The Cassock
May 2, 2012 4 Comments
A Priest friend drew my attention to this from over at Rorate Caeli.
It is a piece by Cardinal Giuseppe Siri printed in 1987, although he might be painted as a radical conservative (and even for some the Pope in Red), his thoughts of almost twenty years ago might today be seen as prophetic
I deem it necessary to draw attention to a problem that is becoming increasingly important: that of ecclesiastical dress. […] In fact, we are witnessing the greatest decadence in ecclesiastical dress. […]Clothes strongly condition and sometimes even forge the psychology of those who wear them. (Ecclesiastical) clothing, in fact, is a commitment at the taking of the habit, for its conservation and for its substitution. It is the first thing that is seen and the last thing that is laid aside. It is a reminder of commitment, of belonging, decorum, union, team spirit and dignity! It does this continuously. It consequently creates limits in action, calls to mind these limits incessantly, instigates the barrier of modesty, of a good name, of one’s own duties, of public resonance, and of the consequences of malicious interpretations. […]It is not the habit that makes the monk (at least not 100%) but it does so in a noticeable way; mostly according to (the way) an individual grows with his temperamental weaknesses. […] For this reason, the question of a uniform is magnified in ecclesiastical spheres and imposes awareness on the ones who want to save their vocations and persevere in the duties they have accepted, in discipline, in piety and in holiness!
You can read the rest over there.
And for those of you wondering about the restrictions of wearing a cassock all day, check this video out.
About Fr Nicholas Pearce
Watched the video…..I’d love to see you doing that!
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.(Philippians 4,13)
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jlkbxwS9DQ8/Twb33I11fQI/AAAAAAAABGU/JaZxDRR9Pj0/s729/tn_Cape+Raoul+2011+004.jpg
I don’t understand at all, the Dissenting attitude to the cassock. Unless the temperature is over 40 degrees, surely it is beyond reproach? It evokes instant recognition, even in 5 year olds. I have to wonder where all the emphasis on “civvies” has actually led the Church in Australia. How strong a statement, is a teensy little cross on one lapel, especially to the under 40s? I think its frightful, that a teenager has to ask you “is that guy a priest?” It does not happen to Bavarian teenagers, for eg.
People like you keep the Church out of service for this world. The use of the cassock has fulfilled its purpose many years ago, not anymore. God is calling for a different Church, a Church that is capable to discern the signs of the times. An imperial Church were the priest uses the cassock not just to be recognized but to be elevated is totally wrong. It is like for the pope to bring back the “sedia gestatoria”, those times are gone. we have to look into new ways of show our ministry. If we are going to be faithful and traditionalists, then lets go back to the clothes that Jesus and the disciples used, instead of that hideous black in your face cassock. God forbids its return!