Curé of Ars Seminary: Taking of the Cassock - 2024
On Friday, February 2, 2024, the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin and the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, the Flavigny seminary welcomed a large crowd of priests, seminarians, and faithful, who came for the taking of the cassock of the young Levites who are completing their first year of seminary, the year of spirituality.
The taking of the cassock is undoubtedly not the most important, nor the most solemn of the ceremonies which punctuate the journey of a seminarian, but it is very significant and striking, especially for the parents who have come to attend it. The external change, especially in our secularized age, is a sign of the active presence of the Church and her Spouse in the midst of the world.
The ceremony was performed by Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais. After the Candlemas procession, he blessed the cassocks of the 23 seminarians before distributing them. Six nationalities were represented: 1 Belgian, 1 Canadian, 14 French, 3 Italians, 2 Kenyans, and 2 Swiss.
In attendance, in addition to 37 priests, several schools were represented by groups that came to support former classmates. Around thirty Ecône seminarians came to lend a hand and provide liturgical services, organize the sacristy, and offer practical help to assure that the ceremony went smoothly.
The festive aspect was highlighted by the music: two trumpeters responded to the song of the new organ that was recently inaugurated.
This year, the great innovation was the live broadcast of the ceremony for family members who were unable to make the trip.
Let us thank God for this beautiful day and pray that Our Lady, Queen of the clergy, help these young seminarians wear the holy habit with dignity.
(Source : Séminaire Saint-Curé d’Ars – FSSPX.Actualités)
