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The alb, one of the liturgical vestments of the Roman Catholic church, is an ample garment of white linen coming down to the ankles. It is simply the long linen tunic used by the Romans of old. It is the oldest liturgical vestment, and was adopted very early by Christians, and especially by the clergy for the Eucharistic liturgy. Nowadays, the alb is the common vestment for all ministers at Mass, both clerics and laypersons, and is worn over street clothes or the cassock and under any other special garments, such as the dalmatic or chasuble. The shortening of the alb for use outside a church has given rise to the surplice and its cousin the rochet worn by canons and bishops. Before Vatican II the alb had evolved to include elements of lace, this has fallen out of style.
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