Priest's Roman stoles

A stole is a liturgical vestment made of a long strip of cloth. It is either uniformly wide throughout or smaller in the middle and widens at the ends. A little cross is usually stitched or embroidered on both ends and in the center of the stole; nevertheless, the cross is only recommended for the middle, where the Priest kisses the stole before putting it on.

Only deacons, priests, and bishops wear the stole. It is the unique mark of office for deacons and priests, as it is the symbol of the diaconal and priestly orders. The stole is worn as a sash by deacons, with the vestment lying on the left shoulder and then going over the breast and returning to the right side. The Priest's stole runs from the back of the neck over the shoulders to the breast, where the two pieces either cross or fall straight down, depending on whether the stole is worn over the alb or the surplice. A bishop wears the stole just as the Priest does, except that it is never crossed on the breast, as a bishop wears the pectoral cross.

The stole is worn as a token of order at the ordination of deacons and priests. Roman-style stoles are finished with gold bullion braid and fringe. The church usually chooses the colors of stoles based on the season or service they are being used.

Some colors of the liturgical calendar

Black: Black represents death and grief. It is sometimes used during funerals or on anniversaries of people's deaths. It is, nevertheless, the standard color for the Priest's daily attire.

Purple: This is the color worn throughout Lent and Advent and at funeral masses on occasion. Purple represents repentance, sacrifice, and preparedness. During Holy Week, purple is also sometimes worn.

Rose: This color is quite similar to purple and is only worn twice a year — on the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) and the fourth Sunday of Lent.

Green: This is the color associated with "ordinary time" or "church time." This is often referred to as the "epiphany" stage. Ordinary time is described as the time between Christmas and Lent and between Easter and Advent. Green is associated with vigor, optimism, and expectation.