Cassock

CASSOCK. - A white linen garment (called for this reason alba in liturgical language), reaching down to the feet, worn by ecclesiastics in liturgical functions. It derives from the tunic that the Greeks and Romans wore alone, or under other garments. It was sleeveless and reached to the knees; the women's version descended to the feet, whence its name "talaris." In the 3rd century, under the influence of Eastern customs, sleeves were added. Simple and unadorned at first, it later had long strips of purple or another color, which descended from the shoulders to the feet, both behind and in front. It is precisely this ankle-length tunic, white, unadorned, with long sleeves tight at the wrists, that clerics used to perform the sacred ministries. The Council of Carthage of 398 established that the deacon should wear the tunic only at the time of the oblation or of the readings. In the 6th century the subdeacons also began to wear it. In 830 Leo IV prescribed for sacred functions a c. different from the ordinary one; thus when civilians ceased to wear the tunic, it was preserved in the liturgy and became a sacred garment. In the Ordo Romanus I the linen tunic is already certainly a liturgical vestment.

The ancient tunic was fairly ample, and ornaments of silk or gold were applied to it, not only at the hem and the sleeves, but also on the chest, on the shoulders, and at the edges. With the passage of time these ornaments disappeared, giving way, especially from the 16th century, to laces and trims of various kinds. Today the c., according to canonical prescriptions, must be of white cloth, of fairly ample cut and reaching down to the heels, fastened with the cincture around the waist. No ornament is prescribed; one may therefore follow the established custom of applying laces around the neck, at the ends of the sleeves, and at the lower hem. C.s made of lace alone are not permitted; on the other hand, linings of various colors to be placed under the lace of the sleeves and of the fringe are tolerated, since they represent the color of the celebrant's cassock. The use of the c. is reserved from the 12th-13th century to the ministers in sacris alone, for Holy Mass, and whenever the dalmatic or the tunicle is worn. The priest does not use it at Vespers, Matins and Lauds, or at funerals. The c. must be blessed by the bishop or by one who has the faculty to do so. - See Pl. XXX.

Enrico Dante