The Stole

The stole is a liturgical vestment of various Christian denominations. It consists of a band of colored cloth, formerly usually of silk, about seven and a half to nine feet long and three to four inches wide, whose ends may be straight or may broaden out. The center of the stole is worn around the back of the neck and the two ends hang down parallel to each other in front, either attached to each other or hanging loose. The stole is almost always decorated in some way, usually with a cross or some other significant religious design. It is often decorated with contrasting galloons (ornamental trim) and fringe is usually applied to the ends of the stole following Numbers 15:38-39. A piece of white linen or lace may be stitched onto the back of the collar as a sweat guard which can be replaced more cheaply than buying a new stole.

Together with the cincture and the now mostly defunct maniple, the stole symbolizes the bonds and fetters with which Jesus was bound during his Passion; it is usually ornamented with a cross. Another version is that the stole denotes the duty to spread the Word of God.

It marks the recipients of Holy Orders. It is conferred at the ordination of a deacon, by which one becomes a member of the clergy after the suppression of the tonsure and minor orders after the Second Vatican Council.

A bishop or other priest wears the stole around his neck with the ends hanging down in front, while the deacon places it over his left shoulder and ties it cross-wise at his right side, similar to a sash.

Before the reform of the liturgy after the Second Vatican Council, priests who were not bishops crossed the stole over the breast, but only at Mass or at other functions at which a chasuble or cope was worn. It is now worn hanging straight down (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 340) at all times. On solemn occasions, the Pope wears, as part of his choir dress, a special state stole highly decorated and bearing his personal coat of arms.

For the celebration of the Mass, the principal celebrant as well as concelebrants wear the stole over the alb but under the chasuble. Likewise, the deacon wears the stole over the alb but under the dalmatic. The stole is also worn over the surplice or alb for the distribution and reception of Holy Communion.

The priest or deacon who presides in paraliturgical celebrations, such as the Stations of the Cross, usually wears the stole over the surplice (or alb), and always under the cope.

The Humeral Veil

The humeral veil is one of the liturgical vestments of the Roman Rite, also used in some Anglican and Lutheran churches. It consists of a piece of cloth about 2.75 m long and 90 cm wide draped over the shoulders and down the front, normally of silk or cloth of gold. At the ends there are sometimes pockets in the back for hands to go into so that the wearer can hold items without touching them with the hands.

The humeral veil is of the liturgical color of the day on which it is used, or else is white or cloth of gold. There is no black humeral veil as the ritual for Requiem masses, which are the only masses at which black vestments are worn in the Roman Rite, does not require it. (The exception to this is the Dominican Rite which has a number of distinctive liturgical customs.)

It is most often seen during the liturgy of Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. When the priest or deacon blesses the people with the monstrance, he covers his hands with the ends of the veil so that his hands do not touch the monstrance, as a mark of respect for the sacred vessel and as an indication that it is Jesus present in the Eucharistic species who blesses the people and not the minister.

The humeral veil is also seen at the Mass of the Lord's Supper when the Ciborium containing the Blessed Sacrament is taken in processionto the place of reposition, and again when it is brought back to the altar without solemnity during the Good Friday service.

In the High Mass form of Tridentine Mass, the subdeacon uses a humeral veil when carrying the chalice, paten, or other sacred vessels, which should be touched only by the deacon or another person in major orders.

There are several ways to fold the humeral veil; it can be folded so that each side is folded individually like an accordion (with the folds either on top of the center or underneath the center of the humeral veil), or it can be folded by folding both sides simultaneously in an accordion style (after offsetting one side).

The Vimpa is different from the Humeral Veil.

The humeral veil should not be confused with the vimpa, which is of a similar but narrower design. The vimpa is sometimes used when a bishop celebrates Mass. If he uses miter and crosier, the altar servers assigned to this task cover their hands with the vimpa when holding them for him, symbolizing that the items do not belong to them. The vimpa may be in the color of the day or alternatively of a simple material in white or green.

