When someone who is unfamiliar
with Catholicism walks into a Catholic Church one of the very first things that
they are likely to notice is the lavish ornamentation of the Church. In the East they would notice thousands of
beautiful Icons written with bright colors and gold and silver leaf. In the
West they would see statues and dramatic paintings of saints and angels. Once a
liturgy begins they may notice that the clergy and servers are wearing ornately
decorated and embroidered vestments. What
many people, both Catholic and protestant, fail to understand is that
everything in the Church has a purpose. From each individual vestment that the
ministers put on to the color of the fabric, to the moment that the ministers
move the books on the altar, every article, item, symbol, and gesture in the
liturgy has a meaning and a purpose. Today we will be going over the individual
vestments of the ministers in the Western churches, their origin, and their
purposes.
The outermost garment of the Priest, called a Chasuble,
is the last one to be put on and will most often cover all of the other
vestments. Its origin is the Casula, or “little house” which was a full, bell
shaped cloak for traveling. The Chasuble has been retained as a symbol of
Charity, and the yoke of unselfish service for the Lord which is imposed upon
the Priest at his ordination. For this reason the Chasuble should properly supersede, and cover all others. The Chasuble is also often understood to
represent the “seamless garment” of Christ. The Chasuble may take many forms,
from the small and ornately decorated Roman style which developed in the 18th
century, often called a Fiddleback on account of its shape, to the ample cut
Conical and Gothic styles which originate in much earlier periods. In the
Eastern Churches the equivalent vestment is the Phelonian.
In the place of the Chasuble, Deacons and Subdeacons at
Mass wear what are known as the Dalmatic and Tunicle (respectively). The
Dalmatic is a calf length tunic made of fabric matching the Priest’s Chasuble
which originates from Dalmatia, a province of Greece. The Tunicle is typically
a bit shorter and derives its name from its shape simply as a tunic. Both the
Deacon and Subdeacon wear all of the same vestments beneath the Dalmatic or
Tunicle as the Priest, with the exception that the Subdeacon omits the use of
the Stole. The Bishop may also wear the Dalmatic beneath the Chasuble, as the
Bishop has received the fullness of the Priesthood. In the East a Bishop will
properly wear an entirely different vestment, similar in appearance to the
Dalmatic, called a Sakkos.
Beneath the Chasuble is worn the Stole, a long strip of
fabric worn about the neck. For Priests the stole should be crossed or secured
in the front. For a Bishop the Stole may hang free. For a Deacon the stole is
properly worn over the left shoulder, pulled across the chest and joined at the
right hip. The Stole is the symbol of authority, originating from the scarf
worn by magistrates in the Roman Empire. The Stole is properly worn at any
rite, office, or liturgical function. In the Eastern Churches the equivalent
vestment for priests is the Epitrachelion. For Deacons and Subdeacons the corresponding vestment is the Orarion.
Less common in modern use is the Maniple. Constructed
similarly to the Stole, the Maniple is a band of cloth worn over the left
forearm. Originating as a towel or handkerchief the Maniple symbolizes the
labor and hardships that result from being in the service of Christ. In the
Eastern Churches the ministers wear a pair of liturgical cuffs, which serve a
similar function to the Maniple.
Worn around the waist is the Cincture, or Girdle. Its
origin being a belt to gird the garments worn underneath it, the Cincture has
come to symbolize the chastity and continence of the minister. In some places
the Cincture may take the form of an ornate or decorative belt, however it is
most commonly seen in the form of a simple cord or rope with knots or tassels
at the ends. In the Eastern Churches the Cincture is called a Zone and is
typically more similar to the ornate belt form instead of a simple cord.
Beneath the previous vestments is worn an ankle length
white robe called an Alb. The Alb is a symbol of innocence and purity. The name
comes from the Latin word albus, which means white. Any baptized Christian may
wear the Alb, as it is also the garment of Baptism. This is why in many
parishes you will find lay readers and assistants wearing the Alb. The Alb is
typically a plain linen or cotton robe but occasionally it may be adorned with
embroidery, appareling, or lace. In some places the Alb may be made partially
or entirely of lace. In the Eastern Churches the Sticharion takes the place of
the Alb.
Beneath the Alb should be worn an Amice. The Amice
consists of a square or rectangle of linen and has strings or ties so that it
can be wrapped around the body and tied in place. It represents the Helmet of
Salvation and originally took the form of a hood similar to the hood or arming
cap worn by a soldier beneath the helmet. Like the Maniple, the Amice has
widely fallen into disuse however in recent years it has seen resurgence among
traditionalists.
These vestments serve many purposes within the Church.
Vestments are traditionally very ornate. They glorify Christ’s presence as the
Lord and King. Through Apostolic Succession the Priest, when before the Altar
of God, stands and acts in the place of Christ (in Persona Christi) and reenter
into the sacrifice of Christ’s Body and Blood. As Christ offered bread and wine
to the Father and consecrated them to become His Body and Blood, the Priest at
the Mass stands in His place offering bread and wine consecrating them into the
same Blood and Body of Jesus. In addition to honoring and glorifying Christ’s
presence, the use of vestments removes the focus from the Priest himself,
instead to the actions in which he is engaging. They remove the temptation to
view the priest as an individual and reinforce that, at least during the Mass,
he is acting in Persona Christi.
While all vestments are not an essential part of Christian
worship, they play a very important role in maintaining the things which are
essential. Vestments perpetually remind us of the real reason that we worship;
that is to seek and to serve Christ.
