Traditional Cotton Amice with Ties – 24″ x 36″
Original price was: $ 44.99.$ 34.99Current price is: $ 34.99.
- Classic rectangular amice, 24″ x 36″
- Pure cotton, soft and absorbent
- Fine scalloped edging around the cloth
- Two long tapes to cross over the chest and tie at the waist
- Worn under the alb to cover the collar and cassock
- Machine washable
The Classic Priest’s Amice, Tied the Traditional Way
This amice is the first vestment a priest puts on before Mass: a plain white rectangle of pure cotton that hides the collar and shoulders once the alb goes on. It measures 24 by 36 inches and is finished all around with a fine scalloped edge. Two long tie tapes are sewn to the upper corners. In our photo it is worn over a black cassock with the tapes crossed on the chest, carried around the back and knotted at the front of the waist, which is how an amice is normally secured.
Why Clergy Still Wear the Amice
Since the reforms after the Second Vatican Council, the Roman Missal requires the amice only when the alb does not fully cover a priest’s ordinary clothing and collar. Many priests wear it every day regardless. It keeps the neckline of the alb clean and white, hides a black clerical collar under a square or wide neckline, and absorbs perspiration so the alb, stole and chasuble stay fresh for longer. Anglican and Lutheran clergy who vest in alb and stole use it for the same reasons.
The Helmet of Salvation
The amice carries one of the oldest vesting prayers. Drawing on Ephesians 6:17, the priest asks God to place on his head the helmet of salvation to guard against the assaults of the devil. In the older custom the amice was laid briefly over the head before being lowered to the shoulders.
Vesting With the Amice
Hold the amice by its two tied corners, rest the long edge against the back of your neck and draw the cloth over your shoulders. Cross the tapes over your chest, pass them around your back, bring them forward again and tie them at the waist. Tuck the cloth in around the collar, then put on the alb.
At a Glance
- Rectangular white amice, 24″ x 36″
- Pure cotton
- Fine scalloped edge
- Two long tie tapes
- Machine washable
- One size
Prefer to skip the ties? See our wrap-around amice with a Velcro closure, or the zip-shoulder clergy amice.
Amice FAQs
What is an amice?
It is a white cloth rectangle with two long tapes that a priest arranges over his neck and shoulders before putting on the alb. It covers the clerical collar and everyday clothing and protects the other vestments from perspiration. It is the first vestment a priest puts on before Mass.
Is a priest required to wear an amice?
In the Roman Rite today the amice is required only when the alb does not fully cover the priest’s ordinary clothing at the neck. Many priests still wear it at every Mass for tradition, a clean neckline and to protect their vestments.
What prayer is said while putting on the amice?
The traditional vesting prayer asks God to place the helmet of salvation on the priest’s head to overcome the assaults of the devil, echoing Ephesians 6:17. Many priests still pray it silently as they vest in the sacristy.
How big is this amice?
This amice measures 24 by 36 inches, a full traditional size that hides the collar and shoulders under nearly any alb. It comes in one size, and the long tie tapes adjust to any build.
How do I wash a cotton amice?
This amice is machine washable. Put it through a warm wash with your whites and a mild detergent, then hang it up or tumble it on a low setting. Pressing it with a hot iron while slightly damp restores a crisp finish to the pure cotton.
Traditional Cotton Amice with Ties – 24" x 36"
The rope amice provides a timeless look with its neatly tied cord, ensuring the vestment stays in place throughout the liturgical rites.
The rope amice is perfect for those who appreciate the traditional look and feel of their vestments, offering both style and substance.
