Q: I wonder if I might be amongst the people who have recently submitted questions that have disappeared into the ether?! The two questions were:
1) I believe a pectoral cross is to be worn underneath the chasuble yet increasingly this is seen outside of the vestment; I wonder if the rules in this regard has changed?
2) I notice that American Dioceses are suggesting that black, violet or white are appropriate liturgical colours for a (parish) Requiem Mass for the late Pope. However, my diocese in England is suggesting red vestments for such a Requiem Mass; I wonder if you have any thoughts on this?
With every blessing,
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A: Indeed, your questions never got to me! Here are my replies:
1. I’m looking at the Ceremonial of Bishops 125 and 126, where one finds described the vesture of a presiding bishop. The garments are listed in this order: amice, alb, cincture, pectoral cross, stole, dalmatic, chasuble (pallium for a metropolitan), skullcap, miter, ring, pastoral staff. It doesn’t explicitly say that the vestments go on in that order, but that sure seems to be the intent. Apart from this suggestive information, I’m unaware of any rules governing the cross inside or outside the chasuble.
2. I’m unaware of any rules governing vesture for a parish Mass for the Dead to commemorate the pope. The actual funeral Mass calls for red vesture because he is Peter. In the absence of any governing rules in parishes, I think a diocese is on good ground either to recommend red or the usual colors for Masses for the Dead.
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Q: Many thanks for your response; I am sure you have better things to do than reply to liturgical questions from myself!
Further to # 1:
• I believe that # 61 of the Ceremonial of Bishops says that: “The pectoral cross is to be worn under the chasuble, dalmatic, or cope, but over the mozzetta.”
• I am told (but can’t verify it) that the CDWDS, Notitiae nos. 372-74 says the pectoral cross may be worn over the chasuble.
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A: Thanks for these additional references.
The second edition of the Ceremonial says the same as the first edition in Latin, but adds a footnote to Notitiae XXXIII, 1997, p. 280, which you may find here: https://www.cultodivino.va/content/dam/cultodivino/rivista-notitiae/1990/notitiae-33-(1997)/Notitiae-372-374-1997.pdf. The second edition is not yet available in English.
The present English translation says “is to be worn,” but the Latin verb assumatur can also be translated “may be worn,” which is less demanding. Indeed, Notitiae permits the bishop to wear the cross over the chasuble.