At a Traditional Latin Mass the priest wears six vestments, put on in a fixed order, each with its own prayer. Add the cope for processions and Benediction, and the dalmatic for deacons, and you have the complete wardrobe of the traditional Roman rite.
The Vesting Order for the Priest
- Amice — a white cloth around the shoulders and neck; historically a "helmet of salvation," optional today but traditional.
- Alb — the long white tunic worn by all ministers; symbolizes baptismal purity.
- Cincture — the cord that gathers the alb at the waist; symbolizes chastity.
- Maniple — a band worn on the left arm, worn only for Mass; a sign of rank and of the labor of the ministry.
- Stole — worn around the neck and crossed over the breast by priests at Mass; the sign of priestly authority. See our liturgical stoles.
- Chasuble — the outermost vestment, worn over everything; the "yoke of Christ." This is the vestment people picture when they think of the Latin Mass — see our Roman chasubles.
The Cope: Processions and Benediction
The cope is the large, cape-like vestment worn for processions, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Liturgy of the Hours — anywhere except the Mass itself. It is worn over the alb and stole, often with the humeral veil at Benediction. See our Catholic copes.
Deacon and Subdeacon
- Dalmatic — the deacon's outer vestment, worn over the alb and crossed stole at solemn Mass.
- Tunicle — the subdeacon's vestment, similar to the dalmatic but narrower.
- Humeral veil — worn over the shoulders to hold the monstrance or the paten.
Colors of the Latin Mass
All the traditional colors are used: white and gold for feasts, red for Pentecost and martyrs, green for Ordinary Time, violet for Advent and Lent, rose on Gaudete and Laetare Sundays, and black for requiems. A complete sacristy typically stocks at least the four principal colors; compare the full range in our embroidered chasubles.
Practical Notes for Sacristans
- Vestments are stored on padded hangers, in color order, in a dry sacristy cupboard.
- Check that sets match: chasuble, stole, maniple, burse, and chalice veil should share fabric and color.
- For the Traditional Latin Mass the fitted Roman (fiddleback) cut is customary; the Gothic cut remains valid.
Q: What vestments are used at the Latin Mass?
A: The priest wears amice, alb, cincture, maniple, stole, and chasuble; deacons add the dalmatic, and the cope is used for processions and Benediction.
Q: What is the order of vesting at the Latin Mass?
A: Amice, alb, cincture, maniple, stole (crossed over the breast), then the chasuble — each with its traditional prayer.
Q: Is the maniple still required?
A: In the Traditional Latin Mass it is part of the priest's vesture; in the post-1969 Mass it is optional and rarely worn.
Q: What is the difference between a dalmatic and a tunicle?
A: Both are worn over the alb and stole by deacons and subdeacons respectively; the dalmatic is fuller, the tunicle narrower.
Q: What does a priest wear under the chasuble?
A: The alb and cincture, with the stole around the neck — and, traditionally, the amice and maniple.
