On Saturday, October 19, 2019, Seminarians of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter will receive the First Clerical Tonsure at our seminaries in Nebraska and Germany. During the Tonsure ceremony, five tufts of hair are cut from each seminarian’s head in the form of a cross and he is invested with the black cassock and white surplice. Please join us in praying the Novena below for these seminarians as they prepare for this important step in their priestly formation.
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The cutting of the hair, which is the most personal thing one can give without the shedding of blood, symbolizes the Seminarian’s total giving of himself to the service of God.
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The cassock, which covers the entire body, also symbolizes total dedication to God.
The cassock is black to symbolize death to sin.
The fascia (belt) symbolizes purity and chastity.
The white Roman collar symbolizes the sweet yokes of Christ and Mary.
The white surplice is a symbol of the new life of grace and virtue.
Latin vesting prayers for the cassock, fascia, and Roman collar. English vesting prayers for the cassock, fascia, and Roman collar. Latin vesting prayer for the surplice. English vesting prayer for the surplice.
