Posted on 08/25/2015 6:47:19 AM PDT by Morgana
Wearing religious garb publicly, whether cassock, biretta, habit, etc., was at one time a no-brainer act for all priestly and religious vocations. It was always understood to give a public witness to the Faith, and serve as a tool for evangelization. Even Hollywood has picked up on this, and invariably portrays priests and religious in traditional habits. But many in the Church have forgotten this elemental truth over the past few decades. A very handy post from Fr. Peter Carota – who you should read daily! – notes the conversion experience of one secular woman who found herself having a strange fascination towards nuns once she saw some habited nuns in Rome. From that simple witness, a heart was gradually changed:
“I went to live in Spain for the college “Junior Year Study Abroad” program. I was raised Protestant (though 3 of my 4 grandparents were Catholic), but I did not like religion much, and really didn’t care one way or the other about Catholicism — about which I knew nothing. I visited Rome during my Christmas break, and became completely mesmerized by the beautiful nuns in full black habits who seemed like angels to me. I was at the point of making a very big decision in my life. I was deciding, at the age of 21, that I did not need God. I never had felt any closeness to Him, and I believed it was time for me to decide whether or not I wanted God in my life. I decided, “no I did not.” Still I loved the nuns.
A few weeks later I found myself — traveling alone — in a train station somewhere outside of Madrid late one night. I had travelled out of this station a few days earlier and had boarded the wrong train because the trains came flying in, stopped for a few seconds, then disappeared into the night. I nervously watched the trains come and go, trying to understand the staticky Spanish over the P.A. system announcing each train. Suddenly two beautiful nuns came up to me and asked me where I was going. I said, “Madrid.” They said, “We are too. Come on.” They each took my by the arm, one on each side, and whisked me onto the right train. We arrived in Madrid in the middle of the night.The train station was full of a lot of scary-looking men, but the nuns held on tight to me as we sailed past. I was amazed to see those rough men cross themselves at the sight of these two holy women. The sisters saw me to my destination – at 3 o’clock in the morning.
I did stick to my plan of rejecting God. I became a very immoral college girl! But I always cherished those sweet sisters who took care of me. I collected all kinds of things with nuns — pictures, dolls, magnets, you name it. Everyone who knew me bought me nun gifts because they knew of my fascination. So I guess no one was really surprised when I eventually converted to the Catholic faith. (That’s another story.)
Now I’ve discovered Tradition, and I pray that more nuns will wear those beautiful habits. That simple act of dressing in the habit will bring many souls to the Church. Cradle Catholics, especially priests, have no idea of the positive outcome they would have if more of them dressed like priests in public. People are fascinated by men and women in traditional Catholic religious garb. Sad to say that the last time I saw a “priest” wearing clerical garb in public was at my neighbor’s son’s birthday party. The “priest” was a woman from the Episcopal church sporting her black shirt and Roman collar, and shorts!” [Sheesh]
————-End Quote————–
Simply wearing the habit of one’s God-given vocation can make a huge difference in the lives of people outside the Church. They see that cassock or that habit and they know they are seeing something beyond them, beyond normal experience. It makes me sad when priests only wear their “clerics” around church, and doff them at the earliest opportunity. And it makes my heart sing when I see young priests in cassock and biretta, giving public witness to our faith. We need much more of that.
Fr. Carota has really been on a roll of late. Here and here are two more really good posts you should read. I should really take up a Novena for Fr. Carota. Speaking the Truth so plainly, hitting so many of the forbidden topics and outrageous hypocrisies of the post-conciliar Church, I fear the hammer will fall on him at some point.
Great article. My priest goes out during the week in his blacks wearing his collar. I think it’s coming back.
The sisters who didn’t wear habits are dying out and the younger ones are once again wearing the habits.
Old article, timely message.
I once chastised a Jesuit friend (a brilliant theologian and holy priest) for showing up at dinner in civvies, pointing out that Hasidic Jews never tire of displaying their devotion to God in their dress.
I am always pleased when I see a young priest dressed in a cassock and wearinf a biretta.
Dominican & Josephite nuns were my role models. Sad that my grand kids will never experience these wonderful women in traditional habits. Big mistake when the Vatican opened those windows. MHO
EXCELLENT article; I still remember three nuns in full habit walking down the street in town when I was 14-years-old and falling away from Christianity. It wasn’t enough to pull me back right there on the spot, but today as a Catholic, I think of them often. They did bring cheer to my heart, even back then.
Here is Fr. Carota’s site link: http://www.traditionalcatholicpriest.com/
I recently starting wear a cross necklace as a Christian symbol to my faith. As our culture becomes more secular I felt a need for a reminder that Christians are still here and that Jesus is still the Lord.
“Sad that my grand kids will never experience these wonderful women in traditional habits.”
Oh, they will see nuns in habits. That is not going away. It’s making a comeback actually.
The habits are returning. Don’t forsake your hope!
Good for you!
I’m trying to think of more than one place in the NT where “religious clothing” is mentioned.
I'm not sure that it's exactly a Biblical commandment, but the Lord does say not to hide your light under a basket. I figure a nun in full habit is a lighthouse, and I'm not even Catholic.
It's there...Just not in a positive light:
Matthew 23:
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Voice of the Martyrs has the only worthwhile apparel, IMHO.
A lot of people in my Emmaus group rock J swag.
Even wearing a cross can make a difference.
They are all good clothes!
Yes that’s the one I was thinking of, thanks for posting it.
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