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The Franciscans were originally known as the Grey Friars because they were dressed in poor habits of undyed wool, which appeared grey. Over time, many Franciscan habits appeared brown and friars became known in many parts of Ireland and Britain for their brown habits, sandals, and white cords.
In Britain, the friars traditionally received the habit during their novitiate year, on the 8th of December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The reception of the habit was preceded by a retreat.
There is no doubt that each friar remembers the day he received the habit and the joy of being incorporated, in a very visible way, into the company of the friars minor.
During my novitiate the assistant novice master, the late Fr. Ignatius, enjoyed telling the novices about the day he was clothed in the habit, in 1946. As was the custom, novices, dressed in a jacket, suit and tie approached the altar step where the novice master sat. The novice master would exhort each novice to “cast off the old man, and put on the New Man, Christ!” (Ephesians 4: 22). At these words the novice would cast off his jacket and put on the habit of St. Francis, the symbol of Franciscan discipleship.
Full of zeal, the young brother Ignatius was returning to his seat in the church when the novice master called to him. Pointing to his jacket that lay on the alter step the friar said: “Brother Ignatius, you’ll still need the ‘old man’ for the gardening!”
Putting on the habit, while an important moment in one’s life of discipleship, doesn’t magically do away with the ‘old man’. A friar will still have to struggle with all the tensions, imperfections, and contradictions of being human. But if he is sincere and open, God’s grace will support him and, slowly but sure, God will begin to transform the ‘old man’ into the New Man.
The habit is a sign of a new determination and a new commitment to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. It is also a sign of fraternity; the friar isn’t trying to put on the New Man alone, by his own efforts. The community of brothers is the context of this new beginning and, within the community, the novice friar learns the pattern of a Christ-centred life.
The habit has become a rare sight in our towns and cities, where once it was more common. It remains a sign that God is still calling people to dedicated lives within communities; God is still calling us to put on the New Man.
