Sub-cinctorium

Sub-cinctorium

The subcinctorium, an ornamental vestment reserved for the pope, who previously wore it only at a solemn pontifical Mass, it was very similar to, but somewhat broader than, the maniple in form and nature.

The vestment was approximately 55 centimeters (22 inches) in length and was attached on the cincture, on the right side. It was originally made of red or white fabric, but later came to follow the standard liturgical colours. It is decorated with gold embroidery on one end with a small Agnus Dei and on the other with a cross.

The subcinctorium is mentioned under the name of "balteus" as early as the end of the tenth century in a "Sacramentarium" of this date preserved in the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris (f. lat. 12052). It is mentioned under the name "proecinctorium" about 1030 in what is known as the "Missa Illyrica". Later it was generally called subcinctorium.

The original object of the subcinctorium was, as Thomas Aquinas explicitly says, to secure the stole to the cincture. But as early as about the close of the thirteenth century, it was merely an ornamental vestment. According to the inventories, even in the eleventh century much thought was given to its ornamentation. Most probably the subcinctorium was first used in France, whence the custom may possibly have spread to Italy about the close of the first millennium.

In the Middle Ages it was worn not only by the pope but also by bishops, and even in a few places by priests. However, it gradually ceased to be a customary vestment of bishops and priests, and in the sixteenth century only the popes and the bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Milan wore it.

Numerous symbolic meanings have been attached to the vestment over the centuries. One tradition says it is a remnant of the almspurse the popes would customarily wear on their belts to give to the poor and needy. It was also said to be a sign of humility, reminiscent of the towel worn by Jesus Christ at the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday. Augustine of Hippo claims it is a remnant of the apparel of the Jewish High Priest.Citation | last =d'Onorio | first =Joël-Benoît | contribution =Subcinctorium | year =2002 | title =The Papacy: An Encyclopedia | editor-last =Levillain | editor-first =Philippe | volume =III | pages =1461 | place=New York | publisher =Routledge | id =ISBN 0-415-93752-3 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=B8leDMJ0-iQC&pg=PA1461&lpg=PA1461&dq=subcinctorium&source=web&ots=I4Rn-9k_bw&sig=3URgJgHO25l0a991wtC3zDAjPMI | accessdate =2007-08-01] The subsinctorium is related to the epigonation worn to this day by Eastern Orthodox bishops.

ee also

*Epigonation

References

Bibliography

*Citation | last =Battandier | first =A. | year =1907 | title =Les ornements du souverain pontife | publisher =Annuaire pontifical catholique
*Citation | last =Braun | first =Joseph | contribution =Maniple: Subsinctorium | year =1910 | title =The Catholic Encyclopedia | volume =IX | place=New York | publisher =Robert Appleton Company | url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09601b.htm | accessdate =2007-08-01


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Papal Mass — A Papal Mass is the Solemn Pontifical High Mass when celebrated by the Pope.There are numerous special ceremonials which are particular to the pope. A Solemn Papal Mass would be celebrated on solemn occasions such as a Papal Coronation, an ex… …   Wikipedia

  • Papal regalia and insignia — The crossed keys symbolise the keys of Simon Peter. The keys are gold and silver to represent the power of loosing and binding. The triple crown (the tiara) represents the pope s three functions as supreme pastor , supreme teacher and supreme… …   Wikipedia

  • Papal Fanon — The Papal Fanon, or usually just Fanon (an old Germanic word for cloth), is a vestment reserved only for the Pope for use during a pontifical Mass. Description and useIt consists of a doubled shoulder cape (somewhat like a mozzetta) of white silk …   Wikipedia

  • Balteus — is a Latin word, possibly itself from Etruscan, which means belt , a word derived from it. It has particularly been used as a term for:*The girdle of a Biblical Jewish priest, three or four fingers in breadth and (according to rabbinic tradition) …   Wikipedia

  • Fanon — • Shoulder cape worn by the pope Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Fanon     Fanon     † Cath …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • suc|cinc|to|ri|um — «SUHK sihngk TR ee uhm, TOHR », noun, plural to|ri|a « TR ee uh, TOHR ». a vestment worn on solemn occasions by the pope, similar in shape to a maniple, and hanging on his left side from the girdle or cincture. ╂[< Late Latin succinctorium… …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”