Joshua Bennett
The overcoat in Catholic liturgy refers to the outer cassock, a voluminous garment worn over the inner cassock by bishops, priests, deacons, and monastics as their regular outerwear. The outer cassock is also known as a ryasa or exorason in Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches. In cold weather, an ankle-length cape called a manto or greca (also known as a douillette) may be worn over the cassock. The liturgical vestments of Catholic priests vary in colour and style depending on the liturgical season and the role of the priest, with each colour holding a symbolic meaning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vestments | Cope, chasuble, dalmatic, stole, amice, alb, cincture, maniple, tunicle, surplice, sandals, stockings, mitre, pallium, succinctorium, fanon, mozetta, rochet, biretta, mandyas, kamelaukion, exokamelaukion |
| Vestment Colours | White, green, red, purple, pink, light blue, gold, black |
| Vestment Colour Symbolism | White: joy and purity; Purple: penance, humility, sorrow, penitence, mourning; Red: passion of Christ, martyrdom; Gold: royalty |
| Vestment Types | Inner cassock, outer cassock, exorasson, zostikon, skufia, kalimavkin, kontorasson, klobuk, anteri, rason, exorason, manto, greca, ferraiolo, zucchetto, biretta, cappello romano |
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What You'll Learn
Vestments and their colours
Vestments are liturgical ornaments, from the Latin ornamentum, which means "decoration", and ornare, which means "to decorate" or "to adorn". The colours of the vestments are chosen based on the church's liturgical calendar, and the colours worn during specific holidays or times of the year.
The four liturgical colours are white, green, red, and purple, with other colours such as pink, light blue, gold, and black used only on special occasions or as alternatives to the canonical colours. White symbolises rejoicing and purity of soul, and is worn during Christmas and Easter. It is also used for feasts of the Lord (except those pertaining to his passion), the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and the saints who were not martyrs. Gold, which symbolises royalty, can replace white on these occasions.
Green is used during Ordinary Time, which is the liturgical season that focuses on the three-year period of the Lord's public ministry. This season occurs between Easter and Advent, and between Christmas and Lent. Green symbolises life, hope, and anticipation.
Red symbolises the passion of Christ and the blood spilled in his martyrdom. It is worn on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Pentecost, as well as in the celebrations dedicated to the Passion of the Lord, and in the feasts of the Apostles, the Evangelists, and the Holy Martyrs. It also signifies the burning fire of God's love.
Violet or purple is used during Advent and Lent as a sign of penance, sacrifice, and preparation. Purple is also worn for Masses of Christian Burial or Masses for the Dead, and can be replaced by black vestments.
In addition to these colours, blue is used in some countries of Spanish or Portuguese culture for celebrations in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pink, which indicates joy and solemnity, is worn on the third Sunday of Advent and the fourth Sunday of Lent.
The colours of vestments, such as the cope, chasuble, dalmatic, and the stole, refer to the liturgical season or the current festive occasion. The cope, derived from the Latin word cappa, meaning "hood" or "cape", is a semi-circular garment worn by the priest or bishop for solemn functions, especially during processions. The dalmatic, with its large sleeves that form a cross, is considered the quintessential vestment of the diaconate.
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Cassocks and their types
A cassock is a long, ankle-length garment that is traditionally worn by members of the clergy. It is a Christian clerical coat used by the clergy and male religious of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Catholic Church, as well as some clergy in certain Protestant denominations such as Anglicans and Lutherans. The cassock is derived from the tunic of classical antiquity that was worn in ancient Rome and Greece. In religious services, it is traditionally worn underneath vestments such as the alb, which is a symbol of baptismal purity.
There are two types of cassocks: the inner cassock and the outer cassock. The inner cassock, or simply the cassock, is a floor-length or ankle-length garment worn by all clergy members, monastics, and seminarians. It is usually black, although it can also be grey or blue. The Slavic or "Russian" style is double-breasted, closely fitted through the torso, and flares out to the skirt, with a high collar buttoned off-center. It may be cinctured with either a leather or wide cloth belt. The Greek version, called an anteri, rason, or zostiko, is somewhat fuller, gathered at the waist with a narrow cloth belt, and with a high collar buttoned in the front.
The outer cassock, also known as the ryasa (Russian: ряса) or exorason (Ancient Greek: εξώρασον, ράσον), is a large, flowing, or voluminous garment worn over the inner cassock by bishops, priests, deacons, and monastics. It is also worn by clergy and monastics who would, in formal or liturgical settings, wear the outer cassock. A cassock vest, or "kontorasson," may be worn over the inner cassock, especially in cold weather. It is a closely fitted collarless vest that usually falls slightly below the waist.
In the Catholic Church, the cassock is a distinctive garment that has been worn by the clergy for centuries. It is a symbol of the clergy's devotion to God and their priestly office. The color of the cassock can vary according to rank: black for priests, purple for bishops and priests during Advent and Lent, and scarlet red for cardinals. The Roman Pontiff wears a white cassock.
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History of liturgical vestments
Liturgical vestments are the clothing worn by the clergy when performing ceremonies of the Church. They are associated primarily with the Christian religion, especially by Eastern Churches, Catholics (of all rites), Lutherans, and Anglicans.
The history of liturgical vestments is a long and complex one, dating back to the early days of the Christian Church. In the early Christian churches, officers, leaders, and their congregations wore the normal dress of civil life in the Greco-Roman world, although there was an expectation that the clothing should be clean and pure during holy observances.
Over time, the Church's vestments began to differ from secular fashions. By the 4th century, modifications had been made to the form of the garments, and by the 6th century, the church had retained the original forms of their vestments, although with regional variations. The main development and definition of ecclesiastical vestments took place between the 6th and 9th centuries.
