Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Liturgical Garb for Habit-Wearers
ROME, SEPT. 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
In the wake of our piece on the proper liturgical garb for ministers and servers (Sept. 15), a reader asked for further clarifications.
He wrote: "You quote from GIRM: '336. The sacred garment common to ordained and instituted ministers of any rank is the alb, to be tied at the waist with a cincture unless it is made so as to fit even without such.' Would you be kind enough to clarify who are considered 'instituted ministers of any rank'?"
The expression "instituted ministers of any rank" basically refers to all ordained ministers (bishop, priest and deacon) and the instituted lay ministries of lector and acolyte.
The concept of the alb as a common sacred garment means that all these ministers may use the alb at any liturgical action.
Depending on the norms of each bishops' conference, the alb may also be used by other occasional lay ministers who fulfill liturgical functions without a specific institution, such as altar servers, readers and even extraordinary ministers of holy Communion.
The concept of common garment also means that an alb may always be used for liturgical services of any kind even when the norms allow the use of other sacred vestments instead. Thus it is necessary to distinguish between "may use" and "must use," as this can vary from celebration to celebration.
For example, ordained ministers "must use" the alb for Mass. For other sacraments and sacramentals they "may use" the alb or the cassock and surplice. Instituted lay ministers "may use" alb, cassock and surplice, or another approved garb at Mass and other occasions.
Another reader referred to religious habits: "I am wondering if some ancient protocols continue to apply. I am thinking particularly about special garb used by servers in the oldest orders, some of which use a cowl for the purpose. I am also thinking about the custom in the older orders of not using the stole for certain rites, most notably for hearing confessions when dressed in the habit."
Since the customs of some ancient religious orders predate even the Council of Trent, they usually have the force of particular law and, unless specifically abrogated or reprobated, can usually be considered as legitimate variations within the Church. This could also be applied to the custom regarding the stole for confession if it is truly an immemorial practice and not a recent invention.
All the same, even a venerable custom should be evaluated with respect to its pastoral efficacy. Wearing a stole while hearing confessions reminds both minister and penitent of the specifically sacramental and priestly nature of the encounter.
Personally I would favor that such religious leave aside such a custom, at least when exercising the ministry outside of the community, if the wearing of the stole is the better pastoral practice.
In the wake of our piece on the proper liturgical garb for ministers and servers (Sept. 15), a reader asked for further clarifications.
He wrote: "You quote from GIRM: '336. The sacred garment common to ordained and instituted ministers of any rank is the alb, to be tied at the waist with a cincture unless it is made so as to fit even without such.' Would you be kind enough to clarify who are considered 'instituted ministers of any rank'?"
The expression "instituted ministers of any rank" basically refers to all ordained ministers (bishop, priest and deacon) and the instituted lay ministries of lector and acolyte.
The concept of the alb as a common sacred garment means that all these ministers may use the alb at any liturgical action.
Depending on the norms of each bishops' conference, the alb may also be used by other occasional lay ministers who fulfill liturgical functions without a specific institution, such as altar servers, readers and even extraordinary ministers of holy Communion.
The concept of common garment also means that an alb may always be used for liturgical services of any kind even when the norms allow the use of other sacred vestments instead. Thus it is necessary to distinguish between "may use" and "must use," as this can vary from celebration to celebration.
For example, ordained ministers "must use" the alb for Mass. For other sacraments and sacramentals they "may use" the alb or the cassock and surplice. Instituted lay ministers "may use" alb, cassock and surplice, or another approved garb at Mass and other occasions.
Another reader referred to religious habits: "I am wondering if some ancient protocols continue to apply. I am thinking particularly about special garb used by servers in the oldest orders, some of which use a cowl for the purpose. I am also thinking about the custom in the older orders of not using the stole for certain rites, most notably for hearing confessions when dressed in the habit."
Since the customs of some ancient religious orders predate even the Council of Trent, they usually have the force of particular law and, unless specifically abrogated or reprobated, can usually be considered as legitimate variations within the Church. This could also be applied to the custom regarding the stole for confession if it is truly an immemorial practice and not a recent invention.
All the same, even a venerable custom should be evaluated with respect to its pastoral efficacy. Wearing a stole while hearing confessions reminds both minister and penitent of the specifically sacramental and priestly nature of the encounter.
Personally I would favor that such religious leave aside such a custom, at least when exercising the ministry outside of the community, if the wearing of the stole is the better pastoral practice.
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
11:30 AM
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