Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun The wide-sleeved garment worn over the alb by a deacon, cardinal, bishop, or abbot at the celebration of Mass.
- noun A wide-sleeved garment worn by certain monarchs at their coronations.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A loose-fitting ecclesiastical vestment with wide sleeves, provided with an opening for the passage of the head, divided or left partly open at the sides, and reaching to or below the knee.
- noun The imperial mantle, resembling the ecclesiastical dalmatic, worn by kings and emperors at coronation and on other important occasions.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A long wide-
sleeved tunic , which serves as aliturgical vestment in theRoman Catholic andAnglican Churches and is worn by adeacon at theEucharist orMass and, although infrequently, by bishops as an undergarment above the alb.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Right: A dalmatic from the church of San Francesco d'Assisi a Ripa Grande, Rome.
Roman Exhibition Showcases Significant and Historical Vestments 2009
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(The dalmatic from the new set) (Take note of the antependium -- or altar frontal -- where the design may also be seen)
Revival in the Traditional Liturgical Arts on Display in Nantes 2009
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This dalmatic is from a set given to the church in Rome in 1810 by a Franciscan sister in Naples.
Roman Exhibition Showcases Significant and Historical Vestments 2009
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Behind-right: A green silk dalmatic from the church of San Benedetto in Militello in Val di Catania, Sicily; from the first quarter of the 17th century.) (Green chasuble from the church of San Camillo de Lellis at Catania, Sicily.
Roman Exhibition Showcases Significant and Historical Vestments 2009
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The dalmatic is the outer liturgical vestment of the deacon.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913
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As the dalmatic is the distinguishing outer vestment of the deacon, he is clothed with it at his ordination by the bishop, who at the same time says:
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913
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At Rome, and throughout Italy, the dalmatic is a robe with wide sleeves; it reaches to the knees, is closed in front, and is open on the sides as far as the shoulder.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913
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The dalmatic was a robe of cloth of gold, the stole was lined with crimson cloth and richly embroidered, the alb, or sleeveless tunic of fine cambric, was trimmed with beautiful lace.
The Life of King Edward VII with a sketch of the career of King George V 1893
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There was to be celebrated the high mass, that known as the dalmatic, like the one of the day before, about which the worthy correspondent wrote, only that now the officiating priest was to be Padre Salvi, and that the alcalde of the province, with many other Spaniards and persons of note, was to attend it in order to hear Padre Damaso, who enjoyed a great reputation in the province.
The Social Cancer Jos�� Rizal 1878
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Then the dalmatic, which is said to be the most beautiful piece of embroidery in the whole world; the Imperial dalmatic, on which is celebrated the glory of Jesus Christ upon the earth and in heaven, the Transfiguration, and the Last Judgment, in which the different personages are embroidered in silks of various colours, and in silver and gold.
The Dream ��mile Zola 1871
brightshade commented on the word dalmatic
Woof! The same root as "Dalmation," though I doubt Disney's going to make a movie of 101 Dalmatics!
noun
a wide-sleeved, long, loose vestment open at the sides, worn by deacons and bishops, and by some monarchs at their coronation.
ORIGIN late Middle English : from Old French dalmatique or late Latin dalmatica, from dalmatica (vestis) ‘(robe) of (white) Dalmatian wool,’ from Dalmaticus ‘of Dalmatia.’
(Oxford American English Dictionary)
It's a curious vestment in that it's worn by deacons and bishops but not by priests. I wonder if the dalmatic is indicative of the special relationship between deacons and bishops.
June 7, 2009