Nuns.
The dress of nuns, as a general rule, consists of a vestis (gown or tunic), girt at the waist, and a scapular. To these various orders add pallia, mantella, etc., as will appear from the following list. As a general rule, a white gremial or breast-cloth is fastened over the head and round the throat and breast; over this two loose vela or cloths are placed on the head, the inner white, the outer black. The feet, even of 'discalced' nuns, are protected at least by wooden, bark, or leathern sandals; very rarely are the feet entirely unprotected.
1. Acemetae (or Vigilants).—Uncertain; according to some authorities, green vestis, signed with a red cross, above which a mantellum or cape. Black velum on head.
2. Agnes, St (Dordrecht).—White vestis and scapular, black velum on head, ruff round neck.
3. Ambrose, St.—White, black velum on head.
4. Angelica, St (Milan).—White vestis and scapular, cross on breast, ring on finger, with cross in place of a jewel.
5. Antonius, St (Syria).—No definite rule, any dress suitable to monastic life.
6. Augustine, St (Solitaries of, 1256).—Black; Gregory IX gave licence to wear white, with black scapular and velum on head.
7. Augustine, St (ancient habit).—Black tunic, white linen rochet, on head a cloth, ornamented with semée of red crosses, reaching down the back like a cloak or cope.
8. Augustine, St (discalced; Spain).—Similar to the corresponding monks, but with the usual vela on the head.
9. Augustine, St (discalced; Lusitania).—White vestis (to which a black vestis is added on feast days) girded with black leather girdle, white scapular, black mantellum; on the head a rough white linen cloth hanging before the face to the eyes, but behind to the waist. On this white cloth another, black, about five palms in breadth.
10. Augustine, St (Penitents of).—Black vestis and cappa, reaching to knees; scapular white; face covered with a black veil.
11. Augustine, St (Venice).—White; black veil on face.
12. Basil, St (Eastern).—Natural (undyed) black dress; black mafors (narrow scapular-like pallium); gloves or sleeves covering the arms and hands as far as the fingers; black velum covering the whole head.
13. Basil, St (Western).—As in the East till 1560. After that date, black vestis, scapular and velum reaching from head to knees; black gremial or breast-cloth. A cassock with ample sleeves added for church services.
14. Begga, St (Antwerp).—Black vestis, black pallium from head downwards, a cap (biretta), resembling in outline an inverted saucer, on head white velum round head and across breast.
15. Benedict, St.—As monks, but with velum in place of caputium.
16. Benedict, St (de Monte Calvario).—White tunic and scapular, with black velum on head. Discalced.
17. Birgitta, St.—White camisia, gray tunic, cuculla with sleeves reaching to tip of middle finger, gray mantellum. On the head a 'garland' or 'wreath' concealing the forehead and cheeks, and secured at the back of the head by a pin. On this is placed a black velum fastened by three pins, one on the forehead and one over each ear. Above this is a corona of white cloth consisting of a Greek cross passing over the head from forehead to back and from ear to ear, the ends joined by a circle that passes round the temples. At each of the intersections of the cross arms with each other and with the circle is fastened a small piece (gutta) of red cloth—the total of five doubtless typical of the Five Wounds.
18. Caesarius, St.—White vestis, girded; black velum on head.
19. Calatiavans.—White; white scapular signed with red cross flory, usual white and black vela on head.
20. Camaldulenses.—White; scapular confined with white girdle; usual vela on head.
21. Canonesses regular (Belgium, Lorraine, etc.).—White tunic girt at waist, mantle over; black velum on head; a rochet is worn in some houses.
22. Canonesses regular (Rouen).—Originally white; now black tunic, black mantellum lined and edged with white mouse-fur; black and white vela disposed as usual on head.
23. Canonesses (Mons).—Black vestis with white sleeves; black velum on head reaching down back half-way; pallium or mantle on shoulder hanging to ground, black lined with white. In church service the dress consists of white linen surplice or cassock reaching to feet, braided with a cord sewn upon it arranged in ornamental knots and scrolls; peaked head-dress, from the point of which hangs a long pendant streamer. Pallium or mantle of black silk, lined with mouse-fur, white with black spots.
24. Capuchins.—Rough woollen vestis, scapular, mantellum, white gremial cloth, black and white vela on head.
25. Carmelites (ancient).—Tawny tunic, short white pallium or mantle, white velum encircling head.
26. Carmelites (modern).—Tawny tunic and scapular, white pallium reaching to feet, usual vela on head.
27. Carmelites (France).—Brown habit, white mantellum lined with fur, white gremial cloth covering head and breast, black velum above this.
