you’re nuts, they usually don’t want to convert.

Feel free to bless yourself with holy water every day. THAT is a wonderful way to remember your baptismal vows.
 
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