How chasuble protector became Christ's blindfold

By Patricia Kasten
Compass Associate Editor

	Previously: from July 14, 2006 issue: • Vestments developed from togas and tunics

Last time, we saw how vestments - the robes and clothing worn for liturgical functions - developed out of everyday attire in the time of the Roman Empire. For the first centuries of the church, you might not even have been able to tell vestments from regular clothing - except that they were "Sunday best."

However, as regular clothing changed - and vestments didn't - people began to notice differences. And they began to attach special significance and meanings to the various pieces. For example, instead of just being a nice poncho against bad weather, the chasuble eventually came to be seen as a sign of the Passion or of Christ's work, or even of armor. The vestments, used to celebrate the Holy Mass, became holy themselves and today, once they are blessed, are sacramentals.

Prayers tell

Often, the prayers that have been said by a priest as he puts on a vestment can tell something about the extra meanings attached to that particular article. For example, one vestment that is no longer worn - the maniple, a towel-like vestment worn on the lower left arm - first developed as just that, a towel or napkin. It was used by Romans at meals, or on hot summer days, to wipe sweat from one's face. However, by the 13th century - a time that saw a great rise in interest in the details of Christ's passion - the maniple came to symbolize the chains that bound Christ's hands.

Symbolism attached to vestments developed over time. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that there were several patterns to this development - none of which was clearly developed before the ninth century.

Morals

The first to develop followed moral symbolism, and it became established between the ninth and the twelfth centuries. This served to remind both the priest and the congregation of the virtues practiced by priests. We can especially see this in the cincture, which was seen to symbolize the priest's celibacy.

Christ's life

The next pattern surfaced around the 12th century and focused on the life of Christ, whom the priest represented. It was called typico-dogmatic and often focused on the Incarnation or Christ's mission.

Only after this did symbolic references to the Passion of Christ arise. That pattern of reference is called typico-representative.

Warrior's armor

Last to develop was true allegorical symbolism - which the Catholic Encyclopedia notes "was never very widespread." With this, each vestment represented a weapon, with the priest as a warrior for Christ. This symbolism was popular during the time of the Crusades.

Even today, you might hear these various symbolisms attached to vestments and can be seen in the prayers that priests have said before putting on each article:

THE ALB: "Make me white, O Lord, and cleanse my heart; that being made white in the blood of the Lamb, I may deserve an eternal reward."

The alb (from the Latin word for white) is the proper liturgical vestment of all baptized Christians. It developed from the white Roman toga. Later, it was sometimes seen to represent the robe in which Herod clothed Jesus.

THE CINCTURE: "Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of purity, and quench in my heart all evil desires, that the virtue of chastity may abide in me."

The cincture was first used by Romans to keep the multi-fold toga tied at the waist. Much later, it came to represent the rope by which Jesus was led to his death and the cords that bound him to the pillar for scourging.

THE CHASUBLE: "O Lord, who has said, 'My yoke is sweet and My burden light,' grant that I may so carry it as to merit your grace."

From the Latin casula, or "little house," this poncho-like garment was worn by common workers in the Roman Empire. It was later seen as a symbol for the work of following Christ, and as representing the royal purple cloak worn by Jesus before Pilate (Jn 19:2)

THE STOLE: "Restore to me, O Lord, the state of immortality which I lost through the sin of my first parents and, although unworthy to approach your sacred mysteries, may I deserve nevertheless eternal joy."

Worn by bishops, priests and deacons, the stole is thought to have developed from a Roman stole called the orarium. It was a sign of distinction, honor or public office. Since it is worn over the shoulders, the stole is sometimes seen as symbolizing the beam of the Cross that Christ carried.

THE AMICE: "Place, O Lord, on my head the helmet of salvation, that I may resist the assaults of the Evil One."

The amice, a rectangular or oblong piece of fabric, seems to first have been a head covering or hood, used to protect one from the elements. It later was used for the purpose of protecting the increasingly valuable fabrics of the chasuble. For those looking for images of Christ's passion, it came to be seen as the hood, or blindfold, used by the soldiers as they beat and taunted Christ. "Tell us, who struck you?" (Lk 22:64).

Not one meaning

There is no single meaning for any vestment worn now or in the past. Rather, like all items used for worship, they serve to remind us of the one story - the unchanging Good News of Salvation - that Christ brought to us. That Gospel lesson is revealed to us in new and eternal ways each day, just as Jesus used many parables and sayings to show us the loving presence of God.