Posted on 01/12/2005 7:53:25 AM PST by NYer
ROME, JAN. 11, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University.
Q: I am a newly ordained priest. I may have seen an older priest or read somewhere that the priest’s stole used to be crossed in front, so being traditional, I started crossing mine. While at a concelebrated Mass, one of the priests (in charge of liturgy for the diocese) said to me in a very loud voice: "You can't wear you stole crossed, it's illegal!" Now I realize it would have been more prudent to approach me afterward, but checking documents and instructions, the only thing I can find in reference to the stole is that it is worn over the shoulders and hangs down the front. What is your opinion? -- C.L., Florida. I've seen priests celebrating weekdays Masses in the Philippines wearing chasubles and stoles, i.e., without albs. Is it acceptable? -- M.C., Pasig City, Philippines
A: Because these two questions are related I would like to answer them together.
It is true that before the liturgical reform simple priests would wear the stole (a long narrow band of material of material several inches wide and of the same color and design as the chasuble) crossed over the front.
All those who wore pectoral crosses, such as bishops, abbots, and priests who had this privilege, would wear the stole hanging in front.
In the light of the Second Vatican Council's call for an overall simplification of the rites and rubrics, this distinction in the way of donning the stole was abolished. The present indication is that all bishops and priests wear it hanging down in front.
Although the master of ceremonies at the concelebration may have lacked tact, he was technically correct although the word "illegal" would imply an express prohibition or reprobation of the former custom that has never been explicitly stated.
Certainly, if priests are concelebrating, and wearing only alb and stole, then crossing the stole would also be incorrect from an aesthetic point of view as it would break the general uniformity of liturgical attire that should be observed by the concelebrants.
It would also tend to drew inordinate attention to oneself and might be a source of distraction to some of the faithful.
Monsignor Peter Elliott in his excellent guide "Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite" suggests that crossing the stole could be tolerated if Mass is celebrated using traditional Roman vestments such as the planeta. I believe that this is a reasonable exception.
Regarding the second question, the recent instruction "Redemptionis Sacramentum" clearly states in No. 123:
"'The vestment proper to the Priest celebrant at Mass, and in other sacred actions directly connected with Mass unless otherwise indicated, is the chasuble, worn over the alb and stole.' Likewise the Priest, in putting on the chasuble according to the rubrics, is not to omit the stole. All Ordinaries should be vigilant in order that all usage to the contrary be eradicated."
No. 126 states: "The abuse is reprobated whereby the sacred ministers celebrate Holy Mass or other rites without sacred vestments or with only a stole over the monastic cowl or the common habit of religious or ordinary clothes, contrary to the prescriptions of the liturgical books, even when there is only one minister participating. In order that such abuses be corrected as quickly as possible, Ordinaries should take care that in all churches and oratories subject to their jurisdiction there is present an adequate supply of liturgical vestments made in accordance with the norms."
It is therefore clear that the alb -- a full-length white linen garment usually tied at the waist -- may never be omitted for the celebration of Mass or for other rites in which it is required.
As far as I have been able to ascertain, no group, not even a religious order which sports a white habit, has ever been granted a privilege to omit the alb and celebrate with stole and chasuble over the habit.
In hot climes the habit may be removed if possible and replaced by the alb.
Liturgy ping!
At the indult Mass I attend, my pastor crosses his stole.
He does.
The clown mass photo you've GOTTA see. I thought my college experimentation with psychedelic drugs was coming back on me, but NOOOOOOO....
That clown mass (lower case intentional) photo has absolutely nothing to do with this thread ... but it provides a window into the mind of the person who posted it ... and doesn't show anything good.
I don't want to belabor the whole thing, but what is the purpose of having clowns there to begin with? Some nitwit had to think the thing through. There must be a reason for them being there. I'd just like to know what it is.
Is this some facet of inculturation that I'm not nuanced enough to get? Gosh, the whole thing just makes me wanna puke.
And BTW, my window panes were a lot better than this, that's for sure.
Thank you for posting this! I am so tired and disgusted with these arrogant and non-sensical postings of pictures that have nothing to do with the thread. Blessings to you, my friend.
Beautiful ... Have you ever seen the late Abp Sheen's books "This is The Mass" and "These are The Sacraments"? They were (are?) mostly picture books, really excellent photography, of him offering the Mass and performing the Sacraments, with text explaining what's going on in each picture.
The Chasuble
The word "chasuble" is derived from the Latin word "casula" or "little house" because it was at times literally used as a shelter by clergy. Unlike modern chasubles, traditional chasubles are required to have a large cross on the back to signify the yolk of service to our Lord. In times past it was very large, heavy and ornamented, which is why you see altar boys helping the priest to support it during mass.
Vesting Prayer - "O Lord, who has said, ‘My yoke is sweet and my burden light,’ grant that I may so carry it as to merit Thy grace."
I no longer recall what prompted the conversation but, not long after the arrival of our new pastor in my (now former) RC parish, I asked him if priests "still" say the vesting prayers. Now, keep in mind that this parish church was constructed 40 years ago, on the cusp of VCII. It conforms to the Novus Ordo liturgy in design and the priest faces East during the Consecration. It has a typically stark exterior and interior, with an oversized 'Risen Christ' statue on the back wall of the Sanctuary.
Anyway, the new pastor smiled at my question, told me that the Sacristy across the street at the Provincial House of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (constructed pre VCII) "still" had the vesting prayers posted. He then told me that the priests no longer use these prayers. His smile never altered or changed.
While I do not know their customs, the Maronite priests end each liturgy with the following prayer, which is prayed in silence:
Remain in peace, O holy altar of God,
I hope to return to you in peace.
May the offering I have received from you forgive my sins
and prepare me to stand blameless
before the throne of Christ.
I know not whether I will be able to return to you again to offer sacrifice.
Guard me, O Lord, and protect your holy Church,
that she may be the way of salvation and the light of the world.
Amen.
Looks familiar ... except that in the print version, some of the photos are in colour.
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