In recent decades there has been a large de-escalation of clerical reverence; extending in large fold from the post-conciliar church, a recent spirit of sameness has entered the Church. Priests used to be surrounded by a spirit of respect and filial piety. Catholics often hear anecdotes of clerics being kissed on the hand, or being treated duly to their place of authority and spiritual oversight on a regular basis. Much of this has gone away in the modern Church in favor of a lessening of priestly esteem for the ends of achieving a lowering of the hierarchical nature of the church and a greater emphasis on the laity in ecclesial matters.
There is no need to say that this is a tragedy. The men of the cloth have been set apart by God for the purpose of offering sacrifice, admonishing the faithful, and leading the flock of His Church. Priestly regard has gone down incredibly recently for a variety of factors, part of it is the attitude of the Church, part of it is the attitude of modern culture, and lastly, it is the Church trying to conform itself to the modern culture.
This can be seen even in the garb that priests choose to wear. The Roman priest traditionally would wear a cassock, embroidered with 33 buttons symbolizing the life of Christ, and a fascia symbolizing his priestly authority as a man of the church. The cassock symbolized his distinct role and his separation from the Catholic faithful as a leader. Its use was a symbol of the priesthood and was a great contributor to the positive role of clericalism and hierarchy in the Church.
I have been quite saddened by the common practice among priests to wear blazers and button-downs paired with a Roman collar. Catholics should be continually reminded that priests are their spiritual authority, they are the ordinary distributors of the Sacraments, and their clothing and how we treat them should reflect that. This is also evident in how we refer to priests. Traditionally priests were always referred to as Father (Last Name), however, in the modern Church we often refer to priests by their first name as if they were a Protestant pastor or even a layman. Father Angelucci, wearing a gorgeously embroidered Roman chasuble and maniple symbolizing his priestly authority, has been replaced by Fr. Joe wearing little more than a plain green tablecloth for a chasuble and a black shirt and slacks with collar. What’s more is that the presence that a priest dressed in their proper priestly attire gives to those around them, especially in the secular world. It is a tour de force in the modern world and stands as a pillar and bulwark in the face of modernism and atheism. What Catholics should embody is a spirit of piety and obedience toward their authorities. This includes the pope and their bishop, but also their parish priest who is designated with the authority of the Apostles and should not only be treated as such but also carry themselves in a dignified way.
Born and Raised to Jewish parents in New York City, Kai Breskin is a recent convert to the Catholic Faith. A member of the Boston College class of 2026, he is studying Political Science, Philosophy, and History. His intellectual passions include Christian theology, history, and liturgical study. His hobbies include sailing, playing the piano, and singing, with a specific focus in Gregorian Chant.
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