Why a priest should wear his Roman Collar?*

WHY A PRIEST SHOULD WEAR HIS ROMAN COLLAR

by Charles M. Mangan and Gerald E. Murray

The Directory for the Ministry and Life of Priests, prepared by the Congregation for the Clergy and approved by Pope John Paul II on January 31, 1994, states: "In a secularized and tendentiously materialistic society, where even the external signs of sacred and supernatural realities tend to be disappearing, there is a particular need for the priest—man of God, dispenser of His mysteries—to be recognizable in the sight of the community. This recognition should come from the clothing he wears, which serves as an unmistakable sign of his dedication and identity as a recipient of a public ministry. The priest should be identifiable above all through his behavior, but also through his dress, which should render his identity and belonging to God and the Church immediately perceptible to all the faithful and to all men."

For this reason, clerics should wear "suitable clerical clothing, according to the norms issued by the Episcopal Conference and in accordance with legitimate local customs" (Canon 284). This means that such clothing, when not the cassock, should be distinct from the manner in which laypeople dress, conforming to the dignity and sacredness of the ministry.

Apart from entirely exceptional circumstances, the non-use of clerical clothing by a cleric can signify a weak sense of his own identity as a pastor completely dedicated to the service of the Church (Directory #66).

Given this timely reminder from the Holy See about the importance of clerical attire for the priest, we believe it is useful to examine some of the underlying reasons for this discipline. We also want to address some common arguments used to justify the non-wearing of the Roman collar.

We contend that the widespread practice of priests neglecting to wear their collar when they should is both a sign and a cause of malaise in the Church. Such casualness about being publicly identified as a priest of the Catholic Church may indicate a desire to distance oneself from the priestly vocation. The collar may become "work clothes," put away when one is not "on duty." This functionalistic notion of the priesthood is in contradiction to the ontological configuration to Christ the High Priest conferred by priestly ordination.

Laypeople depend on their priests for spiritual support and strength. They feel that something is not right when their priests attempt to blend into the crowd and, as it were, disappear.

The purpose of this article is to encourage our fellow priests to wear their collars (and, by analogy, for religious to wear their habits). It goes without saying that there are reasonable and legitimate exceptions to this rule, such as during sports and recreation, while on vacation (in general), at home with family, or in one's private quarters in the rectory. Of course, the obligation to wear clerical clothing ceases during times of violent persecution. During such a crisis, the guidance of the bishops should be followed.

It is incorrect to say that a priest who refuses to wear his collar is a bad priest. We are concerned that some of our brother priests have simply slipped into a bad habit. They may have convinced themselves that they are serving the greater good of the Church by putting aside clerical clothing. We would like to call such priests to reconsider their decision to dress as laypeople and re-examine their motives.

Reasons for Wearing the Roman Collar

1. Sign of Priestly Consecration: The Roman collar is a sign of a priest's consecration to the Lord. Just as a wedding ring distinguishes husband and wife, the Roman collar identifies bishops and priests (and often deacons and seminarians), manifesting their proximity to the Divine Master due to their free consent to the ordained ministry to which they have been called.

2. Adherence to Material Poverty: By wearing clerical clothing and not accumulating excess clothes, the priest demonstrates adherence to the Lord's example of material poverty. The priest does not choose his clothes; the Church has, thanks to her accumulated wisdom over the past two millennia. Humble acceptance of the Church's desire that the priest wear the Roman collar illustrates a healthy submission to authority and conformity to the will of Christ as expressed through His Church.

3. Church Law: Church law requires clerics to wear clerical clothing. As noted earlier, number 66 of the Directory for Priests quotes Canon 284.

4. Papal Encouragement: The wearing of the Roman collar is the repeated, ardent desire of Pope John Paul II. His wish cannot be summarily dismissed; he speaks with a special charism. He frequently reminds priests of the value of wearing the Roman collar. In a September 8, 1982, letter to Ugo Cardinal Poletti, his Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, the Pontiff noted that clerical dress is valuable "not only because it contributes to the propriety of the priest in his external behavior or in the exercise of his ministry, but above all because it provides evidence within the ecclesiastical community of the public witness that each priest is held to give of his own identity and special belonging to God." In a homily on November 8, 1982, addressing transitional deacons he was about to ordain, the Pope stated that if they tried to be just like everyone else in their "style of life" and "manner of dress," their mission as priests of Jesus Christ would not be fully realized.

