dUSt Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 When phatmass attended NCYC this year, I heard some talk about the weirdness of "some lady wearing vestments leading prayer". After hearing this, I thanked myself in my head for deciding to not attend the NCYC liturgy (instead, opting to attend mass at the Basilica in St Louis on the way home). Anyway, it appears that enough youth leaders have made comments about it that NCYC felt compelled to post this lengthy explanation on their website: Some adult leaders have raised the question of the proper use and vesture of youth (lay) prayer leaders during NCYC. The following resource has been prepared to clarify the questions involved and articulate a clear understanding of the propriety of using these gifted young people and of vesting them appropriately to lead communal prayer... See here for entire explanation:http://www.ncyc.info/logistics/leaders/alb.htm Thoughts from the pham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotreDame Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Sometimes I regret being a total Catholic loner in High School. Then I see stuff like this and remember why I was the way I was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandelynmarie Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 At my church, lay pholk wear an alb with a liturgically colored cincture for Liturgy of the Word & as altar servers. Our deacon will also don an alb to close Benediction. But that's pretty much it...I can totally see the confusion with someone wearing an alb outside of these practices...just my two cents. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Even though it may not be technically "wrong" for a layperson to wear an alb (we used albs for altar servers before we went all boys), it's not a good idea. Maybe it would have been fine at, oh, a conference for a bunch of liturgical scholars, who know all the rules and wouldn't be confused by it. But the fact that NCYC is a huge event specifically for youth, who are all at different places in their catechesis, it's just going to confuse people. You need clear, obvious symbols to help teach people the faith, and stuff like this makes those symbols less clear, and thus our theology less clear. It's great that they had youth involved, especially to lead prayer. But wearing a kind of vestment? Not great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Toss them in the river and see if they float. If not, they're witches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotreDame Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Toss them in the river and see if they float. If not, they're witches. What else floats in water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I wore something similar when singing weddings and the like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneLine Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 A priest told me that when he was the pastor of a parish in Tucson, he ended up putting all readers and EMHCs into albs to be absolutely certain that all were dressed appropriately on the altar, with minimum fuss. He said it resolved MANY issues, and was appreciated by all because the people on the altar were not distracting and the Eucharist and the role of the priest became more of the focus. Since it is permitted, it seemed to me to be a very sensible solution to a problem I've seen in many a parish..... how to make sure people are dressed appropriately when serving on the altar. And several of our choirs wear 'cassocks and albs' -- and no one mistook them for clergy.... wore them myself when i sang in a traditional choir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandelynmarie Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 What else floats in water? Wood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto Guimaraes Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Peace and Good! Any people attending the altar or leading some liturgical or paraliturgical service must be correctly dressed. The alb is the universal altar duty vest, for priests or lay people. I do it. I have also the scapulars of Minister of Eucharist, with the liturgical colors and Franciscan symbols, like the St. Damian Cross and the TAU. I wish you all a Holy and Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Yerar! Br. Alberto Guimaraes OFS Braga - Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 A priest told me that when he was the pastor of a parish in Tucson, he ended up putting all readers and EMHCs into albs to be absolutely certain that all were dressed appropriately on the altar, with minimum fuss. He said it resolved MANY issues, and was appreciated by all because the people on the altar were not distracting and the Eucharist and the role of the priest became more of the focus. Since it is permitted, it seemed to me to be a very sensible solution to a problem I've seen in many a parish..... how to make sure people are dressed appropriately when serving on the altar. And several of our choirs wear 'cassocks and albs' -- and no one mistook them for clergy.... wore them myself when i sang in a traditional choir. i don't understand why one person is dressed this way and not the other. shouldn't have all been similarly garbed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneLine Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 (edited) Yes, Red, that's what I was saying... I agree with you.... THAT is why Father suggested it in Tucson. So there wouldn't be any questions about what the dress code for those on the Altar should be. And all the choir people dressed the same way in my parish.... some masses with albs, other masses (different music) just in nice Church-appropriate clothes. No drama. I get the feeling some people were unhappy at the NCYC that some were wearing albs at all... but I wasn't there, so I don't know. Edited December 19, 2013 by AnneLine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Yes, Red, that's what I was saying... I agree with you.... THAT is why Father suggested it in Tucson. So there wouldn't be any questions about what the dress code for those on the Altar should be. And all the choir people dressed the same way in my parish.... some masses with albs, other masses (different music) just in nice Church-appropriate clothes. No drama. I get the feeling some people were unhappy at the NCYC that some were wearing albs at all... but I wasn't there, so I don't know. okay, sorry, my reading comprehension isn't great today (obviously). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneLine Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 You are looking a little, uh, green, Red.... maybe time for some new shoes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto Guimaraes Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Peace and Good! Please! No shoes! Sandals are fine, or... be barefoot! Jesus, Mary and Francis be with you! Br. Alberto Guimaraes OFS Braga - Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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