The F-Word and Manliness

Catholics wear clothes. I know of one exception, but it was practiced by some heretics, and I can't remember the name... Anyway. For a Catholic, matter matters because that's what is all around us and God made it - simple as that. It's easy for us to see the ceremonial and power of clothing on military men, clergy and religious - soldiers wear uniforms, priests wear vestments, religious have habits and bishops have tall hats (some taller than others). Do laity have ceremonially clothing? Sure they do! Our clothes accompany our vocation and the laity (historically) dress with simple refined dignity that fits their state in life and culture - without excess or neglect. Ponder the picture of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati - I know of some girls nicknaming him Bl. "Fra-hottie". Clearly a saint unafraid of manly style.

We (historically) build beautiful churches and use the pure materials because they have significance. We use beeswax candles because the bee itself gives glory to God. His work produces something that works quite well for our worship, candles - in a way that synthetic candles don't. Catholics are not afraid of the physical world and freely give significance to things that may even begin from simple necessity.

For example, the maniple, a nearly extinct liturgical garmet rarely seen outside of the extraordinary form of Mass, probably has roots in a overheated priest wiping sweat from his brow. The Latin word for surplice refers to fur worn over the clothing, probably to keep warm as it originated in England. These items were not just "grandfathered" into use, but since they served a distinct purpose, we could even say they were "baptized" from vulgar use into a useful symbol or ecclesial designation. They worked well then and work well now, even if the original necessity no longer presents itself. Not only were they made to be beautiful, but they were and remain right and fitting in their uses. Yes, some of those things we can get rid of, but Chesterton reminds us that the imprudent reformer removes something that doesn't seem necessary while the wise man asks why his ancestors put it there in the first place.

Knowing the origin of things gives them a certain air of significance because the wisdom of that item did not come from us, but was handed on to us. And it should not be wistfully discarded since it made it to us on down the line - who are we to throw it out now? I get more "sir's" when dressed like an adult man and more "bud's" when dressed for basketball practice - significant to society? Of course it is - clothing that draws from another politeness and civility must be a good thing (charity suggests we assume their sincerity).

Maybe when I have a lifetime under my belt I'll more easily disregard some things, but not yet. Now, this might not be as significant when dad hands down his cleanest pair of New Balances, but imagine discovering your grandfather's cuff links... it'll make you done a french cuff shirt at a moment's chance. One day I opened a box and found my grandfather's handkerchief - to this day I have a handkerchief in my pocket (in case I need to whipe off the blade of my great grandfather's Case pocket knife). I would say that handkerchief helped me to rediscover manly style.

What about fashion? Where do most of the fashions we commonly see now originate? Well, actually, the word right there is the issue - fashion. It's a nasty f-word. I don't think it's worth going into, but we know in our gut there's a difference between fashion and style. If you don't know here's a summary:

Fashion ; (a) clothing looks hawked by culture vultures to manipulate the way people dress in order to get their money, (b) constantly changing and shifting way of dressing that children and gullible adults follow leading to unquenchable thirst for poorly and amorally made clothing that only looks subjectively good on celebrities and manikins.

Style : (a) the nearly permanent way of dressing that shows maturity, stability and detachment from the whims of fashion, (b) the way men have dressed for centuries due to it's derivation from military clothing and it's general ability to present the male form in the most positive light, (c) part of the simple and slow-to-change ceremonial that surrounds confident men of integrity and firmness.

(Yes, I made those up)

For my Catholic geek friends: Fashion is moral relativism and style is scholasticism.

I'll get some pictures up of my grandfather soon. From the style and dignity of his clothing, you wont be surprised that he was an intelligent, virtuous scientist who loved life and his family with deep passion. Fidelium anime per misericordia dei requiescant in pace. Amen.

Fashion is folly! It's time to rediscover style as Catholic gentlemen. You in?