What is the significance of a Cope?

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FightingFat

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I’ve been wondering what a Cope is for and what it’s significance is? I have had a look on the internet and found lots of stuff about Cope meaning “cape or rain cloak”, liturgical directions about when it is to be worn and who by, but I can’t find anything about what its actually significance is. Can any knowledgeable posters help?
 
I found this article very helpful in understanding the cope: Cope
By the beginning of the 13th century the liturgical use of the cope had become finally fixed, and the rules for this use included by Pope Pius V. in the Roman Missal and by Clement VIII. in the Pontificate and Caeremoniale were consequently not new, but in accordance with ancient and universal custom.
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FightingFat said:
I’ve been wondering what a Cope is for and what it’s significance is? I have had a look on the internet and found lots of stuff about Cope meaning “cape or rain cloak”, liturgical directions about when it is to be worn and who by, but I can’t find anything about what its actually significance is. Can any knowledgeable posters help?
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The Cope is reserved for solemn occasions. Not used at mass, but rather at Benedictions,Consecrations , etc…
 
Asperges before high mass, benediction, that sort of thing.

It does originate from a rain cloak, or so Fulton J Sheen said. 😉
 
thomas_jd said:
The Cope is reserved for solemn occasions. Not used at mass, but rather at Benedictions,Consecrations , etc…
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Indeed! The Cope is used for Baptisms too as well Weddings without Masses also.

Part of me feels very sad though because my present parish priest sees no need for use of the Cope but rather regards it as superfluous. In fact he has placed all the beautiful copes in the Church museum. During all celebrations and functions in the church he wears a chasuble.😦
 
So from the posts above, and the links provided, I understand that a cope is like a chasuble, but for special liturgical events? Why is it this garment in particular, that is used at Benediction for example?

In my Extraordinary Form missal, there are explanations for all the vestments, a bit like this: fisheaters.com/vestments.html I’m sure it says the Chasuble is the sign of the priestly office, but I don’t have it here to check. Would that be the same for the Cope? How and why does it differ?
 
The maniple is a vestment which symbolises priestly hard work, suffering etc. I think that stems from a handkerchief for wiping the brow. As for the chasuble I think some of the symbolism behind them being used at mass is as the seamless garment which Our Lord wore, also with more traditional looking vestments they’re often decorated with a cross on the back, the yoke of Christ - so it is particularly appropriate for the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
 
FightingFat said:
I thought the maniple was a symbol of service?
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My missal from the '50’s says;

“The maniple is a small piece of material which encircles the left arm of the priest. Originally it was only a piece of linen with which the people used to wipe their face and hands - in a word, a handkerchief. It does not seem to have been used in the Roman liturgy before the twelth century. It is the symbol of work and sorrow.”
 
FightingFat said:
I thought the maniple was a symbol of service?
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Indirectly yes; originally the Maniple was a vestment similar to a handkerchief carried on the left arm of the priest. It symbolises the labor and hardship the priest must expect in his ardent apostolate. Its only used today in the TLM.
 
A cope is usually used by some cleric participating directly in the liturgy who has no other specific garment to wear, which usually means outside of Holy Mass, because most participants in the celebration of Holy Mass have a specific vestment to wear (chasuble, dalmatic, tunicle). However, an assistant priest assisting in the celebration of Holy Mass wears a cope as he is not the celebrant and not a deacon or subdeacon (liturgically).

Here is a cope being worn being worn during the asperges (i.e. before Mass):
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Here are copes being worn by all of the clergy processing in at solemn vespers:
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Here is a cope being worn at benediction:


Here is a cope being worn at Mass by an assistant priest (on the left):
 
FightingFat said:
I’m sure it says the Chasuble is the sign of the priestly office, but I don’t have it here to check. Would that be the same for the Cope? How and why does it differ?
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The cope is the one vestment that can be worn by all three levels of Holy Orders. Bishops, Deacons and Priests all wear it.
 
thomas_jd said:
The Cope is reserved for solemn occasions. Not used at mass, but rather at Benedictions,Consecrations , etc…
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Not totally true. At the installation of our bishop, the metropolitan archbishop wore a cope when he installed the bishop.
 
This is great, thanks everyone, I’m learning loads!

Does anyone know anything about the way the cope is used at Benediction to grasp the Monstrance?
 
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