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Vestition The
men that enter the Western Dominican Province spend about
two to three weeks in a period of postulancy. Once vested in
the Dominican habit they enter the formal and canonical
period of the novitiate. They may choose to take a saints
name as their own, but are not obligated to do so. The
ceremony usually takes place during Compline (Night Prayer),
and is always in private with the Dominican friars. All
other ceremonies are public, but the vestition is special in
this respect.
It usually takes a few days to adjust to wearing the
habit, and navigating stairs can be a tricky affair for the
newly vested novice. The habit consists of several pieces (click
here for samples). The rosary and the scapular are the
only two pieces that are blessed. A scapular of chain mail
was used by knights in medieval times for protection from
attacks by sword, arrow, and other weapons. Likewise, the
scapular of the Dominican habit is for protection from
attacks by any evil. Incidentally, the rosary is worn on our
left side. Just as a knight would generally draw his sword
from the left using his right hand, the Dominican friar
draws his rosary to engage in spiritual combat on internal
and external dimensions.
The habit is not merely a link to tradition garb.
The habit is a mark of our fraternal life in common.
It is an outward sign of the vows we make as Dominican
friars. It is a visible reminder to us who wear it,
that we unabashedly seek the salvation of souls and the
truth of God in the spirit of St. Dominic that pursued
Christ with his whole being.
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Having removed his white dress shirt, Br. Jesson approaches the Provincial in the
sanctuary, so that he may receive his white habit and black cappa. His classmates
already having been vested, are kneeling in prayer, as other friars look-on. (2001) |
Br. Thomas Gavin is being vested by the Provincial (not shown, the Novice Master (L),
and the Prior of
St.
Albert's (R). (2001) |
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