Diaconal Vestments
What Do Deacons Wear, When?
What Do Deacons Wear, When?
NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect the current (2024) edition of Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside Mass.
In my article, “Can Deacons Cope?” I discussed the different liturgical occasions on which it is permitted that a deacon wear a cope. In this article, I take a broader look at what vestments are proper for a deacon to wear for various liturgical occasions. Information will be taken primarily from the liturgical texts themselves.
General Norms
Before we look at specific occasions, it is important to consider a few general norms. First, from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (hereafter GIRM).
The vestments worn by Priests and Deacons, as well as the attire worn by lay ministers, are blessed before being put into liturgical use according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual (GIRM 335).
So don’t wear your vestments before they have been blessed!
From the Ceremonial of Bishops, this note about the vesture common to all ministers:
The vestment common to ministers of every rank is the alb, tied at the waist with a cincture, unless it is made to fit without a cincture. An amice should be put on first if the alb does not completely cover the minister’s street clothing at the neck. A surplice may not be substituted for the alb when the chasuble or dalmatic is to be worn or when a stole is used instead of the chasuble or dalmatic. When a surplice is worn, it must be worn with the cassock (CB 65).
In many occasions, a cassock and surplice may be worn in place of an alb (a surplice is always worn with a cassock, never by itself). But on occasions when a chasuble (for priests) or dalmatic (for deacons) is worn, an alb is always prescribed.
Regarding the dalmatic, the Ceremonial of Bishops identifies this as “the vestment proper to the deacon.”
The dalmatic, worn over the alb and stole, is the vestment proper to the deacon. The dalmatic may be omitted either out of necessity or for less solemnity. The deacon wears the stole over his left shoulder and drawn across the chest to the right side, where it is fastened (CB 67).
Note: the context here is not limited to the Mass. This instruction appears in the section of the Ceremonial dealing with general norms. It is worth noting that in the paragraph immediately before this instruction, dealing with priestly vesture, the chasuble is mentioned specifically as a Eucharistic vestment.
Unless otherwise indicated, the chasuble, worn over the alb and stole, is the vestment proper to the presbyter who is the celebrant at Mass and other rites immediately connected with the Mass. The priest wears the stole around his neck and hanging down in front. The cope is worn by the priest in solemn liturgical services outside Mass and in processions; in other liturgical services, in keeping with the rubrics proper to each rite (CB 66).
So whereas the chasuble is mentioned in specific association with the Mass, with the cope being specified for other liturgical celebrations, the instruction on diaconal vestments simply identifies the dalmatic as the proper vestment of the deacon, period.
I highlight this specifically because of the assertion sometimes made that the dalmatic is to the deacon what the chasuble is to the priest. For example, in The Deacon at Mass, by Deacon William T. Ditewig, he writes, “The dalmatic is to the deacon what the chasuble is to the priest: the outer vestment normally worn for the Eucharist” (pg. 36).
However, it would be wrong to presume a one-to-one correlation, as there are many liturgical functions outside of Mass where the deacon would properly vest in the dalmatic, as we will see below. Instead of thinking of the dalmatic as a specifically Eucharistic vestment, it would be more proper to think of it as a diaconal vestment.
Now let’s look at specific liturgical rites and how the deacon should vest for each.
MASS
The ordinary vesture of the deacon at Mass is an alb, stole, and dalmatic. See the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, paragraphs 335–347.
The sacred garment common to all ordained and instituted ministers of any rank is the alb, to be tied at the waist with a cincture unless it is made so as to fit even without such. Before the alb is put on, should this not completely cover the ordinary clothing at the neck, an amice should be used. The alb may not be exchanged for a surplice, not even over a cassock, on occasions when a chasuble or dalmatic is to be worn or when, according to the norms, only a stole is worn without a chasuble or dalmatic (GIRM 336).
And this…
The vestment proper to the Deacon is the dalmatic, worn over the alb and stole; however, the dalmatic may be omitted out of necessity or on account of a lesser degree of solemnity (GIRM 338).
