Deacons and Copes

[Mattapoisett64]

Trying to figure out when, if at all, it would be appropriate for a deacon to wear a cope. What I’ve come up with:

Presiding at Benediction
Presiding at a non-Mass wedding
Presiding at a non-Mass funeral
Stations

Are any or all of these correct? Or would a dalmatic be more appropriate at a wedding/funeral, even though Mass was not celebrated? Are there any other occasions?

 

[929dad]

AFAIK, and I might be missing some details, the cope is the proper vestment for a liturgical celebration outside of Mass and is proper to the deacon and/or priest (and/or bishop as well).

So, the celebrations you mention would be correct. I suppose a deacon might also wear the cope if he were presiding at a Liturgy of the Word with the distribution of Communion. (I don’t want to start a debate about this celebration so please don’t use this is as an invitation).

I’m sure if there are other instances, other posters will point them out.

 

[John_Lilburne]

From Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass:

Under the heading “Exposition of the Holy Eucharist”
“92. … The priest or deacon should wear a white cope and humeral veil to give the blessing at the end of adoration, when the exposition takes place with the monstrance; in the case of exposition in the ciborium, he should put on the humeral veil.”

In Chapter 1 “Holy Communion Outside Mass” it has:
“20. The minister of communion if he is a priest or deacon, is to be vested in an alb, or a surplice over a cassock, and a stole. …
The eucharist for communion outside a church is to be carried in a pyx or other covered vessel; the vesture of the minister and the manner of carrying the eucharist should be appropriate and in accord with local circumstances.”

Under the heading “Eucharistic Processions” it has:
“105. The priest who carries the blessed sacrament may wear the vestments used for the celebration of Mass if the procession takes place immediately afterward, or he may vest in a white cope.” So it seems that a deacon carrying the blessed sacrament in a Eucharistic Procession is not an option.

From “Directory for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest”, 2 June 1988, by Congregation for Divine Worship, (published by USCCB, ISBN 1555862519):

“38. When a deacon presides at the celebration … He wears the vestments proper to his ministry, that is, the alb with stole, and, as circumstances suggest, the dalmatic.”

 

[John_Lilburne]

From Order of Christian Funerals, under the heading, “Funeral Liturgy Outside Mass”:
“182. The minister who is a priest or deacon wears an alb with stole (a cope may be used, if desired);”
(The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 985.)

From the General Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours:
“255 The priest or deacon who presides at the ceremony may wear a stole over his alb or surplice. The priest can also wear a cope. On major solemnities there is nothing to prevent several priests from wearing copes and the deacons dalmatics.”
(Divine Office, published by E.J. Dwyer, Sydney, 1974, ISBN 085574233X, page lxxxvi)

From the General Introduction of the Book of Blessings:
“36. A priest or deacon when presiding at blessings celebrated communally, especially those that are celebrated in a church or with special solemnity, is to wear an alb with stole. A surplice may replace the alb when a cassock is worn; a cope may be worn for more solemn celebrations.”
(Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page xxxi.)

So to summarise: Deacon requires cope for exposition in the monstrance. Permitted when presiding at a blessing or funeral. Not permitted for Communion Services or the Liturgy of the Hours.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Rite of Baptism for Children:

“Meanwhile the celebrating priest or deacon, vested in alb or surplice, with a stole (with or without a cope) of festive color, and accompanied by the ministers, goes to the entrance of the church …”.

This is in both n. 74 and n. 107, in describing baptisms for one child and for a large number of children. (The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, pages 394 and 408).

Rite of Marriage. Under heading “Chapter II Rite for Celebrating Marriage Outside Mass”:

“39. At the appointed time, the priest, wearing surplice and white stole (or a white cope, if desired), proceeds with the ministers to …”

“53. The rite described above should be used by a deacon who, when a priest cannot be present, has been delegated by the bishop or pastor to assist at the celebration of marriage, and to give the Church’s blessing.”

(The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, pages 734 and 738).

 

[TheMc]

I believe a deacon could (should) also wear a cope if celebrating the liturgy of the hours publicly and solemnly.

 

[John_Lilburne]

I believe a deacon could (should) also wear a cope if celebrating the liturgy of the hours publicly and solemnly.

I believe this contradicts the instruction of the liturgical book, which I quoted above. Here it is again, from the General Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours:
“255 The priest or deacon who presides at the ceremony may wear a stole over his alb or surplice. The priest can also wear a cope. On major solemnities there is nothing to prevent several priests from wearing copes and the deacons dalmatics.”
(Divine Office, published by E.J. Dwyer, Sydney, 1974, ISBN 085574233X, page lxxxvi)

 

[TheMc]

I believe this contradicts the instruction of the liturgical book, which I quoted above. Here it is again, from the General Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours:
“255 The priest or deacon who presides at the ceremony may wear a stole over his alb or surplice. The priest can also wear a cope. On major solemnities there is nothing to prevent several priests from wearing copes and the deacons dalmatics.”
(Divine Office, published by E.J. Dwyer, Sydney, 1974, ISBN 085574233X, page lxxxvi)

Whoops. You’re right. Here is what I found (with slightly different wording):

1. The priest or deacon who presides at a celebration may wear a stole over the alb or surplice; a priest may also wear a cope. On greater solemnities the wearing of the cope by many priests or of the dalmatic by many deacons is permitted.

So the way I read it, here is what they should wear:

On “normal” days:
Celebrating Priest: Cassock, Surplice (or alb), stole, [cope]
Celebrating Deacon: Same as above, no cope
Other priests and deacons: Standard Choir dress

On solemn days:
If a priest celebrates: Same as above, preferably with cope.
If a deacon celebrates: Cassock, Surplice (or alb), stole, [dalmatic]
Other priests and deacons: copes and dalmatics.

Does that sound right?