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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Vesting Prayers • Part 4 of 9

Fr. David Friel · July 26, 2015

HE WORD “ALB” is simply the Latin word for “white,” so it should be no surprise that the alb is always made with white fabric. Its basic purpose is to cover the minister’s secular clothing during the sacred liturgy, thereby reminding those present that what transpires in the sanctuary is a foretaste of the heavenly realm.

The imagery of the saints wearing white in heaven is scriptural. In the Book of Revelation, the bride of the Lamb is described wearing “a bright, clean linen garment” (Rev 19:8). Later in the same chapter, “the armies of heaven” are said to be riding horses and “wearing clean white linen.” The magnificent hymn, Te Deum, moreover, refers to the “white-robed army of martyrs” praising God (Te mártyrum candidátus laudat exércitus).

Another facet of the alb’s significance is that it should serve to remind us of our Baptismal identity. In this sense, the alb hearkens to mind the white garment we received at our first Sacrament, as well as the Pauline theme of “putting on” Christ (“All of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” Gal 3:27; “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,” Rom 13:14; “Put on the new self,” Eph 4:24).

As the priest puts on his alb, he offers the following prayer:

Dealba me, Domine, et munda cor meum; ut, in sanguine Agni dealbatus, gaudiis perfruare sempiternis.

Cleanse me, O Lord, and purify my heart, that, washed in the Blood of the Lamb, I may attain unto everlasting joys.

There is a very surprising image used in this prayer, and it centers on the rich word dealbatus. The English translation I have provided above gives this word as “washed,” but it could more literally be translated as “having been made white.” The word “alb” even appears within this longer word. Isn’t it curious to suggest that, being washed in Blood, one may be made white? This unusual image, I believe, is meant to strike our ears strangely, leading us to deeper meditation on the cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice.

In the latter portion of the prayer, a complex word appears. Perfruare is the second-person singular form of the present active subjunctive. It is, furthermore, a deponent verb (i.e., a verb that is active in meaning but passive in form). The use of the subjunctive here makes a beautiful theological point. The prayer asks that the one praying might become worthy/deserving of everlasting joys. Implicit in the prayer, therefore, is the notion that we are not, of ourselves, worthy or deserving of heavenly bliss. We may become so, though, by the sanctifying grace that comes to us by the action of the sacred liturgy.

Yet another phrase in this prayer warrants closer consideration. The words Munda cor meum appear not only in this vesting prayer, but also in one of the private prayers prayed inaudibly during Holy Mass. These are the opening words of the prayer of preparation offered by the deacon or priest before proclaiming the Gospel. At both of these moments, how fitting it is to offer a preparatory prayer for purity.

Like the other vestments we are considering in this series, the alb is traditionally a priestly vestment. In recent decades, this understanding has been eroded as the alb has been reinvented as the vesture for a variety of functions within the liturgy. JMO considers this topic HERE.

Next week, we shall consider the vesting prayer associated with the cincture.

Part 1 • Introduction

Part 2 • The Hand Washing

Part 3 • The Amice

Part 4 • The Alb

Part 5 • The Cincture

Part 6 • The Maniple

Part 7 • The Stole

Part 8 • The Chasuble

Part 9 • The Dalmatic

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Traditional Catholic Vestments, Vesting Prayers Last Updated: March 29, 2021

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

«In the same quarter where he was crucified there was a garden.» (John 19:41) — The word “garden” hinted at Eden and the fall of man, as it also suggested through its flowers in the springtime the Resurrection from the dead.

— Fulton J. Sheen

Recent Posts

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  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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