With that said is there something they kiss like a symbol or something? Are there theological differences between the Greek Orthodox church and the Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox church? I do wear the occasional stole has no cross, in which case I dont kiss the unembroidered nape. In Greek Orthodox practice, the deacon wears a double orarion, meaning it comes over the left arm and under the right. It was also brought, as it would seem, to Rome, where it was not at first adopted as a badge of the higher orders of the clergy, but as a distinctive mark of the Roman clergy in general. The epitrachelion comes down in front almost to the hem of his robes, and is symbolic of the priest's "anointing" (Septuagint: Psalm 132:2; KJV: Psalm 133:2). What do priests kiss on the stole? Those, of course, who do not think of themselves as doing anything particularly with their body in prayer still are doing something. Gewander des Abendlandes (Freiburg, 1898); IDEM, Die liturgische Gewandung im Occident u. Orient. As a priest dons his/her stole, the cross on the stole's neckpiece is kissed acknowledging the yoke of Christ - the yoke of service. Why do apostles wear red? Why do we read so much from the prophet Isaiah during Advent and Christmas. The original intent, then was to designate a person as belonging to a particular organization and to denote their rank within their group, a function which the stole continues to perform today. Privacy Policy. Where did this custom came from, Why it is wide spreading ? http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14301a.htm. The stole is a symbol of the office of priesthood into which he has been ordained. Lottery Analysis (Python Crash Course, exercise 9-15). I agree totally, Bosco. We possess few references to the stole anterior to the ninth century. The stole is worn only by deacons, priests, and bishops. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others. The subdeacon wears his orarion over both shoulders, crossed in the back and the front. Should i refrigerate or freeze unopened canned food items? A small cross is generally sewed or embroidered on the stole at both ends and in the middle; the cross, however, is prescribed only for the middle, where the priest kisses the stole before putting it on. 14. In the liturgy, as in other aspects of human life, the gestures and position of the hands have a specific meaning or implication. der liturgischen Gewander, 11 (Bonn, 1866); Rohault DE FLEURY, La Messe, VII (Paris, 1889); MARRIOTT, Vestiarium christianum (London, 1868); Wilpert, Un capitoto delta storia del vestiario (Rome, 1898-99); Idem, Die Gewandung der ersten Christen (Cologne, 1898); BRAUN, Die priesterl. Entrust your prayer intentions to our network of monasteries, Saint of the Day: St. Elizabeth of Portugal. New York: Robert Appleton Company. A worship experience rich in stable symbolism and repeated gesture can speak to us when the bare demand for assent and enthusiasm expressed by minimal liturgy does not. After the ninth century the stole is very frequently mentioned, and even then the manner of its use was essentially the same as today. If, as appears to be the //-->
. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. The amice, the first part of the liturgical attire worn under the alb (now optional) during the liturgy is a rectangular cloth placed over the shoulders, tucked in around the neck over the priest's . faithful kiss his hand they are taking a blessing. The kissing of the priest's hand in the Coptic Church is for the reasons that, Father Peter Farrignton of the Coptic Orthodox Church says. It was customary, even in the ninth century, to ornament the ends with fringe, tassels, or little bells. Transcription. UU stoles often are adorned with the Unitarian Universalist chalice and come in a wide range of colors. I am convinced that just as I do not need to be a Jewish bloke with a beard, neither do I need to wear a robe in order to emulate Jesus, nor wear or kiss stoles. Required fields are marked *, The origin of the term synod may be traced back to the Greek word synodos, which means an assembly. In the Catholic Church, synods typically consist of a gathering of bishops. For deacons and priests it is the specific mark of office, being the badge of the diaconal and priestly orders. Should X, if theres no evidence for X, be given a non zero probability? Thanks, Peter. This applies to the Latin clergy only. The stole symbolizes the authority and responsibility to serve in imitation of Christ. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Joe Scott December 27, 2010 The stole is a scarf that was used as a symbol of authority for Roman officials. As a priest dons his/her stole, the cross on the stole's neckpiece is kissed acknowledging the yoke of Christ - the yoke of service. Very little is known concerning the nature of the stole in the pre-Carlovingian period. I guess in so many ways liturgy is like play we find the sacred in liturgy, like play, so that we might find the sacred beyond liturgy in our day-to-day lives. He says: The importance of habit for religion, morality, and social harmony is taken for granted in most of the ancient religious and philosophical thought Ive encountered. Vestments are genderless, covering the persons things in order to better show whom s/he represents. This is why the stole is worn for everythingconfessions, exorcisms, and most priests carry one in their emergency kit in case they need it for an emergency baptism. (For further details as to the various hypotheses concerning the origin of the name, cf. