The history, meaning of priests' vestments

By ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
Back when Msgr. William Skoneki was pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Mobile, youngsters preparing for First Communion completed fun worksheets titled “Dress Fr. Bill.”
“There was a priest on the sheet and the students would cut out an alb, a stole and chasuble and glue them on the sheet, so they would learn (a priest’s) vestments. It was a fun little tradition,” explained Msgr. Skoneki, now vicar general of the Archdiocese of Mobile and rector of the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
Miss out on that project during your First Communion preparation, but still wonder about the significance and symbolism of a priest’s vestments? Well “Dress Fr. Bill'' is back, although neither scissors nor glue are needed this time. 
But first, a quick history lesson. 
“I think it’s important to remember that these clothes may look strange to us, but they really were kind of the middle class clothes 2,000 years ago, particularly for Romans,” he said. “It became kind of the look of how priests dress and what they wear. They began to develop traditions and significances, but that wasn’t true when they were the ordinary clothes of the people.”

Amice
While not visible to those attending Mass, the amice is the first vestment priests can put on and has actually been optional since liturgical reforms instituted in 1972. The amice is a piece of white cloth worn around a priest’s neck and shoulders, then tied around his chest. 
Now time for an etymology lesson - the amice derives its name from the Latin word “amictus,” which means “wrapped around.”
According to Fr. Bill, the amice is similar to what Roman soldiers wore underneath their helmets. It symbolizes protection against temptations of the devil. 
But there’s also a practical and less idyllic reason a priest would wear an amice.
“It was designed in many ways as a sweat garment and it is still true today,” he said. “It helps keep sweat and perspiration off the other vestments.”

Alb
While the amice is optional, the remaining vestments are mandatory for a priest celebrating Mass – beginning with an alb. 
The alb is the long white robe and alb simply means “white” in Latin. Fr. Bill described it as somewhat reminiscent of a toga back in Roman days. It was everyday dress 2,000 years ago, but the alb is now a symbol of purity and being baptized. Children, for example, generally wear white when being baptized.
Interestingly, albs are not only worn by the priest. Deacons also wear albs. Altar servers frequently wear albs and occasionally other ministers such as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and lectors do as well.

Cincture
After a priest puts on his alb, he ties a cincture around his waist. The cincture is made of rope and worn as a belt, so it is not technically a vestment because vestment derives its name from “vestimentum,” meaning “clothing” in Latin.
“Cincture” means “to encircle” in Latin.
“It holds the alb in and allows for the stole (the next vestment) to be maintained,” Fr. Bill said. “It’s a belt, so it’s another practical thing, but it’s also a sign of purity, more along the lines of chastity.”

Stole
The stole is the long piece of cloth similar to a scarf worn over both shoulders of a priest and usually ends around a priest’s knees. A deacon wears a stole, but over his left shoulder. 
The word “stole” is borrowed from “stola” in Latin, meaning garment. 
“In Roman times, it was a sign of office or authority and that’s now true in the Church,” Fr. Bill said.
Because it’s a sign of priesthood, it’s the outermost garment a priest wears for priestly duties other than celebrating Mass. 
A priest’s stole will generally be completely visible when he celebrates a baptism outside of Mass, hears confessions or presides at a wedding or funeral outside Mass.

Chasuble
The final vestment a priest puts on and is seen by the congregation at Mass is the chasuble. It comes from “casubla,” which means “hooded garment” in Latin. 
Back in Roman days, it was similar to an overcoat. 
“We’re not talking about heated churches so it was a practical garment, especially in northern climates,” Fr. Bill explained. “But over time it began to symbolize charity.”
It comes in many different shapes and designs, sometimes ornate and sometimes simple. But not open to choice, as most know, is the color. 
A specific color is worn and corresponds to that day’s liturgical celebration. The four main colors are green, white, violet and red.
Green is worn during Ordinary Time and according to Fr. Bill, green symbolizes “hope” or “growth.”
White, or gold as an acceptable substitute, is worn as signs of joy, he said. This is why white is worn during the Easter and Christmas seasons, but also when the Church celebrates many saints.
Violet is a sign of penitence and preparation, so most often seen during Lent and Advent.
Red is worn for two reasons, as a connection to the Holy Spirit and blood of martyrs, Fr. Bill said. Therefore, red is worn for Pentecost but also when the Church celebrates apostles and saints who were martyrs.
Finally, know what color a priest wears on two Sundays a year – the third Sunday of Advent and fourth Sunday of Lent? 
An A-plus grade to those who said “rose” and didn’t say “pink.”
Priests wear rose on those Sundays, midway points of the seasons.
“It’s a color of joy and gladness, so maybe a time for lessening the penance of Lent,” he said.
Like those First Communicants back at St. Dominic, you too now know your priest vestments and with a little history and etymology to boot!