Ncyc Controversy - Vesture Of Prayer Leaders

[AnneLine]

Alberto... you don't know Lil' Red.  All the shoes you have cast off she has adopted.  She is a kind and loving mother to soles...   ;)

[Slappo]

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.

Hopefully the choir dressed in cassocks is all male! Only males are permitted to wear the cassock

[Archaeology cat]

Our old organist wore a cassock. Male, of course.

[PhuturePriest]

The entire liturgy was weird and clearly coordinated by some crazy person. For the Communion Hymn, they did "We Are Signed" (A terrible song I'm almost entirely certain they made), and everyone watching and participating in the Mass was doing hand motions to the music. I leaned to the guy next to me, said "Pope Benedict is sitting in his room right now, weeping." I then leaned down, took my jacket, and placed it over my head so I wouldn't have to witness the monstrosity they were doing to the liturgy anymore. I used that time to pray for the wacko in charge of that fiasco, mind you. :P

[dUSt]

Well, luckily, the phatmass spiritual adviser Fr Pontifex received tons of feedback from concerned people who attended, so I think he may be contacting some people in the diocese about it. Pray for a renewal of reverence in the Sacred Mass!!!

[AnneLine]

That mass sounds horrible, dUSt and Miles!  I would have walked out myself.

 

 

 

As far as the choir robes, Slappo... you are correct, let's choose the right words for the right articles of attire.  

 

It is more semantics, I suspect than anything.

 

Women and Men in the solemn mass choir wear cassock-like black choir robes and white surplice-like things:

 

 

 

 

 

These are the only photos I could find for you....

 

 

 

 

But this will give you an idea of the liturgy.... and the choir members wear robes that are very distinct from anything else worn on the altar.  

 

It's very clear the choir members are the choir, in choir stalls.

 

The priests and other friars are in priestly robes or their habits.  

 

There are a row of friars at the front pews because not enough room on altar. (This was the St. Jude Pilgrimage mass.)

 

No one has ever had a problem with the clothing worn by that choir.

 

 

The other choirs (at other masses) wear standard lay clothing, appropriate for Mass.

 

Really, nothing to worry about.   :)  But I appreciate your concern!   

 

 

 

Edited December 20, 2013 by AnneLine

[Basilisa Marie]

Wait - why would only men be allowed to wear a cassock? Ordained men, I can see.  But I don't see why lay men are any different from lay women, in this case? (honest question!)

 

 

[Slappo]

Wait - why would only men be allowed to wear a cassock? Ordained men, I can see.  But I don't see why lay men are any different from lay women, in this case? (honest question!)

Honestly I'm not sure what the difference is. Altar boys used to wear cassocks to serve (and still can). Seminarians can wear cassocks with the white collar.

 

And to be honest, it isn't hardly followed at all for two reasons: 1. cassocks are rare these days. 2. most people don't care.

 

Even Franciscan University's schola which is men and women all wear cassocks.