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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Vesting Prayers • Part 7 of 9

Fr. David Friel · August 16, 2015

UR CONSIDERATION of the priestly vesting prayers continues this week with the stole, one of the most important vestments worn during the sacred liturgy. The stole is the distinctive garment of ordained clergymen, symbolizing the role & authority of the minister who wears it. In form, a stole is a long, narrow band of embroidered material worn around the neck that matches the color of the chasuble.

The vesting prayer that accompanies the stole is as follows:

Redde mihi, Domine, stolam immortalitatis, quam perdidi in praevaricatione primi parentis; et, quamvis indignus accedo ad tuum sacrum mysterium, merear tamen gaudium sempiternum.

Restore to me, O Lord, the stole of immortality, which I lost by the transgression of our first parents. Grant that, although I am unworthy to approach Thy sacred mysteries, I may be made worthy of everlasting joys.

I love the fact that, as the priest dons his stole—the very symbol of his priestly authority—he acknowledges his unworthiness to approach the sacred mysteries. No one is worthy to attend Holy Mass, much less offer it. Jean-Marie Vianney, himself, was not worthy to celebrate Mass, and he would be the first to admit it. Nevertheless, the Lord extends the invitation to us to share in the sacrifice of His Son. It is wholly fitting that we priests, especially, should acknowledge our unworthiness before every Mass, so that our approach to ministry might never become casual.

In addressing the maniple last week, we drew attention to the manner in which that vestment symbolizes the toils of priestly life. Similar symbolism applies also to the stole, which is worn like a yoke, around the neck. To some extent, this significance of the stole has been increasingly underscored since the abrogation of the maniple.

Yet another aspect of the stole’s symbolism comes out in the vesting prayer, which refers to the vestment as the “stole of immortality.” The stole, indeed, refers to the everlasting life in which we hope to share.

Traditionally, the manner in which the stole is worn has been used to distinguish the degrees of Holy Orders. For instance, a deacon has always worn the stole draped over his left shoulder down to his right hip. Bishops have always worn the stole around their necks, with the two ends hanging straight down in front. Priests, meanwhile, formerly wore the stole around their necks, with the two ends crossed over in front. Since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, however, presbyters no longer wear the stole crossed; instead, the stole is worn in the same manner by both bishops and presbyters, without differentiation.

The stole has always been a symbol of authority, and we should not be afraid to admit that. The rationale for the former crossing of the stole was to acknowledge the distinction between the full authority of the bishop and the lesser authority of the priest. According to Fr. Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University: “In the light of the Second Vatican Council’s call for an overall simplification of the rites and rubrics, this distinction in the way of donning the stole was abolished.”

Fifty years on, it is worth asking whether the liturgical reform constituted an “overall simplification” or an “over-simplification.”

Let me share, in closing, a short anecdote to illustrate the importance of the stole as a sacred vestment. I never once put a stole around my neck until the day I was ordained a priest. From the time I was a young student in Catholic grade school, I had been taught that the stole was a symbol of priestly identity and authority. For this reason, I always had a profound respect for the stole, and I chose not even to “try on” privately the stole I planned to wear for my first Mass of Thanksgiving. The result has been that, as a priest, the donning of the stole has been especially meaningful. It is a daily reminder of the extraordinary calling I have received.

May the stole be for all ordained ministers a reminder of the sacred responsibilities with which we have been charged!

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

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Church has always kept, and wishes still to maintain everywhere, the language of her Liturgy; and, before the sad and violent changes of the 16th century, this eloquent and effective symbol of unity of faith and communion of the faithful was, as you know, cherished in England not less than elsewhere. But this has never been regarded by the Holy See as incompatible with the use of popular hymns in the language of each country.”

— Pope Leo XIII (1898)

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