Under the chasuble, a priest wears the amice, the alb, the cincture and the stole – in that order. In short, the amice is the shoulder cloth, the alb is the long white tunic, the cincture gathers it at the waist, and the stole is the sign of ordained office, all covered by the chasuble at Mass. Every piece is available in our albs and stoles.
What is the amice?
The amice is a square white linen cloth worn around the neck and shoulders, tucked into the collar of the alb. It symbolises resistance to temptation and the helmet of salvation, recalling the cloth placed on Christ's head at the Passion. Its traditional vesting prayer asks for the helmet of salvation.
What is the alb?
The alb is the long white tunic that covers the body from neck to ankles, symbolising purity and the baptismal garment. It is the foundation of the vestments and is worn by priests, deacons and servers. The vesting prayer asks: u201cPurify me, Lord, and cleanse my heart.u201d See our albs.
What is the cincture?
The cincture is the cord or belt that gathers the alb at the waist, symbolising chastity and readiness for service. It is usually white or matches the liturgical colour. The vesting prayer for the cincture asks the Lord to gird the priest with the cincture of purity.
What is the stole?
The stole is the long strip worn around the neck, hanging down the front, and is the primary sign of the priest's office. It matches the liturgical colour of the day. The traditional vesting prayer for the stole asks for the u201cstole of immortalityu201d – see our stoles.
In what order are the vestments put on?
The order is: amice, alb, cincture, stole, and finally the chasuble. Some modern albs incorporate the amice or have a hood that replaces it, but the sequence and symbolism remain the same. The chasuble, worn last, covers all as the sign of charity.
FAQ
Is the amice always required? The amice is optional when the alb covers the neck, but it is traditionally worn and required in the Extraordinary Form.
Do deacons wear the stole the same way? No – deacons wear the stole diagonally across the chest; priests wear it straight down the front.
Conclusion
Understanding the vesting order deepens the meaning of every vestment. Complete the set with our albs, stoles and chasubles, and see the full picture in our complete vestment guide.
Related reading
Build your understanding of liturgical vestments with the complete guide to Catholic vestments, how to choose an alb and how to choose a stole.
