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<\/a><\/i><\/p>\nPrior to finding Fr. Sullivan\u2019s book The Visible Church,<\/b> there is no way that I would have learned about the priestly vestments that will be discussed below. So again, for the clergy in the audience, this is nothing new. <\/i><\/p>\n
But for the rest of us, unless you are a player of the Facebook game called Priestville (I kid you not!<\/a>), you\u2019ve probably never heard of most of this stuff. As for me, I don\u2019t have time for fun and games like that. There is a lot of gear here, but luckily there is no quiz at the end. So relax and let\u2019s have a look,<\/p>\n Vestments\u2014II<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n A Priest\u2019s Vestments<\/i>. The vestments worn by a priest at Mass are the amice<\/i>, the alb<\/i>, the cincture<\/i>, the maniple<\/i>, the stole<\/i> and the chasuble<\/i>. At certain other services he uses the cope<\/i>, the humeral veil<\/i> and the surplice<\/i>.<\/p>\n The cassock<\/i>, or \u201csoutane,\u201d the black gown worn by a priest, is not<\/i> a vestment. It is the priest\u2019s ordinary garb, and in Catholic countries is worn on the street as well as indoors. The Roman collar<\/i> worn by the clergy (usually with a \u201crabbi\u201d or stock attached) is not<\/i> a vestment. The cap worn by priests, known by the Italian name of biretta<\/i>, is also not<\/i> a vestment. Its upper surface is square, with three wings\u2014one at the front, another at the rear, and a third at the right side. This peculiar form comes from the fact that the biretta was originally a soft flatcrowned cap; the removal of this from the head caused it to be compressed into folds, especially on the right side, because the right hand is generally used for that purpose; and after a time these folds were sewn together, forming wings\u2014with none on the left side, except in the case of the cap of a Doctor of Sacred Theology, whose dignity is indicated by a fourth wing.<\/p>\n The Amice<\/i>. This is an oblong piece of white linen, with strings or ribbons by which it is fastened around the shoulders. The name comes from the Latin \u201camictus,\u201d a wrapper. This vestment has been in use since about the year 800. Formerly it was worn covering the head, and certain religious orders still use it in this way until the beginning of the Mass. It symbolizes a helmet<\/i>, protecting the priest against the assaults of Satan.<\/p>\n The Alb<\/i>. This is a long linen gown, extending from the neck to the feet. The lower part is often made of lace. It is a survival of the old Roman dress called the toga. The name is derived from the Latin \u201calba,\u201d white, and the color, of course, denotes purity.<\/p>\n The Cincture<\/i> or Girdle. This is a doubled cord which binds the alb closely to the body.<\/p>\n
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Some of the articles described below are vestments, and therefore they are sacramentals<\/b>, and some aren\u2019t. Perhaps the ones that aren\u2019t are optional? I really have no idea. But I do like the symbolism of some of these articles. <\/i><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n