Why a priest should wear his Roman Collar?*

WHY A PRIEST SHOULD WEAR HIS ROMAN COLLAR

by Charles M. Mangan and Gerald E. Murray

The Directory for the Ministry and Life of Priests, prepared by the Congregation for the Clergy and approved by Pope John Paul II on January 31, 1994, states: "In a secularized and tendentiously materialistic society, where even the external signs of sacred and supernatural realities tend to be disappearing, there is a particular need for the priest—man of God, dispenser of His mysteries—to be recognizable in the sight of the community. This recognition should come from the clothing he wears, which serves as an unmistakable sign of his dedication and identity as a recipient of a public ministry. The priest should be identifiable above all through his behavior, but also through his dress, which should render his identity and belonging to God and the Church immediately perceptible to all the faithful and to all men."

For this reason, clerics should wear "suitable clerical clothing, according to the norms issued by the Episcopal Conference and in accordance with legitimate local customs" (Canon 284). This means that such clothing, when not the cassock, should be distinct from the manner in which laypeople dress, conforming to the dignity and sacredness of the ministry.

Apart from entirely exceptional circumstances, the non-use of clerical clothing by a cleric can signify a weak sense of his own identity as a pastor completely dedicated to the service of the Church (Directory #66).

Given this timely reminder from the Holy See about the importance of clerical attire for the priest, we believe it is useful to examine some of the underlying reasons for this discipline. We also want to address some common arguments used to justify the non-wearing of the Roman collar.

We contend that the widespread practice of priests neglecting to wear their collar when they should is both a sign and a cause of malaise in the Church. Such casualness about being publicly identified as a priest of the Catholic Church may indicate a desire to distance oneself from the priestly vocation. The collar may become "work clothes," put away when one is not "on duty." This functionalistic notion of the priesthood is in contradiction to the ontological configuration to Christ the High Priest conferred by priestly ordination.

Laypeople depend on their priests for spiritual support and strength. They feel that something is not right when their priests attempt to blend into the crowd and, as it were, disappear.

The purpose of this article is to encourage our fellow priests to wear their collars (and, by analogy, for religious to wear their habits). It goes without saying that there are reasonable and legitimate exceptions to this rule, such as during sports and recreation, while on vacation (in general), at home with family, or in one's private quarters in the rectory. Of course, the obligation to wear clerical clothing ceases during times of violent persecution. During such a crisis, the guidance of the bishops should be followed.

It is incorrect to say that a priest who refuses to wear his collar is a bad priest. We are concerned that some of our brother priests have simply slipped into a bad habit. They may have convinced themselves that they are serving the greater good of the Church by putting aside clerical clothing. We would like to call such priests to reconsider their decision to dress as laypeople and re-examine their motives.

Reasons for Wearing the Roman Collar

1. Sign of Priestly Consecration: The Roman collar is a sign of a priest's consecration to the Lord. Just as a wedding ring distinguishes husband and wife, the Roman collar identifies bishops and priests (and often deacons and seminarians), manifesting their proximity to the Divine Master due to their free consent to the ordained ministry to which they have been called.

2. Adherence to Material Poverty: By wearing clerical clothing and not accumulating excess clothes, the priest demonstrates adherence to the Lord's example of material poverty. The priest does not choose his clothes; the Church has, thanks to her accumulated wisdom over the past two millennia. Humble acceptance of the Church's desire that the priest wear the Roman collar illustrates a healthy submission to authority and conformity to the will of Christ as expressed through His Church.

3. Church Law: Church law requires clerics to wear clerical clothing. As noted earlier, number 66 of the Directory for Priests quotes Canon 284.

4. Papal Encouragement: The wearing of the Roman collar is the repeated, ardent desire of Pope John Paul II. His wish cannot be summarily dismissed; he speaks with a special charism. He frequently reminds priests of the value of wearing the Roman collar. In a September 8, 1982, letter to Ugo Cardinal Poletti, his Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, the Pontiff noted that clerical dress is valuable "not only because it contributes to the propriety of the priest in his external behavior or in the exercise of his ministry, but above all because it provides evidence within the ecclesiastical community of the public witness that each priest is held to give of his own identity and special belonging to God." In a homily on November 8, 1982, addressing transitional deacons he was about to ordain, the Pope stated that if they tried to be just like everyone else in their "style of life" and "manner of dress," their mission as priests of Jesus Christ would not be fully realized.