5. Avoiding Mixed Messages: The Roman collar prevents "mixed messages"; people will recognize the priest's intentions even in what might appear to be compromising circumstances. For instance, if a priest visits neighborhoods where drug dealing or prostitution is prevalent, the Roman collar sends a clear message that he has come to minister to the sick and needy in Christ's name. Speculation might arise if a priest known to neighborhood residents visits such areas dressed as a layperson.

6. Inspiring Modesty: The Roman collar inspires others to avoid immodesty in dress, words, and actions and reminds them of the need for public decorum. A cheerful but diligent and serious priest can compel others to reflect on their conduct. The Roman collar serves as a necessary challenge to a society drowning in impurity, evident through suggestive dress, blasphemous speech, and scandalous actions.

7. Protection for One's Vocation: The Roman collar provides a safeguard when interacting with young, attractive women. A priest out of his collar (and not wearing a wedding ring) can appear to be an attractive target for the affections of unmarried women seeking a husband or married women tempted toward infidelity.

8. Reminder of Mission: The Roman collar serves as a reminder to the priest of his mission and identity: to witness to Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, as one of His brother-priests.

9. Inspiring Others: A priest in a Roman collar inspires others who may think, "Here is a modern disciple of Jesus." The collar signifies the possibility of making a sincere, lasting commitment to God. Believers of diverse ages, nationalities, and temperaments will note the virtuous, other-centered life of the man who gladly and proudly wears the garb of a Catholic priest, potentially prompting them to consecrate themselves anew or for the first time to the loving Good Shepherd.

10. Intrigue for Non-Catholics: The Roman collar generates beneficial intrigue among non-Catholics. Most non-Catholics lack experience with ministers in clerical garb, and Catholic priests, by virtue of their dress, can provoke reflection on the Church and what she represents.

11. Reminder of the Sacred: A priest dressed as the Church desires serves as a reminder of God and the sacred. The prevailing secular environment does not favor images that connote the Almighty or the Church. Wearing the Roman collar helps elevate the hearts and minds of others toward the "Higher Being," often relegated to a footnote in contemporary culture.

12. Constant Identity Reminder: The Roman collar also reminds the priest that he is "never not a priest." Amid today's confusion, it helps the priest avoid internal doubt about his identity. Two wardrobes can easily lead to two lifestyles or even two personalities.

13. Walking Vocation Message: A priest in a Roman collar serves as a visible vocation message. The sight of a cheerful, happy priest confidently walking down the street can attract young men to consider the possibility that God is calling them to the priesthood. God does the calling; the priest is simply a visible sign God uses to draw men to Himself.

14. Availability for Sacraments: The Roman collar signifies the priest's availability for the Sacraments, especially Confession and the Anointing of the Sick, as well as for crisis situations. Instant recognition from wearing the collar makes priests more approachable, particularly when needed urgently. The authors can testify to being asked for Sacraments and summoned for assistance in airports, crowded cities, and isolated villages because they were immediately recognized as Catholic priests.

15. Striving for Holiness: The Roman collar is a sign that the priest is striving to become holy by living out his vocation continuously. It is a sacrifice to remain publicly identifiable as a priest, but it is a sacrifice pleasing to Our Divine Lord. We are reminded of how the people came to Him, and how He never turned them away. Many people benefit from our sacrifice of striving to be holy priests without interruption.

16. Witness to "Alienated" Catholics: The Roman collar reminds "alienated" Catholics of their irregular situation and responsibilities to the Lord. The priest is a witness—whether for good or ill—to Christ and His Holy Church. When a "fallen-away" sees a priest, he is encouraged to remember that the Church continues to exist. A cheerful priest serves as a salutary reminder of the Church.