What is the Golden Tunicle?

What is the Golden Tunicle? Well, as I just typed Tunicle the little red squiggle line appeared under the word meaning that even Firefox doesn't know what it is! The Golden Tunicle is for me a metaphor for the Sacred in the Secular....let me first explain what a tunicle is.

In the Anglo-Catholic tradition the tunicle is the vestment that the Sub-Deacon wears in a solemn service (A Eucharist..er...Communion service where there is a Deacon, Priest and Sub-Deacon present. There are also other items that make it a solemn service but that is a main component.) The role of the Sub-Deacon is a contested position in many circles, it is not a level of ordination nor does it have any ecclesiastical (Church) status and is purely a liturgical role. Within the service traditionally the Sub-Deacon assists the Deacon during the Mass in the manner of holding the Gospel book while the Gospel is being proclaimed. The Sub-Deacon may read the Epistle lesson and traditionally stands to the Priests left during the Eucharistic portion of the service. While standing at the Altar most often the Sub-Deacon assists with turning the pages on the Altar book, and may or may not point to the place on the book so that the Priest does not lose their place while preforming the manual acts of the Eucharistic Prayer (elevation of the chalice and host [wafer/bread], reverencing of the elements/altar.

There are many other thoughts as to why there are three people in the "Sacred Trio" in the Solemn service. I have heard that its represents the Three persons of the Trinity, it is a representation of the three levels of initiation in the church, the baptized laity (Sub-Deacon), the ordained Deacon and the Ordained Priest or Presbyter (Depending on how you look at the level of the Episcopacy [Bishop] this could prove problematic, however a Bishop is a Priest...and when the Bishop is there some call the service a 'Pontifical Solemn High...'). There are many more I am sure, it seems that with most things in liturgy and ritual there are many thoughts as to why we do things and have certain things in the service....many of them may be correct, as there are many different traditions specific to individual parishes.

All that being said....

I hope that this blog, The Golden Tunicle, is a place where I can share my thoughts on the Sacred that is found in the Secular. Gold is a color and something worn on special days, a thing of beauty and status throughout history. I pray that my reflections will be of worth to read and that they may bring hope and insight into the dark world we live in.