18/06/2026
So, vestments. We have quite a lot of them and a few people have asked about them. Last week I wrote about the colours and now we can start with the vestments the priest wears for Mass. There are other ones, for the Deacon and Subdeacon and for the Priest at different services, but the mass vestments are the main ones so here we are.
Every part of the vestments has a prayer which is said as we vest. First of all, the amice is put on while we say ‘put upon me O Lord the helmet of salvation, that I may overcome all the assaults of the devil’. The amice has a practical function, which is to protect the vestments from grubby necks and can be laundered easily. It’s worn briefly like a helmet while it’s being put on, and sometimes is decorated, but that’s another story for another time.
After that, the alb is put on, the long white linen garment. Alb is based on the Latin word for ‘white’, which describes it perfectly. It’s put over the working clothes of the day to remind us that we walk out of the day to day and into the house of God. We say ‘make me white O Lord and cleanse my heart, that being washed in the blood of the lamb, I may have the fruition of everlasting joys.’ Which is to say ‘wash me clean in the blood of Christ so I may enter heaven’.
After that, a girdle is put on, which has the practical use of keeping the alb in place. It’s usually a plain white one but coloured ones are occasionally used. We say ‘gird me about O Lord with the girdle of purity and extinguish in me all earthly desires’ - which is to say, ‘May I focus only on what is of God and not lust after things of this world’.
That completes the first ‘layer’, as it were. It’s very much like putting on the armour of God, and making us focus on what is about to be done, rather than ourselves.
After that comes the vestments in the colour of the day. The first is called a maniple, which is to remind the priest of the servants at a grand banquet table, and was originally to wipe your brow with. It reminds us that we are servants at the table of God, and we say ‘restore to me O Lord the maniple of sorrows, that I may remember whose servant it is that I am’.
The stole is the long scarf like garment, and is the symbol of the priest and unites him to the priesthood of Christ. The prayer is said ‘restore to me O Lord the stole of immortality that I lost in the transgression of my first parent, and although I am unworthy to celebrate these sacred mysteries, may I be found worthy of everlasting life’ - which acknowledges original sin and our utter unworthiness to do this, but prays that we may reach heaven nonetheless.
The final vestment is called a chasuble. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but are broadly either like the ones here in the picture or larger, more voluminous ones. For the sake of simplicity, it is our general custom to wear the style above. The prayer ‘O God who said my yoke is easy and my burden is light, enable me to bear this so I may attain grace’ - which is to say, I acknowledge the joy of serving you.
After that, a series of prayers of preparation are said before Mass begins.
I hope that has removed some of the mystery of this, and shown the care we undertake to prepare for each and every mass. It’s an awesome responsibility, and one we do not bear lightly, but is a joy to offer for the good of our whole parish and world.
