What do you call the outer garment worn by the priest celebrating Mass?

Answer 1

The first thing that the priest puts on is called a vestment and it is the white robe, called an alb. (this represents baptism).

The next thing he puts on is called a cincture. This is the rope that hangs around his waist.

Then he puts on is called a stole (the scarf like item of clothing) and it is the priests' way of saying "Jesus, be with me today as I celebrate this mass."

The last vestment he puts on is called a chausable (the priest generally wears a green chausable during the churches 'ordinary time'). See Catholic Encyclopedia article below:

Answer 2

A priest normally wears an alb which is a long white robe that falls to his ankles, it is usually fastened with a cincture - a white rope around his waist. Over that he wears a stole, which is usually a narrow band in the color of the Mass he is celebrating (for instance, white for Easter, violet for Lent, green for ordinary time, red for a martyr, etc.). Over that he wears a chausable, which is a large cape like affair also in the color of the Mass. For the Mass celebrated before Vatican Council II (the Extraordinary Form of the Mass) he would also wear a maniple, which is just a short version of the stole tied to his forarm, and an amice, which is long rectangle of linen tied around the neck.

Answer 3

The item of priestly vestments you refer to is the "surplice". The surplice is a simple loose fitting garment of white cotton with bell shaped sleeves. The ends of the sleeves and hem are most often adorned with white lace or embroidery. It is worn over the priests black robe (soutane or cassock) when he is administering any of the sacraments of the Church but not while he is celebrating the Mass. There is another priestly garment the "dalmatic", which nowadays is almost indistinguishable from the surplice. Some of the assisting priests may wear the dalmatic during the Mass. During the mediaeval era, the surplice was worn by the clergy over their vestments to ward of the cold in the draughty Gothic churches and cathedrals.

Answer 4

The usual garment that anybody starts with is a cassock. Over that the priest and assistant priests or deacons would wear an alb. The servers and anyone in minor orders could either wear an alb or a surplice. Over the alb, a deacon would wear a stole crossed from one shoulder, and over that a dalmatic. Priests or bishops would wear the stole hanging straight down (in the older rite, the priests' stole would be crossed on his chest), and a chasuble over that. In the older rite, and optionally in the newer rite, they would wear a maniple on their left forearm, it's a small stole-like garment that hangs from the forearm.

Answer 5

The outer garment is called the chasuble