Dear Catholic Exchange:
A friend of mine told me that he heard that it is strictly forbidden for a woman to wear a cassock. Could you tell me where he might have gotten this information? Our debate is about girl altar servers.
Thanks.
Al Lemieux
Dear Mr. Lemieux,
We were unable to find any statements by the Church on the matter of women wearing cassocks. However, the Vatican issued an instruction in 1997 On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful With the Sacred Ministry of Priests, which provides some guidance on the wearing of vestments during liturgical services.
The document emphasizes the importance of avoiding confusion regarding the various liturgical roles, especially between the ordained and the non-ordained members of the faithful. It stipulates in Article 6 that only those of the ordained ministry may wear those vestments which signify the priestly office. However, cassocks are not listed among those vestments proper to the priest or deacon. The instruction states:
§ 2. “To promote the proper identity (of various roles) in this area, those abuses which are contrary to the provisions of canon 907 are to be eradicated. In Eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers… or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant.
“In the same way, the use of sacred vestments which are reserved to priests or deacons (stoles, chasubles, or dalmatics) at liturgical ceremonies by non-ordained members of the faithful is clearly unlawful.
“Every effort must be made to avoid even the appearance of confusion which can spring from anomalous liturgical practices. As the sacred ministers are obliged to wear all of the prescribed liturgical vestments so too the non-ordained faithful may not assume that which is not proper to them.”
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal echoes this teaching, and instructs members of the laity who participate in liturgical actions are permitted to wear appropriate vestments:
“In the Church, which is the Body of Christ, not all members have the same office. This variety of offices in the celebration of the Eucharist is shown outwardly by the diversity of sacred vestments, which should therefore be a sign of the office proper to each minister” (no. 335).
“The sacred garment common to ordained and instituted ministers of any rank is the alb, to be tied at the waist with a cincture unless it is made so as to fit even without such” (no. 336).“The vestment proper to the priest celebrant at Mass and other sacred actions directly connected with Mass is, unless otherwise indicated, the chasuble, worn over the alb and stole (no. 337).
“The vestment proper to the deacon is the dalmatic, worn over the alb and stole. The dalmatic may, however, be omitted out of necessity or on account of a lesser degree of solemnity” (no. 338).
“In the dioceses of the United States of America acolytes, altar servers, lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing” (no. 339).
As only men are able to be ordained (please see our Faith Fact Why Not Women Priests?), the implication for women is that they may not wear one of those forms of liturgical vestments reserved to priests and deacons. However, as women are permitted to perform various liturgical functions, including the duties of altar servers (permitted since March 1994) it falls to reason that they are to wear the dress permitted to other lay ministers.
Since there are no strict guidelines issued by the Vatican on the vesture of lay ministers and altar servers, it is delegated to bishops to establish guidelines on the matter. We found a set of suggested Guidelines for Altar Servers presented by the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy in 1994. These guidelines encourage the bishop of a diocese to establish uniform practices throughout his diocese on the specific application of these suggestions. In other words, the determination of guidelines rests on the bishop of the diocese, who may designate this to the parish priest. Included among these guidelines are the following:
“The determination that women and girls may function as servers in the liturgy should be made by the bishop on the diocesan level so that there might be a uniform diocesan policy” (no. 1).
“No distinction should be made between the functions carried out in the sanctuary by men and boys and those carried out by women and girls” (no. 2).
“Acolytes, altar servers, readers, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate or dignified clothing. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no.339) All servers should wear the same liturgical vesture” (no. 5).
While the preferred vestment is the white alb worn with a cincture, it appears that the only vestments forbidden to women (as well as to non-ordained men) during a liturgical function are the chasuble, stole, and dalmatic.
I hope this response adequately answers your question.
United in the Faith,
Kathleen Rohan
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
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