What Is a Chasuble?
The chasuble is the outer vestment worn by the clergy for the celebration of the the Eucharist in Roman Catholicism. It is also, used in Anglican, Protestant and some Methodist churches. The chasuble was originally a kind of "poncho" called a "casula," from the Latin meaning "little house." The chasuble is blessed before use and, when used in ordination ceremonies in Catholicism, a bishop prays: "Receive the priestly vestment, by which is signified charity."
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Early Use
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The "casula" was originally a "travelling garment," used during the Roman Empire. It was usually made of one piece of rough cloth with an oval hole cut in the middle for the head, and was equal in length on all sides. Over time, the casula became used as a Christian vestment and, when used in services, the sides were folded up and held, usually be a deacon. This allowed the priest to perform the required actions of the service, unencumbered by the material. By the thirteenth century, the pattern for what would become the chasuble called for shorter material on the sides, making folding unnecessary.
Medieval Chasuble
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Beginning in the late 1500s, the chasuble began to look similar to the modern-day vestments. The neck of the vestment was broadened and it was further shortened on the sides, leaving most of the arm free. This new shape was called a scapular or Gothic form. It was also known as the fiddleback. This was the accepted new form of the chasuble for hundreds of years. However, in the twentieth century, the fiddleback fell out of favor.
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Return to the "Gothic" Style
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In the twentieth century, there was a trend for a more ample chasuble, and a return to the Gothic style. After Vatican II, the ample chasuble became the accepted form.
Today, however, priests use either type of chasuble. Some prefer the scapular form, as it allows more freedom of movement, while others prefer the longer chasuble, which is now made from more flexible material.
Decoration
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The early chasubles were plain, but they later featured a cross on the back in orphrey, a kind of highly-detailed embroidery. This detailed embroidery became used on the fiddleback vestments more and more extensively. The fiddleback came to feature complex decorative schemes, involving ornate crosses or images of saints.
Modern Chasuble
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After Vatican II, the General Instruction of the Rome Missal (GIRM) stated that the beauty of the vestment "should come from its drapery and form, rather than elaborate decoration." Despite this statement, chasubles are still available in many colors, depending on the liturgy and time of year. They can also feature many decorative styles, from plain to ornate.
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