Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-08-23
Church Has Retained Garments
For Her Own Special
Worship.
They Represent Some Incident i'm
Our Lords SacrificiaI
Sufferings.
ARE LOOKED UPON As SACRED

The Council of Trent informs uE
that the vestments worn at mes<
we're introduced by apostolic ordin.
ance and tradition. The Apostles
1t seems, selected for this purpose
| the very best article of dress worn
az the time by Roman civilians OF
rank. Thus, for example, our pres
eDt-day alb is the festival tunic worn
| ty civilians of the Roman empire
| down to the fifth and sixth cen
| turies; the chasuble is the cloak worn
at the same period on journeys or
| when walking when in the course
Of time ordinary attire underwent .
complete change, the church retained
| these garments for her own sacred
Norship. They did not lose their
original character, but became the
distinctive dress of the servants of
the altar" And when these gar
ments were once adopted for liturgi-
cal services, they we're looked upon
as sacred, assumed a meaning in 40
cordance with their use, and we're
taken to represent some incident In
cur Lords sacrifical sufferings.
The amice was originally a cover
Ing for the head and shoulders. It
now represents the cloth with which
the soldiers blindfolded Christ, while
they Knocked Him, saying: Prophecy,
who is 1t that struck thee"
The avg, tunic or inner garment
OF linen, once worn by Jewish priests,
and then by Christian priests from
the earliest days. 1t represents the
white garment in which King Herod
and his court mockingly clothed our
Lord, treating Him as a fool It's
whiteness reminds the priest of the
purity of conscience which should
adorn his life.
The girdle, linen or silken cord
which gathers the alb at the waist,
was at first worn to prevent the alb
from trailing along the ground. 1t
signifies chastity, and is now taken
to represent the ropes with which the
soldiers bound Jesus in the garden,
or the cords with which He was tied
to the column for the scourging, or
the whips with which He was
.oourged.
The maniple, a small silk ornament
worn on the arm OF the priest, was
originally used as a handkerchief.
Then IL became a costly serviette for
presenting or receiving anything, be-
Ing folded over the left arm when II
was not in actual use. In the twelfth
century its use was restricted to the
mass. II now calls to mind the cords
With which our Lord was bound.
The otOIa pac onoa nfaoa of finA
linen worn round the neck and used
ny persons of rank for wiping the
face, and spread by women at prayer
over the head and shoulders. falling
round the body like a veil The stole
worn by ecclesiastics (from the
fourth century at least) was bordered
with streaks of purple, and when In
course of time its dimensions were
contracted these ornaments were re-
tanned as marks of honor, while the
plain linen portions were cut away,
SC that II was reduced to a band
which surrounded the neck and fell
down below the knees on both sides
OF the body" II represents the cross
our Lord had to carry. and denotes
the white robe of sanctifying grace
with which one must be clothed be-
fore acquiring Immortality.
The chasuble was originally the
garment worn over the other clothes.
We can trace its use in the church
back to the beginning of the sixth
century. II was then a very large
yestment completely covering the
body, with only an opening at the top
for the head. In the eleventh CEN
tury its shape was altered. the sides
teing opened to allow the priest
greater freedom in the use OF his
lands. This beautiful form OF the
chasuble is known as the Gothic; II
was the only shape in use from the
eleventh to the sixteenth centuries.
snd Is still used in many parts OF
Europe. After the sixteenth century
the chasuble was still further reduced
IN size and was opened at the sides.
The chasuble represents the garments
In which our Lord was clothed when
he was derided as King OF the Jews.
The colors now recognized by the
Roman liturgy are white, red, green,
purple and black, each with its own
symbolical meaning.
White is the symbol OF purity and
Joy. light and glory. White vest
ments are therefore appropriately
"a ed on feasts OF the Blessed Trinity,
Of our Lord (when we are not directly
his passion and
DEATH, OF the angels, and OF such
saints as were confessors OF the faith.
Virgins, penitents and widows II Is
also 1.-THE natural color for all feasts
which commemorate the sweet mem
cry. OF the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
the flower OF wondrous brightness.
the heavenly lily OF resplendent
beauty. the spotless maiden"
Red symbollzes fire. blood and the
self-denial of suffering Hence II IL
Used as the liturgieal color for feasts
% the Holy Ghost. the Passion OF
Christ. the martyrs. including the
apostles with the exception OF 81