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Library : The Seventeen Most Common Errors in the Liturgy The wrongful use of the stole by subdeacons, therefore, would imply the surpation of a higher order, and would constitute an irregularity. What in the teaching and example of Jesus requires this arcane way of expressing our love for Jesus and reverence for God?. In the Catholic Church's Latin liturgical rites, the priests' stole represents priestly authority, while the diaconal stole (which is diagonally and conjoined at the side) represents service. In The Byzantine Rite practice of the Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches, the stole worn by a deacon is called an orarion, while that worn by a priest or bishop is called an epitrachelion (a bishop additionally wears an omophorion), all similar in meaning and use to the Western stole. A bishop or other priest wears the stole around his neck with the ends hanging down in front, while the deacon places it over his left shoulder and ties it cross-wise at his right side, similar to a sash. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. MLA citation. Why do Catholic priests wear white collars? According to present Oriental custom the stole is a strip of silk about seven or eight inches wide, having at the upper end a hole through which the head is inserted; it is either undivided (Syrian, Coptic, and Armenian custom) or opens down the front from the opening for the head (Greek custom). Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Im with you totally on this and thank you for raising prostrating. At the ordination of deacons the bishop places it onthe left shoulder of the candidate saying: Receive from the hand of God the white garment and fulfill thy duty, for God is mighty enough to give thee His grace in rich measure. At the ordination of priests the bishop draws the part of the stole that rests atthe back of the candidates neck forward over the breast and lays the two ends crosswise, saying: Receive the yoke of the Lord, for His yoke is sweet and His burden is light. The Sacred Congregation of Rites has given a large number of decisions concerning the use of the stole. . My email address is webmaster at newadvent.org. We cannot do nothing with our body Blessings. HISTORY.We possess few references to the stole anterior to the ninth century. Stole, a liturgical vestment composed of a strip of material from two to four inches wide and about eighty inches long. In the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod (LCMS) and the Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church (Germany), only pastors wear the stole, as there is only the one order of ordination, that of pastor, in these Lutheran traditions. If it isnt essential, and you dont get precious about it, how is there a correct kissing? The Anglican bishops meeting for the Lambeth Conference are following a consultative process called Indaba. Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. Im interested that evangelical clergy are willing to wear the status symbol of their educational achievements,as a clergy vestment, while yet eschewing the traditional symbol of service in their sacerdotal ministry. It is an identifying badge that can be recognised by people of all faiths. It is an identifying badge that can be recognised by people of all faiths. If they receive a blessing it is from God in any case, Your approach of wearing just the minimum required is a fascinating principle would you apply the same principle to using only the minimum words required? The word stole comes from the Latin stola, or garment. It was an ancient Roman scarf-like garment that was used to denote members of the imperial hierarchy and was restricted to a specific class of individuals. Among the Syrians and Chaldeans the subdeacon also uses the stole, but he first twists it like a scarf around the neck, the ends being then let hang from the left shoulder in front and behind. As a priest dons his/her stole, the cross on the stole's neckpiece is kissed acknowledging the yoke of Christ - the yoke of service. Why I Kiss My Stole - Liturgy The stole is also worn over the surplice or alb for the distribution and reception of Holy Communion. Are you making yet another point highlighting the inadequacy of sola scriptura? Thanks Bosco. When he is vesting for the Divine Liturgy, he says the following prayer before putting on the epitrachelion: Blessed is God, Who poureth out His grace upon His priests, like the oil of myrrh upon the head, which runneth down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron: which runneth down to the fringe of his raiment. Yes, Mike, great point. The giving of the stole to the candidate at ordination in Rome was intended to convey a double symbolism; first, that the elevation to the clergy of the Roman Church occurred de benediction S. Petri, and secondly that by ordination the candidate entered the service of St. Peter, that is of the Roman Church. // All may, some should, none must. Why does a priest kiss his stole? In 1 Samuel 10:1 Samuel anoints Saul as King: "Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him saying, 'Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his . For the celebration of the Mass, the principal celebrant as well as concelebrants wear the stole over the alb but under the chasuble. Like Bosco, I kiss things, usually accompanied by a prayer, but I dont get precious about it it isnt essential. The stole is worn by a bishop in the same manner as a priest, except that it is never crossed on the breast, as a bishop wears the pectoral cross. Among these bishops, the pope, as bishop of Rome, holds greatest honor, and it is he who gives the pallium to the others.. For example, it is found in the following passage from Luke 15:22 regarding the garment to be worn by the Prodigal Son, dixit autem pater ad servos suos cito proferte stolam primam et induite illum et date anulum in manum eius et calciamenta in pedes (And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet). What does it mean when the priest is wearing red? The collar closes at the back of the neck , presenting a seamless front. Is there a link between confession and exorcism or the season of Advent? His hands touch the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, his hands are made holy. Why Does A Priest Wear A Chasuble? - On Secret Hunt This article was transcribed for New Advent by Ian Rutherford. It is a sign of respect and reverence to the priest who is considered a father figure. It is run by Rev. (For further details as to the various hypotheses concerning the origin of the name, cf. Blessings. Jesus complicated things. They are tiny soundings dropped from the little bark of consciousness into the ocean of life below. Why do priest kiss the Stole? If there is indeed a renewal of high-liturgical worship among American Christians, I would guess that this is why. Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. It has either a uniform width throughout, or is somewhat narrower towards the middle, widening at the ends in the shape of a trapezium or spade. Ordained clergy of the Church of Sweden follow the use described for Anglican deacons and priests in this article, except the practice of wearing the stole hanging straight down is reserved for bishops (priests wear it crossed over the chest except over a surplice, when no cincture is worn). international train travel in Europe for European citizens. And whats a chasuble? The priest traditionally blesses the cross on the collar and kisses it before he puts it on, and kisses it again when he takes it off. The stole is almost always decorated in some way, usually with two crosses, or sometimes another significant religious design. The stole is first mentioned in the West in the sixth and seventh centuries (Synod of Braga, 563; Fourth Council of Toledo, 633; Gallican explanation of the Mass), but then as a thing which had long been in use. The deacon's stole generally hangs down straight from the left shoulder both in front and at the back, but in certain rites is first wound like a sash around the breast and back. In the ninth and tenth centuries in the Frankish Empire the priests were commanded to wear the stole constantly as a badge of their calling, especially when on a journey. Red: Red represents both the Holy Spirit and suffering. In my parish we say the Apostles Creed and not the Nicene Creed, and in the Apostles Creed it states that Jesus descended into hell., The Catholic theologian Gerald OCollins, S.J., has called the writings of the prophet Isaiah the fifth gospel. By this he means that so many of. At the ordination of priests the bishop draws the part of the stole that rests at the back of the candidate's neck forward over the breast and lays the two ends crosswise, saying: "Receive the yoke of the Lord, for His yoke is sweet and His burden is light." Braun, J. The custom for the priests to wear the stole crossed in front of the breast at Mass was known as early as the Synod of Braga (675), but did not become general until the late Middle Ages. The churches of Christ greet you. An ordained elder wears the stole in the same fashion as an Anglican or Roman Catholic priest, with the role of elder being the Methodist equivalent, among other Protestant denominations, to that office. It was also customary before the ordination to lay the oraria upon the Confessio of St. Peter. A small cross is generally sewed or embroidered on the stole at both ends and in . var m_names=new Array("January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December");var d=new Date();var curr_day=d.getDay();var curr_date=d.getDate();var curr_month=d.getMonth();var curr_year=d.getFullYear();document.write("Retrieved "+m_names[curr_month]+" "+curr_date+", "+curr_year+" from New Advent: "); Another version is that the stole denotes the duty to spread the Word of God. Blessings. His commissions, set up in response to the development of oral contraceptives in, Lambeth Bible Study with Joanna Clegg A famous poet representing the other party (Alexander Pope), once said know thyself, presume not God to scan; the. Read more:Why do priests wear a chasuble at Mass? This liturgical badge was called orarium on account of its similarity to the secular orarium both in shape and material, and in the way it was worn. The next time you see the priest reverence the altar with a kiss remember these two reasons for the action and thank the Father for the gift of his Son, Jesus and the many saints that have given their lives to Christ and intercede for us daily, and especially as we gather for the worship of Christ, the Eternal Priest. Some say it came from the tallit (Jewish prayer mantle), because it is very similar to the present usage (as in the minister puts it on when he or she leads in prayer) but this theory is no longer regarded much today. Considering kissing priest's hand is a christianity learning, where did this learning came from? Among the Chaldeans (Nestorians) the stole of the priest resembles that used in the West, and is, like this, crossed over the breast. The most likely origin for the stole, however, is to be connected with the scarf of office among Imperial officials in the Roman Empire. Do I have to spend any movement to do so? A clerical collar, clergy collar or Roman collar is an item of Christian clerical clothing. From the thirteenth century the name orarium appears only in isolated instances. On certain winter days in churches of my acquaintance, the hood may be a necessary device to ward off the cold, almost as useful as a poncho. Your email address will not be published. /r/Catholicism is a place to present new developments in the world of Catholicism, discuss theological teachings of the Catholic Church, provide an avenue for reasonable dialogue amongst people of all beliefs, and grow in our own spirituality. Why does a priest kiss his stole? DEVELOPMENT.Very little is known concerning the nature of the stole in the pre-Carlovingian period. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Ian Rutherford. Therefore, it is linked to the napkin used by Christ in washing the feet of his disciples, and is a fitting symbol of the yoke of Christ, the yoke of service. I have assisted a few times in the y sanctuary in Syriac Orthodox churches, as I know the liturgical language. I am enfleshed. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Hi Ron While putting it on the priest prays "Return to me, O . It doesn't contain any relics, and it may b. Was it just Daniel who prayed toward Jerusalem or did all exiles do so? take the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The single-breasted cassock worn by Anglicans traditionally has thirty-nine buttons as signifying the Thirty-Nine Articles or as some would prefer Forty Stripes Save One. - Quora Answer (1 of 2): I believe this is a throwback of when observant Jews kiss the atarah* of their tallit when putting it on. It is now often worn hanging straight down without being crossed across the breast. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. Imprimatur. Sometimes it is connected to the yoke of Christ, but that designation is now associated with the chasuble. While you are presenting it, wear the stole on your right shoulder. It only takes a minute to sign up. 7 Why do priests wear red vestments? Finally, Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, had to resolve the matter, and instructed that all bishops must not refuse ordination simply because the candidate was unwilling to wear the stole. . The clerical, or Roman, collar is a sign or mark of a person's holy calling, according to the Church of England. Purple or violet: Used during Advent and Lent, and along with white and black, these colors may also be used at Funeral Masses. Can a priest kiss - think At the present time the stole is either traced back to a liturgical napkin, which deacons are said to have carried, or to a neckcloth formerly peculiar to priests, or it is regarded as a liturgical badge (introduced at the latest in the fourth century) which first came into use in the East, and then in the West. It has either a uniform width throughout, or is somewhat narrower towards the middle, widening at the ends in the shape of a trapezium or spade. Also remembering the necessity of examining why from time to time remembering the story of the gurus cat. If it is to kiss a hand or a ring or a sleeve or the air, I do not know. In that sense the healing color purple is appropriate as a sign of Gods healing power at work through the ministry of the priest and the prayers of the community. Wearing the vestments is being bodily set appart from the wordly work. The color of the stole can either mean the general color for Degree, Diploma continue reading Certificate graduates, or it can mean the Faculty of the awarde. 6 Why does the priest kiss the Stole? using my unworthiness, and not from me. Reasons Why Catholic priests kiss stole and alter at beginning of a Long narrow cloth band worn around the neck; part of ecclesiastical dress, "A Test of Identity: The Vestments Controversy in The Reformed Episcopal Church, 1873-1897", Communion and the developmentally disabled, Historical roots of Catholic Eucharistic theology, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stole_(vestment)&oldid=1159487140, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 10 June 2023, at 16:57. In such churches, wearing a deacon's stole when assisting in a liturgy is an official rule, and different rubrics exist for the use of the stole by priests and bishops. During the English Reformation, the stole, along with most other sacramental vestments, were removed from the Church of England. Thus, unlike other liturgical garments which were originally worn by every cleric or layman, the stole was a garment which was specifically restricted to particular classes of people based on occupation. I wonder if your question doesnt contradict your statement? What you call a "sash" is actually a "stole", its name taken from the Latin word for scarf, "stola." Ecclesiastical approbation. Worn by both Anglican and Roman Catholic priests around the world, the narrow, stiff, upright white collar fastens at the back. Now, I dont know whether kissing vestments, Gospel-books and crosses is really hygyenic. What colors does the priest wear on Ash Wednesday? elements are placed into the mouths of the believers, but that does Should I hire an electrician or handyman to move some lights? On the Day of Atonement the High Priest changed into special linen garments that included a sash of fine linen without any embroidery (Leviticus 16:4). The rules of the Catholic Church determines the proper colors and vestments worn by Catholic priests during a funeral Mass. Joe Scott, CSP, has been a campus minister, pastor and editor as a Paulist priest. The wearing of the stole by the bishop at Solemn Vespers is an exception; its use by a priest while preaching depends on local custom. Those acting as subdeacons (i.e., vested and serving as subdeacons but without having been ordained) wear their orarion crossed only in the back, to show that they do not bear holy orders. I wonder if your negative or critical point about us wordy non-kissers is fair. Stack Exchange network consists of 182 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. The stole of the priest extends from the back of the neck across the shoulders to the breast, where the two halves either cross each other or fall down straight according as the stole is worn over the alb or the surplice.
. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. The amice, the first part of the liturgical attire worn under the alb (now optional) during the liturgy is a rectangular cloth placed over the shoulders, tucked in around the neck over the priest's . faithful kiss his hand they are taking a blessing. The kissing of the priest's hand in the Coptic Church is for the reasons that, Father Peter Farrignton of the Coptic Orthodox Church says. It was customary, even in the ninth century, to ornament the ends with fringe, tassels, or little bells. Transcription. UU stoles often are adorned with the Unitarian Universalist chalice and come in a wide range of colors. I am convinced that just as I do not need to be a Jewish bloke with a beard, neither do I need to wear a robe in order to emulate Jesus, nor wear or kiss stoles. Required fields are marked *, The origin of the term synod may be traced back to the Greek word synodos, which means an assembly. In the Catholic Church, synods typically consist of a gathering of bishops. For deacons and priests it is the specific mark of office, being the badge of the diaconal and priestly orders. Should X, if theres no evidence for X, be given a non zero probability? Thanks, Peter. This applies to the Latin clergy only. The stole symbolizes the authority and responsibility to serve in imitation of Christ. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Joe Scott December 27, 2010 The stole is a scarf that was used as a symbol of authority for Roman officials. As a priest dons his/her stole, the cross on the stole's neckpiece is kissed acknowledging the yoke of Christ - the yoke of service. Very little is known concerning the nature of the stole in the pre-Carlovingian period. I guess in so many ways liturgy is like play we find the sacred in liturgy, like play, so that we might find the sacred beyond liturgy in our day-to-day lives. He says: The importance of habit for religion, morality, and social harmony is taken for granted in most of the ancient religious and philosophical thought Ive encountered. Vestments are genderless, covering the persons things in order to better show whom s/he represents. This is why the stole is worn for everythingconfessions, exorcisms, and most priests carry one in their emergency kit in case they need it for an emergency baptism. (For further details as to the various hypotheses concerning the origin of the name, cf. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Library : The Seventeen Most Common Errors in the Liturgy The wrongful use of the stole by subdeacons, therefore, would imply the surpation of a higher order, and would constitute an irregularity. What in the teaching and example of Jesus requires this arcane way of expressing our love for Jesus and reverence for God?. In the Catholic Church's Latin liturgical rites, the priests' stole represents priestly authority, while the diaconal stole (which is diagonally and conjoined at the side) represents service. In The Byzantine Rite practice of the Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches, the stole worn by a deacon is called an orarion, while that worn by a priest or bishop is called an epitrachelion (a bishop additionally wears an omophorion), all similar in meaning and use to the Western stole. A bishop or other priest wears the stole around his neck with the ends hanging down in front, while the deacon places it over his left shoulder and ties it cross-wise at his right side, similar to a sash. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. MLA citation. Why do Catholic priests wear white collars? According to present Oriental custom the stole is a strip of silk about seven or eight inches wide, having at the upper end a hole through which the head is inserted; it is either undivided (Syrian, Coptic, and Armenian custom) or opens down the front from the opening for the head (Greek custom). Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Im with you totally on this and thank you for raising prostrating. At the ordination of deacons the bishop places it onthe left shoulder of the candidate saying: Receive from the hand of God the white garment and fulfill thy duty, for God is mighty enough to give thee His grace in rich measure. At the ordination of priests the bishop draws the part of the stole that rests atthe back of the candidates neck forward over the breast and lays the two ends crosswise, saying: Receive the yoke of the Lord, for His yoke is sweet and His burden is light. The Sacred Congregation of Rites has given a large number of decisions concerning the use of the stole. . My email address is webmaster at newadvent.org. We cannot do nothing with our body Blessings. HISTORY.We possess few references to the stole anterior to the ninth century. Stole, a liturgical vestment composed of a strip of material from two to four inches wide and about eighty inches long. In the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod (LCMS) and the Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church (Germany), only pastors wear the stole, as there is only the one order of ordination, that of pastor, in these Lutheran traditions. If it isnt essential, and you dont get precious about it, how is there a correct kissing? The Anglican bishops meeting for the Lambeth Conference are following a consultative process called Indaba. Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. Im interested that evangelical clergy are willing to wear the status symbol of their educational achievements,as a clergy vestment, while yet eschewing the traditional symbol of service in their sacerdotal ministry. It is an identifying badge that can be recognised by people of all faiths. It is an identifying badge that can be recognised by people of all faiths. If they receive a blessing it is from God in any case, Your approach of wearing just the minimum required is a fascinating principle would you apply the same principle to using only the minimum words required? The word stole comes from the Latin stola, or garment. It was an ancient Roman scarf-like garment that was used to denote members of the imperial hierarchy and was restricted to a specific class of individuals. Among the Syrians and Chaldeans the subdeacon also uses the stole, but he first twists it like a scarf around the neck, the ends being then let hang from the left shoulder in front and behind. As a priest dons his/her stole, the cross on the stole's neckpiece is kissed acknowledging the yoke of Christ - the yoke of service. Why I Kiss My Stole - Liturgy The stole is also worn over the surplice or alb for the distribution and reception of Holy Communion. Are you making yet another point highlighting the inadequacy of sola scriptura? Thanks Bosco. When he is vesting for the Divine Liturgy, he says the following prayer before putting on the epitrachelion: Blessed is God, Who poureth out His grace upon His priests, like the oil of myrrh upon the head, which runneth down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron: which runneth down to the fringe of his raiment. Yes, Mike, great point. The giving of the stole to the candidate at ordination in Rome was intended to convey a double symbolism; first, that the elevation to the clergy of the Roman Church occurred de benediction S. Petri, and secondly that by ordination the candidate entered the service of St. Peter, that is of the Roman Church. // All may, some should, none must. Why does a priest kiss his stole? In 1 Samuel 10:1 Samuel anoints Saul as King: "Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him saying, 'Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his . For the celebration of the Mass, the principal celebrant as well as concelebrants wear the stole over the alb but under the chasuble. Like Bosco, I kiss things, usually accompanied by a prayer, but I dont get precious about it it isnt essential. The stole is worn by a bishop in the same manner as a priest, except that it is never crossed on the breast, as a bishop wears the pectoral cross. Among these bishops, the pope, as bishop of Rome, holds greatest honor, and it is he who gives the pallium to the others.