MANTELLONE. - The M. (Magnus mantellus, "great mantle") is a full-length choir overgarment reaching to the ground, sleeveless, entirely open at the front, with four wide side openings, two for putting the arms through, two for putting the hands into the undergarment or cassock. It has a low collar that encircles the neck, fastening at the front with a small hook. From the arm openings there hang, along the entire length of the M., two narrow, false, unopenable sleeves, which are attached to the rear portions corresponding to the shoulders.
The purple M. is of cloth, silk and serge, with facings or linings of silk of the same color, with similar stitching and dotted work. Those who may use the M. have a special garment of silk or cloth, according to their greater or lesser dignity, consisting of a sleeveless cassock without a train, with purple buttons and collar, a purple silk sash with tassels, black stockings and shoes with buckles.
The use of the M. belongs to all the ecclesiastical members of the pontifical Household (v.), the Assistant of the Chamber of His Holiness, the bussolanti, the clerics of the pontifical Chapel, their supernumeraries and the pontifical couriers. Those who, with the garment of the M., enjoyed the title of monsignors were called by antonomasia prelates of the M. or monsignors of the M., and over their family coats of arms they placed the prelatial hat with two tassels. This designation has now fallen into disuse. The lay offices, now extinct, of the advocate of the poor, the advocate general of the treasury, the procurator general of the treasury, the commissioner of the reverend Apostolic Chamber and the robed lieutenants of the Roman Curia were granted the black M., and the holders of the first four offices also the title of monsignor, although for the most part they were married. Among the offices that are no longer conferred, that of official extra omnes, custodian of the consistory, enjoyed the use of the M. In certain cavalcades for the possession of the supreme pontiffs, even the auditors of the Rota had the black M.
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Guglielmo Felici