Sunday, April 25, 2010

The Kid Says: "Bring Back the Old Cotta Griccia Surplice!"

The new generation of altar server has spoken: "Griccia rules!"

We need to rethink some of these traditions and bring them back.

20 comments:

  1. "Beauty, then, is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God Himself and His revelation." (Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 35)

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  2. That really is a rare thing to see - usually just in old black and white photos. I believe that there was a special kind of iron that would be used by skilled nuns to produce the "grilled" effect. Paul VI couldn't even leave that alone.

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  3. Reminds me of the fashion show in Fellini's Roma!

    Were these ever actually legislated against?

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  4. Sorry, I find your blog fascinating and nostalgic BUT I do think that with the current crisis that the Church has got itself into the least of our wories is the style of cotta our servers are wearing. This obsession with such triva as to what priests and bishops are wearing is not healthy for the Church.
    Sorry !

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  5. "This obsession with such triva as to what priests and bishops are wearing is not healthy for the Church."

    This tiresome spam and headless cacophony is completely senseless. Let the blog-owner do his wonderful job in showing a worldwide audience unfortunately abandoned age old catholic traditions in sacred vestments.

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  6. hey, anonymous, I do think that with the current crisis that the Church has got itself into the least of your worries should be what pictures appear on JP's blog

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  7. Last anon: There are more than a billion Catholics in the world, so from any perspective it's surely no harm for some people to advocate maintaining traditional externals. And the spirit which led to the abandonment of traditional dress is the same spirit which has brought about the current crisis.

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  8. Being that each set of vestments or pieces have a meaning, and are distinct I see no reason why they should not be allowed back. Some Priests would like to use what has been worn for centuries. In fact it is probably exciting for Priests to have different type of clerical dress to choose from. It keeps their minds focused on what they wear and the symbolism behind it. Let them have their choice. I can think of more unhealthy things they could do as well so let them be interested in clerical garb. Why should we, the laity dictate, and continue to try to deny them what is theirs because of what "we" think is relevant or not. Or what they should be wearing. Garb and all that goes with it is theirs, their heritage.

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  9. We can multi-task, worry about the "externals" as well as worry about the current crisis the Church faces.

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  10. I think most of us can think and be concerned about more than one thing at a time. Why all this "either-or" talk, instead of "both-and"?.
    Besides, sometimes many things that seem to be trivial are actually very much part of a bigger and important picture. I don't think JP is unconcerned at all about the "crisis in the Church" - Catholic identity issues are part of that crisis.

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  11. It's brilliant how upset I've made a few people feel over antiquated Catholic drag.
    I grew up with it all and loved it even down to making my own papal tiara when aged 10. Those were the days!
    However, sorry to say, but maniples and cappa magna are not part of my 'Catholic indentity' It all great fun, but what has it all got to do with Jesus of Nazareth?

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  12. I've never understood why priests have to wear vestments - they may have meaning but how many of the congregation knows what the meanings are? Isn't this sort of suggestion transporting the Church back to the dark days when really it needs a clean sweep with a new broom?

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  13. "It's brilliant how upset I've made a few people feel over antiquated Catholic drag"

    You are like this paltry atheists on religious blog, who disturb the harmony. If you are above such things why want you tell your silly petit-burgoise mindset.

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  14. "are not part of my 'Catholic indentity'"

    who cares what your identity is about??-An identity of a provocateur. Your craving for recognition is completely absurd.

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  15. J.P., I'd love to help bring back the cotta, where can one be obtained?

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  16. St. Faustina says that a magnificent building will never rise if we reject the insignificant bricks.

    This style cotta is no longer available anywhere on the planet earth. The one in the photo is an antique that has been preserved original for decades - not even worn.

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  17. Cortile interno del Castello della magione di Poggibonsi (Siena - Italia) - Sede Magistrale della Milizia del Tempio - Ordine dei poveri Cavalieri di Cristo

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  18. Maybe someone know how to this?

    Here in Malta we do pleat the albs, surplices and rochets. We use to pleat these in tiny pleats.

    (Anyone interested in these, can request photos)

    Did they used a special ironing machine?

    Once I also saw a pleeted surplice (maybe also in gricca) that apart from the vertical pleats it has also the horizontal pleats.

    Can anyone help me in this?
    Thanks.

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