Benedictine Attire
The monks of St. Procopius Abbey wear the traditional Benedictine habit of the American Cassinese Congregation to which they belong.
The Monastic habit consists of several parts (the cassock, the belt, the scapular, and the hood), and serves two major purposes:
— it forms a link between contemporary Benedictines and their monastic predecessors of earlier centuries; and
— it offers the world an outward, indeed sacramental sign, that the monastic vocation is to a distinctive form of life, one with values and goals which (like the habit) might appear strange to the world, but to which the monks intend to bear witness.
The monk receives the full habit at the time of his first profession of vows. As a sign of his monastic commitment, the habit will be worn by the monk at community exercises and as appropriate in his work.
When a monk takes his solemn vows, he receives the cuculla, a flowing choir robe which signifies his permanent membership in the community.
“Uphold me Lord, according to your promise that I shall live. Let my hope in you not be in vain.”
|
