The blue chasuble may only be worn by Spain and its dominions beyond the sea. It was a privilege originally given by Pope Pius VII to the Church in Spain in 1817 and later reaffirmed by Pope Pius IX in 1864, in recognition of the centuries-old Hispanic defense of Mary's Immaculate Conception. It spread to other places formerly under the Spanish Crown as well as seen in the indult granted by Pope St. Pius X to the First Provincial Council of Manila for their use in the Philippine Islands.
No other nation is authorized to use it, and doing so constitutes a liturgical abuse. The exception is a rare dispensation that was given temporarily to Marian shrines on special occasions.
As Father Edward McNamara clarifies in an EWTN article on this topic, "By blue vestments we mean those manufactured from cerulean fabric. White vestments with blue motifs or trimmings are not subject to any restriction."
3 comment(s):
Greek Catholics were blue vestments for all feasts celebrating the theotokos.
John, that's a good point. I was only referring to Latin Rite (i.e. Roman Catholic) priests.
I have seen blue vestments used at Traditional chapels when it is a Marian Feast
Post a Comment