My analogy is this. Think of a policeman. When he goes to work, he doesn’t roll into the station wearing pajamas and telling his colleagues, “Don’t worry guys, I’m still on duty, I just wanted to look humble today.” No, that would be ridiculous. When you’re a police officer, you put on the full uniform, the badge, the belt, everything. Why? Because the uniform isn’t about your personal comfort or your personal style. It’s about the office you represent. The authority isn’t in the man, it’s in the office entrusted to him.
Now take that principle and apply it to the presbyterate. A priest doesn’t vest beautifully because he wants to look fancy. He vests because he has been ordained into a sacred office that deserves visible honor. The beautiful vestments don’t glorify his personality, they glorify the priesthood of Christ working through him. That’s why the traditional vestments are beautiful, symbolic, and rich. They point to something higher than the man himself.
And honestly, …More