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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 6 of 9

Fr. David Friel · August 9, 2015

ANY CATHOLICS are totally unfamiliar with the maniple, inasmuch as they may never have seen one. So first, by way of description, the maniple is a piece of decorated cloth worn by the priest over his left arm. Coming into use by at least the 6th century, maniples vary widely in their shape, size, and ornamentation. In general form, a maniple looks like a mini stole with clasps or strings. Its use is neither required nor forbidden in the Ordinary Form, but it is required when the Extraordinary Form is offered.

The prayer that accompanies the vesting with the maniple is as follows (notice the rhyme):

Merear, Domine, portare manipulum fletus et doloris; ut cum exsultatione recipiam mercedem laboris.

May I deserve, O Lord, to bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow, in order that I may joyfully reap the reward of my labors.

It is fairly well accepted that the maniple originated as a sort of handkerchief (the Latin word mappula means “napkin”). Perhaps once practically used by the priest to wipe his brow, the maniple eventually took on a spiritual significance that is rather profound. (This is far from the only example of something practical taking on fuller meaning in the sacred liturgy.) The maniple, in time, came to be seen as symbolic of the toils of priestly life. This understanding is reflected in the beautifully honest vesting prayer, which pointedly acknowledges the weeping & sorrow that are part of every human life before it turns to focus on the reward of those labors.

In the background of this vesting prayer, we should also see the text of Psalm 126:

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Going they went and wept,

casting their seeds,

but coming they shall come with joyfulness,

carrying their maniples. (Vulgate: portantes manipulos suos)

Again, the maniple fell into disuse during the post-conciliar liturgical reforms (Sacred Congregation of Rites, Tres abhinc annos, #25). While it was never formally abrogated, it is customarily not worn in the Ordinary Form. In the Extraordinary Form, it remains a required vestment for the priest, deacon, and sub-deacon.

Wherever it is worn, let the maniple be a rich symbol of the great labor of love which is the priesthood.

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

    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

Agnes De Mille: “When I see my work, I take for granted what other people value in it. I see only its ineptitude, inorganic flaws, and crudities. I am not pleased or satisfied.” — Martha Graham: “No artist is pleased.” ADM: “But then there is no satisfaction?” — MG: “No satisfaction whatever at any time,” she cried out passionately. “There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

— “Martha Graham on the Life-Force of Creativity”

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