Sacred Vestments

Question 1

Cassock

Answer 1

The Cassock is a garment worn by all ministers of the Mass. By members of the clergy, it is usually black (excluding Bishops who may wear a red or red-violet cassock), or white (in tropical countries).

For altar servers, it is also usually black, but may also be red or white. For those who serve the Bishop, it may be red-violet.

Question 2

Surplice

Answer 2

The Surplice is a loose, white vestment that is worn by all those who are in choir (clergy who are attending, but not assisting at, or celebrating Mass), or those who are assisting at Mass as Altar Servers. This Sacred Vestment is always white , and may be decorated with lace.
It should be made of linen.

It is also always worn over the Cassock, and may not be worn without the Cassock.

Question 3

Fascia

Answer 3

The Fascia is a sash-like girdle that is worn around the Cassock to hold it together.
It is usually made of silk or a similar fabric.
The Fascia is taken off during the celebration of the Mass, and is only worn outside liturgical functions

The color of the Fascia depends on the Sacred Minister wearing it. Priests and inferior Clergy wear a black Fascia, Bishops wear a red-violet Fascia, and Cardinals wear a red Fascia.
The Pope wears a white Fascia

Question 4

Rochet

Answer 4

The Rochet is a Vestment that is only worn by Bishops and Abbots in choir.

It resembles the surplice, but a little longer in length. It is also always worn under the Mozzetta.

Question 5

Mozzetta

Answer 5

The Mozzetta is a short cape worn around the neck usually worn by Bishops and Abbots in choir. It may also be worn by Priests, Clergy, and even lay Altar Servers in certain congregations. Priests and Clergy usually wear a black Mozzetta,
Bishops wear a red-violet Mozzetta, Cardinals wear a red Mozzetta, and the Pope wears a white Mozzetta.

This vestment is always worn over the Rochet or the Cassock.

Question 6

Pontifical Buskins

Answer 6

The Pontifical Buskins are liturgical stockings that go over the feet of the Bishop.
Only the Bishop wears the Pontifical Buskins, and only during the
Pontifical Solemn High Mass.
The color should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

Question 7

Amice

Answer 7

The amice is a white, rectangular cloth with two long strings on either end.
It is prescribed for all those who wear an Alb.
It should be made of linen.

Question 8

Alb

Answer 8

The Alb is the long white garment that is worn by the Sacred Ministers who celebrate or assist at Holy Mass.
It is worn by those who have an active duty during the Holy Mass (Priest, Deacon, Subdeacon, Acolyte, or Altar server).
The color of this Sacred Vestment is always white, and may be decorated with lace.
It should also be made of linen.

Question 9

Cincture

Answer 9

The Cincture is a rope-like girdle that is worn around the Alb.
It is prescribed for all Sacred Ministers who wear the Alb.
It is usually white, but may match the color of the liturgical season.

Question 10

pectoral Cross

Answer 10

The Pectoral Cross is a Cross or Crucifix worn around the neck with a cord or a chain.
It is a Sacred Vestment proper to the Bishop.

It is worn at every liturgical function in which a Bishop is required to preside (ie. Funerals, Marriages, Ordinations, Holy Mass).

Question 11

Maniple

Answer 11

The maniple is a vestment worn only by those ordained into the Major Orders.
It is a band of silk, or similar fabric, that is usually beautifully embroidered.
It is worn always over the left arm.
The color of the Maniple should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

It is usually taken off during the parts of the Mass which are not parts of the Mass itself (ie. the Homily)

Question 12

Diaconal Stole

Answer 12

The Stole is a Sacred Vestment worn by those in the Major Orders including and above the Diaconate.
The Diaconal Stole is a long, beautifully embroidered piece of silk, or similar fabric, worn over the left shoulder, and hangs down across the body.
It is worn in this manner to denote that the Sacred Minister wearing it is a Deacon.
The color of the Diaconal Stole should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

It is worn at every liturgical function in which a Deacon is required to assist (ie. Funerals, Marriages, Holy Mass).

Question 13

Stole

Answer 13

The Stole is a Sacred Vestment worn by those in the Major Orders including and above the Diaconate.
The Stole is a long, beautifully embroidered piece of silk, or similar fabric, worn over both shoulders, with each end hanging down across the body.
It is worn in this manner to denote that the Sacred Minister wearing it is a Bishop.
The color of the Stole should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

It is worn at every liturgical function in which a Bishop is required to preside (ie. Funerals, Marriages, Ordinations, Holy Mass).

Question 14

Tunicle

Answer 14

The Tunicle is the Sacred Vestment proper to the Subdiaconate.
It is a large garment with sleeves.
It is usually made of silk, or similar fabric, and is also usually beautifully embroidered.
The color of the Tunicle should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

It is worn at every liturgical function in which a Subdeacon is required to assist (ie. Funerals, Marriages, Holy Mass)

Question 15

Pontifical Tunicle

Answer 15

The Tunicle is the Sacred Vestment proper to the Subdiaconate.
The Pontifical Tunicle is worn by the Bishop under his Pontifical Dalmatic and Chasuble.
It is a large garment with sleeves.
It is usually made of silk, or similar fabric. The Pontifical Tunicle, although, is made of a lighter material than the normal Tunicle, and is less embroidered.
The color of the Pontifical Tunicle should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.
It is worn only at the Pontifical Solemn High Mass.

