KISSING OF STOLE BY PRIESTS AND DEACONS

 


KISSING THE STOLE

The stole is the distinctive element of the raiment of the ordained minister and it is always worn in the celebration of the sacraments and sacramental. It is a strip of material that is embroidered, according to the norm, whose color varies with respect to the liturgical season or feast day. 

Taking the stole with both hands, he kisses at the cross on the neck and says, “Redde mihi, Domine, stolam immortalitatis, quam perdidi in praevaricatione primi parentis; et, quamvis indignus accedo ad tuum sacrum mysterium, merear tamen gaudium sempiternum (Restore to me, O Lord, the state of immortality which was lost to me by my first parents, and, although I am unworthy to approach your sacred mysteries, grant me nevertheless eternal joy” or Lord, restore the stole of immortality, which I lost through the collusion of our first parents, and, unworthy as I am to approach Thy sacred mysteries, may I yet gain eternal joy). He adjusts the stole around his neck so that it hangs equally from both shoulders. The priest uses the two ends of the cincture to secure the stole on both sides. With the knot of the cincture at the front of his body, the priest takes the length of the cincture on either side and places it over the stole before passing a portion of each length (not the entire length) of the cincture over the portion of the cincture around his waist to create a loop below the waist. He passes the tassels of each end of the cincture through these loops on either side, and adjusts the knot in the front and the loops to each side.

The stole is an article of enormous importance, which, more than any other garment, indicates the state of ordained office. THE STOLE - Sign of authority, is also a symbol of immortality. The stole represents the yoke of Christ, and the Priest in recognition of that yoke and of his vows, kisses the stole each time he puts it on to show his willingness to submit to that yoke.

Thus, Priests kiss the stole to recognize in it,


God's power they wield, not their own. Kissing the stole symbolizes the priest, professing his love for Christ, his readiness to wage the spiritual war and deliver the Children of God entrusted to him, and his willingness to die for Christ. It is a mysterious material. Putting on Stole gives me an extreme courage, and always reminds me of the mantle of the Prophet Elijah.

© Rev Fr Utazi Prince Marie Benignus Zereuwa

July 10 2021 


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