I don’t wear rings or bracelets at Mass or elsewhere. But when I have a wristwatch on, I don’t take it off for Mass.
I am not sure about this, but prior to the Bugnini Missal, priests removed their watches for the celebration of Mass. Was it codified to do so or just a custom?
On Friday, I arrived at Saint Gregory the Great Church in Bluffton, SC at about 11:15 for their 11:30 AM Confessions and 12:15 PM Mass.
A funeral was in progress and at the end. When I went into the sacristy, I saw that the parish’s newly ordained Parochial Vicar had left his apple wristwatch there. He did not wear it for Mass. And I am not wearing his Apple Watch now.
But, should priests remove wristwatches, bracelets, rings, nose piercings, earrings and the like to celebrate Mass?
Of course, bishops should wear their episcopal ring. That’s required.
I do wear cuff links!
8 comments:
Cufflinks, watches seem okay but hand jewelry on non-prelates are unseemly -- what good old Pope Francis would have called "faggy,"
I forgot, I do wear cuff links on my long sleeves black clerical shirts.
I am not a big fan of anything that takes away from the sacredness that is occurring. I personally don't wear anything other than cuff links. Regular (mechanical) watches are fine, but I've found the ones with screens to be very distracting as sometimes they will illuminate during the action.
As for rings, I've seen a growing trend of priests wearing crucifix rings in lieu of a wedding band. I don't see the attraction. However, these are also priests that I see in civilian clothes a lot.
I would say negative, Father. We enter into the timelessness of Christ's sacrifice when we offer the Mass. Cufflinks I don't consider jewelry, but please no rings or watches, etc. (save for the aforementioned bishops' rings). I don't really care about the Faithful seeing it, as most Masses I offer are ad orientem, so my wrists and hands, in general, are hidden.
Bravo, Father Bolin!
If a person is distracted by a watch on a priest's wrist or a ring in his finger. . . they need to find a better hobby.
For once, I agree with Fr. MJK.
Much ado about nothing. Though "temporal", it's just stuff. I've seen priests with rings/watches many times over the years and as I have my own, I'm completely indifferent to it. Our married priests (the majority at this point), wear their bands mostly on their right hand, some of the U.S. born on their left.
When my son, now 42, was 5 or so we were at Mass and he announced (looking at Fr. Appleby) "I see God up there!" My wife said no, you don't, because God is invisible. To which my son replied "But I can see his watch!"
Post a Comment