Vestment on the Rise

A particularly beautiful vestment, the dalmatic has not seen a lot of use as of late. In protestant traditions, it has seen less use as the office of the diaconate has fallen by the wayside. In the Roman church, it has fallen out of use in general following Vatican II. The Orthodox still regularly use a form of the dalmatic.

Both the dalmatic and tunicle are not forbidden in good Lutheran liturgical tradition. In fact, Ms. S. Anita Stauffer states that "the principal assisting minister (liturgical deacon) may wear a dalmatic over the alb for festive celebrations." This notion of the "liturgical deacon" is known in modern parlance as the assisting minister – this post being served by both laity and clergy.

Should we use the dalmatic and its little brother the tunicle? Sure not in congregations which do not even use a chasuble. But if there is a Eucharistic service were the presiding minister wears a chasuble (or any of the Office were the presiding minister wears a cope), I see no issue with an assistant wearing the dalmatic.

Cassock and Surplice

Thirty years ago, the predominate vestment of Protestantism was the cassock and surplice: the cassock being a black robe, buttoning down the front, and the surplice being a full white vestment which comes down to the knees. These two vestments were used together for nearly all Lutheran worship services. Today however almost no one wears them and I would like to ask the question "why?"

Indeed, some of our more apt readers will be able to point out that certain individuals, namely Luther D. Reed himself, advocated for the discontinuation of the use of the cassock and surplice. Why would we want to bring back into use vestments which were considered antiquated thirty or forty years ago? Those who pose this question miss the point of why Dr. Reed advocated their discontinuation – this reason being that the cassock and surplice was being used in place of the alb for all services including mass.

Dr. Reed won his argument in the long run, and I am happy for it. Today we see worship leaders – laity and clergy – using the alb every Sunday for worship, regardless of whether it is Mass or the Office. But if we look at the proper use of the cassock and surplice, we may find some light on the subject of both why Dr. Reed which to put it away, and why I would like to see more of its use. And I don't think Dr. Reed and I are at odds.

The cassock and surplice properly can be used at any occasion – namely the Office – outside of Mass. So for Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and any of the other hours observed. The alb is properly used in Mass. This is rules set out by Roman Cannon and so observed by our Roman Catholic brothers in the priesthood, and is laid out as good liturgical practice by Ms. S. Anita Stauffer in her book Altar Guild and Sacristy Handbook, published by Augsburg Fortress.

The cassock and surplice has room to survive today along side with the alb, yet its continuing decline of use is indicative of the continuing decline of the worship form of the Office. Both the Office and Mass has good value in today's worship world; both the cassock and surplice and the alb have room together in today's worship world.