5. Avoiding Mixed Messages: The Roman collar prevents "mixed messages"; people will recognize the priest's intentions even in what might appear to be compromising circumstances. For instance, if a priest visits neighborhoods where drug dealing or prostitution is prevalent, the Roman collar sends a clear message that he has come to minister to the sick and needy in Christ's name. Speculation might arise if a priest known to neighborhood residents visits such areas dressed as a layperson.

6. Inspiring Modesty: The Roman collar inspires others to avoid immodesty in dress, words, and actions and reminds them of the need for public decorum. A cheerful but diligent and serious priest can compel others to reflect on their conduct. The Roman collar serves as a necessary challenge to a society drowning in impurity, evident through suggestive dress, blasphemous speech, and scandalous actions.

7. Protection for One's Vocation: The Roman collar provides a safeguard when interacting with young, attractive women. A priest out of his collar (and not wearing a wedding ring) can appear to be an attractive target for the affections of unmarried women seeking a husband or married women tempted toward infidelity.

8. Reminder of Mission: The Roman collar serves as a reminder to the priest of his mission and identity: to witness to Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, as one of His brother-priests.

9. Inspiring Others: A priest in a Roman collar inspires others who may think, "Here is a modern disciple of Jesus." The collar signifies the possibility of making a sincere, lasting commitment to God. Believers of diverse ages, nationalities, and temperaments will note the virtuous, other-centered life of the man who gladly and proudly wears the garb of a Catholic priest, potentially prompting them to consecrate themselves anew or for the first time to the loving Good Shepherd.

10. Intrigue for Non-Catholics: The Roman collar generates beneficial intrigue among non-Catholics. Most non-Catholics lack experience with ministers in clerical garb, and Catholic priests, by virtue of their dress, can provoke reflection on the Church and what she represents.

11. Reminder of the Sacred: A priest dressed as the Church desires serves as a reminder of God and the sacred. The prevailing secular environment does not favor images that connote the Almighty or the Church. Wearing the Roman collar helps elevate the hearts and minds of others toward the "Higher Being," often relegated to a footnote in contemporary culture.

12. Constant Identity Reminder: The Roman collar also reminds the priest that he is "never not a priest." Amid today's confusion, it helps the priest avoid internal doubt about his identity. Two wardrobes can easily lead to two lifestyles or even two personalities.

13. Walking Vocation Message: A priest in a Roman collar serves as a visible vocation message. The sight of a cheerful, happy priest confidently walking down the street can attract young men to consider the possibility that God is calling them to the priesthood. God does the calling; the priest is simply a visible sign God uses to draw men to Himself.

14. Availability for Sacraments: The Roman collar signifies the priest's availability for the Sacraments, especially Confession and the Anointing of the Sick, as well as for crisis situations. Instant recognition from wearing the collar makes priests more approachable, particularly when needed urgently. The authors can testify to being asked for Sacraments and summoned for assistance in airports, crowded cities, and isolated villages because they were immediately recognized as Catholic priests.

15. Striving for Holiness: The Roman collar is a sign that the priest is striving to become holy by living out his vocation continuously. It is a sacrifice to remain publicly identifiable as a priest, but it is a sacrifice pleasing to Our Divine Lord. We are reminded of how the people came to Him, and how He never turned them away. Many people benefit from our sacrifice of striving to be holy priests without interruption.

16. Witness to "Alienated" Catholics: The Roman collar reminds "alienated" Catholics of their irregular situation and responsibilities to the Lord. The priest is a witness—whether for good or ill—to Christ and His Holy Church. When a "fallen-away" sees a priest, he is encouraged to remember that the Church continues to exist. A cheerful priest serves as a salutary reminder of the Church.