THE HABIT OF THE MISSIONARY BENEDICTINES

The Latin word "habitus" means posture or stature but also clothing. Habit is the common term used for the monastic vestment.

The clothing of the religious underlines their special way of life. Moreover, the habit serves to reduce individuality and increases the individual's integration into the religious community.

A distinction of the various religious' clothing began after the turn of the first millennium, when after different reform movements new religious orders were founded. Before, customary clothing was used, as the Rule of St. Benedict intended (chapter 55); at this time there was still no pursue for standardization in the Benedictine monasteries. However, over time, a black habit prevailed among Benedictines; they were called the "black monks" in contrast to other monastic orders.

Today, the basic design of the Benedictine habit is everywhere the same. Over a tunic, held together by a cincture (cingulum = belt in Latin) made of fabric or leather, rests a kind of cover, the scapular (meaning shoulder clothing in Latin) which originally was used as a work apron. Usually it is combined with a hood, which in some cases is removable. This hood not only is a protection in cold and wet weather, but is a sign of personal meditation when put on. This is still the case now; a monk with the hood put on should not be addressed.

With increasing clericalisation in the Benedictine order, the habit became more distinguished and did not serve any more as a work clothing. At the same time, the so-called lay brothers developed from the rank of the Benedictine monasteries' secular staff; until the Second Vatican Council (1962 – 1965), they wore a special habit.

Today, Benedictines are grouped in historically grown associations of independent monasteries called congregations. There are quite a few differences between the habits of the different congregations. 

The different parts of the habit are often interpreted spiritually; today, this is expressed at the vesting ceremony of a newly ordained monk.

In the congregation of the St. Ottilien Missionary Benedictines, the candidate is vested gradually corresponding to the stages of integration into the community.

Admission to the postulate is marked by the tunica with corresponding cincture. The postulate (Latin for someone who demands entrance) should "gird himself with the belt" (Ephesians 6,14).

With admission to noviciate, the novice (Latin for newcomer) gets the scapular with the words "shoulder the yoke of Christ".

Pfeil runterScapulars for entering noviciate

The scapulars for the ceremony of entering noviciate at St. Ottilien are ready-to-hand 
(photo from Hans Günter Kaufmann, The Power of Silence).

 

Pfeil runterText for the ceremony of entering noviciate

The Benediktionale, a liturgical book in the Roman-Catholic Church with blessings for all occasions, contains as well the text for entering noviciate.

 

Pfeil runterRule of St. Benedict

Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 55 "The Clothing and Footwear of the Brothers":

The clothing distributed to the brothers should vary according to local conditions and climate, 
because more is needed in cold regions and less in warmer. 
This is left to the abbot’s discretion.
We believe that for each monk a cowl and tunic will suffice in temperate regions; 
in winter a woolen cowl is necessary in summer a thinner or worn one; 
also a scapular for work, and footwear–both sandals and shoes. 
Monks must not complain about the color or coarseness of all these articles, but use what is available in the vicinity at a reasonable cost.
However, the abbot ought to be concerned about the measurements of these garments that they not be too short but fitted to the wearers. 
Whenever new clothing is received, the old should be returned at once and stored in a wardrobe for the poor.
To provide for laundering and night wear, every monk will need two cowls and two tunics,
but anything more must be taken away as superfluous. 
When new articles are received, the worn ones–sandals or anything old–must be returned.
Brothers going on a journey should get underclothing from the wardrobe. On their return they are to wash it and give it back.
Their cowls and tunics, too, ought to be somewhat better than those they ordinarily wear. Let them get these from the wardrobe before departing, and on returning put them back.
[…]

With the solemn profession that marks the final vows and definitive admission into the community, the monk gets the cowl as a sign of full membership. 

For a long time, the habit served as a work clothing, even worn by craftsmen or farmers, who had a special shorter working habit with a rough tunica. 

Today, at St. Ottilien, wearing of the habit is free, not only at leasure time but also during travel and in many working areas. As a rule, the habit is worn at community events and always when it makes sense to be recognized as a monk, be it in religious service, at work, as a teacher or in public.
 

Habits of the St. Ottilien Missionary Benedictines' congregation 

Pfeil runterCowl

In addition to the habit, all Benedictines wear the cowl (Latin for cone) in the choir, a big, richly pleated choir coat with wide sleeves. 

Pfeil runterCape

In cold weather, a black cape (originally a pilgrim's cloak) can be worn over the habit.

 

Pfeil runterTunic and scapular

All Missionary Benedictines wear the black tunic, except in India, Venezuela, in the Philippines, in Togo and the East and South African countries

The scapular is a cover worn over the tunic, which originally was used as a work apron. The form of St. Ottilien's scapular equals the habit of Beuron Abbey because the Missionary Benedictines' founder, Fr. Andreas Amrhein, was originally a monk of Beuron.

Pfeil runterHabit from Kumily (India)

Like all Benedictine monks in India, members of Kumily abbey, which is affiliated to St. Ottilien, wear a saffron-colored habit. This color is a tradition in Buddhism and Hinduism. It is a combination of yellow orange representing the rising sun and the Divine, and the earth color brown, which stands for humility. 

 

Pfeil runterWhite habit

Initially, St. Ottilien missionaries wore a black habit in Africa since they had no idea of the climate. Hoewever, after a few years in the East African mission, the white habit prevailed, which today is customary in all monasteries of the Missionary Benedictines in tropical climate.

 

Pfeil runterShort habit

Informal work clothing for activties where a long habit would be obstructive (Uznach Abbey, Switzerland).

 

Habit details

Pfeil runterBrother's hood

Initially, the brother monks, contrary to the priest-monks (fathers), had no hood on their habit. Later, a button-on hood was introduced. Today, brothers and fathers wear the same habit.

 

Pfeil runterSimple black cincture and red cincture

Until the 1980ies, the black cincture of the priest-monks had an additional black sash in the style of the cassock of secular priests. 

The red cincture on display was worn by Fr. Konrad Rapp who lost his life during the Korea mission in 1932. It stands for missionary commitment, which can even end in martyrdom. For this reason, St. Ottilien's founder Fr. Andreas Amrhein introduced it instead of the leather belt worn by almost all Benedictine congregations.  
The red cincture raised many discussions at St. Ottilien. It was estimated unnecessary flashy and there were concerns it would be misinterpreted as a political allocation. In 1934, it was abolished in the whole congregation and replaced by the black cloth cincture, which is customary today. 

Pfeil runterSandals

Initially, the chacteristic pleated leather sandals of the Missionary Benedictines were produced at St. Ottilien's shoemaker's workshop.

 

Benedictine's habits in comparison

Pfeil runterFather Andreas Amrhein in his self-designed habit

Father Andreas Amrhein (+ 1927), founder of St. Ottilien, in the habit he had designed himself, in contrast to the Beuron abbey habit he had worn when he lived there. The clothing is similar to the traditional habit of the Swiss Benedictines. 

 

Pfeil runterHistorical working habit

St. Ottilien monks in their working habits, in the foreground Archabbot Norbert Weber (+ 1956). Photo around 1920.

 

Pfeil runterAbbot Bishop Cassian Spiß in his white habit

Abbot Bishop Cassian Spiß who died in 1905 during the Maji Maji War in East Africa, in his white habit.

 

Pfeil runterHabit of the Bavarian Benedictine congregation

Wolfgang Maria Hagl OSB, abbot at Metten monastery from 1989 to 2023, in his habit with white collar characteristical for the Bavarian Benedictine congregation. 
(from: Alt-und-Jung Metten, 2-2022/23)