Mother?

[Southern Breeze]

I went to visit a friend in the hospital early this morning. On the way home I stopped at Wal-mart. Before I go farther this is what I was wearing: kilt- Sw Blackwatch, hose,flashes and a blue clergy shirt. While I was in line at the checkout, a older women asked me "Father,are you not worried that someone will mistake your kilt for a skirt and call you Mother?" She was smiling when she said this.After we stopped laughing I explained that I wasn't Catholic and that priests only wore black shirts. We ended up having a good laugh and a pleasant conversation while waiting.

[macwilkin]

I went to visit a friend in the hospital early this morning. On the way home I stopped at Wal-mart. Before I go farther this is what I was wearing: kilt- Sw Blackwatch, hose,flashes and a blue clergy shirt. While I was in line at the checkout, a older women asked me "Father,are you not worried that someone will mistake your kilt for a skirt and call you Mother?" She was smiling when she said this.After we stopped laughing I explained that I wasn't Catholic and that priests only wore black shirts. We ended up having a good laugh and a pleasant conversation while waiting.

I know quite a few Episcopal priests who wear clergy shirts in other colours besides black, and quite a few Anglican, Orthodox and Lutheran clergy who wear black shirts.

Cheers,

Todd

[Shay]

"Father,are you not worried that someone will mistake your kilt for a skirt and call you Mother?".

Heehee- This is why I'll never make a good pastor*, I immediately thought of the witticism, "I've been called a 'mother' before, but not usually in a religious sense, if ya catch my drift. Have a great day!"


(*Well, and most Friends here don't use 'em anyway)

[GlassMan]

Not all priests wear just black shirts. When I was at Yale I was friends with Bishop Rosazza and he sometimes wore other colors. But then, he was Bishop so I guess he could do as he pleased.

I also have a friend who is a protestant minister and he has clerical shirts in almost all the colors of the rainbow including one that is bright pink!

[macwilkin]

Not all priests wear just black shirts. When I was at Yale I was friends with Bishop Rosazza and he sometimes wore other colors. But then, he was Bishop so I guess he could do as he pleased.

In the Anglican tradition, Bishops wear a purple shirt and purple vestements to signify their office.

Cheers,

Todd

[Southern Breeze]

The looks you get while kilted are nothing compared to the one you get while kilted wearing a clergy shirt! :-D

[Shay]

Pardon my ignorance but would there be 'Mothers' in other religious traditions as well?

I thought that was strictly a Catholic term for a nun, as women cannot be Catholic priests. Which would mean SB was right in saying he was not a Catholic and discussing their vestments as a seperate tradition. (Though I think there are 'Mothers' who serve in other congregations, I tend to think of it as a honorary title, like my grandpop being called 'Mayor' of the old neighborhood, or my husband's coworkers calling him 'El Jefe' even though he's not the actual bos.)

As far as I can remember, the reason priests are called "Father" was because the priests supposedly represent/stand in for God the Father in that religion, and lots of Christians I know would feel a little weirded out referring to a priest as Mother since the biblical God is depicted as male. (I guess the same would go for Orthodox rabbis, too.)

I'm just curious if what I was taught as a child (By my Catholic grandma, natch) is actually true!

[bubba]

Nuns are generally called Sister with the exception of the head Nun in an order who is called Mother Superior. That's all I know about it.

[macwilkin]

Female Anglican clergy are somtimes referred to as "Mother".

Cheers,

Todd

[minimalistix]

Nuns are generally called Sister with the exception of the head Nun in an order who is called Mother Superior. That's all I know about it.

Sort of:
Nuns and Sisters are different mainly in their vows they take.

Nuns are like Priest in that they take the vows for life.
Sisters on the other hand are similiar to Brothers in the fact that they take vows yearly and are under no obligation to retake them if they choose not to.