The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-21
Dress.


at 10 NO WONDER" he continues, "that thes
, vestments look odd to the unfamiliar eye TO-
they are older than the days of Qaeen Eliza
beth, much older than the British Empire
Following the train of thought SO beautifully
suggestedlby theseloquent Bishop of Richmond
we may add that they are older than the
eagles of Rome the crescent of the E asst, fol
they date back to the Mosaic dispensation and
are co-eval with the earliest institutions OF
ancient public worship.
| If men should be apparelled according to
their calling, do we not find in this dress of a
consecrated priesthood, indications of the di-
vinely inspired wisdom of the Church, which
prescribes garments for her priest and cere-
| monials for her altar, in keeping with the ga
cred functions and sublime purpose of the one
| and the otherf
Protestants who act upon first impressions,
believe that the gorgeous robes and shining
vestments of our clergy are governed in their
style and magnificence by the taste or caprice
of their wearers; and it is we'll for them to
learn that their fashion is interchangeable, and
their splendor in proportion to the generosity
of the faithful.
But it is chiefly in regard to their meaning,
that we have referred, to-day, to the sacred
vestments of the officiating priest, so as to
show the contrast between the ministers of
the several sects whose garments bear no rela-
ton to Christian worship, and the priests of
the Church, whose dress reminds of their
calling, and teaches the mysteries of the
Life and Death of their Divine Master.
And here it is well to remember that the diff
fsrent orders of Masonry throughout the
world, have their characteristic dress and en-
blems; all of which, were they used in good
cause would be eminently praise worthy; but
as lis, the fact embodes the principle, that
the outward garment should have some efe-
renee to the unseen influences which direct the
acts of men.
The officiating priest represents Our Lord,
whether be stands in shining garments before
the altar, or sits in emblematic robes of white
within the tribunal of Penance; and under
every circumstance his dress reminds him
of his holy calling and teaohes those who be-
hold him that he is the minister of an unseen
God.
At the altar he wears the Amict or veil, which
recalls the rag of linen bound upon the Sa-
viouI's face when the Jews struck Him, the
Alb, which represents the white garment in
which He was clothed when sent before the
tribunal of impious men, the stole and maniple,
which are symbols of the rude cords with which
His sacred hands were tied, His sacred neck
was bound and finally 1.-THE chdsuble, which de-
notes tie cr0ss which He bore upon His
shoulders andHupon which He laid Himself to
die!
Well indeed are these vestments called
cred,. not only because of the purpose for
which they are used, but also because of the
meaning which attaches to every one of them.
st. Paul says that the priests of the New Law
" shall show the death of the Lord until He
come" Does any one imagine that minister
of the Sects, in his nice broadclotb, Shows this
mystery to the world Is there any fashion in
his garments which tells of an awful Day of
suffering Is there any color in his robes
which speaks of Blood and agouyf Is there
any emblem on his breast which thrills the
heart with an adoring love for Him-a crucfed
Redeemer7
Does he in any action, at the chancel or in
the pulpit, 0hOW the agony in the Garden-tbe
dragging before Caiphas, the cruci6xion, the
death-of Him of whom St. Paul speaksi
Nothing in the cerem onial of the Church is
vain or meaningless, and therefore do we find
even the most unobtrusve article in the dresR
of the priest replete with two fold significance,
one proclaming the glory of God, and the
other teaching holiness and humility to man.
The fashions of the world change from day
to day, SO that we look with laughter and con-
tempt upon the garments of forefsthers,
but in the world, although not of it, there is
one fashion that changes never, which, al
though old, is always new, although strange is
always familiar, although odd is always veneer
able-the fashion of the Church
Let Professionals, then, pay the homage of
respect to these old fashioned garments whose
origin dates back to the cradle of Christianity,
and let them admire, at least in silence, this
antique mode which defes the changes of time
add the vagaries of mortals, and let Catholics
yenerate with enlightened devotion the sacred
vestments of their pastors, reading in their
mysterious shape and color the old, old story
OF Gods love for man, and the undyiHg care of
that Mother Church who teaches, even in the
fashion of her robes, the great, great lesson of
Atouement and Redemption