- Episcopal sandals
The Episcopal sandals, also known as the pontifical sandals, are a
Roman Catholic Pontifical vestment worn bybishop s when celebrating liturgical functions according to the pre-Vatican II rubrics, for example a TridentineSolemn Pontifical Mass .In shape, the Episcopal sandals more closely resemble a pair of
loafers than actualsandals . The liturgical stockings ("caligae") are worn over the Episcopal sandals and cover the Episcopal sandals and the ankle. The Episcopal sandals and liturgical stockings usually match theliturgical color of the Mass. However, when black vestments are worn, the pontifical footware is not used.After the
Second Vatican Council , the Episcopal sandals fell out of common use following the revisions of the liturgy resulting in theMass of Paul VI , which is now known as theOrdinary Form of theRoman Rite . While still permitted for use in theOrdinary Form of the Mass, they are rarely used in that context. Today, the use of the Episopal sandals is primarily seen in those celebrating theTridentine Mass .The Episcopal sandals should not be confused with the red
Papal shoes , which were recently reinstated byPope Benedict XVI . The Papal shoes evolved as the outdoor counterpart of thePapal slippers , which are similar to the Episcopal sandals, except that the Papal slippers are worn by the Pope outside of liturgical functions and are always red.Form and Use
Unlike the ancient sandals, which consisted merely of soles fastened to the foot by straps, the episcopal sandals are in the form of low shoes, and resemble slippers. The sole is of leather; the upper part, generally ornamented with embroidery is made at the present day of silk or velvet. No cross is required upon the sandals; at Rome this is an exclusively papal privilege. With the sandals are worn the liturgical stockings, "caligæ". The privilege of wearing the sandals and "caligæ" belongs only to
bishop s. They may be worn byabbot s and otherprelate s only by special privilege from thepope and only so far as this privilege grants. The pontifical foot-wear is used only at TridentinePontifical Solemn Mass and at functions performed during the same, such asordination , but not on other occasions, as, for example,Confirmation ,Solemn Vespers , etc. It is therefore in the most exact sense of the word avestment worn during the Mass. Theliturgical color for the day decides the colour of the sandals and stockings; there are, however, no black stockings or sandals, as the bishop does not make use of the pontifical foot-wear either atRequiem Mass es.The style of decoration on the episcopal sandals depended upon the rank of the
prelate :
*Cardinals,Bishop s and Protonotaries "de numero participantium" used sandals with goldgalloon s and embroidery
*Protonotaries "suprannumerarii" used sandals with gold galloons without embroidery
*Protonotaries "ad instar participantium" used sandals with yellow galloons without embroidery.Sandals and stockings are only customary in the
Latin Rite and are unknown in the Oriental Rites.Development of Shape
The sandals retained substantially their original form until the tenth century. Then straps were replaced by three or five tongues reaching to the ankle, extensions of the upper leather upon the point of the foot, and these were fastened at ankle by means of a string. In the twelfth century these tongues were gradually shortened; in the thirteenth century, the sandal was a regular shoe with a slit above the foot or on the side to make the putting on easier. In the sixteenth century there was a return to the earlier form of the sandal; instead of a high shoe it now became once more a low foot-covering, like a slipper, a form which it has retained until the present time. The material of which the pontifical sandals are made was, until the thirteenth century, exclusively
leather , at times covered with silk. Since the laterMiddle Ages , the upper part of the sandals has been made, not ofleather , but ofsilk ,velvet , etc. It is not until about 1400, with the exception of entirely isolated earlier examples, that a cross is to be found upon the sandals. The fork-shaped decoration, frequently found on pontifical shoes, especially on those of the thirteenth century, was not a cross, but merely an ornament.History
Sandals and stockings belong to the liturgical
vestment s supported by the evidence from the 5th and 6th centuries. Originally the sandals were called "campagi", the stockings "udones". The shoes were given the name "sandalia" probably during the eighth to the ninth century, and this name was first applied to them in the north; the designation "caligæ" for "udones" came into use in the tenth century, also in the north. As regards the original form and material of the "campagi", they were slippers that covered only the tip of the foot and the heel, and must have been fastened to the foot by straps. This slipper was made of black leather. The stockings were, very likely, made of linen, and were white in colour. In the earliest period the "campagi" and "udones" were by no means exclusively anepiscopal vestment , as they were worn bydeacons . Indeed this foot-covering was not reserved exclusively for theclergy , as they were worn as a mark of distinction by certain persons of rank, and were probably copied from thebuskins of the ancientsenator s. Their use gradually became customary among the higher clergy, especially when these appeared in their full official capacity for the celebration of the Liturgy. During the eighth and ninth centuries also the Romansubdeacon s andacolyte s wore a distinctive foot-wear, the "subtalares", which, however, were simpler than the "campagi", and had no straps. The sandals and stockings became a specificallyepiscopal vestment about thetenth century . Apparently as early as the twelfth century, or at least in the second half of the thirteenth century, they were no longer worn even by thecardinal deacon s of Rome. The privilege of wearing the sandals and "caligæ" was first granted to anabbot in757 byPope Stephen III . This is, however, an isolated case, as it was only after the last quarter of the tenth century, and especially after the twelfth century that it became customary to grant abbots this privilege. The Episcopal sandals are no longer normally seen in the Catholic Church, except for those liturgical ceremonies celebrated according to pre-Vatican II rubrics .Liturgical Stockings
The liturgical stockings, also known as the "caligae", are the stockings worn by
bishop s over the Episcopal sandals. They generally match theliturgical color of the Mass, except when the color is black. The stockings, which are ofsilk , are either knitted or are made by sewing together pieces of silk fabric that have been cut a suitable shape. They are worn over the ordinary stockings.The "caligae" seem to have experienced no particular development. In the later
Middle Ages they were, as a rule, made of silk. The earliest enforcement in respect to "caligae" of the regulations forliturgical colors seems to have been at Rome, but even here probably not until the fourteenth century. Like the Episcopal sandals, the use of the liturgical stockings is primarily confined to the pre-Vatican II Tridentine Mass .ee also
*
Buskins
*Pontifical vestments
*Papal shoes
*Papal slippers
*Tridentine Mass
*Solemn Pontifical Mass
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