Mother?

[GlassMan]

This is going to crack a lot of people up I think.

I love to read theology books. I'm weird I guess but I love theology. I spent 1 semester in seminary a long time ago but it wasn't for me at that time. I do hope one day to return.

Well, now to the point. I go up to Catholic University a lot to the bookstore at the Basilica and also to the campus bookstore because they tend to have good meaty reading material and not the fluff you normally find in most Christian bookstores. (Right now I'm reading Christ in Eastern Christian Thought and I'm loving it.) Well, I'm always in my normal clothes, nothing special, just a regular coat and tie. But I can't tell you how many times I've gone to pay and seen a total on the register that didn't make sense because it was too low. Every time I'd ask if the books were on sale or something, and I always get told that the cashier had assumed I was a priest and given me the clergy discount. I always have to inform them otherwise and have the sale rung up again at the correct prices.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

.... But I can't tell you how many times I've gone to pay and seen a total on the register that didn't make sense because it was too low. Every time I'd ask if the books were on sale or something, and I always get told that the cashier had assumed I was a priest and given me the clergy discount. I always have to inform them otherwise and have the sale rung up again at the correct prices.

Which just goes to show your piousness! Not sure I would have corrected her. At least not on a single purchase. Now at some place I frequented or expected to visit again, that would be different. Shallow of me, hunnh?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Just a few points from a studied Catholic layman...

1. We don't call priests "Father" because we believe they represent God the Father. If that were the logic, we would call them "Son" as the priest's function, when he confects the sacraments, is to stand in persona Christi (in the person of Christ). The priestly ministry is for the priest to be an alter Christus (other Christ) to the faithful. All Christians are called to be "other Christs" by following Jesus' model, but priests especially so.

Priests are called "Father" because they are spiritual fathers to their parish family. Incidentally, the title "Pope" comes from the Latin "papa" which could be translated as "daddy." In other words, it is an intimate and affectionate form of "father."

2. Regarding the color of the clerical shirts worn by priests, as far as I am aware the only color Catholic priests ought to be wearing is black, though I have sometimes seen grey worn. Over the centuries, rules have developed regarding even the non-liturgical dress of the clergy, in order that they may be distinguished from the lay faithful. These rules will be different in different times and places. But the color preference has always been for black, or some other sombre color. Currently, unless I am mistaken, in Rome all priests are required to be in black cassock for daily wear. In the United States, the Baltimore Council of 1884 also stipulated black cassock for ordinary wear, though allowing for a shorter dress for travel. In modern times, the rules have become more relaxed, with the norm now being a clerical suit or clerical shirt with Roman collar -- though the color should still be black. I assume that in some diocese bishops may have allowed exceptions to this.

Why black? It represents poverty, but moreover is the color representing death, and serves as a daily reminder to the priest (and the faithful he serves) that he must die to himself so he may rise with Christ.

There is a good little article about it by Fr. William Saunders here:
http://www.catholicherald.com/saunde...s/ws971120.htm

Aye,
Matt

[Mike1]

Matt, perhaps you mean the Latin papas, which translates to 'tutor'?

Father in Latin would be pater.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Right, but "papa" is a familiar form -- like the difference between "father" and "daddy." Maybe it came from Italian, not Latin (I'm not 100% certain), but that's the root.

M

[MacMullen]

Right, but "papa" is a familiar form -- like the difference between "father" and "daddy." Maybe it came from Italian, not Latin (I'm not 100% certain), but that's the root.

M

I always thought it was from the Italian also, but the New Catholic Encycledia says that it is:

"Ecclesiastical Latin papa from Greek papas, a variant of pappas father, in classical Latin pappas"

[macwilkin]

moved to off-topic.

Todd

[Shay]

1. We don't call priests "Father" because we believe they represent God the Father.

Well, okay, but then why did my grandmom say that? *scratches head* My google-fu is not strong today, I'll have to ask her this weekend if I got the wrong impression from her explanation.

[davedove]

Well, okay, but then why did my grandmom say that? *scratches head* My google-fu is not strong today, I'll have to ask her this weekend if I got the wrong impression from her explanation.

It's quite possible that is what she believes to be true. Someone back in history may have thought that was the correct reason and told someone else, whotold someone else, etc. Before long it became "common knowledge" with nobody to correct it. After all, priests have been called father for a LONG time.:confused:

[Sherry]

This is going to crack a lot of people up I think.

I love to read theology books. I'm weird I guess but I love theology. I spent 1 semester in seminary a long time ago but it wasn't for me at that time. I do hope one day to return.

...

You may then enjoy books by Frances Schaeffer, C.S. Lewis., and Peter Kreeft.