5/13/2014 Gmail - Wearing of habit; blessing the habit
Robert Gallagher
Wearing of habit; blessing the habit
Robert Gallagher
I'm assuming we have all received and tried on the cassock. If you haven't please speak up. You'll want to be in contact with Almy right away.
Blessing the full habit We'll do that during the retreat (with us in them.)
Wearing the habit
During OA retreat and Chapter: Cassock and cross, the full habit, to be worn at all Offices and Masses. I think I'd like to suggest we also wear it at Chapter. It may be worn all other timesmeals, walking the grounds, MSG and such. Unless it's too hot to stand in May I'm likely to have it on all day. Obviously not for Wednesday dinner out.
In liturgy: The habit in itself isn't a liturgical vestment. If you are serving as a minster of the altar (celebrant, deacon, sub deacon) it may be worn under the traditional alb and with chasuble, dalmatic or tunicle.
There are various traditions about wearing it in other roles preacher, assisting priest, server, and so on. Some say all liturgical roles should take place in alb or cassock & surplice. Others follow the practice of preaching in the habit alone (possibly with no stole). I have done both. I think it's fine for a server to wear it without surplice at a low mass.
In most mid week Offices I would wear it without surplice. If it was a more formal Office I'd wear it with surplice over.
Hearing confessions I'd suggest the habit with a stole. Or if you'd rather habit with surplice and stole
Other times: You may want to consider wearing the habit at at coffee hour, when teaching, and when offering spiritual direction. Some may wear it around the parish property. In today's world it's probably not street wear but that may depend on the area you area in. The general advise I've seen for Roman and Anglicans is to wear the habit, suitably adapted to the conditions of time and place. Certain forms of apostolate might suggest the need to wear or to dispense with wearing the habit.
Reflections on wearing the habit It is sacramental an outward sign of inward dedication. Some writers focus on the habit as a form of witness. I don't see that as very useful in our age (in most situations). I find myself more given to the experience as a way of deepening my sense of identity and purpose as a part of the Order of the Ascension. This is who I am (I won't say "part of who I am" as I dislike the sense of cutting myself in chunks.) With that as primary, I also do see it as a visible manifestation for people of our vocation and commitment.
It's a form of recollection we are of the Order of the Ascension. We are identifying ourselves as of this particular community of the church. That may be helpful to some in the church. The habit is a sign of belonging. It reminds the one who wears it that he or she represents this religious community, and by extension, the Church. The Second Vatican Council, presented the religious habit as a "sign of their consecration" (Perfectae caritatis, 17). https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=4aad4d4073&view=pt&cat=OA&search=cat&msg=145342d27b0b7ca9&siml=145342d27b0b7ca9 1/2 5/13/2014 Gmail - Wearing of habit; blessing the habit
What it is not A prop for pretend holiness or for claiming an identity. If you find within yourself these things present in a manner that clouds your life, the pathway isn't to do the superficial thing of not wearing the habit so as to show your humility, or avoidance. The pathway is much more direct and difficult than that attend to holiness of life and your own struggle around identity. To wear the habit in humility is to wear it carrying the burden of our own incompleteness. Attend to your inner life.
A Roman Catholic Dominican brother wrote this "I remember one thing my novice master told us the first time we met in a novice chapter, "Brothers, we can wear the habit as a weaponto intimidate, to segregate, to hide. We can also refuse to wear the habit, and this too can be a weaponto intimidate, to segregate, to hide. The habit can be made into a costume to hide who you are. It can be an outfit to accessorize. It can be a symbol of power and authority you do not rightfully have. It can also be a sign of your preaching." In my mind, "to wear or not to wear" is not the question.
Bob+
The Rev'd Robert A. Gallagher, OA www.CongregationalDevelopment.com 1640 18th Ave #2 Seattle, WA 98122
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