Why should I get an alb?

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Nice!

I have a paracord rosary bracelet I wear sometimes. Looks casual, but the medal on it has indeed drawn attention. I also have a St Joan of Arc medal and a crucifix necklace I wear.

Lots of ways to display our faith that aren’t as…well, radical as an alb in public.
 
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I will say this. In my travels I have seen a lay ministry that wears albs in pubic while working with the poor. I wish I had had some time to talk to them to find out more about them.
 
gentlemanvalentine said:
I will say this. In my travels I have seen a lay ministry that wears albs in pubic while working with the poor. I wish I had had some time to talk to them to find out more about them.
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But that’s in a somewhat official capacity, which makes sense if you think about it.
 
It was definitely grey without blue and I live in IL. But I do appreciate your help.
 
There is a group in Illinois according to their website.

Gray huh? Could he have been a Religious? A hermit? Some hermits wear habits. 🤔
 
Alba means white in Latin. It is worn as a reminder of our baptisms and/or the day we are baptised when we receive a white garment. The priest, deacon and altarservers wear albs because of that. Sometimes lectors to but that depends upon local tradition. (There are different kinds for altarservers.) Most wear a long white garment with a cingulum (rope) with long sleeves.

In my parish children who receive their First Holy Communion wear these albs as children were coming in all kinds of clothing from very, very fancy to sports wear. We didn’t want it to be a competition in who has the biggest dress so we ordered these from Poland. A man from the parish picked them up from the company so we didn’t have to pay any shipping costs. The first 15 or so were donated to the parish and the rest were bought. Alba komunijna dla dziewczynki - dewocjonalia sklep hurtpawel.pl

Those receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation wear an alb with a hood and a white cingulum.

I can’t figure out why you would wear a grey alb when it should be white. I dressed a lady who was baptised during Easter in a white alb. The joy of being a sponsor 😃
 
If the person was researching on whether Catholicism was a cult or not they would likely find out it’s not a cult.
 
Depends on what source they use and how gullible they are. Seriously - I get asked all sorts of stuff and have been asked my whole life. Having a Catholic dad in a Baptist region was an education, to say the least.

At the very least, as I said, they’ll figure you’re some sort of out there dissenter, and who wants that? I don’t care what people think but I’m not setting out to even inadverdently mislead someone.
 
I think your impression could go two ways. I think it might be turning into a slight overstatement at this point. Not saying you are wrong, just saying anything could be a potential lead or mislead. I don’t want to wear any special garment in public, but me seeing a fransiscan friar wear his habit in public actually caused me to do research and I discovered a secular order that I’m currently trying to join.
 
But that is the point exactly. He was an actual Franciscan friar. Not some random Catholic at mass wearing an alb that is not a part of an order.
 
unitive_mystic said:
… but catholics put ashes on their foreheads and go in public.
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Yes, once a year on Ash Wednesday. We don’t do that at Christmas, or at Easter, or on Corpus Christi day.

You could dress up as Santa Claus and walk around the city saying “Ho, ho, ho” in August, say, or April, or right now, in July.

In both cases, there is a tradition associated with a particular date or season. Are you proposing to start a new tradition? That might take some time. Here’s a guy who set out to launch a new tradition, a few years back. Maybe you remember him – George Costanza’s father.

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unitive_mystic said:
l.
However, why should I get an alb? I am permitted to wear it, but what would be the point?
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I don’t know .

As far as I know there is no law against it .

I was baptised more than 72 years ago , so whatever gear I was baptised in wouldn’t fit me now . 😥
 
unitive_mystic said:
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.
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The alb is the liturgical garment of the laity, not every day wear. Religious garments in the Church carry specific significance either as liturgical garments, or reserved to those in religious life. Any other use is confusing and debasing to those with either specific ministries in the liturgy or living in religious vows or promises.

You could always theoretically wear it in private around the house or when you pray the liturgy or the hours alone at home, but out of respect for those who do wear one for their roles in the Church you should refrain from wearing one in public unless participating in a role or ministry that requires it in the liturgy.
 
Another problem with wearing an alb outside of church here in America, a lot of people might confuse you with a member of the Triple K. That could easily cause you a lot of grief as well
 
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