In other words, an alb should always be worn by the deacon when he is serving as deacon at Mass, never a cassock and surplice, even when the dalmatic is omitted by necessity. This does not preclude the deacon from wearing cassock and surplice if he is functioning at Mass in some other role, for example, as the M.C. or simply as a lector or acolyte (assuming other deacons are present and fulfilling the diaconal roles).
Regarding the permitted practice of forgoing the dalmatic at Mass, further instruction from Redemptionis Sacramentum has this to say:
The proper vestment of the Deacon is the dalmatic, to be worn over an alb and stole. In order that the beautiful tradition of the Church may be preserved, it is praiseworthy to refrain from exercising the option of omitting the dalmatic (RS 125).
See my previous article, “Is the Dalmatic Optional?” for more information on this. The short version: deacons, wear your dalmatics!
And in case any deacon needs reminding, the GIRM specifies:
The stole is worn… by the Deacon over his left shoulder and drawn diagonally across the chest to the right side, where it is fastened (GIRM 340).
GIRM 346 discusses the proper color of liturgical vestments, and is worth a read if you need a refresher.
SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF A PRIEST
In the (hopefully rare) instance when a deacon may need to preside over a Communion Service on a Sunday when no priest is available to offer Mass for the faithful, the liturgical instruction is that he wear his usual vestments as if for Mass.
When a Deacon presides at a Sunday celebration in the absence of a priest… [h]e wears the vestments proper to his ministry, that is, the alb with stole and the dalmatic (SCAP 24).
ADORATION & BENEDICTION
When a deacon is presiding, he vests the same as a presiding priest, that is in alb (or cassock and surplice), stole (worn in the diaconal manner), and cope with humeral veil.
The minister, if he is a Priest or Deacon, should wear an alb or a surplice over a cassock, and put on a white stole. In accordance with local custom, he may also wear a white cope… Furthermore, when imparting the blessing at the end of adoration, when the exposition takes place with a monstrance, both Priest and Deacon wear a while cope and humeral veil; if a ciborium is used, still they wear a humeral veil (Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside Mass 92). [Note: this has been updated to reflect the current (2024) edition]
When a deacon is not presiding, but is assisting a bishop or priest who is presiding, then he wears an alb and stole, with or without a dalmatic. The following instructions are taken from the Ceremonial of Bishops.
…for [assisting] deacons: albs, stoles, and, as circumstances suggest, dalmatics (CB 1104).
The bishop is assisted by two deacons, or at least by one, wearing diaconal vestments. In the absence of a deacon, the bishop is assisted by presbyters, vested in cope (CB 1106).
And for a less solemn, brief period of Exposition:
…for a deacon or presbyter: alb and stole (CB 1115).
LITURGY OF THE HOURS
When the deacon is presiding, according to the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, he wears a stole over an alb or surplice. When assisting, he wears the dalmatic.
The priest or deacon who presides at a celebration may wear a stole over the alb or surplice; a priest may also wear a cope. On greater solemnities the wearing of the cope by many priests or of the dalmatic by many deacons is permitted (GILH 225).
See also these instructions from the Ceremonial of Bishops, regarding deacons assisting the bishop (and presumably a priest) celebrant.
When Evening Prayer is celebrated on major solemnities, “ …deacons may wear either a cope or a dalmatic” (CB 192). For a simpler form of celebrating Evening Prayer:
…it is desirable that a number of presbyters be present, preferably vested in cassock and surplice or in alb and cope, as well as two deacons or at least one, vested in alb and dalmatic (CB 207).
For Morning Prayer (CB 212) and the Office of Readings (CB 216), the prescribed vesture is the same as for Evening Prayer, above. For Daytime Prayer (CB 218) and Night Prayer (CB 219), the bishop celebrant is in choir dress and so presumably any assisting ministers would be likewise vested, which would generally mean cassock and surplice.
ADORATION WITH LITURGY OF THE HOURS
So what happens if the Liturgy of the Hours is celebrated before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed, as part of an extended period of Adoration? According to Bishop Peter Elliott, in Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite, the following is the recommended practice.
