[Question:]{.underline} Are there such things as blessed dresses?
[Answer]{.underline}: The Church, in the Appendix to the Roman Ritual, provides for a whole variety of blessings, including blessings for the sick and their sick bed, for children, for sick children, for fields, for vehicles, rail roads, airplanes, bridges and wells, for various kinds of animals, bees, birds, sick animals, for medicines, butter and cheese, beer, wine and cakes. Amongst all these blessings are to be found two blessings for dresses, one in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and another in honor of Our Lady or of any canonized saint (§49 & 50). They are followed by two blessings for sashes, one in honor of Our Lord Jesus Christ (§51) and the other in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary or of any canonized saint (§52).
The dress thus blessed can be compared to a scapular, although without the special graces and indulgences attached to the scapular. It becomes a sacramental, provided that it be worn with piety and devotion. The symbolism that must be understood is that a dress is a covering and protection for our fallen human flesh. In the same way as Christ Our Lord, for our salvation, took upon himself the garment of our flesh, so likewise is the wearing of a blessed dress or garment the taking on of the covering of modesty and humility so perfectly demonstrated by Our Divine Savior when stripped of his garments and nailed to the Cross. The Church prays, then, that the person who wears a blessed dress with devotion, and holy desire to venerate and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary or another saint, may receive the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ to protect her from every evil of mind and body.
Note that the blessing calls the blessed dress a “similar garment of religion”, indicating a likewise with the garments of Our Lady or of a religious community. The design of such dresses, although determined by local custom, should observe this likewise. Modesty goes without saying, with full length, long sleeves and a closed neckline. However, modesty is a part of humility, and a blessed dress ought to reflect that simplicity of soul. It ought not to be extravagant, showy, impressive, nor should the colors be bold, but rather reserved. It would be very appropriate that they be made in the likeness of Our Lady, for example white with a blue sash such as Our Lady of Lourdes, or black such as Our Lady of Sorrows, or brown following Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The color of the religious habit could be used for a dress blessed in honor of a saint of a religious congregation.
If decorations should be modest, the Church’s blessings for a sash certainly encourage this as a simple decoration. If blessed in honor of Our Divine Savior, the sash represents the ropes by which the Son of God chose to be bound, becoming a slave in order to redeem us his children. The grace to be asked for is that of becoming a perpetual lover of Our Lord Jesus Christ by always binding oneself to holy obedience to His Will Who bound Himself by taking the penitential bond of our body. If the blessing of the sash is in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is a sign of the heavenly protection with which Our Lady’s servants are protected, that they might obtain health of body and soul.
Would that our traditional girls and women would make their own dresses, truly Mary-like, and ask for them to be blessed by a priest, that covered by grace they might serve God alone, far from the vanity and whims of this world!
Answered by Father Peter Scott, SSPX.