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8/2/06
Advice on clerical dress
I am a theatre designer looking for advice on clerical dress. The play is set in The States (modern day)in a Catholic church.
What would a young Seminarian wear when informally visiting the office/vestry of a priest. Would he wear a black cassock or would he be dressed informally. When does one wear a cassock? This young Seminarian later gives a sermon, at mass, from the pulpit. Would he then wear an Alb? Or might it be the shorter white garment - a surplice? - over a cassock? Lastly, I'm assuming that a priest can wear his Alb and Chasuble over his black clerical shirt and black trousers - I have to think about quick changes. Any advice would be welcome as, despite initial research I'm still somewhat confused.
With thanks,
Atlanta Duffy
e mail Atlanta Duffy
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I hope this advice does not come too late for you (noting the date on your post).
a) the cassock question - a seminarian, like a priest, could (appropriately) wear his cassock all the time. But in the modern day, in the west, it would be unusual. Realistically the question is, what has he come from doing? If from working in church, he probably would be wearing a cassock, if from working outside or from recreation, probably not. I suspect your director might have a (dramatic) view as to the literary purpose of the character's being a seminarian, but from a realistic point of view either is possible.
b) the sermon question - either an alb or a cassock and surplice would be realistic, as would, in the modern west, ordinary dress. (Which of these I might approve of is not in question, since you want to know what might happen in reality). From the point of view of theatrical ease the alb (in the form of the cassock alb) is the quickest change, and probably the most commonly found of the three options for dress. But again it will partly depend on the director's purpose in the scene.
A further thought - if the point of this character is that he is a future priest he might appear in a vestment called a tunicle (I won't attempt to describe this but a search engine should rapidly supply a picture), on the assumption that he was also serving as the subdeacon at mass. But a word of warning - if by "Catholic" in your question you mean "Roman Catholic" (and I suspect you do) this last option is no longer realistic, as I believe it is now forbidden for a seminarian to act as subdeacon, or indeed for anyone to do so (I am open to correction on this point). The tunicle (over an alb, of course) option would only be realistic in Anglican Catholic circles, and fairly old-fashioned ones at that.
c) the alb-over-ordinary-clothes question - yes, this is perfectly realistic and happens all the time with real priests - the fact that this habit makes me incredibly annoyed is immaterial to you. Miserere mei!
Good luck with your play.
Fr Simon Fisher, Bath
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