A question from SUZANNE:
Father Joe, once upon a time, all priests wore a black shirt and black pants. Is there a special name for that costume? In French, we call it a soutane but that’s not the right name, because it refers to the dress-like costume they used to wear.
I’m asking because my husband and I are disappointed that most priests don’t wear black any more (not in Canada, any way) and we don’t know what to call that get-up.
Thanks
Clerical clothing has changed over time and still varies from place to place. Back when men wore hats, priests were required to wear a black dress hat (although not the Roman variety) in the Archdiocese of Washington even into the 1970’s — by mandate of the late Patrick Cardinal O’Boyle.
At fancy or solemn gatherings priests would wear a dress cassock, as opposed to their work cassock (usually worn) and if it was cold they wore a cape over it. You still might find such things today, and my priest friends in Lincoln, Nebraska even wear the Biretta on their heads.
What do you call the black pants and black clerical shirt a priest wears (with a white collar tab)? They are simply called clerics or clerical clothing. The shirts actually can come in various colors and sometimes Norbertines, Dominicans and others might wear a white clerical shirt. Bishops in some of the hotter climates have permitted this to ease the problem of heat absorption by black clothing.
PRIESTS ARE SUPPOSED TO WEAR CLERICAL CLOTHING. If the priests you know are not doing so, then there is a serious question of disobedience. Church law insists that the priest wear “suitable clerical clothing, according to the norms issued by the Episcopal Conference and according to legitimate local customs.” (Canon 284)
We recently had a change of policy in Washington because our permanent deacons also wore the black clerical shirt and people were confusing them with priests. As of last year, in this archdiocese, priests must wear black clerical shirts and deacons are to wear a gray clerical shirt.
I do not know what the local regulations are in your part of Canada, but they could not supercede the universal law.
Having said all this, if a priest goes jogging or swimming or lounges on his mother’s couch, he would probably feel comfortable in wearing civies. This is permitted. But when performing his duties and out in public generally, he should dress as a priest.
I have not worn a dress tie since the day I was ordained. If a man is embrassed to wear his clerics somewhere, then it might be a place where he should not be.
Here is a quick list of traditional clothing worn by priests and bishops, both at and outside Mass:
ALB – An ankle-length white linen vestment with sleeves which the priest wears at Mass.
AMICE – A rectangular, white linen cloth, stamped or embridered with a cross, which the priest draws over his head and wears around his neck and shoulders. It is the first vestment the priest uses for Mass.
BIRETTA – A stiff, square hat with three ridges on the top and a pompom or tassel in the center.
BROAD STOLE – A very long piece of cloth about ten inches wide which the deacon wears over his left shoulder and under his right arm diagonally across his chest and back. It is worn by deacons.
BUSKINS – The stockings worn by the Bishop when offering Pontifical Mass. They are the same color as the fabric of the sandals and vestments which the Bishop wears.
CAMAURO – A red velvet cap edged with ermine. It is worn at non-Church functions by the Pope. [see Pope Benedict XVI in the news lately!]
CAPPA – a long cape-like grament worn by the clergy; a cloak. [worn in preference to a top coat, and over the cassock]
CAPPA MAGNA – A long vestment with a hood, the latter being lined with silk or fur. It is worn by Cardinals and Bishops as a cape. Cardinals wear a red cappa magna; Bishops, a purple one. [have not seen these in a long time]
CASSOCK – A long-skirted close-fitting, black garment worn by clerics and priests. It is also called Soultane.
CHASUBLE – The most important Mass vestment. It is a large, full vestment, made of rich cloth. They came in various liturgical colors and shapes, fiddleback, gothic, etc.
CINCTURE – A long cord which the priest ties around his waist to hold the alb in place.
SURPLICE – A large-sleeved, linen tunic of half-length, which is worn by clerics over the cassock at the administration of the sacraments and various Church services. Today, its use is tolerated for lay altar boys.
DALMATIC – Large vestment worn by deacons. It hangs down full from the shoulders and has large broad sleeves.
FANONS or LAPPETS – The two small narrow strips of cloth which hang from the back of the mitre which the Bishop wears on his head on solemn occasions.
FERRIOLA – A short, elbow-length cape attached to the cassock.
FERRIOLONE – A full-length cape raeching to the ankles.
