Bishop unwraps historical meaning of priestly vestments

VANCOUVER—At first glance priestly vestments might seem unusual, cumbersome, or impractical to the average Catholic sitting in the pews.

But according to Bishop Emeritus David Monroe, their origins were entirely practical.

Vestments do “have a real purpose. It’s not just someone’s idea of what would look nice. This was practical,” said the now-retired bishop of Kamloops.

The garments Catholic priests wear today were not, as some might think, modelled after priestly robes of the Old Testament. Vestments actually trace their roots to the outfit of the average Roman citizen.

That secular garb gained religious significance over time and by the 8th century, St. Boniface ordered priests and deacons to wear chasubles for liturgies.

“It wasn’t as if he designed the kind of garment you’re supposed to wear. This is what people were wearing at the time,” said Bishop Monroe.

Another practical clothing item is the amice, a piece of linen easy to launder and worn around the neck to catch oils and sweat from staining much more difficult to clean embroidered vestments. (It's not as popular today as it was historically).

Then there’s the stole, which is believed to have started as a towel or napkin carried by a deacon to clean or dry his or the priest's hands. Bishop Monroe said its decoration became more elaborate in the 9th century onward, and its use now is primarily symbolic.

Now, “a stole is the sign of the sacramental office.” Priests wear the long strip of fabric behind their necks, coming down in front, while deacons wear stoles like sashes across their chests.

Not accidentally, types of vestments differ slightly for priests, deacons, and bishops to help lay people distinguish between them.

In the Middle Ages, vestments had another layer of significance. Bishop Monroe said each piece of clothing represented a piece of the story of Jesus’ Passion.

For example, the cincture (like a rope, tied around the waist) was symbolic of the ropes and fetters that bound Jesus as he was tortured. The stole, worn over the shoulders, reminded priests of Jesus carrying the cross. And the chasuble, a garment with no seam and a hole in the top for the priest’s head, symbolized his tunic, which soldiers threw lots for because it had no seam.

Bishop Monroe gave a presentation on vestments to a dozen members of the Epiphany Sacred Arts Guild at St. Clare of Assisi Parish Dec. 9. 

He showed them several examples of vestments, including a set he purchased from a Vancouver dressmaker who dyes and weaves her own fabrics.

The arts guild meets on the first Saturday of the month for discussions on various aspects of sacred art. More information about the guild is available here.