Until the abolition of minor orders in the Roman Catholic church after the Second Vatican Council, the tunicle was the distinguishing vestment of the subdeacon. It was an outer tunic which was worn over the alb and amice during Mass and other liturgies. A bishop would also wear one under his dalmatic and chasuble during a Pontifical High Mass. Like the dalmatic and chasubule, the color of the tunicle corresponded with the liturgical color for the day. It was, by the time the office of subdeacon was suppressed, virtually indistinguishable from the dalmatic with the exception of narrower sleeves and a single horizontal band on the front and back, as opposed to the double band of the dalmatic. The minor orders were formally a part of the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church opened under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965. ... Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religions, especially the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Anglican Churches. ... Eastern Orthodoxy Subdeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Eastern Orthodox Church. ... The tunic was the common masculine garment of Roman Civilization. ... The alb, one of the liturgical vestments of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and many Protestant churches, is an ample garment of white linen coming down to the ankles and usually girded with a cincture. ... The amice is a liturgical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church. ... This article discusses the Mass as part of Christian liturgy, in particular the form it has taken in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church. ... From the Greek word λειτουργια, which can be transliterated as leitourgia, meaning the work of the people, a liturgy comprises a prescribed religious ceremony, according to the traditions of a particular religion; it may refer to, or include, an elaborate formal ritual (such as the Catholic Mass), a daily activity... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who holds a specific position of authority in any of a number of Christian churches. ... Rather similar to the chasuble, the dalmatic (one of the liturgical vestments of the Roman Catholic church) is the outermost vestment worn by a deacon at Mass. ... Chasuble The chasuble is the most conspicuous liturgical vestment worn by the clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist, especially among Roman Catholics and Anglicans. ... A Pontifical High Mass in the Roman rite before the changes brought forth by Vatican II is a Mass celebrated by a bishop that does not omit any elements which are omitted in the pontifical low mass, such as incense. ... Liturgical colours are colours of vestments and church decorations within a Christian liturgy. ...

Current Usage

The tunicle may still be seen when Solemn High Mass is celebrated according to the Tridentine Rite, and in various Anglican Churches. It is also used by the Crucifer or by acolytes on certain occasions. Tridentine Rite refers to the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church as promulgated by the Council of Trent (December 13, 1545 till December 4, 1563). ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... In some Christian churches (particularly the Anglican Communion), one server is appointed to carry the churchs cross during processions at the beginning and end of the service. ... In some Christian churches, an acolyte is one who wishes to attain clergyhood. ...