MANIPLE – A long narrow strip of silk worn by the priest on his left arm when he celebrates Mass. [now only worn by priests saying Mass under the indult and those of the Fraternity of St. Peter]
MITRE – The pointed folding hat which Bishops, Cardinals, and the Pope wear at official church services.
MOZZETA – A short cape which reaches to the elbow and buttons down the front. A small hood is attached at the neck. It is worn by the Pope, Cardinals, and Abbots.
PALLIUM – A narrow white woolen ban worn around the shoulders, having two short woolen pendants, one hanging down teh front, the other down the back, and ornamented with six black crosses. It is worn by the Pope and Archbishops
as a sign of their authority.
RABAT – A black shirt-front which extends from the neck and covers the chest of the priest and to which the Roman collar is attached.
ROCHET – A linen surplice-like vestment with narrow sleeves. The bottom, the shoulder-pieces, and the ends of the sleeves of the rochet are ornamented with lace.
ROMAN COLLAR – The stiffly starched band of white linen (or plastic today) which is attached to the rabat and worn around the neck of the priest. It may also be a tab in a clerical shirt. It must be worn by a priest in public.
SCAPULAR – Monks wear it as a piece of cloth about the width of the shoulders and long enough to reach to the ankles both front and back when worn around the shoulders.
SIMAR – A black cassock edged in purple with a purple cape, sash and buttons, which the Bishop wears informally in his residence.
STOLE – A very long narrow strip of cloth. Priests today wear the stole around the neck and hanging straight down in the front. Bishops at Mass will wear the stole crossed over the chest.
ZUCHETTO – The skull cap worn by the Pope and Bishops.
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This is dee from Framingham, Mass. Loved your article on clergy clothing. When our Boston Cardinal O'Malley was elevated, he at first wore the zuchetto and the Pope placed the mitre on his head.
It looked so funny in pictures…not making fun of him. He is a great Cardinal in the Boston Archdiocese and we love him.
Been many moons since I was in parochial schools where I learned all the about the clergys' clothing…and you updated me.
God Bless you, Father…
Thank you for clueing me in on clergy clothing names. Has been many
moons since I learned about clergy clothing…and almost forgot.
what is the meaning of the black shirt and pants, and white collar ?
and what does word, “NUN”,mean ?
The white collar, usually made of plastic these days, was traditionally made of linen and signified obedience.
I have heard it said that black was an easier color to produce than many others. Religious priests embraced poverty. The black was also used in vestments for funeral Masses. It became a color associated with the dead. A priest was supposed to be dead to the world but alive for Christ.
Until recent times, the usual dress for priests was a black cassock with a cope (cape), not black pants, shirt, and jacket.
Here is a good definition of NUN:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nun
All nuns are sisters but not all sisters are nuns. Nuns usually embrace a stricter and more ascetical form of life, the cloister or a semi-cloister. Sisters are women religious who work in the world.
The nun takes promises of poverty, chastity, obedience and enclosure. It comes from the Latin word “nonna” which refers to a monk or tutor. A nun is essentially a female monk.
Father, are regular priests able to wear a zuchetto? I always see bishops, archbishops, cardinals and the pope wearing it. It has only been once that I’ve seen a priest wear a black zuchetto.
It has been ages since I have seen a priest wear a zuchetto. You are right though, if he wore a skull cap it would be black. The Pope wears a white one while the Cardinals wear red and bishops wear purple.
The zuchetto covered the tonsure. But most clergy today are not tonsured, except in a natural way by the process of aging and going bald.
Fr. Joe, first, thanks for your fantastic article, I enjoy it a lot.
I’m afraid I didn’t understand your answer to Kenneth about the zuchetto. Is a regular run-of-the-mill diocesan priest permitted to wear it (without tonsure, natural or otherwise)? If so, when may he wear it, or, when would it be appropriate for him to wear it?
Also, I can’t seem to get a straight answer concerning the dress of major seminarians. What is permitted for a seminarian to wear with regard to clerics? (the cassock, biretta, etc.)
And is all this written in some Church document?
Thanks a lot!
in Christ,
Mason
I do not think there is anything that prevents a priest from wearing a zuchetto, there just is no current requirement to do so. Other priests might make tease a priest who wears one.
