6 Whiteness,” or to be dressed in white. The missionary work of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Africa, known colloquially as the White Fathers for their traditional white cassocks, had a profound impact on the formation of the Church and the Rwandan state. The white of their missionary garb certainly had a substantial influence in forming the Christian identity of the local people whom they baptized. Color, indeed, plays a crucial role in shaping both the individual and collective identities of people.8 Choosing or changing a color often serves to define or highlight one’s identity. At its core, color holds symbolic meaning. It conveys a code that can impact, if not a person’s conscious mind, then certainly their subconscious, thereby affecting their reactions and choices. To distinguish themselves from the Benedictines, particularly those from Cluny who wore black, the Cistercians chose the white habit, harking back to the original Benedictine tradition. Although St. Benedict did not designate a specific color for the monks’ attire in his rule, the prevailing practice during his era involved using simple, undyed wool or linen, which tended to be more white than black. As time passed, the initial practical reasons were overshadowed by the symbolism associated with the colors mentioned above. 8 See: Ibidem, pp. 71-73.
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