Theepiscopal gloves orpontifical gloves (chirothecœ, called also at an earlier datemanicœ, wanti) are aRoman Catholicpontifical vestment worn by abishop or otherprelate, such as anabbot, when celebratingSolemn Pontifical Mass. They are worn from the beginning of the Mass until theoffertory, when they are removed. They are generally can be elaborately embroidered and generally match theliturgical color of the Mass.
The gloves are considered symbolic of purity, the performance of good works and carefulness in procedure.[1]
Episcopal gloves are used only at aPontifical Mass, and then only up to thewashing of the hands before the beginning of theEucharistic Prayer. In thepre-Vatican II rite ofconsecration of a bishop, the consecrator, aided by the assisting bishops, put the gloves on the new bishop just after the blessing.[1][2]
TheCaeremoniale Episcoporum, as revised in 1984, omits all mention of episcopal gloves. They are very rarely seen today except in celebrations of the 1962 form of theRoman Rite or yet earlier forms by sometraditionalist Catholics.Evangelical Catholic bishops in Lutheranism,Anglo-Catholic bishops in Anglicanism, andOld Catholic bishops also sometimes make use of the episcopal gloves.[3]
As of 1909[update], episcopal gloves are knitted by machine or hand-woven from silk thread. They are normally ornamented on the back with a cross; the border of the opening for the hand is also, as a rule, embellished. Many are embellished with metal thread, either as an integral pattern or as embroidery or lace.[4]Charles Borromeo, in his 1577 instruction on clerical vesture, states that "The bishop’s gloves must be interwoven and prominently decorated on the top with a golden circle".[5]
The colour of the gloves must correspond with theliturgical colour of the feast or day in the services of which they are worn; episcopal gloves, however, are never black, as they are not used onGood Friday nor at aRequiem.[1]
Episcopal gloves are symbolical of purity from sin, the performance of good works, and carefulness of procedure.[1] This is reflected in the prayer recited as they are put on: "Place upon my hands, Lord, the cleanliness of the new man, that came down from heaven; that, just as Jacob Thy beloved, covering his hands with the skins of goats, and offering to his father most pleasing food and drink, obtained his father’s blessing, so also may the saving victim offered by our hands, merit the blessing of Thy grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who in the likeness of sinful flesh offered Himself for us."[6]
According toThomas Aquinas, the episcopal gloves, along with other eight vestments worn by bishops but not by priests, signify the "nine things which they can, but priests cannot, do, namely ordain clerics, bless virgins, consecrate bishops, impose hands, dedicate churches, depose clerics, celebrate synods, consecrate chrism, bless vestments and vessels."[5]
The use of episcopal gloves became customary in Rome probably in the tenth century, outside of Rome they were employed somewhat earlier. Apparently they were first used in France, as the earliest traces of the custom are found in this country, from where it gradually spread to other parts and eventually to Rome. The chief reason for the introduction of the usage was probably the desire to provide a suitable adornment for the hands of the bishop, rather than practical considerations such as the preservation of the cleanliness of the hands or something as such. Episcopal gloves appertained originally to bishops, but at an early date their use was also granted to other ecclesiastics, thus no later than 1070 the abbot of themonastery ofSan Pietro in Cielo d'Oro atPavia received this privilege, the first certain instance of such permission.[1]
In theMiddle Ages these gloves were either knitted or otherwise produced with the needle, or else they were made of woven material sewed together; the former way seems to have been the more usual. Gloves made by both methods are still in existence, as for example, in Saint-Sernin atToulouse, atBrignoles, in S. Trinità atFlorence, in the cathedrals ofHalberstadt andBrixen, in New College atOxford,Conflens inSavoy and other places. In the later Middle Ages it became customary to enlarge the lower end, giving it the appearance of a cuff orgauntlet, and even to form the cuff with a long joint which hung downwards and was decorated with a tassel or little bell. The back of the glove was always ornamented, sometimes with an embroidered medallion or some other form of needlework, sometimes with a metal disk having on it a representation of theLamb of God, a cross, theRight Hand of God,Saints etc., the disk being sewn on to the glove, or, at times, the ornamentation was ofpearls andprecious stones. The gloves were generally made of silk thread or woven fabric, rarely of woollen thread, sometimes of linen woven material. Up to the end of the Middle Ages the usual colour was white, although the gloves at New College, Oxford, are red; apparently it was not until the sixteenth century that the ordinances as to liturgical colours were applied to episcopal gloves. Even in the Middle Ages the occasions on which the gloves were worn were not many, but their use was not so limited as later, for in the earlier period they were occasionally worn at the pontifical Mass after Communion, at solemn offices and during processions.[1]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1909). "Episcopal Gloves".Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company.