Priests can and sometimes do still wear a biretta, but it is rather rare. It also plays no liturgical role in the new order of liturgy. A young priest in a neighboring parish wears the biretta, cassock and cappa after Mass as he says goodbye to congregants.
Clerical dress for seminarians varies upon what school they attend. I wore clerical shirts and collars with black pants in college seminary, as well as the cassock. Some seminaries require the students to wear shirt and tie. My theologate back in the 1980’s had us wear lay clothing. I think the growing preference is for clerical dress today.
Hi, I was surfing around and found this post, which was really great, btw. Anyway, last Sunday, my parish priest had on a zuchetto. We had just had a procession after a Novena in honor of Our Lady, and as he passed by on his way into the Cathedral for a Pontifical Mass, I noticed how dressed up he was. It was quite a lovely day and a lovely Mass too.
Just thought I’d add in my recent observations.
Mia
Dear Father Joe,
I am currently in seminary and have been accepted to Holy Orders as a seminarian on ordination track.
My questions are:
1) How does one measure for a biretta?
2) How does one measure for a zucchetto?
3) How does one hold the zucchetto in place when wearing it and what exactly is its placement on the head?
and lastly
4) Where is a good place to purchase said items?
GUEST EDITOR: What level of seminary? If you want such things it is best to wait until have been approved for ordination. The ecclesiastical tailor can fit you. Right now concentrate upon your studies and prayerlife, not upon your clothes. I knew guys who played dress-up who never became priests. It was very tragic. The old saying has it right, “Don’t put the cart before the horse!”
What dioceses in the United States permit (permanent) deacons the privilege of wearing the roman collar?
GUEST EDITOR: I would not have that list, sorry.
Ordination to the daeconate will occur in October ‘07
Father Joe, I have asked every priest I know and tried some dead-end searches on the internet: what is the name of the black hat with the rounded crown and medium-to-short brim (maybe a little upturned) that the priests are wearing in the movie “Shoes of the Fisherman”. Anthony Quinn has one when he is out-and about disguised as an ordinary priest. And I also seem to remember some dipictions of the Cure if Ars wearing one.
Can you help?
Dear Father Joe:
What is the strip of cloth worn by priests when administering last rites? Is it an amice? I recently saw a priest wearing one that was either colored satin or silk. I’m writing a story and I want to be accurate. Thanks.
Steve
I’ve noticed that some (but not all) Episcopal priests wear just an alb during the Liturgy of the Word, but put on the chasuble just before the offertory and eucharistic prayer. Do you know of any Catholic priests that follow this practice, or is it an Anglican innovation?
Is it true, Father Joe, that the cope, unlike the chasuble, is a lay garment and not distinctively clerical? So a lay canon in a cathedral might be entitled to wear a cope when in procession on festive occasions?
hwo are you i never wanna a be a stupid monk like u ur a weirdo get a life
catrin dumont jones XxxxxxX
Dear Father Joe, I have been reading online about the priestly vestment cassock. I have found some online sites that say if a priest wears his cassock outside of the church or a Holy function he is looked at in a non favorable light by other priests. I don’t understand how this can be true if priests were always required to wear cassocks in the past? Are priests who wear cassocks daily looked down at in the U.S.?
I wear a clergy shirt on Saturdays and Sundays and when I visit parishioners in the hospital, nursing home or in their homes. That is enough for me. I like to be more casual during the week. I think we can get too caught up in clerical attire. In the end, it is who we are and not what we wear.
There is a saying: “The clothes make the man.”
This is not entirely true.
You are right, such are only appearances, and say little about the man underneath.
A man can decorate himself like a Christmas tree and yet be a counterfeit clergyman. There are plenty of rascals who dress the part but who show little soldarity with the poor, dedication to the truth and loving compassion for the hurting.
Even naked on a Cross, like our Lord, a priest is a priest.
Thanks Father Bob
Hello Fr. Joe!
I was wondering about the specifics of wearing a cassock. For instance, it was brought up with my friends one day, if it was permitted for an altar boy to wear the white collar with a rabat with the cassock, or if he should wear the cassock with no collar, but I feel that looks rather odd, as it is built to have one.
