What kind of vestments? What kind of cassocks? When will cassocks be worn?
I know one local former Anglican clergyman who does not think it practical for clergy to wear cassocks out and about in the Canadian climate during the winter with our slush and snow.
Fr. Anthony Chadwick has had several posts lately about what should be preserved as truly Anglican, and even within Ordinariates we have some clergy who prefer a baroque style and others who prefer a pre-Reformation style.
Should these differences in expression be encouraged in the Ordinariates? Do we continue to “ape Rome” now that we’re already Catholic? Or do we look back at what might be distinctly Anglican to baptize in our new home?
I’m inclined right now to a sort of diversity model, i.e. if it’s not explicitly forbidden, it should be allowed. But I wonder whether there will be a move towards more uniformity and a desire for a distinguishing identity.
For example, we can tell the differences among religious by their habits; the Companions of the Cross are distinctive because of their pendant; the new community Famille-Marie Jeunesse priests wear their distinctive hooded shirt-like habit with the white Roman collar underneath.
Our former TAC clergy were pretty indistinguishable in dress from Roman clergy prior to our becoming Catholic. Should that remain the case?
Mrs. Gyapong, you wrote:
“….even within Ordinariates we have some clergy who prefer a baroque style and others who prefer a pre-Reformation style.”
You mean Fr. Bartus? Just kidding, he’s cool. I know there are more priests out there who like the baroque, and that’s fine. Even I like the baroque. But Gothic seems appropriate for the Anglican Ordinariates, just my opinion.
But please don’t feel obligated to ape Rome. What’s the point of Anglicanorum Coetibus if aping Rome is mandatory? This is why I am excited about the Ordinariates; on one hand, here’s an opportunity to preserve the old things- on the other, here’s a completely new beginning!
Anglican, double-breasted cassocks are a winner. Also, think about wearing hats. We have different hats in the Catholic Church. If going for a distinguishing feature, a hat is always something to think about. Check out the Philippi collection. http://philippi-collection.blogspot.com/2012/12/house-biretta.html
I wonder how appropriate it is to use the Canterbury cross in the Ordinariates? Will it cause confusion? But let’s look at the Eastern Catholics and how they seem to manage even if they at times mistaken for Orthodox.
Are these distinguishing features different for each Ordinariates, or is it more general?
Please keep us posted, and thank you for the news.
Ioannes,
You asked: I wonder how appropriate it is to use the Canterbury cross in the Ordinariates? Will it cause confusion?
A pectoral cross is pontifical insignia, and thus is properly worn with clerical or liturgical dress only by those who are entitled to use of pontifical insignia — bishops and those who are equivalent in law to diocesan bishops, abbots, and canonical major superiors of some religious orders.
Having said that, I see nothing that would forbid the ordinaries of the ordinariates wearing pectoral crosses in the form of the Canterbury Cross. The only question to consider is whether doing so might create the misperception of union with Canterbury rather than union with Rome.
You wrote: But let’s look at the Eastern Catholics and how they seem to manage even if they at times mistaken for Orthodox.
Yes, but that’s a different situation. They are part of a different (non-Roman) liturgical tradition, so they follow the customs thereof. But the difference here is that the Anglican form of the liturgy is a variant form of the Roman Rite rather than a distinct rite. Note that Anglicans use substantially the same vesture as the Roman Rite, albeit with minor variations in the preferred styling, whereas the eastern rites have different vestments.
Norm.
I think top hat and coattails will be be a nice liturgical addition.
STOP IT!
Then you should enjoy the commencement ceremonies at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
They have cowboy hats.
http://sbctoday.com/2008/01/17/guest-author-cowboy-hats-or-roman-birettas-reforming-academic-habits/#comments
Secular dress has no place in the Sanctuary.
The Vatican-issued Ceremonial of Bishops describes the dress of prelates in some detail, but for ordinary clergy, canon 284 of the Code of Canon law leaves it to the conference of bishops to issue norms on “suitable ecclesiastical garb” according to legitimate local customs. I don’t think there are any other norms other than tradition that describe what ‘style’ either vestments or clerical garb are made.
Tim,
You wrote: I don’t think there are any other norms other than tradition that describe what ‘style’ either vestments or clerical garb are made.
Splitting hairs, this is actually a matter of local custom rather than tradition.
Norm.
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Deborah,
You asked: What kind of vestments? What kind of cassocks?
The prescriptions of the Catholic Church in this regard actually admit a variety of styles. For example, the prescription for the alb stipulates that it is to be a full length white garment, that it may be secured at the waist with a cincture, and that an amice is to be worn under it if it is not sufficient to cover street clothing at the neck. There is neither requirement for nor prohibition of albs with hoods, ornamentation, or lace trim. I believe that all of the styles of albs in the Beau Veste catalog conform to the requirements. And although most Roman Catholic parishes now use chasubuls cut in a full circle, there is no prohibition of either the “fiddleback” design that was generally preferred in the Tridentine era or the 3/4 circle style.
With regard to cassocks, Catholic clergy have long worn a number of different styles. I see no reason why clerics of the ordinariates could not wear cassocks the Anglican style, if they decide to wear cassocks. The reality, however, is that very few Catholic clergy actually wear cassocks now.
You asked: When will cassocks be worn?
Probably rarely. Today, most clerics prefer the “clerical costume” consisting of a black business suit worn with a clerical shirt because it’s more practical, just as many women now prefer to wear pants rather than skirts.
You asked: Our former TAC clergy were pretty indistinguishable in dress from Roman clergy prior to our becoming Catholic. Should that remain the case?
Why should they change what they don’t need to change?
Norm.
Why should they maintain what is not forbidden to be changed?
But on the other hand, if it wasn’t necessary to change what doesn’t need to change, then cassocks shouldn’t have been done away with.
Let’s see what Pope John Paul II had to say: (via Fr. Z- his emphases in bold and commentary in bracket)
The Directory for the Ministry and Life of Priests, issued in 1994 by the Congregation for the Clergy and approved by Pope John Paul II states:
In a secularized and tendentiously materialistic society, where even the external signs of sacred and supernatural realities tend to be disappearing, the necessity is particularly felt that the priest – man of God, dispenser of His mysteries – should be recognizable in the sight of the community, even through the clothing he wears, as an unmistakable sign of his dedication and of his identity as a recipient of a public ministry. The priest should be recognizable above all through his behavior, but also through his dressing in a way that renders immediately perceptible to all the faithful, even to all men, his identity and his belonging to God and to the Church.
For this reason, the cleric should wear “suitable clerical clothing, according to the norms issued by the Episcopal Conference and according to legitimate local customs.” (Canon 284) This means that such clothing, when it is not the cassock, [NB: the cassock is the norm, the default, for the whole Latin Church.] should be distinct from the manner in which laymen dress, and in conformity with the dignity and sacredness of the ministry.
Apart from entirely exceptional circumstances, the non-use of clerical clothing on the part of the cleric can manifest a weak sense of his own identity as a pastor completely dedicated to the service of the Church (# 66).
Norm, the cassock is seeing a comeback in my home diocese. The question of its use in the Ordinariate will have to be thought through.