Are there no examples of religious habits which look more like trousers and a shirt, even if antiquated in style and of obvious religious purpose? If the purpose of post-VII religious garb is simplicity and comfort–all that flowing fabric is contrary to the idea.
That was only part of what Perfectae Caritatis and Vita Consecrata said. The two documents also point the religious communities to their roots and to look at our founders, their vision and the mission that they gave to the community. The habit certainly comes into play here. You cannot throw away the founder’s habit, if he or she gave you one. You can simplify it, but it must resemble the traditional one in some way.
Mowing or gardening or most other physical labor particularly if powered equipment is used render robes, capes, and cassocks a safety hazard. And would likely feel like working while wrapped in a quilt.
As Friar David said, many communities change into jeans and t-shirts to do manual labor. Also, one must remember that most religious do not do manual labor. Most of us work with our minds, more than with our hands. The closest the I come to manual labor is doing dishes. There are monastic communities that still do farming. They often have a work habit, which is designed with that form of work in mind.
Can’t even imaging doing office work as effectively:
First, one would not wear a mantle at the office. The mantle is an outer garment worn either for choir or for the cold weather. Franciscans wear it outside during winter. Dominicans and Carmelites wear it for choir. No one wears it at their desk. The habit is quite comfortable at the desk. It’s not different from any other garb. It’s just a long tunic with sleeves. If you’re a woman, you may have a veil, but that’s behind you. It doesn’t get in the way.
if I wear my trench coat when driving, I have to take care as I sit down or I pull the tail of the coat tightly beneath me so that the front of the coat pulls up into my Adam’s apple. A cassock or robe must have the same liability?
Not at all. A cassock is cut like a military jacket. In fact, that’s where the style came from. The habit of monks and mendicants are loose fitting tunics. They’re very wide, giving you plenty of leg room. The top is not snug. There is a collar that gives the appearance of being snug. But that collar is not attached to the tunic. It’s worn over the tunic, with a cowl attached. You’re not sitting on it. If you have a scapular, you pull that rear panel to the front so that you don’t sit on it… Driving , riding a bike, riding a horse, or even skateboarding is quite easy in a habit
Since men take longer strides, our habits are cut wider at the bottom. Circumference of a typical man’s habit is 120". The circumference of a typical woman’s habit is 90". Your feet are not confined. I drive a stick while wearing a habit, drinking juice and praying the rosary. Our sleeves, by regulation must cover the palm of your hands. Only your fingers are visible. Because they don’t have cuffs, they ride up when you drive.
The problem with the cassock, which is why many priests and brothers don’t wear it is that you have to wear clothing under it. In the summer it’s unbearably hot. Cassocks are just long coats. While a habit is an actual piece of clothing. You don’t wear a shirt, with a stiff collar over the shirt and then the cassock. The more expensive cassocks are lined, just like a suit jacket.
The same is true about a woman’s habit. Sisters who wear long skirts, don’ wear another layer of clothes under it. That is their dress. Why put another layer under it? Their hose are usually up to their knees. One can’t tell, because the skirt is long. The head is actually quite cool. They cut their hair very short and wear a cap over it, with a veil. It actually keeps the body temperature stable. When you’re inside or outside, your body temperature does not fluctuate too much as it would if you were wearing less clothing. For that reason, people in desert countries often wear a robe and some form of head covering.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, FFV
