Deacons wear two special vestments unique to the order of deacons: The deacon stole and the dalmatic. They are worn when the deacon serves in a liturgical role such as at Mass or for the celebration of the sacraments of baptism or matrimony.
The deacon stole. The deacon stole is the primary symbol of the order of deacons. It is a band of high-quality cloth usually made of cotton, wool or silk. It is typically 4.5 inches wide and, combining the front and the back, about 9.5 feet long. It is worn over the left shoulder, goes diagonally across the chest and back to the right hip, and then hangs down the right side. It is worn over the alb, a full-length white robe, and may be worn under a dalmatic.
Deacon stoles come in each liturgical color — white, green, red, violet and rose — and the color worn corresponds to the liturgical occasion. Many are beautifully embroidered with spiritual symbols. A deacon stole differs from a priest’s stole, which is worn around the back of the neck and hangs straight down in front on both sides.
The dalmatic. The dalmatic is the outer vestment worn by deacons. It is a tunic with arm-length, wide sleeves. The sides are continuous or sown together, and the sleeves and the bottom of the vestment are squared. These features differ from the chasuble, a similar outer vestment worn by priests and bishops, that has open sides and is rounded or curved at the bottom of the vestment.
Like the deacon stole, dalmatics come in each of the liturgical colors, and the color chosen is appropriate to the liturgical occasion. Some dalmatics are plain, but most are decorated with piping, artistic patterns, or distinctive sacred artwork. The dalmatic always matches the color of the celebrant’s chasuble, and frequently is a matched set with ornamentation that is nearly identical.
In addition to the deacon stole, the two most common symbols for the order of deacons are a basin and a towel, and the cross.
A basin and towel. Jesus used a basin and towel when he intentionally, voluntarily, humbly and generously served his disciples as he washed their feet (Jn 13:4-5). The items that Jesus used on this momentous occasion are profound symbols of humble service, and the diaconate is an order of service. The word deacon is derived from the Greek words diakonos, a servant, and diakonia, to serve. Jesus told his disciples, “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (Jn 13:15). Deacons take the instructions of Jesus to heart and freely accept the invitation of their teacher and master to dedicate themselves to serve him by serving their neighbor.
The cross. The cross itself is another symbol of the diaconate. It is commonly portrayed as a cross draped with a deacon’s stole. Another striking depiction is a rough or gnarled cross which represents the hardships that often go with service.
Foot washing prefigured Jesus’ definitive act of service, his total gift of self, his death on the cross, which makes the cross the ultimate symbol of service. Jesus made a deliberate decision to serve in this manner: “No one takes it (my life) from me, but I lay it down on my own” (Jn 10:18a). For Jesus, the cross represents his supreme act of loving service: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). The deacon, thus inspired by Jesus and his cross, makes a conscious decision to follow in his footsteps and to lay down his life in the loving service of others.
Father Van Sloun is the director of clergy personnel for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. This column is part of a series on the sacrament of holy orders.
