More from IRL

I found my notes from Fr. Benedict's talk on Friday. Here are some other qualities of "liminality":

• "outsider" status (being "different")
• informality with each other

Regarding the aspect of "uniform dress"  (which was in the list I posted a few days ago), Father explained that the clothing is not a matter of "sacrality," but is part of the "role" the liminal person or group fills in society, whatever the society. A uniform signifies a gatekeeping role: responsibility for other people in some area of life. It denotes a "public person." I have certainly experienced that. It can also be very stressful, because people may have expectations of you based on their interpretation of the habit--like our street people who think I'm good for a handout.

 

Another really interesting comment Fr. Benedict made concerned the aspect of informality. He pointed out that some US congregations adopted Victorian manners which compromised this and diminished their liminality in some way. They conformed too much to the modes and expectations of the greater society, and it affected their own internal relationships. That seems especially pertinent, somehow. I guess it shows how non-religious accretions can enter into our lives and eventually be assumed as if they were part and parcel of the faith package--when they were really just a matter of respectability (which liminal groups, by nature, tend not to have!).