Tunicle

The Tunicella (including Tunica, Tunica stricta, dalmatica subdiaconalis, subucula, subtle or subdiaconale ) is in the Catholic Church, the liturgical official robes of the subdeacon during Holy Masses, processions and blessings. In addition, she also wore the bishop at solemn pontifical mass under the chasuble.

After the First Roman Ordo, it was at the Tunicella nor a papal garment. From the 9th century they solved the common at the sub-deacons Planeta from a liturgical robe. End of the 12th century it was common even with bishops in use.

In the early days, the Tunicella the subdeacon differed even through closer sleeves of the dalmatic of the deacon. Later it was adapted in this color, cut and ornament, so that between the two robes no real difference was seen. Occasionally, the difference between the two garments can be seen from the fact that the dalmatic two horizontal stripes, the Tunicella other hand, has only a transverse strip between the two embroidered stripes.

The Tunicella the bishop, however, kept their own species, also were Tunicella and dalmatic of the bishop usually made ​​of thinner material, since they acted only as an undergarment under the chasuble. That the use of all three garments the fullness of the sacrament should be symbolized in the Episcopate.

With the suspension of the administration of the minor orders (and hence the quasi abolition of Subdiakonats in the ordinary form of the Roman rite ) by the Motu Proprio ministerial quaedam Paul VI. came the Tunicella as bishop undergarment largely into disuse. It is used only in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite.