Please note his sleeve at the Rite of Sprinkling, see a cassock sleeve underneath?
Okay I notice things! Why? I do not know, but when something is different I notice it intuitively and then look more closely and see what it is that is missing.
I could tell by looking at his neck and how the amice showed a collar without a cassock frame. I could tell by the cuffs where the white shirt without cuff links showed under the alb, but not the sleeves of the cassock, which is normally quite visible. I could tell by looking at the hem of the alb that only showed the black pants and orthopedic shoes that the Holy Father had on underneath, no additional cassock which is normally a bit longer than the alb.
Today Pope Francis did not wear the papal cassock under the alb. Maybe it was too hot and maybe he had a long day ahead. Certainly he did have a long day awaiting with the historic Interfaith Prayer Service with Christians, Jews and Muslims each offering prayers in their own traditions for the peace of Israel and Palestine, peace in the Middle East where a violent conflagration of worldwide proportions could easily occur.
Of course I have a confession. I do not wear a cassock as street clothes even on Church property. I do wear a cassock and surplice for some liturgical functions and certainly I did when I was the Diocesan Master of Ceremonies.
On a few occasions I have worn the cassock under the alb for Mass in both forms, but in both forms I usually do not. I find it bulky and too hot.
Did you notice the Holy Father not wearing the papal cassock under his alb during the Pentecost Mass? This is the first time I've noticed it and is not a regular occurrence. Does it matter if one, even if Bishop of Rome or any bishop or any priest or deacon, does or doesn't wear his cassock under the alb for Mass?
17 comments:
No you aren't the only one who noticed. He started doing that during his trip to the Holy Land. He is testing the waters. By Christmas he will be in a tab shirt and the papal cassock will be consigned to the dust bin like everything else. I know, I know...St. Peter didn't wear a cassock, it's not important, and pope's only started wearing white in the 16th century, so it doesn't matter and he is orthodox blah blah blah.
The sky is falling....the sky is falling...
Boxers or briefs?
Anonymous at 3:50 p.m.:
When you start talking about tab shirts it makes one wonder whether he will introduce a newer form of papal clericals---an off-white suit with matching off-white clerical shirt and collarette or pure white shirt with off-white clerical vest (to frame the white rabat collar).
A off-white papal tab shirt--God forbid!
In this off-white suit ensemble, he would then resemble one of those Anglican clergymen who had been assigned to a tropical colony of the Empire.
Does it matter if a bishop, priest or deacon doesn't wear a cassock under his alb? Probably not--unless he plans on wearing one of those old-school lace-trimmed albs!
Let's just hope the Pope doesn't start wearing one of those velco-necked albs instead of the more traditional one with the amice!
I'm afraid Anonymous is attaching far too much importance to this. It is a matter of trivia more than anything else.
Clerical attire is meant to serve both as a self-reminder to live simply and as sign of pastoral availability. The details are trivial. The pope just needs to look like a bishop of Rome, which he does.
The priest where I attend church never wears a cassock under his alb.
Though the cassock is proper to the Liturgy, I guess with all the options now...Kyrie eleison.
The cassock is not "proper" to the liturgy. The cassock was "house dress" or "street clothes."
That is why the cassock was covered by surplice or alb when one entered into liturgy.
Current regulations say a priest must have on an ankle length garment under the alb. We call that garment "pants."
Next, let's have another equally important, crucial, enlightening nonsensical discussion about what font should be allowed in printing the Bible. I think that using "comic sans" would be a mortal sin.
Pater Ignotus,
Where can I find the current regulations requiring that, "a priest must have on an ankle length garment under the alb"?
Anonymous,
Must all your conversations be about life and death issues? I suggest you develop a hobby and learn to appreciate the fraternity that develops from light conversations about pleasing topics among good friends. There's no need for you to show contempt for the things that interest others.
JBS....It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.
When he was in BA he didn't wear an amice - now he does. His mitres are very well proportioned, the ornamentation is medieval and I like the way the silk lining matches the liturgical colour. He uses the Guido Marini/Benedict XVI papal pallium with the red crosses, which is a very recent innovation.
Yes, he should wear choir dress with a mozzetta which can be white - there are photographs of St John XXIII wearing one.
PI, well, yes, the alb/surplice covers the cassock...I agree, I meant in the sense that it'd traditionally worn under the vestments for the Liturgy...
While I think the cassock should be worn under the proper vestments for the Liturgy....this is much ado about nothing.
And to think the Holy Father isn't even in full pontificals. If he was hot without wearing full pontificals, imagine how much he'd be if he was.
I'd much rather like to see Pope Francis wearing the Pontifical Dalmatic under the chasuble, for I have never seen it with Pope Francis.
In the latter days of St. John Paul II he used no alb just the chasuble over the cassock.
I always wear the cassock on weekends, sometimes week days too, with alb over it. To the certain disdain of an earlier commentor I prefer my velcro amice over the "traditional".
Prepare thy innards to soon see in the open what is evident under the Holy Fathers see through cassock: the pope wears a long sleeve white guayabera!
I know a Priest who runs around in shorts and a t-shirt.
What does the pope wear to bed?
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