The alb (from the Latin albus , meaning "white") is one of the liturgical vestments of Western Christianity . It is an ample white garment coming down to the ankles and is usually girdled with a cincture (a type of belt, sometimes of rope similar to the type used with a monastic habit, such as by Franciscans and Capuchins ). It resembles the long, white linen tunic used by ancient Romans .
4-554: An Alb is a liturgical vestment. ALB , Alb or alb may also refer to: Alb As a simple derivative of ordinary first-century clothing, the alb was adopted very early by Christians, and especially by the clergy for the Eucharistic liturgy. In early-medieval Europe secular clergy also normally wore the alb in non-liturgical contexts. Nowadays, the alb is the common vestment for all ministers , both clerics and laypersons (acolytes and lectors), at Mass . It
8-555: Is worn over the cassock , but underneath any other special vestments, such as the stole , dalmatic or chasuble . If the alb does not completely cover the collar, an amice is often worn underneath the alb. Shortening of the alb has given rise to the surplice , and to its cousin the rochet , worn by canons and bishops . Following the Council of Trent (1545-1563), post-Tridentine albs often featured liturgical lace . Since then, this detail has fallen out of style, except in parts of
12-720: The Anglo-Catholic movement and in some very traditional Arab Catholic parishes. The alb corresponds to the Eastern Orthodox sticharion . A chasuble-alb is a contemporary Eucharistic vestment that combines features of the chasuble and alb. In the Roman Catholic Church , it was first adopted in France, though without official approval. In France it is no longer fashionable, but it has been officially approved in some tropical countries such as
16-701: The Philippines , and in Hawaii in the United States . It is always white in colour. A stole of the colour appointed for the Mass of the day is worn outside it, in place of the normal white alb and coloured chasuble. A cassock-alb is a vestment that combines features of the cassock and alb. It developed as a more convenient undergarment worn by clergy and as an alternative to the alb for deacons and acolytes . This clothing -related article
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