Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Life Faith Liturgy Lines

Noble beauty of liturgical vestments

byStaff writers
22 September 2013
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A CALLER commended me on my recent column on the topic of church spaces, vessels and books, and enquired whether the General Instruction of the Roman Missal had anything to say about liturgical vestments. “And where did they come from anyway?” she asked.

Although it is often claimed that early Christian leaders of liturgy simply wore their “Sunday best” version of everyday garb, history shows that at an early stage, presiders and other ministers adopted vesture that differed somewhat from normal civic dress.

This is hardly surprising as it was the practice of Jewish prayer leaders and leaders of many different groups to wear special garments.

Because secular dress has changed so much in the last 2000 years, the gap between liturgical and everyday dress is now marked.

While the vestments used in the Catholic Church today are similar to those worn by our early ancestors in the faith, they have undergone many modifications over the centuries.

From around the 14th century, the simple flowing robes, which had been used for centuries, were replaced by complex layers of elaborate embroidery and lace.

As garments became more highly decorated they became smaller, until they were no longer real garments at all.

Originally, the robe itself was the symbol-eventually it became merely the vehicle for dramatic displays and pious symbolism.

In 1930 Dom Roulin, a forerunner of the liturgical movement, claimed that the liturgical vestment had ceased to be a vestment and had become an ornament, and “an ornament in a style either of pompous affectation or of stilted ugliness”.

When new technology made mass- production of vestments possible, they became more affordable. As a result, local churches were often presented with vestment by grieving relatives in memory of the deceased.

Related Stories

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Unfortunately, these vestments were often of dubious quality and design, but priests felt obligated to wear them.

The Second Vatican Council established the principle that all things set apart for use in divine worship be truly worthy, becoming and beautiful (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy #122).

Applying this specifically to vestments, the Council says we should strive after noble beauty rather than sumptuous display (#124).

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal explains that “The diversity of offices in the celebration of the Eucharist is shown outwardly by the diversity of     sacred vestments, which must be a sign of the function proper to each minister.

Moreover, the sacred vestments should also contribute to the beauty of the sacred action itself.” (#335)

The General Instruction also stresses the importance of simplicity in design and using appropriate materials for liturgical vestments: “It is fitting that the beauty and nobility of each vestment not be sought in an abundance of  overlaid ornamentation, but rather in the material used and in the design. Ornamentation on vestments should, moreover, consist of figures, that is, of images or symbols that denote sacred use, avoiding anything unbecoming to this.” (#344)

Vestments are themselves symbols which function by their design and shape, quality of fabric and colour; they are not billboards for miscellaneous messages and logos.

Like everything used in the sacred rites, it is important that vestments be kept clean and in good repair.

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Celebrating the gift of faith

Next Post

Walking in the comfort of our faith

Staff writers

Related Posts

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

27 May 2022
Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria
World

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia
Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Next Post
foot prints

Walking in the comfort of our faith

Don't alter marriage

Australian bishops respond to poverty

Popular News

  • Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abdallah family launch forgiveness campaign one year on from crash that killed four children

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Christian Brothers’ community mourn the passing of Brother Tony White

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

by Staff writers
27 May 2022
0

By Catholic News Agency THE Vatican is inviting Catholics to join Pope Francis in praying the rosary...

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping