Maniple (vestment)

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Maniple (vestment)

For the Roman military unit, see Maniple (military unit)
Maniple (military unit)

Maniple was a tactical unit of the Roman legion adopted from the Samnites during the Samnite Wars. It was also the name of the military insignia carried by such unit....
.

The maniple is a liturgical vestment
Vestment

Vestments are liturgy garments and articles associated primarily with the Christianity religions, especially the Latin Rite and other Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutheran Churches....
used primarily within the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church is the world's largest Christianity Ecclesia , representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world population....
and occasionally used in some Anglo-Catholic churches. It is an embroidered band of silk or similar fabric that when worn hangs from the left arm. It is only used within the context of the Mass
Mass (liturgy)

The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The term is used also of similar celebrations in Old Catholic Churches, in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism, and in some largely High Church Lutheranism Lutheranism regions, including the Scandinavian and Baltic states countries....
, and it is of the same liturgical colour as the other Mass vestments. In 1967 with the Second Instruction on the Liturgy, the Roman Catholic Church made the maniple an optional vestment, shortly before the promulgation of the reformed Mass of Paul VI
Mass of Paul VI

The Mass of Pope Paul VI is the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church Mass of the Roman Rite Promulgation by Paul VI in 1969, after the Second Vatican Council ....
two years later.

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For the Roman military unit, see Maniple (military unit)
Maniple (military unit)

Maniple was a tactical unit of the Roman legion adopted from the Samnites during the Samnite Wars. It was also the name of the military insignia carried by such unit....
.
The maniple is a liturgical vestment
Vestment

Vestments are liturgy garments and articles associated primarily with the Christianity religions, especially the Latin Rite and other Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutheran Churches....
used primarily within the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church is the world's largest Christianity Ecclesia , representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world population....
and occasionally used in some Anglo-Catholic churches. It is an embroidered band of silk or similar fabric that when worn hangs from the left arm. It is only used within the context of the Mass
Mass (liturgy)

The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The term is used also of similar celebrations in Old Catholic Churches, in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism, and in some largely High Church Lutheranism Lutheranism regions, including the Scandinavian and Baltic states countries....
, and it is of the same liturgical colour as the other Mass vestments. In 1967 with the Second Instruction on the Liturgy, the Roman Catholic Church made the maniple an optional vestment, shortly before the promulgation of the reformed Mass of Paul VI
Mass of Paul VI

The Mass of Pope Paul VI is the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church Mass of the Roman Rite Promulgation by Paul VI in 1969, after the Second Vatican Council ....
two years later. While the maniple was never formally abolished or suppressed, it eventually fell out of general use. The maniple is, however, still a required vestment for the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite
Roman Rite

The liturgy of the Catholic Church of Rome is called the Roman Rite. The quite distinct term Latin Rite usually refers not to a liturgical rite but to the particular Church within the Roman Catholic Church that was sometimes referred to also as the Patriarchate of the West....
, which is more commonly referred to as the Tridentine Mass
Tridentine Mass

The Tridentine Mass is a common name for the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962....
.

Present Usage
In the context of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, the maniple is worn by the celebrant
Celebrant

Celebrant may refer to:* Celebrant or Officiant, the leader of a liturgy or ceremony who is empowered to perform it**In the Catholic Church and Anglicanism churches, the celebrant is the priest who celebrates the Eucharist...
, deacon
Deacon

Deacon is a role in the Christianity that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions....
, and sub-deacon in a Solemn Mass
Solemn Mass

Solemn Mass or Solemn High Mass or simply High Mass is - when these terms are used in a technical sense, not merely as a description - the full ceremonial form of the Tridentine Mass, celebrated by a priest with a deacon and a subdeacon, with most of the parts of the Mass sung, and with the use of incense....
. In a Low Mass
Low Mass

Low Mass is Mass said by a priest without music or incense and without the assistance of a deacon and subdeacon. The term may refer specifically to a Tridentine Mass said by a priest with the assistance of one or more servers, instead of a deacon and subdeacon and other ministers....
or a Sung Mass (Missa Cantata) it is worn by the celebrant alone. The maniple is only worn during the liturgy of the Mass itself and is not worn during other liturgies or rites that might occur before or after Mass such as the asperges
Asperges

Asperges is a name given to the rite of sprinkling a congregation with holy water. The name comes from the first word in the 9th verse of Psalm Psalm 51 in the Latin language translation, the Vulgate, which is sung during the Traditional form of the rite, except during Eastertide....
, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is a devotional ceremony celebrated within the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in some Anglican Churches, Western Rite Orthodox churches, and Liturgical latinisation Eastern Catholic Churches....
, or any other sacrament
Sacraments of the Catholic Church

