The Irish standard., 1907-04-20
THE PRIEST AND THE MASS.
Meaning Of the Vestments Briefly Ex.
plained.

Meaning Of the vestments Briefly Ex.
planned.
When vesting for Mass the priest,
says The Helper, puts the vestments
on in the following order: He places
over his shoulders the amice-a white
linen cloth. Next the alb, long white
garment reaching down to his feet
He draws it about his waist with the
cincture, or white cord. He places on
his left arm the naniple. or short, mar
now vestment. Around his neck he
places the stole, a long, narrow vest
ment with a cross on each end. over
all these he places the chasuble, the
large vestnlent' with cross on the
black. Lastly he puts on his cap or
berretta.
The amice is a piece of white linen,
oblong in shape, which the priest rests
for moment on his head and then
spreads on his shoulders. 1t has a tape
at each end of the upper corners with
which to fasten it.
Writers have given many mystical
meanings to the amice. 1t reminds us
of the veil with which the Jews covered
the face Of Jesus when they struck
Him.
While Iputting on the amice the
priest says: place upon my head, o
Lord. the helmet Of salvation. that
may repel the attacks of the evil one"
Some religious orders, such az Capu-
chins and Dominicans wear the amice
over the head until the beginning of
Mass.
The alb is a, long white garment
Sometimes it is made entirely of plain
linen, sometimes the upper part only
is of plain linen. and the skirt of lace.
1t is symbolical of innocence, and
represents the white robe with which
Herod clothed Christ in mockery. When
putting on the alb the. priest says:
Purify me, o Lord. and make me
clean Of heart. that. washed, in the
blood of the Lamb, may possess eter-
nal life"
The cincture or girdle, is the white
linen cord worn around the waist to
hold the alb in place. 1t represents the
ropes with which our Lord was bound
and the rods with which He. was
scourged. ...... 49,.
The priest says when putting on the
cincture:. "Gird me, o Lord, with the
girdle Of purity, that the virtue of con.
tinency and chastity may remain in
me- -s' go. =,
The maniple is a. small vestment
worn on the left arm. 1t is of the same
material and color as the. chasuble. On
it there are three crosses, one in the
middle and one on each end
The maniple was formerly hand
kerchief used by. the priest at Mass to
wipe his face. =:
| 1t is symbolic of trials and sorrow.
The priest says when putting on the
maniple: May I deserve, o Lord, to
carry the maniple of weeping and sor-
row, that. l may receive with joy the
reward of my labors."
The stole is a long, narrow hand. (of
J the same material. and color as the
chasuble), which hangs down from the
priests neck and is crossed on the
breast. 1t is the distinct sign Of the
priestly power, and is therefore used
in every exercise of that power, as
celebrating Mass, administering the
sacraments, preaching. blessing, etc..
1t symbolizes. the yoke of Christ The
priest says when putting on the stole:
Restore to me. Lord, the stole of
immortality. which l lost through. the
transgression of my first parents, and
though approach unworthily to .cele-
brate Thy Sacred Mystery, may mer-
it eternal joy
The chasuble is the Mass vestment
proper. It is the large vestment with
a cross on the back which covers all
other vestments. It varies in color &C.