Jeg skrev nylig litt om bønnene presten kan be når han tar på seg messeklærne. I samme melding fra Zenit.org står det mer om betydningen av prestens liturgiske klær:
the sacred vestments had an important function in the liturgical celebrations: In the first place, the fact that they are not worn in ordinary life, and thus possess a «liturgical» character, helps one to be detached from the everyday and its concerns in the celebration of divine worship. Furthermore, the ample form of the vestments, the alb, for example, the dalmatic and the chasuble, put the individuality of the one who wears them in second place in order to emphasize his liturgical role. One might say that the «camouflaging» of the minister’s body by the vestments depersonalizes him in a way; it is that healthy depersonalization that de-centers the celebrating minister and recognizes the true protagonist of the liturgical action: Christ. The form of the vestments, therefore, says that the liturgy is celebrated «in persona Christi» and not in the priest’s own name. He who performs a liturgical function does not do so as a private person, but as a minister of the Church and an instrument in the hands of Jesus Christ. The sacred character of the vestments also has to do with their being donned according to what is prescribed in the Roman Ritual.
Videre skrives det i artikkelen at manipelen (som presten alltid hadde på venstre arm) ikke er avskaffet, selv om den ikke trenger å brukes lenger (og selv om den ikke en gang nevnes i de nye rybrikkene). Selv opplever jeg at prestens tjeneste i messen, selve offertjenesten, blir tydeligere med manipelen på (jeg bruker den jo alltid når jeg feirer den gamle messen) – kanskje jeg også skal begynne å bruke den i novus ordo-messer?
The maniple is an article of liturgical dress used in the celebration of the extraordinary form of the Holy Mass of the Roman Rite. It fell into disuse in the years of the post-conciliar reform, even though it was never abrogated. The maniple is similar to the stole but is not as long: It is fixed in the middle with a clasp or strings similar to those of the chasuble. During the celebration of the Holy Mass in the extraordinary form, the celebrant, the deacon and the subdeacon wear the maniple on their left forearm. This article of liturgical garb perhaps derives from a handkerchief, or «mappula,» that the Romans wore knotted on their left arm. As the «mappula» was used to wipe away tears or sweat, medieval ecclesiastical writers regarded the maniple as a symbol of the toils of the priesthood.
This understanding found its way into the prayer recited when the maniple is put on: «Merear, Domine, portare manipulum fletus et doloris; ut cum exsultatione recipiam mercedem laboris» (May I deserve, O Lord, to bear the maniple of weeping and sorrow in order that I may joyfully reap the reward of my labors).
As we see, in the first part the prayer references the weeping and sorrow that accompany the priestly ministry, but in the second part the fruit of the work is noted. It would not be out of place to recall the passage of a Psalm that may have inspired the latter symbolism of the maniple.
The Vulgate renders Psalm 125:5-6 thus: «Qui seminant in lacrimis in exultatione metent; euntes ibant et flebant portantes semina sua, venientes autem venient in exultatione portantes manipulos suos» (They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds, but coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their maniples).
Slik skriver en av bloggens lesere til meg via e-post: «Jeg synes det lyder som en god idé å bruke manipel – og hva med biretta?»