I wouldn’t want to be disrespectful either, so I was just wandering just how far an altar boy can go when it comes to clerical dress for Mass. (Keeping in mind this altar boy may be headed to Seminary soon.)
Altar boys wear the cassock without a collar. Seminarians and priests wear the cassock with a white collar. It is a sign that one is a cleric or in formation to become one.
The white surplice is the actual liturgical dress, worn over the cassock.
A priest in a paraliturgy would wear cassock, surplice and his stole.
Dear Father Joe,
I’m a ‘bottom of the candle’ evangelical, but help out at a local Anglo-Catholic church during the summer acting as a chaplain, in case visitors want prayer. I wear my cassock – I’m a licensed lay minister – and occasionally get called ‘Father Nigel’! Which I must confess I find rather nice! (Shame on you, I hear you cry!)
However I also acted as chaplain during the new year holidays – and froze, because it’s hard wearing a sweater under a cassock you bought 25 year’s ago!
My bishop has just invited me to become a lay canon, and I was intrigued by an earlier story on this blog about lay people wearing copes. I would want to wear a black cope just to keep warm not to make any religious point. I suppose that really I should wear a cloak. What would you advise to keep warm?
Hi Father Joe:
This question is going to sound wierd, but I assure you I am not asking it for purient reasons. I am a devout Catholic, former altar boy, and I can who can recite the Baltimore catechism from memory.
It’s obvious from looking at most priests that they wear long trousers under their cassocks. However, the Pope does not appear to wear long trousers under his ivory cassock. While watching Easter celebrations from the Vatican on TV, I noticed, when the masters of ceremony lifted the Pope’s cassock too high as he walked up steps to the alter, what appeared to be ivory knee lenght pants. Is that possible? Do you know if His Holiness wears shorter trousers under his cassock so they won’t show around his ankles?
Thank you for your prompt response, Fr. Joe. I have been following The Holy Father’s visit, non stop, since he arrived in the United States on Tuesday night. Pope Benedict XVI is a wonderful Pope and gives me back some of the pride in my faith that was lost during the awful sex abuse scandal. Many sceptics said it would be difficult for a successor to fill the shoes of the late, Pope John Paul The Great; however, Pope Benedict XVI is making a name for himself by being who he is: a gentle Shepherd. Hopefully, during this trip to the US, the Church’s critics will see that The Holy Spirit has given the Roman Catholic Church the right successor to St. Peter for this point in time.
Dear Father Joe,
The note from Arthur reminds me of a diocesan bishop who was also a monk. He was on a train one hot day, sitting in his robes, when the man sitting opposite took his jacket off, and laughed at the bishop, saying “What a shame, that you can’t do that.” Bishop Pxxxr was hot, so he toddled along to the toilet on the train and came back with his trousers over his arm. He said to the other traveller -”What a shame you can’t do that!!”
I hasten to add that this is a true story, told me by the bishop concerned! So you can never tell what’s being worn under long robes!
Father Joe:
Responding to the question of what the Pope wears under his cassock, I can answer that the traditional attire is a white neckband shirt or blouse, a pair of white breeches and white over-the-knee stockings. If you imagine an 18th century aristocrat, you’ve got the basic picture.
That having been said, I’ve seen pictures of John Paul II in the out-of-doors on windy days that reveal white, uncreased trousers that could best be described as ‘floods’. They extended to about an inch below the calf.
From what your poster has observed of Pope Benedict’s ‘knee-length pants’ and from your own observation that His Holiness wore ‘regular length’ trousers, I can only conclude that the current Pontiff wears either/or.
HI Fr. Joe,
many thanks for this article and this website.
It was submitted to me by the admin of Semperfi Catholic forum, in response to a question i posed about an altar server wearing the rabat and priest collar.
I was chatting with a friend of mine whom mentioned that in her parish, the altar boy wears the rabat with the white collar and she said that was only permitted for priests and clerics yet the parish priest allows him to do so.
i did a search and found that seminarians in some countries are permitted this. She says the altar server is still in high school and is 16 yrs of age.
Could he be permitted to wear the rabat and collar if he is a seminarian and do you know the required minimum age of a young man before he is permitted to enter the seminary.
many thanks in advance for any feedback
Marie
Australia
Greetings Joe – I read somewhere years ago in the old testement that a priest is not to tie anything around his neck and knot it – please tell me the address where it is found in the Bible. Thanks – Joe – Bless God
Hi there,
Could you please tell me what priests and nuns wear??
Many thanks
I have to do an assignment on what they wear,
and i can’t seem to find many websites that give me
the right information!
thanks so much,
get back to me please
Thanks to you
Father,
I have enjoyed perusing your comments and found them all quite helpful and interesting.
I was a vowed member of a mendicant order for a few years and was installed as “lector” and “acolyte”. Someone mentioed to me that being an installed acolyte (by a major superior or bishop) is distinct from altar servers we see at parishes. Is this correct? Also, is it licit for a former religious who is an installed acolyte to wear the cassock and surplice? If so, with or without the collar?
I recently saw a layman theology professor who earned both the pontifical STL and STD wearing an academic biretta. If a professor holds a canonical degree and is a layman, can he still wear the biretta?
Dear Father:
Thank you for your reply. You mentioned that an installed acolyte may transport communion to the ill and homebound across parish boundaries, something that extraordinary ministers are not supposed to do. What about transporting communion across a diocese. Example: San Francisco & Oakland are very close cities, but have distinct bishops. What if an installed acolyte needs to bring communion to a sick person who resides in a nearby diocese. I ask this because I was not installed by a diocesean bishop, but rather by the Dominican Provincial.
I don’t believe priest are required to, I think they use to more so that people could identify them.. but I don’t think they have to.. my priest doesn’t wear one either
I am currently writing a novel where the main characters who are male and female are getting married. I am not sure what the priest should wear during a marriage ceremony and I’m totally stuck on it. And for me to visit a Catholic church to ask, the closest one to me is over a hundred miles away. Thank you.
Father Joe, I like the principle behind what you say here: ‘But when performing his duties and out in public generally, he should dress as a priest.’ But I’m not sure that it should be followed too stringently, should it? Although a priest is always a priest, he’s not always ‘on duty’. If I go to a movie, I am not expecting to offer advice or pastoral care while I’m there – especially if I’m outside my own parish (or diocese); but wearing clerical dress might imply that I was open to doing that. In my experience, wearing clerical dress always and everywhere can raise expectations that it would be inappropriate to try to fulfil.
This concept of a priest being “off duty” bothers me a bit. I thought that the priesthood was not a job; but a vocation.
For example, firemen, accountants, and to a lesser extent, doctors are frequently off duty. But spouses, parents, and priests are never “off duty”. If a collar is the sign of a man’s priesthood, he should consider taking it off in the same way that a husband takes off his wedding ring, i.e., because of necessity. (My husband had to remove his ring to stick his hand down the toilet trap.) I have heard of men who remove their wedding rings to play golf and I have to say that I don’t think much of the practice.
I don’t mean to suggest that any priests are taking off their collars to sneak into “R” rated movies or have any other bad motives for taking off their collars. I agree that it is certainly more comfortable to go to even a perfectly decent movie without the collar; but I think that opportunities to evangelize can be missed.
In addition, as I once told a sister who refuses to wear a habit because as she put it, it was so much more comfortable not to be stared at, Christ did not tell us to get comfortable and follow him.
Father Joe, I know that priests carry a heavy burden and that it can be very difficult at times. Am I being too harsh?
Father Joe,
Please don’t feel guilty because you take a few hours to rest. I know all about that guilt because, having five kids that range in age from 23 to 5, I tend to feel guilty whenever I’m not cleaning, cooking, or cuddling. (In my case, it’s spending too much time on your blog!) Anyway, even though I can’t help the guilt, I know that everybody needs a break from unending responsibility.
I get the feeling from Michael and Lady Godless’s comments that you have had bad news from the doctor. I’m so sorry and I will continue to pray for you.
Dear Fr Joe,
Risking the pun, DON”T LOSE HEART!
I am in the long process of losing weight trying to take the load from my own heart . My six-foot three and formerly 254lbs body has put quite a load on my ticker. Lost about 18 and have at least 36 more to go and it is not easy. But if I hope to see our grandchildren grow up it is what I must do.
Father,
I must say, I am disappointed when I see nuns wearing civic clothes. What happened to the days where you see nuns in the black habits? You don’t see them that much any more! Their few that do! I know a few sisters that wear a regular blouse with a knee length skirt and just a Cross around their necks. I was surprised when she told me she was a nun in the Church. I wish the sisters would wear there full habits again. What a slap in the face this is!
I would like to point out that the dress of eastern priests and bishops, Orthodox or Catholic, is rather different (particularly bishops), and the use of cassocks, and habits for nuns, has not fallen out of favor nearly as much.
Priests wear whatever is convenient for a quicky [expletive deleted] of alter boys!!! These sick sacks of [expletive deleted] can [expletive deleted] and [expletive deleted] a child and then go before the stupid masses and appear as ‘angels of light’. I do hope there is an afterlife where these demons get what is coming to them.
I have to say that my husband and I currently are Parishoners is a Parish with a Pastor that is relatively young(40) and very conservative. It is a pleasant sight to see him about in his cleric attire. He is proud to wear his collar and cassock, and can be seen anywhere and everywhere in them. I have never seem him without his collar, and only very rarely ( social gatherings: parish picnic ect)without his cassock. He did remove his cassock during a very long hot Pilgrimage recently. He wears a Biretta often. We are so happy to have a parish priest who is truly devoted to our Lord, and is so very proud to let everyone know who he is and what he is! We have teased him recently that since it is the year of the priest, it is “all about him”. We are so thankful for our Pastor.
Yes, it does seem to be “all about him.” It reminds me of when I just got out of nursing school and frequently “accidently” left my name tag on after work that said “RN” on it. It seems to me that the younger priests enjoy the novelty of the attire. It seems that we focus too much on it as lay people and as the younger conservative priests tend to do. We miss the point of the vocation. Plus, I think we as lay people put a lot of pressure on our wonderful priests and nuns as far as what they wear. A priest needs a break too. Yes, its a vocation, but do they owe us every single second of their life? And if a priest likes to work out or swim, should they make special swim suits that will let everyone know he is a priest? I know its far fetched, but I really feel that we focus too much on externals.
oh, sorry Mary, I’m a different Mary!! :)
[...] send a higher definition photo if you like), intricate designs on the stole (this must be a priest? Click here for easy to read information (doctrinal warning, not everyone I link to believes what I believe. I [...]
what do we call a priests with a brown cassock?
what do we call a priests with a parish?
Hi Father Joe,
I have enjoyed reading about clerical dress and have found it quite informative. I’m a Christian but not of the Catholic denomination. I have a question slightly off of this topic but related to it. I was wondering if there is anything stated about how a Priest is to wear their hair. I am aware of the biblical references about hair but was just curious as to that the Catholic church and doctrines have to say about how a Priest is to wear their hair, and in particular about long hair on a Priest.
hi fr joe,
after reading certain articles i have become very worried,
we buried my brother fr michael recently and no one
told us certain procedures should be done regarding
what to put on the deceased or in the coffin, obivously we
put one of his vestments on a cross in the coffin, is this
ok, i am terribly worried that we did’nt do the right things.
many thanks joanne
Father Joe:
Out of curiosity, is there a location where the general public might procure an authentic sample of clerical dress?
I am in the process of writing a music video for a christian rock song, where the protagonist is an Irish Catholic priest. I desire the man who portrays my character to be as authentic and convincing as possible on my tight budget.
There are many costume shops and the like online which sell mockups of clerical dress, but as is the norm with cheap costumes, they’re all ill-conceived, with inconsistancies, inaccuracies, and poorly sewn, and of sub par material.
Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
I hate to bring this up, however I do find it rather peculiar that a site that offers advice on “priests” also has an ad. directly above their “Q & A” section for ” Finding out sex offenders in your neighborhood” Coincidence, I doubt it. I’m not trying to bring any negativity to this, just bringing up something that may want to be changed…………….
Today the bishop visited our parish to install our new pastor. It was a beautiful and joyous celebration. My son’s friends were altar servers and we wondered why they were not permitted to touch the bishop’s mitre or staff with bare hands, but the bishop’s assistant (a priest) could? My son also wanted to know about the “hat dance” that was occuring. I see where the concept is that a priest’s head should be bare in prayer, but most of the time the bishop still wore the zuchetto, except during the consecration of the Sacrament when he removed it. Can you explain that also? Thanks.