The Liturgy of the Hours, especially Lauds or Vespers, may be celebrated before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. In this case… [t]he copes, dalmatics and stoles should be of the color of the day or season, but the humeral veil is white (681).
NOTE: Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite is not a liturgical text, but many find it to be a very useful guide in such matters.
WEDDINGS
When assisting at a wedding within a nuptial Mass, the deacon would vest as for Mass. When presiding over a wedding outside of Mass, the following instruction from The Order of Celebrating Matrimony applies.
At the appointed time, the Priest, wearing an alb or surplice, and a white or festive stole, and even a cope (or a dalmatic for a Deacon) of the same color…(80, cf. 83).
The permission for the deacon to wear a dalmatic in place of a cope is new with the most recent edition of the ritual text.
BAPTISMS
…the priest or deacon, vested in alb or surplice, with a stole (with or without a cope) of festive color… (Rite of Baptism for Children, 35, cf. 74, 107, 165).
FUNERALS
When serving as deacon for a funeral Mass, the deacon would vest as for Mass. When presiding over a funeral outside of Mass, the deacon wears an alb (or cassock and surplice) with stole and optional cope.
The minister who is a priest or deacon wears an alb with stole (a cope may be used, if desired)… (Order of Christian Funerals, 182).
Compare the above to this instruction for funerals for children:
The minister who is a priest or deacon wears an alb or surplice with stole (a cope may be used, if desired)… (Order of Christian Funerals, 275).
It is interesting to me that the only difference is that the surplice is mentioned as an alternative to the alb in funerals for children, but not mentioned for funerals for adults. Given that the surplice (worn with cassock) is generally accepted as an alternate for the alb, except in those cases when a chasuble or dalmatic are worn, presumably it would be an option for any funeral outside of Mass.
The Order of Christian Funerals does not prescribe any particular vestments for Vigils and related rites. It would seem that cassock and surplice would be appropriate, depending on the circumstances.
BLESSINGS
If someone grabs you in the church parking lot and says, “Deacon, would you bless my rosary?” you are going to be wearing whatever you are wearing. But when presiding over more solemn blessings, the deacon should be appropriately vested. According to the General Introduction of the Book of Blessings:
A priest or deacon when presiding at blessings celebrated communally, especially those that are celebrated in a church or with special solemnity, is to wear an alb with stole. A surplice may replace the alb when a cassock is worn; a cope may be worn for more solemn celebrations (GIBB 36).
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION OUTSIDE OF MASS
The minister of Holy Communion, if he is a Priest or Deacon, should be vested in an alb, or a surplice over a cassock, and should wear a stole (Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside Mass 20). [updated 2024]
BRINGING COMMUNION TO THE SICK
According to Pastoral Care of the Sick, “The communion minister should wear attire appropriate to this ministry” (General Introduction, 72). The “communion minister” in this case may not be an ordained minister. One of the important tasks of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion is to bring the Eucharist to the homebound and infirm. They should wear appropriate attire as lay people.
But in the case of a deacon, it would seem fitting to at least wear clerical dress, if not cassock and surplice.
PROCESSIONS
According to Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass:
The priest who carries the blessed sacrament may wear the vestments used for the celebration of the Mass if the procession takes place immediately afterward, or he may vest in a white cope (105).
No mention is made of what any assisting ministers should wear. However, in the Roman Ritual, it does specify, “All members of the clergy who are to take part will be properly clothed, in surplices or in other sacred vestments” (Roman Ritual, XII, 1, 3). This does leave some room for interpretation.
Find out what the bishop or priest leading the procession wants his deacons to wear and wear that. For example, at the annual Eucharistic Congress held in my home diocese, deacons are told to wear alb and stole for the Eucharistic Procession, so I’ll be wearing alb and stole. Here the old adage applies, when in Rome…
I truly hope this survey will be useful to deacons new and old. If anyone notices something I left out or that needs amendment, please let me know!