Abbey-Roads2

What to wear with what.

With the eventual acceptance of the Extraordinary Roman Rite amongst clergy, many lay people do not know what is required as regards appropriate vestments for the priest celebrating the TLM.  Especially those of us who are used to the low-Church “Lutheran” style (shown at left) many priests have favored in the celebration of the Ordinary Roman Rite:  the alb and stole.

What vestments are de rigueur at the celebration of Holy Mass?

Strictly speaking, with the exception of the “maniple“  - I believe priests celebrating either form of the Roman rite should ordinarily be wearing the following vestments: the amice, alb, cincture, stole, and chasuble.  So what are these things and what is their significance?

The amice: A piece of white linen which covers the priests shoulders.  The traditional vesting prayer explains its meaning:

“Place O Lord, on my head the helmet of salvation, that I may overcome the assaults of the devil.”  When vesting, the priest momentarily places the amice on his head, then over his shoulders.

The alb is a long, white linen tunic which covers the priest’s body.  As he puts it on the priest prays:

“Purify me O lLord, from all stain and cleanse my heart, that washed in the Blood of thee Lamb, I may enjoy eternal delights.”

The cincture is the cord that girds the alb at the waist.  The vesting prayer explains:

“Gird me O Lord, with the cincture of purity, and quench in my heart the fire of concupiscence, that the virtue of continence and chastity may remain in me.”

The maniple is a short narrow band of cloth which matches the outer vestments, and hangs from the left arm.  The prayer explains:

“Let me deserve O Lord, to bear the maniple of tears and sorrow, so that one day I may come with joy to the reward of my labors.”

The stole is the long band of coordinating fabric that is worn around the neck and crosses over the breast of the priest.  It is a symbol of the authority in the Church and of all vestments, the most blessed and significant.  (Which may explain why modern priests simply wear a stole over an alb for Mass.)  The vesting prayer describes its meaning:

“Restore to me O Lord, the state of immortality which was lost to me by my first parents, and although unworthy to approach Thy sacred mysteries, grant me nevertheless to attain eternal joy.”

The chasuble is the outer vestment worn by the celebrant at Mass.  It hangs from the shoulders, in front and behind, down to the knees or lower.  The vesting prayer explains:

“O Lord, Who hast said, ‘My yoke is sweet and my burden light,’ grant that I may carry it so as to obtain Thy grace.” 

The chasuble, stole, maniple, and chalice veilare made as a coordinating set of vestments, normally from precious fabric and always of the same design in the seasonally appropriate liturgical color.  (Note: The so-called “fiddleback” chasuble is not required, any classic Roman chasuble is appropriate for the celebration of either form of the Roman rite.)

The biretta is a three-ridged square hat worn by the priest when he enters and exits the sanctuary for Holy Mass.

I am not certain if the prayers for vesture have ceased to be obligatory in preparation for the Ordinary form of Mass, but I can almost guarantee not very many priests make a ritual out of vesting for Mass any longer.  Although I am fairly certain it is required for the celebration of the Extraordinary form.

[Just a note to priests who favor the stole over alb ensemble for Mass.  If you are disheartened by the casual attire of the congregation at Mass, it might be an indication you should be dressing more formally yourself - that is, vested accordingly.] 

Lead photo: Ecclesiastical fashion show: Fellini’s “Roma”. 

My local parish. 

For a few months now I have been attending daily Mass at my local parish.  There is a new pastor there and he celebrates Mass according to the the prescribed ritual, wears vestments, genuflects before the Blessed Sacrament, etc..  The previous pastor left much to be desired as far as the celebration of Mass and theology.

I still prefer to attend Sunday Mass elsewhere, since the Sunday Mass at my local parish tends to be a bit more raucous - although I will attend, as I did yesterday.

The church has an organ, but they use the piano in the “piano bar” up front.  I arrived about 45 minutes early to pray, but the singers were practicing, so I prayed my rosary - out loud.  No one else was there so no one could hear me and I went unnoticed.  Praying out loud helped me to recollect myself amidst the noise.  The singers were laughing and talking really loud - but I could tune them out, and I wasn’t angry about their having fun in Church.

The office of Greeter and Usher.

I was finishing the last decade of the rosary about 5 minutes before Mass - silently now, as people were coming in.  An elderly usher grabbed my hand and said good morning, which I thought was nice, and we exchanged a few words about the weather.  He slapped my shoulder and thanked me for coming.  Huh?  Everyone else was talking and greeting one another, but I simply took it in stride.

