| Chasuble
The chasuble is the large outer garment a
priest wears at mass. Only a priest (or bishop) wears one and only
at mass. The single exception is Good Friday when the presider at
the service of the Lord’s Passion wears the chasuble, linking the
services from Holy Thursday to Easter. The chasuble’s color
announces the season or feast.
The word comes from the Latin
casula which means, “little house.” Originally it was an outer
cloak worn as secular dress on cool days. It was formed by two
quarter circles of cloth stitched together front and back. As used
in liturgy the seams became decorated. In time the seams moved to
the sides but the decorations remained.
The stole, traditionally worn
underneath the chasuble, is now often seen on top. It makes more
visible the distinction between the stoles of priest and deacon.
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