1. The Roman collar is a sign of priestly consecration to the Lord. As a wedding ring distinguishes husband and wife and symbolizes the union they enjoy, so the Roman collar identifies bishops and priests (and often deacons and seminarians) and manifests their proximity to the Divine Master by virtue of their free consent to the ordained ministry to which they have been (or may be) called.
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PS: I can state 100 reasons why the laity SHOULD NOT wear the clerical collar.
Number 1 reason.
1. It's called a CLERICAL collar. Only clerics wear it!
One should highlight 'free consent'. A roman collar doesn't come into being with your neck in it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, thepinoycatholic!
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, the Roman Collar is one distinguishing visible sign for a priest, for a bishop. Too bad this is no longer the norm. But it certainly is no simple external sign, but in a a way
ReplyDelete- identifies the person is a priest or bishop
- reminds the priest or bishop that he is set apart from the rest and should therefore act according to priestly decorum
- and deters him to act improperly and be in a place only where priests should go
- it also reminds lay people that they are talking to a priest
Looks too simple, but its impact is great!
I hope our Filipino clergy will come to their sense to return to their proper decorum.
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