28. Carmelites (discalced).—Like ordinary Carmelites, but with somewhat long cappa of coarse cloth; two black vela on head; feet shod with woollen cloth and bark sandals.
29. Carthusians.—White tunic and scapular; cloth on neck and breast, usual velamina on head.
30. Cassian.—White tunic and linen rochet, with black velum on head.
31. Cistercians.—White; gray (sometimes black) scapular, girded; in choir a white cuculla added.
32. Clugniacs.—Black tunic, girded; ample scapular, also black; usual vela on head.
33. Columbanus, St.—White tunic, cuculla, gremial cloth, and velum on head.
34. Cross, St (Penitents of).—White tunic, over which another, black, girded with leather girdle. White gremial cloth and velum.
35. Dominic, St.—White vestis, girded; scapular; black and white vela on head. In choir or at the Sacrament a cappa is added.
36. Dominic, St (Penitents of).—White tunic and scapular; white gremial cloth and velum, over which a flowing black pallium is placed which hangs down to the feet.
37. Eligius, St.—Black tunic, white mantle, white gremial cloth on head and breast, over which black velum.
38. Fontevraud.—Black tunic, white gremial and velum.
39. Fontevraud (reformed).—Black pallium added to previous dress.
40. Francis of Assisi, St.—Rough tunic girt with a rope, scapular and mantellum; white gremial cloth. Discalced; feet in wooden sandals.
41. Fructuosus, St.—Cuculla, pallium, and tunic, all gray; girdle securing tunic black. Discalced (sandals worn in summer, shoes in winter).
42. Genovefa, St (Canonesses of).—White tunic and surplice, black fur 'almutia,' ornamented with white spots, worn at service over left arm (something like a long maniple). White gremial cloth, and black velum over it on head.
43. Gilbert, St.—Black tunic, mantle, and hood, the last lined with lamb's wool.
44. Hilary, St.—Gray tunic, not long, over which a short tawny pallium; black velum on head, with white band round forehead; shoes with pointed toes turned upward.
45. Hospitalers of St John of Jerusalem.—Tawny tunic with white cross sewn on breast. White velum on head.
46. Hospitalers of St John of Jerusalem (France).—Black vestis signed with a white cross fourchée; pallium with similar cross on left shoulder; white and black vela on head. Fastened to the pallium a rosary divided into eight parts, symbolical of the instruments of the Passion.
47. Hospitalers (Canonesses; Paris).—White vestis, linen rochet, pallium from shoulders to feet, usual vela on head.
48. Hospitalers of the Holy Ghost (Saxony).—Black vestis, with double-transomed cross fourchée in white on the left side of breast. Usual vela on head.
49. Humiliati (Milan).—White tunic girded; loose white scapular; white velum.
50. Infant Jesus, Virgins of.—Woollen vestis of dark tawny colour. On certain days black velum on head reaching nearly to feet.
51. Isidore, St.—Uncertain; probably gray tunic and cappa with hood. Discalced.
52. James, St, de Spatha.—Black vestis with red cross flory fichée on the right on the breast. White cappa reaching to feet. Usual vela on head.
53. Jerome, St.—White tunic, gray scapular, black pallium, black velum on head.
54. Jesuatae.—White tunic and brown scapular; cappa of the same colour added at service. Usual vela on head.
55. Lateran Canonesses Regular.—White tunic and rochet; white gremial cloth over head and breast, over which black velum. A wide-sleeved surplice added for service.
56. Laurence, St (Venice).—Black vestis with white velum on head, not altogether covering the hair. A long flowing cassock added for a service-robe, and a long black velum placed over the white velum.
57. Macharius, St.—Tawny vestis with black cappa, or a sheepskin over it.
58. Malta, Knights of.—Black tunic and scapular, black pallium, very long and supported over the arms to keep it from the ground; white Maltese cross on left shoulder of pallium. Black and white silk chain hanging from neck supporting wooden images of the instruments of the Passion.
59. Maria, St, in Capitolio (Canonesses of).—Silk vestis, above which a white rochet. Head covered with long black velum reaching to ground. At first a crimped, ruff-like collar round the neck; this was afterwards abandoned.
60. Maria Fuliensis, St.—Rough white vestis; white gremial cloth on head and breast, loosely covered with black velum. Discalced.
