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Here, Lynda shows us a Chasuble in
the liturgical colors of Lent (when this tour was
conducted). "The vestment proper to the
priest celebrant at Mass and other sacred actions directly
connected with Mass is, unless otherwise indicated, the
chasuble, worn over the alb and stole (General
Instruction of the Roman Missal, 337). Like the stole, it is
normally of the liturgical color of the Mass being celebrated.
The chasuble originated as a sort of poncho, with a round hole
in the middle through which to pass the head, falling to the
feet on all sides. It had to be gathered up on the arms to allow
the arms to be used freely. In the west, it was folded up from
the sides. Strings were sometimes used to assist in this task,
and the deacon could help the priest in folding up the sides of
the vestment.
Modern chasubles are cut away at the sides, making such folding
unnecessary. Over the centuries this cutting away reached the
stage of reducing the chasuble to the shape of a broad scapular,
leaving the whole of the arms quite free. To make it easier for
the priest to join his hands when wearing a chasuble of stiff
(lined and heavily embroidered) material, the front was cut away
further, giving it the distinctive shape often called "fiddleback".
Complex decoration schemes were often used on chasubles of
scapular form, especially the back, incorporating the image of
the cross or of a saint; and rich materials such as silk, cloth
of gold or brocade were employed, especially in chasubles
reserved for major celebrations.
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