Amice
Amice
(amictus, amiculum sacrum). In Roman antiquity, this was an upper garment worn over the tunic. In ecclesiastical writers, it is a square-shaped linen cloth worn by the clergy. It is called by Isidore the anabologium, and, he says, was originally a veil worn by women to cover the shoulders. Its use was formerly, as now, different in different places; sometimes it was worn round the neck, and sometimes over the head. When worn over the shoulders and neck, it was called the super-humerale, or simply humerale. It was originally worn under the alb, not, as now, over it — a custom which is still preserved among the Maronites. It is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but not in the Church of England.