The Sacraments of the Catholic Church are, the Church teaches, "efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us....
or sacramental
Sacramental

Sacramental may refer to:* Sacramental, as an adjective means of or pertaining to sacraments* Sacramentals, in Anglicanism and Roman Catholicism, objects whose supernatural effects, unlike those of a sacrament, depend on the belief of the recipient...
. The maniple is customarily removed while preaching. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI is the List of popes and reigning Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and, as such, monarch of the Vatican City....
promulgated the motu proprio
Motu proprio

A motu proprio is a document issued by the Pope on his own initiative and personally signed by him.It may be addressed to the whole Church, to part of it, or to some individuals....
Summorum Pontificum
Summorum Pontificum

Summorum Pontificum is an Ecclesiastical letter#Letters of the Popes in modern times of Pope Benedict XVI, issued "motu proprio" . The document specified the rules, for the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, for celebrating Mass according to the "Roman Missal promulgated by Pope John XXIII in 1962" , and for administering most of the S...
, which allowed for increased celebration of the Tridentine
Tridentine Mass

The Tridentine Mass is a common name for the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962....
or Extraordinary Form of the Mass. In addition to being used in the Roman Rite
Roman Rite

The liturgy of the Catholic Church of Rome is called the Roman Rite. The quite distinct term Latin Rite usually refers not to a liturgical rite but to the particular Church within the Roman Catholic Church that was sometimes referred to also as the Patriarchate of the West....
, the maniple is also used in most of the Latin liturgical rites
Latin liturgical rites

Latin liturgical rites used within that area of the Roman Catholic Church where the Latin language once dominated were for many centuries no less numerous than the liturgical rites of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches autonomous particular Churches....
.

The maniple is rarely seen today in the context of the celebration of the Ordinary Form of the Mass. It has been argued that, since the General Instruction of the Roman Missal
General Instruction of the Roman Missal

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal ?in the Latin original, Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani ?is the detailed document governing the celebration of Mass of the Mass of Paul VI of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church since 1969....
makes no mention of the maniple, it should not be worn in celebrations of the Ordinary Form of the Roman rite
Mass of Paul VI

The Mass of Pope Paul VI is the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church Mass of the Roman Rite Promulgation by Paul VI in 1969, after the Second Vatican Council ....
. It is noteworthy, however, that the General Instruction of the Roman Missal also makes no mention of the burse
Burse

Burse is a surname, and may refer to:* Charlie Burse , African-American blues musician* Janell Burse , American, women's basketball player* Ray Burse , American soccer goalkeeper...
, yet this item is by no means rare in the celebration of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

Historical Origin

Originally the maniple was likely a piece of linen which clerics used to wipe their faces and hands and has been described by some modern commentators as being akin to a handkerchief. It appears to have been used in the Roman liturgy
Roman Rite

The liturgy of the Catholic Church of Rome is called the Roman Rite. The quite distinct term Latin Rite usually refers not to a liturgical rite but to the particular Church within the Roman Catholic Church that was sometimes referred to also as the Patriarchate of the West....
since at least the 6th century. The maniple can vary widely in size, shape, and degree of embroidery
Embroidery

File:Kazakh rug chain stitch embroidery.jpgEmbroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating Textile or other materials with sewing needle and yarn....
and ornamentation.

Common symbolic comments refer to the maniple's likeness to the rope by which Christ was led and the chains which bound his hands. It has also become known as an emblem of the tears of penance, the burden of sin, and the fatigue of the priestly office. This understanding is reflected in the vesting prayer said while putting on the maniple before Mass. Anglican
Anglicanism

Anglicanism is a tradition of Christianity faith. Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs, worship and church structures....
commentators have described the maniple as a symbol of being a servant.

In the unreformed Papal Mass
Papal Mass

A Papal Mass is the solemn High Mass Pontifical High Mass when celebrated by the Pope.There are numerous special ceremonials which are particular to the pope....
the Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
wears a special maniple intertwined with red and gold threads, symbolizing the unity of the Eastern
Eastern Rite

The term Eastern Rite may refer to:* Liturgical ceremonies used in Eastern Christianity* Eastern Catholic Churches - groups of Eastern Christians in full communion with the Bishop of Rome...
and Western
Western Rite

Western Rite can refer to:*Latin liturgical rites - Rites used by the Roman Catholic Church and other Western Christians deriving from Catholicism....
rites of the Catholic Church.
See also

Epimanikia
Epimanikia

Epimanikia are Divine Liturgy vestments of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches. They are cuffs made of thickened fabric, usually brocade, that lace onto the wrists of a bishop, priest, or deacon....