Why does the priest wear the chasuble during only part of the service?
August 2, 2008
Q: I noticed that Father Chip has one of his vestments hanging over the altar rail at the beginning of the service. He puts it on later in the service, then removes it before the end and hangs it back on the altar rail. Why?
A: As with nearly all of our ancient Faith practice, we’re formed by the things we see. Those visual clues—the silent sermons—in the liturgy, the altar, its adornments, the sacred vessels, and the vestments assist us in growing our Faith and relationship to our Lord. Not surprisingly, then, there is a silent sermon with donning the chasuble, as well.
The most conspicuous garment worn by the priest during Mass is the chasuble, or outer vestment, from the Latin casuala, meaning “small house.” The beauty and dignity of this most visible Eucharistic vestment is essential in a properly ordered liturgy. When a new priest receives the chasuble at his ordination, the bishop exclaims to him, “Receive the sacerdotal (sacred and priestly) garment, for the Lord is powerful to increase in you charity (love) and perfection (holiness, completion).” The chasuble literally and symbolically overlays all the other vestments—as all other virtues begin with and rely on the supreme virtue of charity—God’s unchanging love that can make us all complete in Him.
Father Chip dons this last and most comprehensive vestment to signal the holiest work at the altar is about to begin. In ancient times, it heralded the end of the Mass of the Catechumens—also called the ante-communion—that part of the service those being trained for confirmation (catechumens) were allowed to worship in. When the chasuble was donned, it silently instructed the catechumens to depart while calling those who had been confirmed—the faithful—to prepare for the Canon (standard) of the Mass—the consecration of the Body and Blood of our Lord to be distributed to His people.
The silent sermon here reminds us all we are allowed to the Holy Table only by God’s Grace and partake of it unworthily at great peril. It tasks us to examen, confession, and submission to our Lord before celebrating His one sacrifice and taking His nature for ours. It also reminds us of our baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire—and our immersion by that inward and spiritual grace in the Lord Himself.
Once the Canon of the Mass ends and we have taken upon us Christ’s nature through the Sacraments, Father Chip removes the chasuble as the signal that we are now ready to be sent into the World to carry God’s Grace and to demonstrate our lives in Him to the World.
Removing the outer garment preaches to us that we are open to the world’s inspection and are ready to work in the fields for the Kingdom. The ancient Church underscored this in the dismissal when they used the Latin “Ite, missa est,” meaning “Go, you are sent,” referring to our work continuing the work of the Apostles—carrying the Good News to the World around us!
Thanks for asking!
You can learn more about the clergy and altar vestments in the Altar Guild Manual (in the Members area) and in Chapter IV of Plain Suggestions for a Reverent Celebration of the Holy Communion.
Liturgy Lesson for the Transfiguration of Our Lord: Purity and Royalty
August 1, 2008
In today’s festival, we celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord, denoted by the liturgical colors of white and gold, heralding His purity and royalty. The Lord planned this special demonstration to edify His disciples’ faith in order to prepare their spirits and souls for the ordeal of His Crucifixion and death by providing them convincing proof He was Messiah and God. Although these men had been with Him in His earthly ministry—directly absorbing about three years of miracles and life-changing teaching, His divinity had been somewhat concealed beneath the drapery of His human nature. In the Transfiguration, He allowed His perfect Heavenly nature to shine through His flesh—the status He would assume once ascended to Heaven. From this, we can learn something about how we will be changed after the Resurrection on the last day. Our bodies will have passed death and will be changed, as St. Paul says, “…in the twinkling of an eye and shall become like Christ’s glorified body, and shall shine as stars with different degrees of splendor.” (Ref 1 Cor 15:52; Phil 3:21 & Dan 12:3) And here’s some more good news—the fact that Moses and Elijah were present and talking with Jesus demonstrates the saints who have passed from this life through death still live with God. The Father’s voice from Heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, hear Him,” tasks us to render to Jesus our unreserved attention and obedience. These powerful lessons prepare us all for our own Gethsemane—that time when we all come to the place of sacrifice of self—surrendering our lives so we may save them! Be Lord of all in our lives, Lord—maranatha.