61. Mary the Virgin, St, Annunciation of.—Gray tunic, white chlamys or cloak, red cross-shaped scapular, usual head coverings.
62. Mary the Virgin, St, Annunciation of (another order).—White vestis, black girdle, white scapular, blue gown, white gremial on head and breast, black velum.
63. Mary the Virgin, St, Assumption of.—Blue, secured with white girdle, white scapular, white gremial cloth, white velum (very long) on head. In choir a pallium of mixed silk and blue wool is added.
64. Mary the Virgin, St (Canonesses regular of).—Black tunic, over which a long black cappa is girded in choir; usual gremial cloth and vela.
65. Mary the Virgin, St, Daughters of (Cremona).—Black. Resembling the habit of the priests of the Society of Jesus, but with black velum in place of biretta. An extra black velum and an extra black mantle is added out of doors.
66. Maria, Sta (de Mercede Redemptionis Captivorum).—White vestis and scapular; usual vela on head. In centre of breast a shield bearing party per fess in chief gules a cross pattée argent, in base three pallets.
67. Mary the Virgin, St, Servants of.—Same as corresponding monks, with velum instead of caputium. In Germany certain of this order wear a white velum with a blue star on the forehead.
68. Mary the Virgin, St, Seven Sorrows of.—Black woollen vestis and girdle, head and breast with white linen covering, long black head-covering put on out of doors.
69. Mary the Virgin, St, Purification of.—Simple black vestis, white collar and cuffs, black velum on head—much like ordinary mourning dress.
70. Mary the Virgin, St, Visitation of.—Black vestis, pectoral cross of silver with figure and monogram of Christ. Usual vela on head.
71. Mary of the Rosary, St.—Black; image of the Conception, surrounded by a rosary embellished with figures of the instruments of the Passion, on breast; white gremial cloth and white velum on head.
72. Olivetans.—White cuculla and tunic; usual vela on head.
73. Pachomius, St.—Black tunic and gray hood; a row of small white Greek crosses along every edge.
74. Philippines of Rome.—Black woollen tunic, white sleeveless surplice with black cross in centre. Usual vela on head.
75. Premonstratensians.—White vestis and pallium, white scapular girded. On the forehead a cross signed on the white velum.
76. Peter of Alcantaria, St (Solitaries of).—Rough vestis girded with a rope; scapular, mantle, and velum. No covering on head.
77. Sacrament, Adoration of the Most Holy.—Black vestis, black velamen over head and shoulders, golden figure of the Host on breast.
78. Mary the Virgin, St, Presentation of.—Black, white scapular, usual vela on head signed with cross in the centre of the forehead.
79. Sepulchre, Canonesses of the Holy.—Black tunic, over which a white sleeveless surplice reaching to knees. Usual vela on head. Mantellum, on the left shoulder of which is a double transomed cross in red. To the left side are two ropes sewn, knotted together by five knots to typify the Five Wounds.
80. Stephen, St.—White woollen vestis and scapular with red cross fourchée on breast. Usual vela on head. In choir a white cuculla is added with full sleeves of red silk.
81. Sylvester, St.—Similar to monks, but with usual vela on head.
82. Trinitatis, SS (Redemptionis Captivorum).—White vestis and scapular, black pallium. On pallium and scapular a red and blue Greek cross fourchée. Usual vela.
83. Trinity, Most Holy.—White tunic and scapular, tawny cappa signed with Greek cross fourchée in red and blue. Similar cross on scapular. Black sandals.
84. Urbanists.—Blackish vestis and scapular, tawny mantellum at service, white gremial cloth, white and black vela on head.
85. Ursula, St.—Black vestis girded with cord, white gremial cloth, long black velum on head.
86. Ursula, St (Rome).—Woollen vestis of mingled black and violet, with black tunic fastened by black leather girdle. Usual vela on head, the black one reaching to the knees.
87. Ursula, St (Parma).—Black vestis, very long dark violet pallium, the hem girt up in the girdle, and that part over the head concealing the eyes.
88. Vallumbrosanae.—As monks, but with black cuculla; usual vela on head.
89. Ministrantes Infirmis (Belgium).—Black dress and scapular; white velum over head and shoulders.
90. Ministrantes Infirmis (Liburni).—Blue dress with long and wide sleeves, white velamen over head and breast, another white velamen loose on head girded with rope round waist.
91. Sacrament, Poor Virgins of the Holy.—Woollen tawny tunic girt with rope. White velamen on head.