The Vestments

 

Vestments are those special garments worn by a priest or other minister at the Eucharist (Mass) or other sacramental ceremonies. The two main garments most likely to be seen are the chasuble and the cope. There are many styles of chasuble but most of those owned by the parish are in the Gothic style. Both the chasuble and the cope are historically derived from an outer cloak worn in the ancient Graeco-Roman world. The cope still looks like a cloak as we would know it today and may be worn in procession and in non-eucharistic ceremonies (e.g. weddings, morning/evening prayer, benediction, etc). A cope can be worn by ministers other than a priest whereas a chasuble can only be worn by a priest. The chasuble is smaller than a cope and looks like a circle of cloth worn tent-like with a hole cut in the centre for the head. The chasuble is worn by a priest for the eucharist.

 

Both chasuble and copes are made from silk or other 'rich' materials and often embroidered or decorated with Christian symbols or figures.

 

The colours of the garments are associated with the liturgical season or festivals and there are five permitted colours

 

The seasons and their colours are: