Lecture on Eucharistic Ministers Stole
By Rev. Fr. Elmer Pinili
Biblical Origin of Vestment
Although there are a variety of possibilities as to the origin of current liturgical vestments, a
simple explanation can be made that most vestments can be traced to the ordinary street or
secular attire of Roman and Greek citizens of the early centuries of the Church. The Church has
retained their use for sacred function even while secular fashions have changed. In order to
distinguish the vestments used for sacred, liturgical ministry from ordinary secular use, the
early Church used the finest materials and decorations for them.
We can further look to the command of God given to Moses as recorded in opening verses of
Exodus 28 to see evidence of God’s desire for special vesture for His priests and other liturgical
ministers.
Exodus 28:1-4 “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among
the people of Israel, to serve me as priests–Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar
and Ithamar. 2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for
beauty. 3 And you shall speak to all who have ability, whom I have endowed with an able mind,
that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. 4 These are the
garments which they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a
turban, and a girdle; they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve
me as priests.”
The purpose of vestments is to give glory and honor to God and to distinguish the various
clergy and laity whose liturgical roles differ.
The Stole
The word stole derives via the Latin stola, from the Greek στολή (stolē), "garment", originally
"array" or "equipment".
It is the badge of ordination worn over both shoulders hanging straight down in front by
bishops and priests; over left shoulder and tied or joined under the right arm by deacons.
The stole was originally a kind of shawl that covered the shoulders and fell down in front of the
body; on women they were often very large indeed. After being adopted by the Church of
Rome about the seventh century (the stole having also been adopted in other locales prior to
this), the stole became gradually narrower and so richly ornamented that it developed into a
mark of dignity. Nowadays, the stole is usually wider and can be made from a wide variety of
material.
There are many theories as to the "ancestry" of the stole. 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. More
popular is the theory that the stole originated from a kind of liturgical napkin called an orarium,
very similar to the sudarium. In fact, in many places the stole is called the orarium. 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.
The most likely origin for the stole, however, is to be connected with the scarf of office among
Imperial officials in the Roman Empire. As members of the clergy became members of the
Roman administration they were granted certain honors, one specifically being a designator of
rank within the imperial hierarchy. The various configurations of the stole (including the pallium
or the omophorion) grew out of this usage. 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. 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.
Pallium
I have made several interviews about the origin of Eucharistic Ministers Stole in some Roman
Catholic Priest, sad to say they have no available materials to share, except to recall my papers
in St. Andrews Seminary regarding the seal of IFI and ECP. At the seal of ECP there we will find
the same shape of EMS. It is known as vesica piscis.
Seal of ECP
Vesica piscis is a SHAPE that is the intersection of two CIRCLES with the same radius,
intersecting in such a way that the center of each circle lies on the perimeter of the other. The
name literally means the "bladder of a fish" in Latin. The shape is also called mandorla or
almond" in Italian.
Example of Vesica Piscis
Almond
The vesica piscis has been used as a symbol within Freemasonry, most notably in the shapes of
the collars worn by officiant of the Masonic rituals.
Purpose of Stole:
-to give glory and honor to God and to distinguish the various clergy
and laity whose liturgical roles differ
-the badge of ordination
Referereces: -Wikipedia
-The Complete Training Course for Altar Guilds by Don Taylor
-Sagisag ng IFI at ECP: Term Paper by Fr. Elmer Pinili
