The Crosiers were founded in 1210 during the Medieval Period. The people of the Middle Ages paid intense attention to the symbolic nature of clothing and the first Crosiers designed the habit to be a highly visible statement of the community’s religious values.

 Placed over the heart, the Crosier Cross is the most prominent feature of the habit. The cross has a distinctive shape; it is the crusader cross, worn by soldiers on the fabric over their armor to identify themselves as Christian. The red and white color makes it stand out, it demands our immediate attention. The red represents the blood and the white represents the water that flowed from Jesus’ side after a soldier thrust him with a lance (Jn 19:34). The blood is a reminder of our devotion to the Eucharist, while the water recalls our baptism. As a multivalent symbol, the red also represents suffering, while the white signifies the glorification that follows. The crusader cross says, “I belong to Christ!” “I will fight for Christ!” “I am a person devoted to the cross!”

The Parts of a Habit or “Good Guys Wear Black”

Soutane
(SOO-tan) A long white robe that reaches to the feet, similar to a cassock. Sometimes referred to as a tunic, a soutane opens down the middle. Historically, the Crosier soutane was made from wool that was neither processed nor dyed; it was cheap, warm and dull white in color. The color and texture was a persistent warning to live a simple lifestyle. Prior to Vatican II, Crosier brothers wore a black soutane to distinguish themselves from the priests. Today some Crosier brothers still prefer the black soutane.

Cincture
(SINK-shur) The cincture is worn around the waist to confine the loose, flowing soutane and prevent it from impeding the movements of the wearer. The cincture is closely associated with chastity. Some kind of cincture is included in almost every form of religious or ecclesiastical clothing. Those following the Rule of Augustine use a broad cincture of a dark color. Attached to the cincture is two pieces of fabric, hanging down the left side, a reminder of the sword belt worn by the first Crosiers who were Crusaders. It is now made of two pieces of fabric; unable to hold a sword, it becomes a symbol of peace.

Fringe is attached to the end of both pieces of the sash, but it is not merely a decoration. Moses told the Israelites, “Put fringes on your garments, and when you see these fringes, let the sight of them remind you to keep all of the commandments of the Lord” (Num 15:38-39). The fringe is a constant admonition to obey all of God’s laws.

Scapular
The cross is sewn on to the scapular, the broad black rectangular cloth that goes from the shoulders to the knees on both the front and back of the body. The scapular was at first nothing else than a working garment or apron worn by agricultural laborers. As early as the fifth century religious orders wore scapulars as a sign of their religious vows. The scapular was often called simply crux (cross) on account of its shape, and symbolism was introduced accordingly, so it began to be called jugum Christi (the yoke of Christ). The Crosier scapular doubled as a work apron and a sign of solidarity with common laborers and concern for the poor.

Mozetta
The mozetta is worn over the scapular, an elbow-length black cape with a row of nine buttons on the right side and nine button holes on the left side. The buttons are highly symbolic. When a novice, a new member, receives the habit the mozetta has three buttons, one for each of the three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience. The three buttons are an external sign of the new member’s commitment to be completely faithful to the vows. Later, after a trial period of membership of one or two years, the Crosier makes profession and six additional buttons are sewn onto the mozetta to symbolize philosophy, theology, and general education, the academic areas of concentration during preparation for ordination to the priesthood and throughout life.

 Other high-ranking Church ministers wear mozettas. The Pope wears a white mozetta, cardinals red, and bishops purple. The Crosiers wear black. The mozetta is reminiscent of the cape worn by cathedral clerics. The founders of the Crosier Order were cathedral clerics who assisted the Bishop at the cathedral in Liege, Belgium. The fact that the Crosiers wear the mozzetta reveals their special relationship to the Church.

 The left side of the mozetta most peculiar: the button holes are sewn shut! Why have holes, only to sew them up? If the mozetta was buttoned, as the pope, cardinals, and bishops do with their mozettas, the cross would be covered, but the cross is the most important part of the Crosier habit. By sewing the holes shut, Crosiers are saying that they will do nothing to prevent others from seeing the triumph of the cross.

The back of the mozetta has a triangular section that is all that remains from the hood or cowl which used to be attached. Poor laborers wore hooded garments during medieval times so they could stay warm. Early Crosiers wore hoods to stay warm in their monasteries and to remind themselves to serve the poor. Hoods have been dropped from the modern Crosier habits because of improved heating, but the triangle has been retained to keep Crosiers mindful of the needy.

The Crosier habit is packed full of powerful symbolism. The crusader cross signifies someone who belongs totally to Christ. A Crosier habit is an outward sign of interior belief, a public profession of faith in Christ and the power of the cross. The Crosier habit is traditionally worn for liturgical celebrations.

Rabbi
(RAB-bee) Is a white collar made of starchy nowiltex material with a small swatch of black fabric attached as a dickey. The collar itself is associated with clerical garb.

Spotting a Crosier Novice The habit is given to novices at the beginning of their novitiate year at the rite of investiture. You may spot a novice, not only by his enthusiasm and charm, but also by modifications to his habit. Crosier Novices have only three buttons, instead of the regular nine on their mozzetta, and they have no vertical sash, only the horizontal band around the waist. As a form of honor, Crosiers are buried in their habit. The practice of wearing their habit varies widely among different religious groups, particularly since the reforms of the second Vatican council. Some religious communities wear the habit regularly, while other groups have abandoned the practice altogether. Typically Crosiers wear their habit for liturgies, Crosier gatherings, and special events. Crosiers continue to take pride in wearing their habit, aware that it represents a way of life that is faithful to our values of community, ministry, and prayer.