Question 16

Dalmatic

Answer 16

The Dalmatic is the Sacred Vestment proper to the Diaconate.
It is a large garment with sleeves; its length is a little shorter than that of the Tunicle.
It is usually made of silk, or similar fabric, and is also usually beautifully embroidered.
The color of the Dalmatic should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

It is worn at every liturgical function in which a Deacon is required to assist (ie. Funerals, Marriages, Holy Mass)

Question 17

Pontifical Dalmatic

Answer 17

The Dalmatic is the Sacred Vestment proper to the Diaconate.
The Pontifical Dalmatic is worn by the Bishop under his Chasuble.
It is a large garment with sleeves.
It is usually made of silk, or similar fabric. The Pontifical Dalmatic, although, is made of a lighter material than the normal Dalmatic, and is less embroidered.
The color of the Pontifical Dalmatic should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.
It is worn only at the Pontifical Solemn High Mass.

Question 18

Chirothecoes (Pontifical Gloves)

Answer 18

The Chirothecoe are a pair of gloves worn by, and proper to the Bishop.
It is worn during the Mass before the Offertory.
The color of the Chirothecoe should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

Question 19

Pontifical Ring

Answer 19

The Pontifical Ring is a ring worn by the Bishop.
It is proper to the office of the Bishop.

Question 20

Chasuble

Answer 20

The Chasuble is the Sacred Vestment proper to the Priesthood.
It is a large garment that covers the body; it is usually either a Gothic-cut or Roman-cut.
It is usually made of silk, or similar fabric, and is also usually beautifully embroidered.
The color of the Chasuble should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.
It is worn only at celebrations of the Holy Mass.

Question 21

Biretta

Answer 21

The Biretta is a square cap with three flat projections on top, worn by those who are part of the Clergy.
The color of the Biretta is usually black. Bishops wear a red-violet Biretta, Cardinals wear a Red Biretta.
It is worn at the parts of the Mass that are not properly part of the Mass (ie. Homily, Entrance Procession, Recessional Procession, when the Clergy are seated during the parts of the Mass sung by the Choir, etc.)

Question 22

Pallium

Answer 22

The Pallium is a Sacred Vestment that is worn around the neck of Archbishops.
It has one end which hangs down at the front, and one end that hangs down at the back.
It is made of wool and contains six crosses on it.

Question 23

Zucchetto

Answer 23

The Zucchetto is a liturgical skull cap worn, usually, by Bishops.

Its color is either red-violet (for Bishops), or red (for Cardinals).

Question 24

Pontifical Mitre

Answer 24

The Pontifical Mitre is liturgical headgear worn by the Bishop during liturgical functions.
It is proper to the office of the Bishop.
The Pontifical Mitre comes to a point at the top and has two tassels which hang down the back.
It is usually made of silk or similar fabric, and may be beautifully embroidered, but it may also be simple (depending on the occasion).

Question 25

Pontifical Crozier

Answer 25

The Pontifical Crozier is a long staff that has curls on the end, and is proper to the office of the Bishop.
It is often made of a precious metal, or may be made of wood.
It is usually beautifully decorated.

Question 26

Cope

Answer 26

The Cope is a mantle-like Sacred Vestment, worn by those in the Major Orders, and sometimes by those in the Minor Orders.
It is made of silk, or a similar fabric, and is usually beautifully embroidered.
The color of the Cope should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

The Cope is worn, and replaces the Chasuble, during liturgical functions outside of the Holy Mass, usually during the celebration of the other Sacraments (ie. Marriages, Funerals, Confirmations, Asperges Rite, Solemn Vespers, etc.)

Question 27

Humeral Veil

Answer 27

The Humeral Veil is a long, rectangular vestment worn, usually, by those in the Major Orders, and occasionally by those in Minor Orders.
It is used when making contact with certain Sacred Vessels that pertain to the Blessed Sacrament (ie. Paten, Monstrance, Ciborium, etc.)
It is made of silk, or a similar fabric, and is usually beautifully embroidered.
The color of the Humeral Veil should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

It is worn by the Subdeacon during the Solemn High Mass, but is not used any time else by anyone else during the Mass.
It is always worn during the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and whenever the Blessed Sacrament is processed.

Question 28

Vimpae

Answer 28

The Vimpae is a long, rectangular vestment worn by the Altar Servers during Masses presided by the Bishop.
It resembles the Humeral Veil.
It is made of silk or, a similar fabric, but is not as embroidered or as ornate as the Humeral Veil.
The color of the Cope should always be the liturgical color prescribed for the day or the season.

It is used by the Altar Servers when they hold the Pontifical Crozier and the Pontifical Mitre.