Cowl
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A cowl is an item of clothing consisting of a long, hooded garment with wide sleeves, often worn by monks. It was developed during the
Description
Developed during the Early Middle Ages, the cowl became the formal garment for those in monastic life. Both St. Jerome and John Cassian refer to it as part of a monk's dress.[1] In modern times, it is worn over the habit during liturgical services. Originally, cowl may have referred simply to the hooded portion of a cloak. In contemporary usage, however, it is distinguished from a cloak or cape (cappa) by the fact that it refers to an entire closed garment consisting of a long, hooded garment with wide sleeves.
Religious usage
The cowl is traditionally bestowed upon the monk at the time of making solemn, or lifetime,
Today, cowls are primarily worn by
- Among the Benedictines, in choir, at chapter, and at certain other ceremonial times, a long full gown with large flowing sleeves, called a cowl, is worn over the ordinary habit. Black has been the prevailing color, hence the term black monk has come to signify a Benedictine.[2] Previous generations had lengthened the garment until it reached to the heels, and Saint Benedict issued a rule restricting its length to two cubits.[3]
- Similarly, the Cistercians are known as the White Monks, in reference to the color of the cuculla, the term for the white choir robe worn over their habits.
- "The Carthusian wears the ordinary monastic habit in white serge, but the scapular which is joined by bands at the side and has the hood attached to it, is known as the "cowl". The long flowing garment with wide sleeves, which usually bears this name, is used only by the deacon at high Mass."[4]
- While not cowls in the monastic sense, the mendicant Orders have retained the use of a cappa (cape) as part of their habit. In their case, however, it is a regular part of their religious habitand worn by all members of the Order, both as street dress and in church.
- The Carmelites wear a white cape, although their tunic and scapular are brown, from which they were known in medieval England as the Whitefriars.
- Dominicans wear a black cape over a white habit—hence, their ancient nickname of Blackfriars.
- Both the cowl and the cape, though without a hood, are also worn by the nuns associated to each Order, in the same manner.[5]
- autocephalousOrthodox churches.
See also
References
- ^
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Fortescue, Adrian. "Cowl." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 20 January 2020
- ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Alston, George Cyprian. "The Benedictine Order." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 20 January 2020
- ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cowl". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 347.
- ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Webster, Douglas Raymund. "The Carthusian Order." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 20 January 2020
- ^ "Cowl" Encyclopædia Britannica (Including photo of Franciscan friars wearing capes)
External links
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Cowl". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.