Flavigny: Taking of the Cassock – February 2, 2025

The audience included about 40 priests, fewer than usual, but February 2 fell on a Sunday this year. A large number of faithful were present, and the seminary church, of modest size, could not accommodate all of them. Three large video screens set up in the seminary allowed everyone to view the entire ceremony.

This began with the Candlemas procession, before continuing with the Mass of the Feast of the Presentation at the Temple. During the ceremony, the Superior General, Fr. Davide Pagliarani blessed the cassocks of the new seminarians before they wore them for the first time.

It is a ceremony that was significant both for the young Levites, who received the habit that will now be theirs for the rest of their lives, if they persevere in their vocation. It is also important for the families who witnessed the transformation of their child, which often brought tears to the eyes, especially among the mothers.

The incoming class of the St. Curé d’Ars Seminary for the year 2024/2025 is well-stocked: 24 seminarians received the clerical habit this year. Among them were an Englishman, a Spaniard, 20 Frenchmen, a Lebanese, and a Swiss.

In his homily, the Superior General recalled that putting on the cassock today requires courage. This clothing has a meaning for the world, for the one who wears it, and in relation to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

"In relation to the world, this black habit is the preaching of an ideal. It is the preaching of a mystery that the world does not understand. And for this preaching to be effective, we must not look back: we must follow Our Lord forever. From the day of His Presentation, which we will celebrate today, Christ offers Himself to His Father, giving us a model to follow."

"In relation to us, this black color signifies death to the world, which is a victory over this world. A victory that comes through detachment from the things of this world, but also a detachment from oneself. But this death to oneself must not frighten us. It must be animated by the love of Jesus Christ."

"In relation to Our Lord, the cassock is a commitment to imitate Him. It hides us from the eyes of the world, to fulfill our ideal of reproducing the life of Christ: to know and make Him known, to love Him and make Him loved. The cassock is an external, social sign of the presence of Christ the King, who must manifest Himself, who must reign."

Fr. Pagliarani recalled that this celebration is also one for families, and that behind each vocation, there is a father and a mother who prayed for their son. Very often, it is through the example of a mother that God puts the seeds of a vocation in the heart of a child. And this vocation is undoubtedly the most beautiful reward given to spouses for their mutual fidelity.