After the entrance procession and venerating the altar, Father has the habit of asking everyone to sit down while he walks the “audience” to ask where people are from, at the end we all clap to welcome them.  Then we all stand and say good morning and introduce ourselves, etc.  Finally, Mass begins.  At the sign of peace - the entire thing is repeated.  After his homily, one guy from Richfield stood up and applauded Father and said “Bravo!” - which seemed kind of nuts to me.

To make a long story short, it felt as if I had just been to a tapeing of Letterman or something.  Far too much stimulation for worship.  In fact, the entire Mass was not at all conducive to worship or prayer.  I’ve been so patient about this for months, but I don’t think I can take it much longer.  Daily Mass is fine - but these week-end “gatherings” are getting to me.

Decorum - what’s that?

No wonder everyone comes to Mass in shorts and t-shirts.  I honestly don’t really care how people are dressed, or if they come late and leave early, and if there is chatter, I can even endure that - to a point - but don’t conduct Mass like a talk show.  And if the “community” has to talk before and after Mass, keep your voices and the bar-room laughter down - people exhibit more discretion at a wake than they do in Church.

The altar girls were totally untrained, without reverence - they do not even fold their hands in an attitude of prayer.  During the Eucharistic prayer, one girl was looking out into the congregation, another fixing her hair, while another appeared to be scrapping nail polish off her nails.  The cantor was a big busted woman, wearing a tight, nearly flesh colored top, and when she parted and raised her arms to conduct the congregation - well you get the picture.  It was like “Animal House”. 

I left Church realizing I had not been recollected throughout the entire Mass.  I can’t go there on Sundays any longer.  Everything militates against authentic prayer and worship.  The family behind me talked through the consecration - they obviously did not even realize what was going on at the altar.

I had to wonder if that is what fulfilling the Sunday obligation is all about - you know, just being there? 

(My apologies - I hate “whiner” posts like these.  Oh, and the photo is not my Church - it is some Church that had a bike up for auction during Mass.  Yeah - you tell me.) 

Coming late - leaving early. 

Locally, as in most metropolitan areas (not talking here about small towns), there are a few Catholic Churches that are bastions of orthodoxy and good liturgy.  Generally speaking, in some of the suburbs and in Minneapolis especially, it seems most of the Churches are typically middle of the road to “liberal” - what would we ever do without labels?

Anyway, today at Mass, I noticed that maybe 1/3 of the casually clad congregants left Mass after Communion. (Which is none of my business of course.)  I also noted that when the cantor was doing her warm up before Mass, about 3-5 minutes before the processional, the Church started to fill up - which suggests to me, most people show up just about the time Mass is to begin.  (Maybe to avoid the pre-show at the piano bar, I’m not sure.  I often think of Mel Brookes’ scene in the piano bar from “High Anxiety” during these warm ups.)

TLM

On my way home I mused over the impact of the Motu Proprio thing.  Like it’s really going to even have much of an impact on these people and local parishes?  It’s fairly obvious, that if a good proportion of the people show up to Mass minutes before it begins, and more than a few leave right after Communion, the traditional Latin Mass is so far off their radar screen, it is not funny.  I’m fairly certain, the average person in the pew just doesn’t care.  (And I’m not getting all Trautman on you here either.)

The Church doesn’t think, “short term” however, everything about this permission is focused on the long term.  So it is going to be a long while before mainstream parishes are willing and able to sit through a traditional Latin High Mass.  Most priests do not even know the rubrics or the Latin.

The olden days.

When I was little, it seemed a lot of people would go to the low Mass - which was much shorter than a High Mass.  Some priests had the reputation of “shot-gun” priests because they could zip through the Mass in no time, and had very short homilies. 

It was generally conceded that one could come into Mass any time before the Gospel and it would still count as fullfiling one’s Sunday obligation.  (I think that understanding is still present.)  It is true however, a few people would leave at Communion, despite the priest’s warnings about Judas doing the same thing at the Last Supper; although the other impatient ones normally waited until the priest disappeared into the sacristy.  I should mention however, an amazing number stayed behind to make a prolonged thanksgiving after Communion, light candles, etc..  (Many churches don’t have vigil lights any longer.)

So what does this mean?  I’m thinking it means that it is going to take a heck of a lot more than the Latin Mass to make fervent worshippers out of the average Catholic.  But the return to liturgical solemnity and devotion, as typified in the TLM is a great start, to be sure.  And those who come late, leave early?  They will always be around.

Cardinal Sean on the TLM:  “In my comments at the meeting I told my brother bishops that in the United States the number of people who participate in the Latin Mass even with permission is very low. Additionally, according to the research that I did, there are only 18 priories of the Society of St. Pius X in the entire country. Therefore this document will not result in a great deal of change for the Catholics in the U.S. Indeed, interest in the Latin Mass is particularly low here in
New England.” - Cardinal Sean O’Malley