Tunicle
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The tunicle is the distinguishing vestment of the subdeacon in Traditional Catholic and Indult Catholic clerical societies and in Anglicanism. It is an outer tunic which is worn over the alb and amice during Mass and other liturgies. A bishop also wears one under his dalmatic and chasuble during a Pontifical High Mass. Like the dalmatic and chasuble, the color of the tunicle corresponds with the liturgical color for the day. It was, by the time the office of subdeacon was suppressed, virtually indistinguishable from the dalmatic with the exception of narrower sleeves and a single horizontal band on the front and back, as opposed to the double band of the dalmatic.
Prior to the Second Vatican Council, all seminarians passed through the subdiaconate. Today, only certain priestly societies retain minor orders and the subdiaconate with papal permission. The tunicle may still be seen when Solemn High Mass is celebrated according to the Tridentine Rite, and in various Anglican Churches. It is also used by the crucifer or by acolytes on certain occasions.