In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Eastern Catholic Churches, any member of the clergy, regardless of rank, wears vestments when serving their particular function during the Divine Liturgy or other services. The various vestments serve different functions, with some marking rank, some distinguishing the clergy from the laity, and some being purely practical.
In the 9th century, the pope, when fully vested, wore a camisia (chemise) girdled, an alb (linea) girdled, an amice (anagolaium), a tunicle (dalmatica minor), a dalmatic (dalmatica major), stole (orarium), chasuble (planeta), and pallium. This was also the costume of the Roman deacons, with the exception of the pallium. By this time, the liturgical character of the vestments was firmly established, and they were worn over ordinary dress.
The history of liturgical vestments in the Greek Rite is difficult to trace, but the new pontifical vestments included the sakkos, the epimanikien, and the epigonation. The epigonation first appeared in the form of a handkerchief and was called the enchirion before receiving its current name in the 12th century.
The Catholic Church's vestments had essentially established their final forms by the 13th century, and the arrival of the Franciscans in the Holy Land during this century further emphasised the importance of art in serving the liturgy. The Reformation brought about a new approach towards simplicity, especially in Reformed Churches (Calvinist and Zwinglian), which did away with Mass vestments in favour of secular dress. Lutheranism, however, largely retained many pre-Reformation vestments, especially in Scandinavia.
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Vestments and their religious symbolism
Vestments are the traditional liturgical garments worn by priests, deacons, and other clergy members during Catholic Mass and other religious ceremonies. Each vestment has a specific symbolic meaning and plays a significant role in the liturgy. The vestments and their symbolism are an important part of the Catholic faith, adding solemnity and beauty to the liturgical rites.
One of the most recognizable vestments is the chasuble, which is a circular or oval-shaped garment that is placed over the priest's shoulders and falls straight down in the front and back. The chasuble symbolizes charity and unity, as it envelops the priest and represents the embrace of God's love. It also signifies the yoke of Christ, reminding the priest that he must bear the burdens of his office with humility and dedication.
Another important vestment is the stole, a narrow band of fabric that hangs around the neck with two ends hanging down in front. The stole symbolizes the priest's authority to preach and teach, as well as the power to bind and loose sins, referring to the forgiveness of sins through the sacrament of reconciliation. The deacon also wears a stole, but it is crossed over the chest, symbolizing service and the willingness to bear the cross with Christ.
The alb, a long white garment that covers the body from neck to ankle, is worn under the chasuble. It symbolizes purity and innocence, reminding the clergy and congregation of the spiritual transformation and cleansing brought about by Christ's sacrifice. The alb is often made of simple fabric to represent humility and equality before God.
Additionally, the amice, a rectangular piece of cloth worn around the neck and shoulders, symbolizes discipline and self-control. It is often white or the liturgical color of the day, and it represents the yoke of Christ's service, reminding the priest to follow Christ's example of humility and obedience.
The color of the vestments also holds symbolic significance. Different colors are used to represent various liturgical seasons and feasts, such as green for ordinary time, purple for penitential seasons like Lent, white for celebrations like Christmas and Easter, and red for feast days of martyrs and the Holy Spirit. These colors help to create a visual connection between the liturgy and the church's calendar, enhancing the overall liturgical experience.
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Liturgical vestments and their distinction from clerical clothing
Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated with the Christian religion, especially by Eastern Churches, Catholics, Lutherans, and Anglicans. They are worn by celebrants during religious ceremonies and their role is to distinguish the wearer's position, such as bishop, priest, deacon, or subdeacon.
The use of vestments is rooted in the early history of the church. Vestments are liturgical garments that are worn by clergy members during religious services and ceremonies. They are designed to clothe celebrants during these events and to distinguish their roles within the church hierarchy. Vestments are often made from fine fabrics and may be elaborately decorated, adding to the magnificence of the liturgy. The use of colours and materials in vestments is regulated and is symbolic of the wearer's role and the liturgy being performed.
Clerical clothing, on the other hand, is non-liturgical clothing worn exclusively by clergy members. It is distinct from vestments as it is not reserved specifically for use in the liturgy. Clerical clothing is often simpler and less ornate than vestments and may be worn under vestments or as everyday clothing by priests, ministers, or other clergy members. It is usually more subdued in colour and style, with black being a common colour for priests and other clergy members.
In the Eastern Catholic Churches and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a key distinction between vestments and clerical clothing is that vestments must be blessed before being worn, whereas clerical clothing does not require a blessing and is considered daily wear.
The cope, or pluvial, is a vestment worn by priests or bishops for solemn functions and processions. It is derived from the Latin word "cappa", meaning "hood" or "cape", and its shape is similar to the large overcoats worn by Romans for protection from the rain. The dalmatic is another vestment that has been considered the quintessential garment of the diaconate since the 9th century. It consists of a tunic with large sleeves that form a cross and was introduced to the liturgy in the 4th century.
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Frequently asked questions
An overcoat in Catholic liturgy is a reference to a full-length cape, manto or greca, which is worn over the cassock in cold weather. The greca is also known as the douillette, and is a double-breasted overcoat.
A cassock is a long garment, usually black, worn by all clergy members, monastics and seminarians. It is worn under vestments during religious services.
Vestments are liturgical clothing worn by the clergy during religious ceremonies. They include the amice, alb, cincture, maniple, stole, chasuble, dalmatic, and cope, among other items.
The colours of vestments have symbolic meanings and change according to the liturgical season. There are four main colours: white, green, red, and purple. Other colours like pink, light blue, gold, and black are used on special occasions.
