Episcopal Sandals - Form and Use

Form and Use

Unlike the ancient sandals, which consisted merely of soles fastened to the foot by straps, the episcopal sandals are in the form of low shoes, and resemble slippers. The sole is of leather; the upper part, generally ornamented with embroidery, is made at the present day of silk or velvet. No cross is required upon the sandals; at Rome this is an exclusively papal privilege. With the sandals are worn the liturgical stockings, caligæ. The privilege of wearing the sandals and caligæ belongs only to bishops. They may be worn by abbots and other prelates only by special privilege from the pope and only so far as this privilege grants. The pontifical footwear is used only at Tridentine Pontifical Solemn Mass and at functions performed during the same, such as ordination, but not on other occasions, as, for example, Confirmation, Solemn Vespers, etc. It is therefore in the most exact sense of the word a vestment worn during the Mass. The liturgical color for the day decides the colour of the sandals and stockings; there are, however, no black stockings or sandals, as the bishop does not make use of either of these pontifical footwear at Requiem Masses.

The style of decoration on the episcopal sandals depended upon the rank of the prelate:

• Cardinals, Bishops and Protonotaries "de numero participantium" used sandals with gold galloons and embroidery
• Protonotaries "suprannumerarii" used sandals with gold galloons without embroidery
• Protonotaries "ad instar participantium" used sandals with yellow galloons without embroidery.

Sandals and stockings are customary in the Latin Rite, as well as in some Oriental (Eastern Churches). For example, in the Syro-Malankara and Syriac Churches, priests do not wear leather or animal product in the altar, they wear the msone.