Western Rite: The Latin Catholic Church

[This article is not intended to claim that only the Tridentine Mass is the official or a valid representation of Liturgical Celebration for Latin Rite Catholic Church. The presentation is made to the fact that this liturgical expression is as old as those presented in the Eastern Rite Catholic Church (here, here and here)]

Vestment	Historical Origin	Symbolic Ref.
(h) Amice  The amice is a piece of fine linen in the form of an oblong.  The priest places it for a moment on his head, and then allows it to rest upon his shoulders.  As he does so he prays: “Place, O Lord, on my head the helmet of salvation, that so I may resist the assaults of the devil.”	A covering for the head and neck worn like a hood.  When indoors it was lowered and thrown over the shoulders.	(a) The linen cloth that the soldiers put over Our Lord’s head; when thus blindfolded.  He was mockingly asked who struck Him.  (b) The helmet of Salvation (Cf. Ephes. 6:17)
(i) Alb  A wide linen robe reaching to the feet and covering the whole body.  The vesing prayer is: “Make me white, O Lord, and cleanse my heart; that being made white in the Blood of the Lamb I may deserve an eternal reward.”	The alb, or tunic, was worn in ancient times by all who enjoyed any dignity.	(a) The garment with which Herod clothed Our Lord.  (b) Signifies the purity of conscience demanded of God’s priests.
(j) Cincture  The cincture, or girdle, is a cord of linen fastened about the waist to confine the alb.  The vesting prayer is: “Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of purity, and quench in my heart the fire of concupiscence, that the virtue of continence and chastity may abide in me.”	Walking and active exertion made it necessary for one to gird up a long garment like the alb.  Hence the cincture was an essential article of dress.	(a) The cord that bound Our Lord to the pillar when He was being scourged.  (b) Symbolizes modesty, and also readiness for hard work in God’s service.
(k) Maniple  A strip of silken cloth worn on the left arm of the priest.  The vesting prayer is: “May I deserve, O Lord, to bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow in order that I may joyfully reap the reward of my labors.”	Originally a strip of linen worn over the arm.  During the long services, and in the intense heat of southern countries its use was frequently necessary to wipe the perspiration from the face and brow.	(a) The rope whereby Our Lord was led, and the chains which bound His sacred hands.  (b) An emblem of the tears of penance, the fatigue of the priestly office and its joyful reward in heaven.
(l) Stole  A long band of silk of the same width as the maniple, but three times its length.  It is worn around the neck and crossed on the breast.  The vesting prayer is: “Restore to me, O Lord, the state of immortality which I lost through the sin of my first parents and, although unworthy to approach Thy Sacred Mysteries, may I deserve nevertheless eternal joy.”	A kind of neck-piece or kerchief; a part of the dress of the upper classes.  It gradually became the distinctive mark of spiritual authority in the higher clerics, viz., the priest and deacon.	(a) The cords with which Jesus was tied.  Worn as it is over the shoulders, it reminds us, too, of the cross Our Lord carried.  (b) A reminder of the yoke of Christ.  The priest’s burden is a heavy one, which Christ nevertheless makes sweet.
(m) Chasuble  The chasuble is the outer and chief vestment of the priest.  It is essentially the Mass vestment and is now exclusively reserved to the priest.  The vestment is familiar to all by reason of the cross usually embroidered on it.  The vesting prayer is: “O Lord, who has said, ‘My yoke is sweet and My burden light,’ grant that I may so carry it as to merit Thy grace.”	Imagine a large circular cloth with a hole cut in the center for the head.  This will help one to visualize the ancient chasuble, which was an immense cloak, over the head and completely enveloped the body.  When it was necessary to use the hands, the garment had to be folded up on each side over the arms.  Because of its inconvenience (for two assistants were needed to manipulate it), the vestment was gradually cut and altered until it now has its present shape.  It is usually ornamented with a large cross on the back, and sometimes on the front of the garment (fig n.).  We occasionally see chasubles made in the Gothic or Medieval style.  These are more ample and drape over the shoulders down to the wrists.  The cross on such chasubles has the shape of the letter “Y,” the top arms of which extend over the shoulders towards the front.	(a) The purple cloak worn by Our Lord when He stood before Pilate.  (b) An emblem of love.  When the ordaining bishop gives it to the new priest, he says: “Receive the priestly garment, for the Lord is Powerful to increase in you love and perfection.”

Taken from “Mass and the Sacraments”

by Fr. John Laux, M.A. Benziger Brothers 1934

Nihil Obstat J.M. Lelen, Censor Librorum Imprimatur + Francis W. Howard,

Bishop of Covington, KY, USA, March 25, 1932

(Source: Calefactory.org)

Low Mass: Amice, Alb, Cinture, Stole, Maniple, and Chasuble.

High Mass: (Same with Low Mass)

Solemn Mass: The celebrant wears same vestment as when saying Low Mass. The Deacon wears the Amice, Alb, Cincture, Deacon’s stole, Maniple and Dalmatic. The Subdeacon wears the Amice, Alb, Cincture, Maniple and Dalmatic.