Cassock Colors and Piping – What’s What?

While watching The Cardinal (see previous post), I was wondering about the various cassock styles for differing kinds of Monsignors. There are today only three (actually four if you subdivide numerary from supernumerary Prothonotaries) kinds of Monsignors:

Apostolic Prothonotaries Numerary (the highest and least common form)
Apostolic Prothonotaries Supernumerary
Honorary Prelates of His Holiness
Chaplains of His Holiness

Each office has different vesture embellishments that distinguish it from the others. These differ as to whether the prelate is wearing Choir Dress or Academic Dress (i.e. ordinary extra liturgical dress).

Choir Dress
Apostolic Prothonotaries Numerary
Purple Cassock
Red Piping
Red Buttons
Purple Sash
Purple Mantelletta

Apostolic Prothonotaries Supernumerary
& Honorary Prelates of His Holiness
Purple Cassock
Red Trim
Red Buttons
Purple Sash

Chaplains of His Holiness
(Same as Academic Dress)
Black Cassock
Purple Piping
Purple Buttons
Purple Sash

Academic/Ordinary Dress
Apostolic Prothonotaries Numerary
Black Cassock
Red Trim
Red Buttons
Purple Sash
Purple Ferraiuolo

Apostolic Prothonotaries Supernumerary
& Honorary Prelates of His Holiness
Black Cassock
Red Trim
Red Buttons
Purple Sash
Purple Ferraiuolo (for Apostolic Prothonotaries Supernumerary only and not Honorary Prelates)

Chaplains of His Holiness
(Same as Choir Dress)
Black Cassock
Purple Piping
Purple Buttons
Purple Sash

For the official Roman instructions, click here.

While watching The Cardinal (see previous post), I was wondering about the various cassock styles for differing kinds of Monsignors. There are today only three (actually four if you subdivide numerary from supernumerary Prothonotaries) kinds of Monsignors:

Apostolic Prothonotaries Numerary (the highest and least common form)
Apostolic Prothonotaries Supernumerary
Honorary Prelates of His Holiness
Chaplains of His Holiness

Each office has different vesture embellishments that distinguish it from the others. These differ as to whether the prelate is wearing Choir Dress or Academic Dress (i.e. ordinary extra liturgical dress).

Choir Dress
Apostolic Prothonotaries Numerary
Purple Cassock
Red Piping
Red Buttons
Purple Sash
Purple Mantelletta

Apostolic Prothonotaries Supernumerary
& Honorary Prelates of His Holiness
Purple Cassock
Red Trim
Red Buttons
Purple Sash

Chaplains of His Holiness
(Same as Academic Dress)
Black Cassock
Purple Piping
Purple Buttons
Purple Sash

Academic/Ordinary Dress
Apostolic Prothonotaries Numerary
Black Cassock
Red Trim
Red Buttons
Purple Sash
Purple Ferraiuolo

Apostolic Prothonotaries Supernumerary
& Honorary Prelates of His Holiness
Black Cassock
Red Trim
Red Buttons
Purple Sash
Purple Ferraiuolo (for Apostolic Prothonotaries Supernumerary only and not Honorary Prelates)

Chaplains of His Holiness
(Same as Choir Dress)
Black Cassock
Purple Piping
Purple Buttons
Purple Sash

For the official Roman instructions, click here.