Why do Roman Catholic priests dress n black?

Question

(almost) everywhere I walk I can see Roman Catholic priests dressed in black...why don't they dress in... white? Isn't that much more ...pretty (for them)?

Answer 1

black goes with anything

Answer 2

Actually, the above on black being humble is correct but there is another reason as well. The "Roman collar," the white band that goes around the neck combined with the cassock was once the clothing of those who were teachers. It marked you out as someone who could read. Christianity was the first religion of letters. Judaism required memorization but not necessarily reading let alone letter writing. In order to be a minister, reading was essential and as a consequence the modern equivalent of college professors were natural candidates as they could read and write. Since most people only owned one set of clothing at that time and most clergy could read and write, by accident of history the cassock and clerical collar were born.

Answer 3

It's for a number of reasons.

1. Black is the color of humility. It's not garish like red or other colors. And white is generally reserved for service during worship, or for certain religious orders.

2. It's a rank structure. Priests wear black. Bishops wear a weird purple. Archbishops and Cardinals wear red. (The bird got it's name from the clergy - not the other way around. Just a factoid.)

Answer 4

Black is actually a color of protection. It is common in most religions to wear black.

Bright Blessings )O(

Answer 5

Also Western Priests do so...

They probably dress like Satan , they call him Paul!!

Answer 6

because white is for the Pope and only him.

Answer 7

sometimes they will wear white, purple ,etc

It is according the season of mass (I don't know what they call it)

Answer 8

black is slimming