Page 18 - Read and Recognize

The Apparel of the Church

It is not in accordance with the will of JESUS CHRIST that the priests
should be clothed with expensive cassocks worth 1,000 to 2,000 Swiss
francs. It is right for the priest as a servant of the almighty Majesty of
GOD to be dressed properly. He is expected and allowed, to the glory
of GOD (not to the glory of his own dignity), to wear a noble and
appropriate garment, but still simple, natural and adapted to the earth;
because he is not yet in Heaven.

It is contemptuous of humanity if you have seen or have to see how high
church dignitaries, wearing the most expensive jewellery (pectoral
cross) and gems (bishop’s ring), would visit poor or disaster-stricken
peoples, which had neither house nor food. Mere pious talk is not
enough. The proceeds from the finery, not willed by GOD, would have
saved many people from famine and disease.
The servant of GOD should not be dressing like GOD or a king, but like
a servant, like a servant of GOD, that is! It is interesting that, for ex-
ample, the Tridentine mass vestment was adopted from Jewish custom
and tradition and that the selfsame Church then condemned the very
Jewish behaviour. It is also interesting that this clothing was worn by the
high caste of the Jews, such as Pharisees, and so on, which JESUS
repeatedly criticized. Meanwhile through the years this mass vestment
has been altered so much that it does not at all correspond to the once
adopted tradition any more. What complicated, unmanly, indeed
womanish variety of six pieces and more! A plain garment falling on to
the ground and attuned to the liturgy will do. For so, at least, the
Apostles kept it.
What serves as a safekeeping or dwelling of GOD in the consecrated
presence, such as vessels and receptacles, ornaments and decoration,
is allowed and expected to be precious in the Church!
Is everything that CHRIST and the Apostles did false and
not worth imitating then?
Why then CHRIST’s Church and apostolic? Anyway, CHRIST
and the Apostles are imitated in hardly anything any more! On the
contrary: many of their courses of action are invalid according to the
Church and, indeed, have even been declared to be mortal sins! Are
then the human Church authorities more perfect than CHRIST and the
Apostles?

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