Welcome Back Cotta

AWC

Those souls ofttimes perusing these selfsame pages shall be well aware of a manifest inclination toward the upholding of the cassock and cotta.

Not only do such vestments present a seemly aspect, preventing distraction by disarray, but also do they permit the server to recede into the scene, thus holding fast attention upon the divers movements or parts of the Mass.

A cotta is a white vestment, typically knee-length or shorter, worn over a cassock by clergy, altar servers, and choir members. Made of linen or cotton, it symbolizes purity and humility. Shorter than a surplice—often stopping at the hip or mid-thigh—it can be decorated with lace or embroidery depending on tradition or occasion. The cotta originated from the alb, a long, full-length white garment.

Square or Roman yoke

Round yoke

According to Ritual Notes the cotta "should reach half-way between the wearer’s hip and the knee." The vestment reminds the server of the white garment presented to him at his baptism.

When donning the cotta.

Indúe me, Dómine, novum hóminem, qui secúndum Deum creátus est in justítia et sanctitáte veritátis.

Invest me, O Lord, as a new man, who was created by God in justice and the holiness of truth.

Historical and Linguistic Origins - Online Etymological Dictionary

cotta (n.)

early 14c., "principal outer garment, tunic, kirtle," typically made of cloth and usually with sleeves, worn alone or under a mantle, from Old French cote "coat, robe, tunic, overgarment," from Frankish kotta "coarse cloth" or some other Germanic source (compare Old Saxon kot "woolen mantle," Old High German chozza "cloak of coarse wool," German Kotze "a coarse coat"); the ultimate origin is unknown. Spanish, Portuguese cota, Italian cotta are Germanic loan-words.

surplice (n.)

"loose-fitting overgarment, usually of white linen and having broad, full sleeves," c. 1200, from Old French surpeliz (12c.), from Medieval Latin superpellicium (vestmentum) "a surplice," literally "an over fur (garment)," from Latin super "over" + Medieval Latin pellicium "fur garment, tunic of skins," from Latin pellis "skin" (from PIE root pel- "skin, hide").

So called because it was donned over the dress of fur worn by clergymen and choristers for warmth in unheated medieval churches, called in English a pelisse (Middle English pilch, pelch), "a circumstance which also explains its great breadth and fullness" [Century Dictionary].

• https://blog.ecclesiasticalsewing.com/2021/08/20/cotta-sewing-patterns-for-altar-servers/
• https://vicordinariateserv.wixsite.com/altarservers

To an Altar Boy

by St. John Berchmans

To be Christ’s page at the altar,

To serve Him freely there.

Where even the Angels falter,

Bowed low in reverent prayer.

To touch the throne most holy,

To hand the gifts for the feast,

To see Him meekly, lowly,

Descend at the word of the priest.

To hear man’s poor petition,

To sound the silver bell,

When He in sweet submission,

Comes down with us to dwell.

No grander mission surely

Could Saints or men enjoy;

No heart should love more purely,

Than yours my altar boy.

God bless you, lad, forever,

And keep you in His care,

And Guard you that you never

Belie the robes you wear.

For white bespeaks untainted

A heart both tried and true;

And red tolls love the sainted

The holy martyrs knew.

Throughout life, then, endeavor

God’s graces to employ;

And be in heart forever

A holy altar boy.